SOLD - Vintage Fender Vibroverb 'Export Model' 40W Combo Amplifier - Blackface - USA 1964

SOLD

The Fender Vibroverb. Here it is. The holy grail of Fender Blackface Amplifiers. Built in a very brief time span between 1963 to mid 1964 with less than 1500 ever produced, this is the ‘export model’ of which only about 300 were produced! The Vibroverb was Fenders first production amplifier to come with a built-in spring reverb. This set the standard for the vast majority of guitar amps to come. With 40 Watts of tube power with an efficient, single 15” Jensen C15 speaker this amp is clean, bright and loud. This amp is perfect for surf, rock, blues and everything in between.  

Fans of the Vibroverb will know that it was the amp of choice for blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. Many Vibroverbs have ‘upgraded’ JBL speakers that Stevie liked to use. Stevie’s amp tech, the renowned Caesar Diaz was not a fan of the JBL speakers, saying they blew up regularly and were too bright, due to the aluminium cone. This original Jensen C15 has a warmer tone, without the ice pick highs of the JBL.  

The tremolo is warm and punchy. The foot switch activates both tremolo and reverb without issues. The name Vibroverb points to Fender’s misuse of the term vibrato to describe the pulsing volume fluctuations. The effect is tremolo, however ‘Tremoverb’ doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. 

It is truly striking to hear this amp when coupled with a vintage Tele or Strat. First thoughts are how incredibly ‘60s it sounds. It really does sound like a sonic snapshot in time. At 40 watts, it has great headroom and accommodates effects pedals well, though with tone like this it's likely you won't want to! 

Can be included in the sale are the original (non functional) Reverb Transformer (EIA06344) and Ferguson output transformer.

details listed: 

1964 Vibroverb 

Serial Number – A01732 = 1964 

Production code – NB = February 1964 

Pot codes – 6350 = 50th week 1963 

Speaker C15N Jensen – 220350 = 50th week 1963 

Power Transformer – export model – 606344 – 44th week 1963 

Choke – 606-4-02 = 2nd week 1964 

Mercury Magnetics output and reverb transformer 

• New filter caps
• Some coupling caps changed to Sozo and Jupiter 
• Some resistors changed in power section where needed