Fender Vibrolux Reverb for pedal steel

[Bobby Martin]

Has anyone used a Fender Vibrolux Reverb R.I. for pedal steel? I have an opportunity to buy a 1995 only custom shop Vibrolux with cream vinyl and white knobs that is sort a factory "hot rod". Same time period as the " Custom" Vibrasonic steel amp that I bought new in'96 and still use regularly...great amp. I'm old school, prefer tube amps. Asking price is about the same as a new Tone Master Deluxe.

[K Maul]

If you aren't playing loud and not playing C6 it is ok. It will breakup fairly soon on the low notes in any case.

[Ken Metcalf]

Not enough watts / headroom for me.

[Tom Gorr]

Not a Vibrolux RI, but I use a 74 Silverface Vibrolux.

I have it face me, on an amp stand so I can reach the controls. Hang an e906 mic in front of a speaker. Let the FOH sound guy figure the rest out.

[Dave Mudgett]

If you're talking about this Custom Vibrolux - https://reverb.com/p/fender-custom-vibr ... -1995-2013 - note that it is not a reissue of the venerable blackface/silverface Vibrolux Reverb. I don't own one, but I have played quite a number of them - people I know, supplied backline, etc.

There are two distinct channels - one more tweed-Fender-like and the other more blackface-Fender-like. In comparison to the original Vibrolux Reverb, I found that the tweedy channel breaks up much earlier, but the more blackface channel still breaks up earlier. I think it's a good guitar amp, especially if one wants a relatively early breakup. But for pedal steel, I think it breaks up too early for me, considering its size. If I want early breakup at a lower volume, I'm gonna bring a smaller amp.

I have two original Vibrolux Reverbs - a '66 blackface and a '71 silverface. I sometimes use them for pedal steel. At volumes that don't melt my face, they sound excellent. But even they run out of gas on a loud stage. But IMHO, still the best Telecaster amp on Planet Earth.

[David Farrell]

I have a late 70's sllverface Princeton Reverb that I put in a cabinet that has a 15" speaker. I play pedal steel live with this amp. It works & sounds great.
In my opinion, no amp is too small for a microphone.

[Bobby Martin]

Dave Mudgett is right about the Custom Vibrolux. I have it and agree this is not a suitable amp for pedal steel. The Lawrence 710 in my Sho-Pro distorts at volume 2-1/2, clarity gone. The amp sounds great with my old Strat,probably why guitar only players like it. Not a dual purpose amp for me, going to let it go and look at the Tone Masters...

[Steve Hinson]

I never liked VR for electric guitar-not nearly enough clean power-so I would imagine it would be lacking for steel, too...

My rule of thumb:Give me enough clean power first...there's a thousand little boxes to dirty it up, if I need it dirty...

SH