Fender Vibro-King Repair Part Two

In Part Two, let's conclude the Vibro King repair by installing the new Reverb Transformer and finding a workable solution to the dreaded “Tremolo Tick”. You will also see 3 different methods of setting the bias and finally get to hear the amazing sounds of the Fender VibroKing.
Video Index
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Installing the Reverb Transformer
04:24 Testing the Reverb with a speaker instead of a Reverb Tank
05:50 Difference between a “normal” Fender Reverb and the VibroKing
08:00 The “Tremolo Tick” persists
12:14 Bias the power tubes using 3 methods
17:48 Final Thoughts and Sound Test
21:54 Video Ends
If you have enjoyed the effort presenting this video to you, can you please honour me with a LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for future (and past) videos. As always, I will answer all comments.

[@BjarneKingBeeRask]

Hi Chris, Denmark on the line....this were very informative videos for me, as I have two of the original Vibro-Kings that I try to maintain myself. They're both with 6V6 reverb drivers but born with different speakers (one Blue Eminence, the other Jensen Reissue) and there's small differences in the circuit, as they were revised a few times over the years...one only came with a single button footswitch for FAT, not a button for vibrato as the later versions. I have recapped both with F&T's all over the place and had som serious battles with hiss and noise at higher volumes, and various... The Vibro-Kings are like race cars and you need to keep an eye on them all the time - and quite some even give up on them because of reliability. But when they work, they're about the best sounding amps ever made...touch sensitive, three dimensional sounding and a reverb to die for. I also have two '66 Super Reverbs, Super Six Reverb, Dual Showman etc... and I know my way around in those classic amps, but like you show here, the Vibro-King is another animal - so for a guy like me that are not very good with schematics, your explanations of the circuit was very velcome, and I'm glad that I came across your videos....even though, I don't have any problems right now :-) But it made me want to open them up just to check some stuff.... Oh, and I also have one of the matching 2x12" cabinets.... but to me the 3x10 combo sounds better on its own... Thanks, Bjarne

[@theguitaramptech]

I agree with your analogy that VKs are like race cars...but so worth the effort. I am so glad that my videos have been of some help to you. :-)

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

The surf look suits you. I had a tremelo that ticked like that in a Fender amp , at the time I did'nt use it much but it bugged me . Thinking it sounded like it was picking up noise from the room lights I got a piece of a bicycle inner tube rubber and made a cover for the opto coupler out of it and gaffa taped it together and I never heard that "tick" again. Don't know what I did, I thought the rubber coat might keep the light beam isolated from external interference(I was 17 and back then the books just said "replace" the faulty part)? Great sound , a reverb system like that should sound amazing, I think those 3 spring smaller size tanks actually work a lot better( aa long as you match the Ohms), your vidys are a treat!

[@lestelie4410]

That was an excellent outcome for the VibrKing, Chris. I missed Harley's cameo appearance this video. I might have to start a campaign of "Bring Back Harley" supporters.

[@theguitaramptech]

Thanks Les. I will talk to Harley's booking manager to book him for another cameo 😂

[@fairenoughthenwhat]

Worth it for the excellent impression of the 440Hz Sine wave.

[@theguitaramptech]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

[@DWinegarden2]

In regard to the tremolo issue. I have found that on a vintage bandmaster AB 763 you can greatly reduce tremolo ticking by moving the wire to the #3 pin of tremolo tube closer to the chassis. It must pick up interference if it’s not grounded well. That sounds like it might be the culprit on your Vibro King.

[@theguitaramptech]

Thank you Darren. The amp is back with the owner now, but I will take note of your suggestion which sounds perfectly plausible. I could not say with any certainty if I moved that wire in my lead dress attempts, so THANK YOU.

[@DWinegarden2]

@@theguitaramptech Thanks! I actually own a Vibro King which I just got last year. Its tremolo is remarkably quiet, but I did change the ground and soldered it down as you suggested in part one. I noticed that things are much more stable after that, and it is really noticeable in the reverb. In my VK someone had changed the input jacks to some crappy old things so I had to rewire those with some new cts grounding jacks. I changed out all of the tubes as well. Other than that mine is tip top. It was cool to see you looking through the same amp I was tinkering with. I also have a 1965 Bandmaster and I’m thinking of replacing the #3 wire to the tremolo tube with an insulated wire that’s grounded on one end. I think that will kill the tremolo ticking completely. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Cheers from Canada!

[@theguitaramptech]

@@DWinegarden2 excellent feedback. Please let me know how your solution works out.

[@markusf.3441]

Thanks Chris, wondeful video about an amzing amp.

[@theguitaramptech]

Hallo Markus. Thank you. It is one of my favorite amps.

[@paulp2033]

Great follow up video Chris 👏👏 Amp sounded great so well worth all your excellent work 👌👌 I now have some ideas to try to get rid of the ticking from the tremolo on my Davoli Show II amp. Thanks a lot 😉👍

[@theguitaramptech]

Thank you Paul. I haven't seen a Davoli amp here. Have you tried the traditional methods of reducing the tick before resorting to the "downward dog"? HAHA

[@paulp2033]

Haven’t tried any fixes yet Chris. Your video gave me some more ideas so I will give them a go and hope one of them works 🤞🏼😉

[@theguitaramptech]

@@paulp2033 good luck Paul

[@BK-pj6nx]

Great job! I’ve been tweaking mine in anticipation of part 2. Lots of good info. Also I tried something that I had seen years ago on the tremolo tick on a different amp and it worked. I always felt that it had something to do with the ground from the tremolo to the chassis making the tone stack susceptible to picking up that tick. If you disconnect the leg of the 100k resistor on the speed pot from the chassis and the connect that leg to the 2k7 cathode resistor(R55) in the phase shift oscillator. I think that was on a BF Twin, the VK is configured much differently so maybe that could work? Looking forward to more! Harley’s opinion would be helpful too.

[@theguitaramptech]

I will try that. Thank you.

[@BK-pj6nx]

The funny thing about the tremolo tic problem is, I have only seen the problem 2 maybe 3 times in the last 40 plus years I’ve been playing, tinkering and wrenching on Fender amps. I have 6 different Fender amps from 1962-1990 and a few more up to 2010 and none of them ever had that problem. Maybe Harley could explain that.

[@MikeWh]

About your views on reverb. A very good guitar player that I am lucky enough to play music with, says quite simply, "the room is the reverb and that's enough".

[@theguitaramptech]

I agree 100% which is why none of my amps have reverb. Reverb can push your sound into the background. It's only been in the past few months that little red pedal for my noodling at home.

[@petertimp5416]

👍🙏

[@theguitaramptech]

Thanks Peter!

[@deanallen927]

Isn't this reverb design just the old stand alone reverb unit built into these amps?

[@theguitaramptech]

Well spotted, Dean. It is virtually identical. The original used a 6K6 in place of the 6V6 and the Dwell was a little earlier in the circuit, but that's about it.

[@deanallen927]

Thanks, but I'd read that when these amps were new; also the 6V6 tipped me off because some modern kits the 6V6.@@theguitaramptech

[@theguitaramptech]

Yes, I think 6K6 tubes are simply not as available as 6V6. My Aussie tube suppliers don't stock 6K6.

[@garybrady9531]

That jungle of wires is not the way it was supposed to be

[@theguitaramptech]

I'm not sure what you mean, Gary. Sadly, I no longer expect the glory days of brown or black panel amps, but this wasn't as bad as some silverface amps I've been inside.

[@garybrady9531]

@theguitaramptech I've never seen such messy wire layout but I haven't seen as many as others

[@npet6842]

@@garybrady9531 It certainly looks like it's assembled with little interest . For the price , it's a joke , as are the speakers . 10" Celestion Gold sound superb .