Fender vibrolux tube guitar amp Initial Test after 10 years in storage

A nice fender Vibrolux shipped from PA. Owner got it for free! Looks like it was stored for a long time. Initial test, powered up! Replaced the power supply capacitors, fired it up, passes a signal! Wow! what a great find for this fellow. Still have work to do, however I believe this classic will soon be back in use. Great keeping these 60 year old amps performing. Part 2 will follow soon. Hope you enjoy! TD

[@ensaerodynamics8615]

Huge help for me on the Vibrolux I just bought. I see 3 Vibrolux videos so far. Awesome, Big Thanks!

[@josephtravers777]

Hey Terry! Love your work! Always love these old amp restorations.

[@SwanseaTitanFan]

Nailed it again Terry. I look forward to the next instalment.

[@lounagy5680]

Great job Terry! Very informative.

[@jeffmitchell9214]

Another Video Home Run ! Outstanding.. Thanks Terry.

[@goboslament5535]

I did this same repair to a Vibrolux a few months ago. Quick and easy. I was just as lucky that there were no other issues with it. Good stuff.

[@rockettcrawford890]

Enjoying another D-Lab amp video. Looking forward to part 2.

[@Finom1]

You are just amazing. Thank you for all your educational videos!!!

[@SteveReevesvlogs]

Date codes suggest made in 65. Cool Amp. Thanks for the close ups of part numbers and date codes it makes watching even more fun.

[@Starcrunch72]

Always a treat opening up an un-molested amp

[@Tonetwisters]

Excellent!! These are great amps!

[@johnpick8336]

Have an extra glass for posting this beauty Terry !

[@fenderlead1]

Flip the amplifier on its side with the power transformer side down makes it much easier to slide the chassis out without damaging the faceplate or the grill cloth. I’ve opened dozens of these apps and I’ve never had and issue when I flip it on the side.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Dream find! Great amp!

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Mine cost me $40 and a used Dual 1009 turntable. ..traded for it in the winter of 68-69. Thank goodness mine is still in like-new mint condition, even 50 years later. ..and it still works perfectly. I keep expecting the 'lytics to go bad any time, and the blue signal caps to start leaking DC, but so far, its holding its own. These are fantastic little amps, worth every effort to restore. During their run in the 1960s, they were fitted with either Oxford or Jensen 10" drivers. Mine has one each, the choice of the first owner.. he had the original retailer swap in one of each for the best highs and lows.

[@gaylen8467]

Great Amp, Great video.

[@michaelinglis8516]

Excellent, ideal scenario!

[@tomk1tl]

WOW, what a deal...."FREE"................I'm drooling over this amp. Always wanted one but settled for a Fender Deluxe !

[@gerthalberg9735]

Hi Terry - just thougth of a top tip - next time the chassis is binding, turn the amp upside down before sliding out the chassis.

[@Barabyk]

Gert Halberg thats right. Sometimes the shielding mesh on top of the case blocks the chassis.

[@joelaughlin5532]

Great job! Fun to watch your videos! Bring mom to Lubbock, we’ll buy you both a great bottle of local wine, n some great bbq!

[@JohnvL]

Good Job!

[@83roadstar]

Great amp for free, with basic maintenance repairs! Sweet!

[@randydueck889]

Damn, I wish the vintage Fender Vibrolux fairy would comp me one of those bad boys!

[@Tonetwisters]

I'll get in THAT line, SIR!

[@ericheder777]

WGS g10c's that's what I got in my 73VR. Great speakers, great price, the best amps.....

[@rubentrevino6288]

Badass mate

[@johnmccabe7645]

Great and how exciting! The knob set screws were clearly visible at "10" on the knob, a clue to dating this amp pre-CBS. Is the owner entertaining offers?

[@thevizzzar7959]

я бы не отказался от такой находки !!!

[@edcrouse9453]

Sweet!!

[@sski]

Sweet!

[@RobertKohut]

Nice!!

[@richysradioroom]

I had a Fender Baseman Amp given to me for payment for restoring a Swan 500c. Years later I sold it to a music shop and got a TON of money for the speakers alone.

[@umajunkcollector]

that'll make somebody a happy camper

[@muskymike1885]

good one

[@martinhill4463]

What happened with the house next door? Are you still interested in it?

[@billbaxter2914]

Always enjoy your videos. Have you tried a good Bourbon, or are you strictly a wine drinker. Keep up the great videos

[@hestheMaster]

Couldn't beat the price! Some people have all the luck!🍷

[@Tonetwisters]

I thinks he was just holding his mouth just right ... like in fishin' ...

[@gerrydahl1176]

Hi Terry, love your videos, entertaining and educational! Question on the Fender AB165 Bassman, is that a bias circuit in it, or it it a different type of tube adjustment pot? It states to "adjust for minimum hum when replacing the 6L6 tubes". After watching our videos, this does not look like a bias circuit. Can you explain? Thanks.

[@silasfatchett7380]

It allows the bias on one tube to be adjusted to match its plate current to that of the other tube, so that equal ripple (hum) currents in both halves of the OPT cancel.

[@matthewf1979]

Some Eminence GA-10 SC64’s would be perfect replacement speakers. Great price too!

[@hestheMaster]

On back order at Antique Electronic Supply.

[@thecappy]

I’m from PA and just got one of these(not free) would love to send it to you but shipping would be insane now.

[@johnsimms3957]

I like how filter caps have become smaller.

[@RobertKohut]

Any update on the property? :-)

[@chopperwolf13]

Damn he beat me, I thought I had gotten a great deal. I paid hundred bucks for one that is all original and working.

[@freecitizen2760]

How do you remove the power cord without destroying that strain relief, black plastic holder?

[@mrbigg7255]

👍👏

[@TroyPosey]

Damn, I wish someone would give me a free vintage Fender Blackface amp... Even in that condition and missing speakers... Can't beat that deal.

[@Starcrunch72]

True, Free.99 can't be beat, but I traded a guy a new Black Widow 15 for a 67 blackface bassman...so I got close

[@TroyPosey]

@@Starcrunch72 Uhhhh, yeah, I'd say you didn't do too bad.

[@Barabyk]

I got 64 Tremolux for the cost of the power transformer, not bad either.

[@TroyPosey]

@Barabyk - Yeah, that’s not bad either.

[@tracyc7813]

I have a pair of Fender 10" speakers out of a 95 Princeton Chorus that I will probably never use again if the owner is interested. Otherwise I highly recommend Eminence Ragin Cajuns. :o)

[@TroyPosey]

I highly recommend the WGS (Warehouse Guitar Speakers) Veteran 30 speakers. Been using them for about 3 years now (back when they were half what they cost now). I have a V30 12" 8 ohm in a Fender Princeton 65 1x12, and it changed the WHOLE sound of the amp. With the original Fender Blue Label speaker, it was very thin and high pitched, and quite frankly the amp sounded like shit. After the WGS V30 speaker upgrade, it has a much more full and rich sound, with more bass and mids. Now it sounds like an amp should. I highly recommend giving those WGS speakers a try. Personally, I think the Veteran 30 sounds better than the Vintage 30 that it was modeled after. I think WGS improved on the Celestion V30 sound. And I love the Celestions, the V30 is what my Blackstar Pro series cab has in it.

[@raulconve6841]

Excellent job Terry! Just a question. Where do you buy the F&T's HV caps downthere in the States? Kind regards from Mexico amigo!!!

[@Starcrunch72]

Antique Electronic Supply

[@raulconve6841]

@@Starcrunch72 Thxs! I'll keep in mind.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: as you have demonstrated, the best repairs are on equipment where no hacker has had his hands in the circuitry before you. I hate to get a job where someone with no workmanship skills has gone in and made a mess of things before it comes to me.

[@SDS-1]

👍

[@dhpbear2]

Did the standby switch fix itself?

[@russellhltn1396]

Looks like he's measuring at the rectifier tube. I'm pretty sure that's upstream of the standby switch.

[@d-labelectronics]

Your correct, I was rushing, Switch is fine

[@daveanderson5680]

Great job except you began with a vintage Fender ROOKIE mistake. It’s usually the heat shield above the chassis that gets hung up on the face plate when trying to remove Fender chassis....hence you see all the bent/distorted face plates on old Fender amps. You can avoid bending faceplates by using a putty knife to reach in from the amps front and hold the heat shield UP when sliding the chassis back.

[@jpalberthoward9]

Yes Yes Yes! And while the chassis is out, you can also very gently tap those staples down flush, and it's the last time anybody ever has to worry about it.

[@jpalberthoward9]

Add a '53 butterscotch blackguard Tele and it's instant Roy Buchanan.....if you can play anything like Roy Buchanan.

[@CanadairCL44]

It doesn't go up to 11!

[@roryoconnor31]

Ya can't beat free

[@bobbarcus8310]

nice find.. all the abuse these amps can take amazed

[@fuzzprobe]

No such thing as a free lunch. Vintage Fenders, tho…

[@diasadiascomajulia4710]

tu gosta de uma cachaça tambem aqui no brasil tem

[@MichaelLloyd]

I'll give the owner 2 times what he paid for it! :o)

[@dxjxrose]

hope ya can bend that face plate back into shape yikes

[@d-labelectronics]

Yep, no worries