'69 Vibrolux Reverb Reverse Mods?

[roadkingbluzs]

Picked this up recently thinking it had a few mods. Figured I could reverse and bring back to former glory. Well this thing has just about every mod there is. Well here it is:
Single Input, 2 Channel
Channel 1 vol., PP/Treb., Mid, Bass ... Led's 2x for Ch.1/Ch2
Channel 2 Od, PP/Treb.,PP/Mid, PP/Bass ....V/Ch. 1, V/Ch 2, V/Mstr Rear ; Effects loop in/out, Reverb In/Out , Foot pedal Missing ; Vib. in /out , choke
Reverb not working, I will try reverb unit with other Fender amp.
Question, does anyone recognize this handy work?
Couple of pics for your entertainment and or thoughts.
P.S. Being new to amp building this amp got my head spinning.

[Sonny ReVerb]

Torres, maybe?

[wicker]

First I would start from photographing everything, then remove all interior parts, and start from removing rust and painting chassis. Then ask yourself what do you want to get, restore it to classic fender, or for example, make a Dumble ?

[AllenBradley]

How does it sound?

[M Fowler]

My first impression was Torres mod but I could be wrong.

[roadkingbluzs]

I can only get OD channel right now (not bad )lacks punch, wimpy looking power caps IC and unknow type. until I figure out how to switch to normal channel cannot give a complete description has a 4 pin connection for reverb, ch. sw., effects loop and hot? Just guessing right now. I will try drawing something up. Yes, it does need good cleaning. Trying to understand all the mods,so this is a good learning plateform for me , maybe not ? Today will see if reverb works and switch to normal channel for the clean, I hope. BTW its hot, work bench in garage

[Phil_S]

At least you have a garage. Use an exhaust fan and open the door, which will help keep you .

Does it really matter who the hack was? To my amateur eyes, it looks like there are already so many non-original parts, it probably wouldn't hurt to strip it and restore it. See if you can sort out the original tone caps from the new ones. Save the original wire and see if you can locate more of it. There are places that sell it. You only need about 5' of each color, so even at 50 cents/foot, it won't cost you that much.

Good luck.

[roadkingbluzs]

Just came in from looking at this ugly thing. Since I have the orig. trannies I am leaning toward restoration with a diffeent vibrato circuit. But as I said maybe draw out a schematic to see what was going on for my own benefit. BTW Phil S I do have a small frig w/ cold brews and H2o Thanks Bob

[Gibsonman63]

There doesn't seem to be much original stuff in that amp other than the chassis, transformers and eyelet boards. I have a modest collection of blackface Fenders and my '65 Vibrolux Reverb is by far my favorite Fender amp. The transformers are pretty rusty and some people will raise concerns about it, but I have been sucessful restoring Fenders with rusty transformers.

Personally, I would restore it to blackface specifications so you would have a bias adjustment and not just bias balance. The cosmetics could go either SF or BF, since you are looking at a fairly extensive restoration cosmetically. The electronic stuff shouldn't be all that difficult.

The faceplates show up on eBay from time to time, just be patient.

[roadkingbluzs]

I think blackface specs it is. I own a '67 which I picked up for a song a few years back. Sounded terrible when I bought it , ready to bite the dust. Minimal restoration done, caps, tubes etc. Its now my go to amp. Bass player keeps drooling over it , I feel bad, NOT I original bought this chassis thinking it was a Bandmaster Reverb w/a few mods, intending to convert to Super Reverb. Still a very cool find Hey Gibsonman63 what guit are you playing with your VR, by chance woulds it be a '63 ES335? Thanks Bob

[Gibsonman63]

I've always wanted a 335, I just haven't found the right deal at the right time. I mainly play strats through my Fender amps, but the Vibrolux sounds great on just about anything I plug into it...

... but I don't own any pointy guitars, so I can't really comment on how that would sound.

[selloutrr]

what are you plans with this amp?

[roadkingbluzs]

what are you plans with this amp?

Restore to Vibrolux Reverb 2x 10 cab etc. I will kind of document mods made. I will need new faceplate speakers cab, choke possibly reverb tranny......
Epi Elitist 335 thru VR = Sweet Tone

[selloutrr]

if you need help I'm in palm springs

[roadkingbluzs]

Appreciate help on this, the more I look into it the more I feel maybe not so good a deal. reverb tranny & tank not working. looks like tank was repaired at some point. I have a Twin I am working on presenty which is beginning to sound nice. A few more things to do to twin before I jump head on into this. Thanks Bob