Name this amp

[MBD115]

Name this amp please.

It was a Fender tube amp with 2x10" speakers. Tweed covering. Front mounted controls on a combo. I can't remember the name. Judging by the way I remember its size it had to just be a 2x10, it wasn't big enough to be a 2x12.

I'm sure it had tube spring reverb and a super great Fender clean tone. It was pretty loud for its size and the tone was super great. And the way I remember it sounding like it hast to be a classic design now for sure.

It was a fairly small amp but had a great full clean tone. The best Fender tone I remember hearing even after all these years.

I think it was a blackface, but I can't be positive of that.

It had 2 channels I think because I think I remember seeing some plugs in the middle of the faceplate also. I believe it had 2 sets of tone controls and controls for the Reverb and maybe even vibrato, but I can't remember.

My memory is fading me after all these years. lol

I would love to build such an amp as this one.

Please help me remember - -
Thanks for the help

[sliberty]

I don't remember any Tweed amps with front-facing controls.

I also don't remember any Tweed amps that had a black face panel.

But, front facing controls and a black face panel and reverb do go together. And 2x10's would suggest to me that it might have been a blackface Vibrolux Reverb.

[Andy Le Blanc]

there's a few could be's for 2x10 fenders, forget the covering for the moment.

could be a super, tremolux, vibrolux

when a super had 2 x10 it didnt have verb

no expert but it might have been vibrolux, had more watts (30-ish) 2x 10, 64'-67'.

[Phil_S]

Look here. If it exists, you'll find it.
http://www.ampwares.com/fender.asp

[M Fowler]

That is a good site and I have spent many hours there.

But my old tremolux did not look like any of those shown. Mine had gray vinyl and brown faceplate. I sold it to Mike Keller before he moved from Fargo to Austin and played with Double Trouble for awhile. Not sure where that amp is now wish I had kept it.

Mark

[MBD115]

Thanks for all the replies. And thanks for the link.

I spent about an hour looking through that web page at all the Fenders and I now figure it was a Vibrolux that someone had just recovered it with tweed. That must of been a while before because it looked warn then. I would like to think it was a Twin but I can't see it weighting 77 pounds like some I seen on that page.

Oh the one that got away.

I'll keep reading. Maybe I'll remember more about it, but I'd bet on it being a Vibrolux. But it did sound good - that I do remember.

[billyz]

That is a good site and I have spent many hours there.

But my old tremolux did not look like any of those shown. Mine had gray vinyl and brown faceplate. I sold it to Mike Keller before he moved from Fargo to Austin and played with Double Trouble for awhile. Not sure where that amp is now wish I had kept it.

Mark

Mike Keller is Bad to the Bone. I believe he on tour with the Fabulous T Birds and others. No Fender ever had Gray vinyl, with a brown faceplate would have been a blond. Must have been recovered.

[M Fowler]

Billyz,

Yeah I figured the head was messed with some but looked professional this was in about 1998 1999, can't remember when the Kellers moved to Austin. The deal was my tremolux for a 59 bassman that I didn't get only cash.

I worked with Dean Keller (father) and we used to jam in the basement so the young Keller boys Mike and Corey (drummer) either sat in or watched. John Lang was also around and later we all used to go out and watch those kids tear up Fargo-Moorhead, lot of fun. John and Mike both get back to perform sometimes.

I had heard about SRV from vets coming back from Germany and bought a LP recorded to tape and playing in my walkman. Well Dean Keller came around and I tossed him that tape of SRV and later he came back and said who the Fk is this. That was the Kellers first introduction to SRV and they never looked back on playing blues. They figured they needed to head to Austin to be able to get in with some big blues bands, it worked.

I have a tape of Mike playing guitar for a competition in Fargo it is of poor quality but still valuable as he was very young when we were cheering him on.

I also made John Lang and Mike/Corey Keller autograph their first CDs before they got famous, they didn't think that day would ever happen.

Mark

[billyz]

I first saw Mike at Antones on blue Tuesday. He was a standout. Another great local guy who Mike plays with is Johnny Moeller, whew.

I have played with Dean a few times, great drummer too. I think he wants to be a bass player though. Truly a nice person.

[M Fowler]

Dean wanted to switch to bass so he barrowed my bass and neck chart for about 1 1/2 then I finally said well I better ask for that bass back or he will forget that he was only barrowing the thing.

He can play bass and the three of them had a three piece band going for awhile with Mike on guitar, Dean on bass and Corey on drums.

Billyz small world huh!

Mark

[MBD115]

Another question.

What did I hear way back then? Does a normal Fender Vibrolux solid tube amp have that " tone to die for" ? Or was that amp I remember just a modded amp.

Not long ago a salesman tried his best to sell me a new Virbolux amp and even after playing it for at least an hour I just didn't like the tone it had.

If that old amp of my memory was Vibrolux then do I remember it sounding so good just my imagination or is there that much difference from a new amp and an old tweed recovered Vibrolux from years ago?

What did I actually hear after all? Was it real or is it just that memory of a mystery amp that never really existed but on in my memory..... lol If its real then how do I build such an awesome clean tone to die for Fender and if so is it just a plain old Vibrolux clone?

Help me if you can.

[mojo2001]

Saw Mike Keller first time maybe 10 years ago at Joe Generic Bar (RIP) in Austin when I lived there. Don't remember what amp he was playing and it sure don't matter cause he would be smokin on a Crate!!

[billyz]

My 66 Vibrolux Reverb is Killer sounding with the stock Jensen speakers. The very best sounding of the Blackface amps, well a Princeton reverb is great too. Some of the later ones were not as good though. The last really good sounding Vibrolux Reverbs were the early 68's . Identical components and wiring internally. after that they starting changing the caps and the wiring , the Layout got sloppy, cabinets went south, etc. Tweed Supers are awesome as well, but you said the controls were on the front and it had reverb and tremolo. Tubes make a big difference in all these amps. Nothing better than Blackplate RCA's , Nothing.

[M Fowler]

MBD115

I know what you mean, the best sounding amp in memory was a very small Gibson tube amp, it was heaven. I have no idea what the amp was and the guy that used to have that amp currently has no idea either.

Could the amp you heard have been a something besides a Fender, as there surely were other tweed amps? The re-ssue probably isn't going to get you that same sweet sound. Does your local library have a section with the History of Fender, Gibson, or Ampeg to name a small few to look through and try find that sucker.

Mark

[MBD115]

I can't find a kit for a Blackface Vibrolux Reverb AA964. Marsh sells completed amps but no kits listed either. Who offers a good kit?