IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
|
Posted on Jun 22 2012 09:17 PM
I was at Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI today, and got to play for a long time through an excellent sounding black-tolex era Custom Vibrolux Reverb (late '90s? early '00s?). Just in case somebody's looking for one, or something like it, only $700, which I think is a great deal (sadly, in-store sales only, so this is mostly for the benefit of Michigan residents): http://elderly.com/vintage/items/130U-9937.htm
They also had a great sounding RI brown tolex reverb unit for $425, which is an OK deal - you could probably talk them down. But I plugged it into the Vibrolux playing it all with a new Jade Pearl Metallic AmStd Strat, and there was all sorts of tonal goodness happening! Here's the link: http://elderly.com/vintage/items/135U-6782.htm
BTW, they also have a ton of other used/vintage stuff, most of which is not on their showroom floor but is only listed on the website, so I didn't get to see it or play it - but you can check it out here.
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
Last edited: Jun 22, 2012 21:26:43
|
Doctor_Morbius
Joined: Oct 26, 2008
Posts: 608
This Planet Earth
|
Posted on Jun 22 2012 09:45 PM
If I were a gambling man, I'd bet money you end up owning a Jade Pearl Metallic Strat by year's end. 
— Cats 'n' Strats, 'cause that's how I roll - I eat reverb for breakfast!
Fenderus Collecticus
Strat Blender Pot Modification HERE
|
IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
|
Posted on Jun 22 2012 09:52 PM
Doctor_Morbius wrote:
If I were a gambling man, I'd bet money you end up owning a Jade Pearl Metallic Strat by year's end.
 This one at Elderly's was just as nice as the one at Sweetwater, both in feel and looks. Unbelievably light and resonant, too. Damn...
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
|
duncanjames
Joined: Dec 20, 2011
Posts: 156
|
Posted on Jun 23 2012 02:44 AM
The one time I was able to visit there, I asked them about the '64 blonde Showman that wasn't on the main floor. They happily sent me down to the room where it's all at. They just left me alone in what was a sea of vintage amps! I couldn't even get to the Showman, because it was packed about four rows deep behind other amazing old gear!
|
IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
|
Posted on Jun 23 2012 02:27 PM
Wow, I had no idea! I guess I never asked to see any of their stuff that wasn't already on display.
There are usually all sorts of people in the amp room, all 'playing' at once, and it's just cacophonous. Yesterday, while I waited for my guitars to be set up, for most of the two hours I was there, there was hardly anybody in the room, so I was able to play quite a lot, at a fairly high volume, trying a bunch of different guitars and a few different amps. I tried an expensive PRS amp, and thought it really wasn't anything special. I much preferred the Custom Vibrolux. The same thing with a Bad Cat amp. Anyway, I love that place. The most musician-friendly shop I know of. Highly recommended if you're in the vicinity!
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
|
Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
|
Posted on Jun 23 2012 02:43 PM
Amazingly, I almost bought a guitar from them back when they were carrying the now unavailable Harmony reissue Red Rockets. (I have a thing for the single-cutaway three pickup model) I didn't buy anything because I was told, by someone who knew some of the players involved in the dispute, that there was something seriously wrong with the new Harmony Guitar company back then. There was. The issue had nothing to do with Elderly Instruments, with whom I was very favorably impressed by their helpfulness and professionalism. And I currently own a Jazzmaster they set up. Simply fantastic!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Jun 23, 2012 14:45:17
|
Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
|
Posted on Jun 23 2012 05:29 PM
Ivan, were the breakup characteristics typical of what everyone always says about the new reissue Vibrolux's (real early, "bluesy" breakup) as opposed to the old ones?
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31
|
IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
|
Posted on Jun 23 2012 05:34 PM
Richard, I can't answer that as I only had it up to 4, and not any louder. At four it wasn't distorting at all, it just sounded full and sweet, with really nice treble and full mids and bass. At four it was loud enough to where I didn't feel comfortable cranking it any further.
I've also read about the supposed downsides of the Custom Vibrolux Reverb amps, but I also seem to remember that it's not so hard to convert them to RI Vibroverb specs. And having bought one of those about 6-9 months ago, well, I think you can't lose with that. I love that amp. And since Jamie plays one, you should be able to judge for yourself whether that'd work for you or not.
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
|
SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
|
Posted on Jun 25 2012 01:12 AM
Hey, that's exactly my main rig setup! Good choice and to answer some questions: Yes, the RI VL has a very early breakup, BUT I never play it louder than 3 - it really gets loud. The sound is like Ivan described. Warm, full and rich. Downside: Lots of static hum and hiss, which can be fixed with a kit. The amp can be converted into a Vibroverb and Deluxe Reverb with some simple mods IIRC (I'm not a technician). It's the best sounding amp for my ears...it's omni presence is just amazing - it doesn't matter where you place it. You will be heard!
— The Hicadoolas
|
May Birthdays 
