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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Anyone Familiar with the Fender Vibrosonic with 1x15 1973?

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Found one with the original JBL. Pro's and cons other than the weight. I have a 1970 twin and a 67 Bandmaster with a 1x15 ext with an EV SRO which is my preferred weapon of choice but the Vibro means one less thing to carry and the ext cab for my bandy weighs as much as the vibro.

Anyone have any experience with one of these?

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Great sounding rig. I say snatch it up if the price is right and if it's in decent condition.

METEOR IV on reverbnation

I'm going to test run it today and look at the glass and OT. It already has casters on it! That is a plus!

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

What's the asking price?

METEOR IV on reverbnation

They are asking 800.00. It has a Peavey labeled JBL. I believe it is known as the K 130. Sounded kind of harsh. I wonder if anyone is familiar with the JBL K 130

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Hum... shouldn't sound harsh?? The price sounds about right though.

A good replacement speaker would cost between $150 - $200 (new). Maybe offer them a little less to cover the speaker replacement.

METEOR IV on reverbnation

I'm thinking to get the best demo I need to take the guitar and the tank with me. I was playing straight into it with the onboard dimed. From what I'm reading right now the K130 is very similar to the D130.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

My first really good amp was one of these. I paid $600 I think all the way back in 2000. It had the orange label JBL d-130f. I loved that amp. Super clean all the way up to 10. Sounded like heaven with my re-issue reverb tank. I played that amp for the first 2 years of The Aquasonics. The thing I didn't like about it was the weight. Really heavy, and a hassle to move. I ultimately sold it after getting a piggyback amp. I'd rather carry 40 pounds in each hand than 80 pounds in one hand. And I hate casters. I had a small foldable dolly, and even on that it was a wobbly heavy mess. And another thing to forget to load.

It's a shame yours doesn't have the D130 in it. A K130 might sound the same, but the value is much less. For me , the D130 was half the reason I bought it.

I haven't seen a whole lot of appreciation for this type amp in the last few years. Prices seem to always be about the same. I sold mine for $850 in 2011. I think they have gone down since then. Nobody can or wants to lug these heavy beasts around.

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

The weight is such a killer. The band is set up in my basement so to get to a gig it's up the stairs then back down. My Twin actually feels light compared to the 1 x 15 cab for the bandmaster.

There are two available. I think they were owned by a steel player that used road cases. They are in mint condition and look brand new.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Yeah, an EV 15" BM cabinet would feel like it's nailed to the floor.

I'll bet it sounded harsh because the reverb was all the way up. I'll bet it sounds better with a tank in front.

If it's super clean looking, I don't think you can hardly go wrong. Do a few more push-ups and convince yourself it's not "that" heavy.

My go to amp right now is a '63 Bandmaster in a 1x15" cabinet with a Weber California. It's about 55 lbs, which I can handle.

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

stratdancer wrote:

From what I'm reading right now the K130 is very similar to the D130.

The K130 is not even a close replacement for a D-130. I have a 1960 vibrAonic which was the precursor to the Vibrosonic Reverb amp. Mine is a great sounding amp. The steel players love em because of the 15".

According to Vintage Guitar, an excellent condition Vibra sells from
$775-$950. Production 1972-1981, blk Tolex, 100W, SF.

My Vibra is about 45W from what I recall, which is the identical amp to a 61 Showman head.

stratdancer wrote:

I have a 1970 twin and a 67 Bandmaster.

I guarantee ya, the Vibro will make the Twin and Bandmaster sound like girly amps. I know i will catch hell for that comment, but it is the truth. Borrow the Vibro and crank em up for a test run. Downside, the Vibro i heavier than the BM and Twin together, unless the Twin has twin JBL's.

Sonichris wrote:

My go to amp right now is a '63 Bandmaster in a 1x15" cabinet, about 55 lbs, which I can handle.

What a wuss Chris. I thought you boys from Colorado were real He Men? I guess the Marijuana turned you into California dreamin' boys? lol

You did good on the sale of your Vibro.

On a side note, Did Tom pick you up for April? I enjoyed your performance there a few years ago.

Have you every sat down with any of the boys from the Astronuts to get information how they achieved their bitchin tone? One of the best sounding tones ever achieved.

stratdancer wrote:

I'm thinking to get the best demo I need to take the guitar and the tank with me. I was playing straight into it with the onboard dimed. From what I'm reading right now the K130 is very similar to the D130.

Good idea. Take your stuff. Brief history here. Apparently a speaker initially they called the PS-15, then later to a JBL by-name model. Master Vol, photo-resistor tremelo, circuits (100w & 135w) look like a TR. The schematic on it includes the TR, SuperSix, etc as other amps that use the same circuit. So it's basically a TR with a 15".

When you go back with your Strat & your tank, hit 'em hard. Laughing

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Last edited: Dec 06, 2016 21:35:53

If you have a Twin and a Bandmaster, I don't think this is what you want for $800. For $650, for sure. But at $800 you aren't getting a new tool or a new tonal palette nor is it going to do anything better than your current amps. It isn't necessarily going to do things worse, but definitely not better.

Because you have some great amps think more in terms of investment or widening your tonal options.

JakeDobner wrote:

If you have a Twin and a Bandmaster, I don't think this is what you want for $800. For $650, for sure. But at $800 you aren't getting a new tool or a new tonal palette nor is it going to do anything better than your current amps. It isn't necessarily going to do things worse, but definitely not better.

Because you have some great amps think more in terms of investment or widening your tonal options.

I was thinking the same thing about the price. These are at GC and they just came in. My guess is they won't take my offer because it will be way lower than 800 plus tax. As far as tone, you are right, I gain nothing.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Badger wrote:

stratdancer wrote:

I'm thinking to get the best demo I need to take the guitar and the tank with me. I was playing straight into it with the onboard dimed. From what I'm reading right now the K130 is very similar to the D130.

Good idea. Take your stuff. Brief history here. Apparently a speaker initially they called the PS-15, then later to a JBL by-name model. Master Vol, photo-resistor tremelo, circuits (100w & 135w) look like a TR. The schematic on it includes the TR, SuperSix, etc as other amps that use the same circuit. So it's basically a TR with a 15".

When you go back with your Strat & your tank, hit 'em hard. Laughing

Yep, Twin with a 15. I probably like the sound of my non-mastered Twin better.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

SurfBeat wrote:

stratdancer wrote:

I have a 1970 twin and a 67 Bandmaster.

I guarantee ya, the Vibro will make the Twin and Bandmaster sound like girly amps. I know i will catch hell for that comment, but it is the truth. Borrow the Vibro and crank em up for a test run. Downside, the Vibro i heavier than the BM and Twin together, unless the Twin has twin JBL's.

I'm going to check in on bringing it to my sound room for the test drive.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

stratdancer wrote:

My guess is they won't take my offer because it will be way lower than 800 plus tax. As far as tone, you are right, I gain nothing.

I'm with Jake on this one. If you simply must have it make 'em a CA$H offer that is obscenely good to you. But really it's a SF MV Twin with a 15 (i.e., a Twin for a steel player) from before they were even putting a no-kidding JBL in it. (Actually if it's the same store I looked at I'd make 'em an offer on that brown Vibroverb that needs grill cloth.)

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

I'm walking away from it unless I see a price drop. I gain nothing to lighten the load!

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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