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Fender Vibro King
Should you add an extra bedroom onto your house or buy a really sweet amp? Weighing in at about five grand, the Fender Vibro King is one of the most expensive amps for sale today. And it’s still a popular choice for musicians because it delivers on every one of its promises. If you prefer tube amps to modern solid-state amps -- and have an extra $5,000 -- the Vibro-King Custom could be just the amp you’re looking for. Or at least you can dream. That’s totally free. Made in the company’s Custom Shop, this combo amp gives you the tube amp vibe that so many guitarists claim is superior to modern electronic sound. Vacuum tube technology actually became obsolete with the introduction of the modern solid-state circuit, but some electric guitar players claim electronic sound isn’t as good as tube sound. That leaves a place in the amp market for some retro-inspired tube and combo -- or combination tube and solid-state -- amplifiers. Preferred mostly by blues players, the Vibro-King includes a single-channel reverb circuit, tremolo and a much-respected fat switch that delivers without question. You can also create whatever kind of reverb rattles your world, whether it’s cavern or paneled bathroom. You should be able to do whatever you want with a multi-thousand-dollar amp, wouldn’t you say? Now, down to the specs. The Vibro-King Custom is a totally hand-wired, all-tube combo amp. The cabinet is birch ply wrapped in black with the blackface and white knob configuration that appeals to so many stage musicians. Two commanding 6L6 Groove Tubes give the setup fullness and richness. Producing 60 watts of output, there’s plenty of power for any application. Reviewers say this pricey-but-impressive unit has sensitivity to pick dynamics and instrument knob settings that’s beyond any other amp. Also featured in this amp is the ’63 Fender Reverb outfit with tone, mix and dwell controls. Three 10-inch Jensen speakers, a 6V6 driver tube and five preamp tubes complete the set. Nickel hardware and a silver grille cloth complete the look. Hobbyists: Obviously, this amplifier isn’t for you. This a major, big-deal, big-guy amp intended for professional musicians and those with a preference for a previous generation’s technology. If you can afford it and if you want it, you can’t do any better. If you’re okay with solid-state and okay with spending hundreds rather than thousands, look around some more. There are lots of great amps, and this is just one of them. 
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