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* EDIT: Up-to-date information is available in Yek's Guide to the Fractal Audio Amplifier Models *
VIBRA-KING: based on custom Fender Vibro-King
The Vibro-King is called the “King of Fender amps” by some. It’s a “modern” take on classic Fender tones. Vibro-King players include gary Clark Jr., Erc Clapton, Pete Townsend and Robert Cray. Fender made an expensive 20th Anniversary edition of the Vibro-King in 2013.
The modeled one is a custom version.
The amp has two 6L6 tubes for 60 watts power, a solid-state rectifier and built-in reverb and vibrato. It’s said to be an incredible heavy amp.
As usual this amp has two inputs. Fractal Audio models are always based on the input with the highest input level. To get the equivalent of using the lower input, set Input Trim to 0.500.
The controls are: Volume, Treble, Bass, Middle and a Fat switch. The amp also has vibrato and reverb controls.
The Fat switch switches the amp from clean into a cranked mode for soloing. We’ve have models of this amp with the Fat switch engaged and one with the Fat switch disengaged. As mentioned in this Premier Guitar article, some players only play with Fat engaged.
The Vibro-King comes with three 10” speakers. We have got these as a stock cab: 3x10 Vibrato Mix.
VIBRA-KING: based on custom Fender Vibro-King
Fender:
“Fender introduced the Vibro-King in 1993 to great acclaim, marking a return to a great hand-wired amp tradition while including a previously unavailable selection of sought-after features. In the two decades since, guitarists and amp aficionados everywhere have prized the enduringly classic Vibro-King as one of the most touch-sensitive amps ever, with sparkling-clean shimmer at lower volumes and powerfully thick overdrive when cranked up.”
“Fender introduced the Vibro-King in 1993 to great acclaim, marking a return to a great hand-wired amp tradition while including a previously unavailable selection of sought-after features. In the two decades since, guitarists and amp aficionados everywhere have prized the enduringly classic Vibro-King as one of the most touch-sensitive amps ever, with sparkling-clean shimmer at lower volumes and powerfully thick overdrive when cranked up.”
The Vibro-King is called the “King of Fender amps” by some. It’s a “modern” take on classic Fender tones. Vibro-King players include gary Clark Jr., Erc Clapton, Pete Townsend and Robert Cray. Fender made an expensive 20th Anniversary edition of the Vibro-King in 2013.
Fenderguru:
“Players seem to either love or hate the Vibro-King. If you’re not into reverb or tremolo you can steer away from this amp. 56% of the controls on the faceplate is about reverb and tremolo. The reverb has the same controls as a Fender standalone reverb unit offering a wide selection of reverb tones. Personally we like to reduce the tone and mix and go for a longer dwell. The tremolo can go really deep and slow, more than you might be used to with the blackface and silverface Fenders.”
“Players seem to either love or hate the Vibro-King. If you’re not into reverb or tremolo you can steer away from this amp. 56% of the controls on the faceplate is about reverb and tremolo. The reverb has the same controls as a Fender standalone reverb unit offering a wide selection of reverb tones. Personally we like to reduce the tone and mix and go for a longer dwell. The tremolo can go really deep and slow, more than you might be used to with the blackface and silverface Fenders.”
The modeled one is a custom version.
Cliff:
"The model is based on the custom version which has higher plate voltages which causes more overdrive on the power tubes."
"The model is based on the custom version which has higher plate voltages which causes more overdrive on the power tubes."
The amp has two 6L6 tubes for 60 watts power, a solid-state rectifier and built-in reverb and vibrato. It’s said to be an incredible heavy amp.
As usual this amp has two inputs. Fractal Audio models are always based on the input with the highest input level. To get the equivalent of using the lower input, set Input Trim to 0.500.
The controls are: Volume, Treble, Bass, Middle and a Fat switch. The amp also has vibrato and reverb controls.
Note that the range of most Fender models is 1 to 10, while the model controls range from 0 to 10. For the OCD-crowd, here's a translation table, created by forum member Barhrecords.
It's a bright amp. There's no Bright switch to turn off, so turn down treble to tame the highs.
The Fat switch switches the amp from clean into a cranked mode for soloing. We’ve have models of this amp with the Fat switch engaged and one with the Fat switch disengaged. As mentioned in this Premier Guitar article, some players only play with Fat engaged.
The Vibro-King comes with three 10” speakers. We have got these as a stock cab: 3x10 Vibrato Mix.
Fenderguru:
“This amp came originally in 1993 with the vintage style blue Eminence Alnicos, and after that Jensen P10r followed by different sorts of speakers from Celestion. Changing the speakers is an easy move for Fender to attract new and old customers again by altering the tone a little bit and calling the new model for “Anniversary model” etc. We find that the original blue frame Eminence give you more of a brownface tone while modern and louder speakers, (like the Weber 10a125/f125) points you into a more scooped blackface direction. We have found some of the best modern Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray tones with the blue frame Eminence Alnicos in this amp (maybe also with the Jensen P10r). The tone is very direct, snappy, responsive and you will hear all the trebly details from your fingers and strings. This tone is not for beginners but for those with a serious attitude for tone. If you are into more rock’n roll, or a fat, chunky clean sound, you should go for other speakers with more low end.
“This amp came originally in 1993 with the vintage style blue Eminence Alnicos, and after that Jensen P10r followed by different sorts of speakers from Celestion. Changing the speakers is an easy move for Fender to attract new and old customers again by altering the tone a little bit and calling the new model for “Anniversary model” etc. We find that the original blue frame Eminence give you more of a brownface tone while modern and louder speakers, (like the Weber 10a125/f125) points you into a more scooped blackface direction. We have found some of the best modern Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray tones with the blue frame Eminence Alnicos in this amp (maybe also with the Jensen P10r). The tone is very direct, snappy, responsive and you will hear all the trebly details from your fingers and strings. This tone is not for beginners but for those with a serious attitude for tone. If you are into more rock’n roll, or a fat, chunky clean sound, you should go for other speakers with more low end.
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