I’m contemplating a project of a new single 12 baffle for a drip edge 69 Fender Vibrolux Reverb with an Eminance eps 12c speaker.
Have anyone tried something similar? How did you like it? Any other advice before I get started?
Vibrolux with EPS 12c?
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Joe Kaufman
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Mark Perrodin
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Re: Vibrolux with EPS 12c?
i did something kinda similar. i took a clapped out 1969 super reverb and swapped in a different output transformer to be able to use a 15" weber. i had a scaled down cabinet made by winnie of winfield amplifiers. it sounds absolutely massive. great project to attempt for sure.
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Jeff Porter
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Re: Vibrolux with EPS 12c?
I had MojoTone build me a 1x12 baffle for my 67 BF Vibrolux. Loaded with a Weber 12f150 as I wanted to stay with a Fender/Jensen type speaker. Works great for steel and Tele and it’s my first choice of amps when I have to play both on the same gig.
"I make dozens of dollars a year playing music."
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Bob Carlucci
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Re: Vibrolux with EPS 12c?
It would be great of course,, Only thing is this- If thats a clean, original 69 drip edge, its a close to $2K piece of gear.. I would very carefully remove the original baffle with speakers,grille cloth,Fender Logo, drip edge all intact and undamaged, and preserve them someplace safe and dry. You will be devaluing the amp somewhat if you leave it in the modified state. If you plan on keeping it forever, its all good. I am not really sure a single 12 would be all that much better than 2 10's, but to each his own of course.. bob
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
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Joe Kaufman
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Re: Vibrolux with EPS 12c?
Thanks everyone! Any other opinions or advice welcome!
The amp is pretty original but missing the back panel and has some noticeable wear.
I have been playing an 1978 vibrolux as a guitar amp and it’s been great. I’m trying to justify to myself why I would have two…
The amp is pretty original but missing the back panel and has some noticeable wear.
I have been playing an 1978 vibrolux as a guitar amp and it’s been great. I’m trying to justify to myself why I would have two…
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Joe Kaufman
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- Location: Lewiston, Idaho
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Bob Carlucci
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Re: Vibrolux with EPS 12c?
Here's what I would do if I had your Vibrolux and wanted it as a steel amp.Joe Kaufman wrote: 30 Aug 2025 3:35 pm Thanks everyone! Any other opinions or advice welcome!
The amp is pretty original but missing the back panel and has some noticeable wear.
I have been playing an 1978 vibrolux as a guitar amp and it’s been great. I’m trying to justify to myself why I would have two…
I would remove the head and have a cab made for it. I would pair that with a 15 inch speaker in a small portable cabinet. Better for steel IMHO, and if you ever want to sell it would take all of 10 minutes to take the head out of the cabinet and put it back into the original Vibrolux cabinet...just a thought... bob
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
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Dave Mudgett
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Re: Vibrolux with EPS 12c?
In general, I'm with Bob C. on this. A '69 drip-edge Vibrolux Reverb is one of the best guitar amps ever made, IMHO, and worth quite a bit. A missing back panel is easily sourced - repros are available. In fact, to put a bias meter on the back of my '66 Vibrolux, I got a repro upper back panel and stored the original. Old panels do pop up from time to time, but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble looking or expense.
With a '69, the baffle is not dadoed in, so you can remove the baffle. So replacing the baffle is not a problem. But I think if I, personally, really wanted more oomph out of a Vibrolux, I'd probably get a repro cabinet (with a heavier-duty baffle cut out for something like a 4 OhmJBL D-120F or if you like 15s, a D-130F. The step-up in efficiency might make it worth the trouble. The decision on whether to split the head and speaker cab is personal preference. I'd probably just keep it as a combo - I prefer to lug one thing to lugging two things. But splitting is totally reasonable.
BTW - I don't necessarily think a single 12" speaker is gonna be much, if any, better than a couple of good 10" speakers. I used my '71 Vibrolux, with its original blue-label (I think) Utahs, plenty for pedal steel. These were some heavy-duty (and fairly heavy) 10" speakers. That sucker was surprisingly good for pedal steel. No - it's not gonna be anything like a Session/Nashville 400 or even a Twin Reverb. But I think 10" speakers can sound fine for pedal steel if they are efficient and clean. I have a JBL M-series 10" speaker in my Princeton, which I use lots for low-volume gig situations. I routinely use my '57 tweed Bassman for guitar and steel. Are you gonna be leaning heavily on a lot of low-string C6 or universal? Unless you're doing that, I think 10" speakers can work well if they're good ones.
But for sure - don't do anything irreversible.
With a '69, the baffle is not dadoed in, so you can remove the baffle. So replacing the baffle is not a problem. But I think if I, personally, really wanted more oomph out of a Vibrolux, I'd probably get a repro cabinet (with a heavier-duty baffle cut out for something like a 4 OhmJBL D-120F or if you like 15s, a D-130F. The step-up in efficiency might make it worth the trouble. The decision on whether to split the head and speaker cab is personal preference. I'd probably just keep it as a combo - I prefer to lug one thing to lugging two things. But splitting is totally reasonable.
BTW - I don't necessarily think a single 12" speaker is gonna be much, if any, better than a couple of good 10" speakers. I used my '71 Vibrolux, with its original blue-label (I think) Utahs, plenty for pedal steel. These were some heavy-duty (and fairly heavy) 10" speakers. That sucker was surprisingly good for pedal steel. No - it's not gonna be anything like a Session/Nashville 400 or even a Twin Reverb. But I think 10" speakers can sound fine for pedal steel if they are efficient and clean. I have a JBL M-series 10" speaker in my Princeton, which I use lots for low-volume gig situations. I routinely use my '57 tweed Bassman for guitar and steel. Are you gonna be leaning heavily on a lot of low-string C6 or universal? Unless you're doing that, I think 10" speakers can work well if they're good ones.
But for sure - don't do anything irreversible.