Could someone with experience with the Kinder AFB describe how it affects tone please. I currently use black CR 520 > LW Harp Delay> Kalamazoo Model 1. When more is called for I run a speaker side line out from the Model into Normal 1 of a '63 RI Vibroverb. V1 has an Amprex Bugle Boy 12AT7. Speakers are a Weber 10A25 and a new Jensen P10Q. I usually have plenty of volume but I'd like to fatten the sound and make things more responsive.
I've seriously considering a Super Cruncher but while I'm waiting for some troubles to sort themselves out I've been debating on whether or not it would be better to go another route and work with what I have and spending less cash. But it just seems like I'm fighting the current amp sometimes.
Personally, if I owned a 63 Vibroverb reissue, I am not sure that I would be looking for a Super Cruncher. I've played through a 63 Vibroverb and was able to get some really nice tone out of it. It won't be as busted up as a Super Cruncher. It may not have huge bottom end, but if you bring some tone and technique to the game, a Vibroverb is a nice choice.
If you must buy something, consider a Lone Wolf Harp Tone+ pedal. That will fatten your tone up quite nicely.
It's not that the Vibroverb isn't a good sounding harp amp. I've been using one since 1991 when my '65 Vibrolux Reverb was stolen. It's also a great guitar amp. I run the harp through Normal and the guitar through Bright. Can't imagine a better dual function amplifier and the tube and speaker upgrades took it up a level as well, though it is still a guitar amp and a compromise.
As far as technique, tonewise I can hold my own with most. Been some places. Done some things. But having gone in a different direction in my music career for a number of years I missed what the rest of the harp world was doing. Since deciding to go back to my roots I've discovered what's out there now and it's pretty apparent I've fallen behind. Hell, I'm not even as good as I used to be. I've arranged to take formal lessons for the first time to address certain shortcomings. I may never catch up but I'm looking at any and all ways to gain some ground.
First off,get a GZ34 rectifier tube in place of the SS,if you have not already. I played Thursday night at The Beach Shack in Cocoa Beach,Florida with Mark Korpi,the late Gary Primich's guitar player and song writer. I setup my 53 Danelectro Maestro,which includes all NOS vintage tubes and a 12" Eminence Patriot series Black Powder speaker. I also brought along my JT30 with a hot CR element from Chuck Gurney at Fatbottom mics to run through the Kinder AFB+. The Beack Shack is a fairly large venue-Jason has played there,Hummel,Dennis Gruenling,The Nighthawks-you get the idea. We had a fairly loud drummer,a great bass player,Mark on one guitar,and a kid who though he was Jimi Hendrix on another. I held my own,without micing the amp. The bass player said it was one of the loudest amps he's ever heard. The AFB gives me volume and feedback resistance more than anything else. The tube compliment in the amp makes a huge difference,and the AFB does lend a certain amount of "crunch",but my amp already has an ample amount of headroom,and great early breakup. We ended the night being joined by Reverend Billy C. Wirtz.
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2011 11:23 AM
Tmf714 wrote:"First off,get a GZ34 rectifier tube in place of the SS,if you have not already." Unfortunately a GZ34 is not a drop in replacement for the SS rectifier in a 63 Vibroverb RI (nor the Custom Vibrolux Reverb, nor Blues Deluxe, which all use the same PT). The RI uses a bridge rectifier, with no centre tap on the B+ winding, thus you need to replace the power transformer & cut a hole for the new rectifier & wire up a new socket, rebias etc., ...a lot of money & effort for the nominal change
Unless it's a 2003-2008 '64 Vibroverb Custom,which utilized a toggle switch,allowing the user to toggle back and forth between solid state and tube rectification. The great Cesar Diaz modeled the amp in tribute to the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan,who used this amp throughout his career. If it's a '63 for sure,at minimum install a Weber copper cap.
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2011 11:11 AM
Wow, The Beach Shack. I graduated from Cocoa Beach High when that place was called The Rooster's Nest. On a visit, I jammed there with Kenny Cohen's band. Kenny and I went to high school together. He was one of the cool kids and I wasn't. He didn't remember me from Adam. It was funny because he came up to me after and said, "Man, you can actually play. We get guys all the time and they can't play squat but you rocked the house dude."
Anyway, it's a '63 Vibroverb reissue from '91 with a SS rectifier. I looked into the tube mod years ago but no it's not worth it.
I thought the Copper Cap was a replacement for a tube rectifier. I just checked the Weber site and that seems to be the case or did I miss something? I can't find anything about replacing a SS rectifier in the chart or anywhere else. I'm not an electronics guy. ---------- LSC
There is a copper cap module for bridge rectifiers, it has WZ34 voltage drop (5-10vdc), not a plug in device & requires a tech to fit. The 63 RI only runs 425-440vdc, lower voltage than most other 6L6 Fenders like the bassman, Deville, Super Reverb, dropping the voltage further wouldn't be top of my list of priorities...especially as rebiasing is a PITA due to location of the bias range resistor.
Besides plenty of good harp amps used SS rectifiers like Brown Pro/Concert/Bandmaster/Vibrasonic & all of John Kinder's amps.
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2011 3:23 PM
Yep-Kenny is here and plays all over the place-I have played a few times with him-he has solo,duo and trio band gigs-he's a very well known and respected musician here.
Sounds like I've done pretty much all I can do with the Verb. Kind of suspected that, but thanks very much for all the info.
Re: Kenny C. Thanks for the clip. He was known as a really good player even back in the day. Can't remember the name of the band but they played quite a lot around the area and were pretty much #1 as I recall. He's looking good in the clip.
I'm new to this forum. Is there a way to communicate via email outside.? I'm curious if you're a CB native and if we might know some of the same folks. ---------- LSC
I was born and raised in NY-I moved here after 911,went back to NY for a bit,and have moved back to Central Brevard to stay. If you want,leave me your e-mail.
I think AFB+ pedals sound better if you have more head room in your speakers, If you have a amp that already sounds distorted & trebly the AFB+ can make it sound too harsh. but if you have a bassy sounding amp with higher watt speakers you can really push the speakers with a Kinder feedback pedal & get a great sound. Your Vibroverb RI might sound better with two eminence speakers ram rod or lil buddy speaker with the AFB+ pedal.
