Silverface Vibrolux vs. Deluxe

[alainguitars]

I've had a silverface 70's deluxe reverb for over 10 years. amp was blackfaced by David Allen and the pull boost disconnected. Just got in a Vibrolux reverb from the same period. Amp is stock with pull boost. I like the tone of the virbrolux more. My question is would I benefit from bypassing the pull boost? Having it blackfaced?

Thanks

 

[74vibrolux]

Absolutely! The VR is just a great amp. My silverface is pre-pull boost and it's my "take it to the grave" amp. So get that baby as close to spec as you can. For some reason, CBS opted to mess with circuits in many later silverfaces (champs and princetons being the exception). The little guys are fine stock, but later era vibroluxes and the like are much cleaner sounding than their blackface counterparts. Still a great amp, though. You're gonna love the 6L6 tone.

 

[alainguitars]

As I said it beats my blackfaced deluxe reverb, I do love the tone. Is it the tubes or the two tens?

 

[mad dog]

The most practical benefit to blackfacing is you get an adjustable bias pot instead of a balancing pot (which I don't find very useful.) Comes in quite handy if you want to try out and bias power tubes. As to why it sounds better, it's everything, not one thing. I'm not even that fond of 10" speakers, but the VR is still one I would gladly own. Has a warm, great OD sound. As does the DR, but the VR just sounds better to me.

 

[guitmatt]

Don't mean to but I actually prefer SF's to BF's I have a '73 SFVR & a '76 SFPR with tube rectifier & MV. Most gigs the VR covers, when playing outdoors I bring the PR. From what I have heard, as long as the pull pot is not engaged it is a "normal" SF circuit. So if it sounds good to YOUR ear it is good . I use my ear & how much is in my bank account to determine which purchase is the right one.

 

[sabby]

You like it. Don't screw with it.