http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/

These were only made in the early 60's in several versions...

1963 brownface, 40 watts, 2 x 10" speakers
1963-64 blackface, 40 watts, 1 x 15" speaker

...and as a re-issue in the 90's w/ two 10's.

They also mention that there may be a few 1962 prototypes covered with white tolex (rarer than hen's teeth).

The 15" speaker model was a favorite of Stevie Ray Vaughn's, and would probably sell for big $$$ to the right buyer. My memory isn't that good but I think I've seen one of these priced in the $2500 range on some vintage dealer's page.

Even the old 2x10" models would be very desirable for a guitar player. If you plan to sell, do some pricing research first.

The re-issue is desirable, but wouldn't bring huge $$$.

[This message was edited by D Schubert on 15 January 2005 at 08:32 AM.]

Don't sell it for a dime less. Better than any money in any bank. The reissue of this amp is not like the old one like you have. I have a 64 model,original with the Fender canvas cover, one owner in 9.5 out of 10. I lucked out like you did. I sold my original Vibroverb and was lucky to replace it.

Edit: The biggest reason this amp is valuable is that SRV played it and the prices went out the roof. Prior to him using it, you could get them for $5-600. No more.

[This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 15 January 2005 at 07:54 PM.]

The statement above: "The Vverb reissue has the printed circuit card "

Is dead wrong. I own one of the first of these amps out of the Fender factory, and it is a handwired amp, on eyelet board just like the original was in '64. I should know, I owned one of those as well.

The brown 2x10 was a pcb amp.

1963 Brown Tolex 2x10" Low: 5000 High 6000
1964 Black Tolex 1x15" Low: 2500 High 4000

Guitar players and collectors, who form the primary market for vintage amps, find the 2x10" configuration more useful. The brown tolex circuit was different also. Truly one of the holy grails of tube amps. The black tolex version is also highly prized, especially by steel players and some guitar and harp players. But statistically speaking, most guitar players shun very clean-sounding amps with 15" speakers.

Brown reissue - 2x10, printed circuit board

'64 blackface "reissue" - 1x15, hand wired.

Don't even think about what a collector would pay for it. You'd just cry.

A B/F Twin Reverb, with twice the wattage is about bare minimum for me to gig with.

I disagree. The only other sources for hand-wired amps are boutique makers who will charge that or more. "Worth" depends on your view of "value". I'd rather pay $2k for an amp that'll last 40 years than half that for a reissue throwaway that'll last 5 or 6.

And with the right speaker, right tubes and biased slightly on the cold side it's surprising how much headroom the amp has. Stick a D-140 in there, Sylvania STR387's, bias it at roughly 25ma and you'll have enough headroom to make your eyes bleed. It'll work great for clubs - certainly not for an outdoors, unmiked gig though.

Whether or not the BF Vibroverb has enough headroom for steel depends entirely on the venue, and how loud the band is. I could use one of these for most club gigs I play. We just don't play all that loud. The club owners around here would fire us if we played at obnoxious levels. My small Fender guitar/steel amp is a tweaked-out blackface Deluxe Reverb with an EV SRO 12" speaker. That is only good for a pretty quiet steel gig, but man, it sounds good for that.

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Whitney Single 12 8FL & 5 KN,keyless, dual changers Extended C6th, Webb Amp, Line6 PodXT, Goodrich Curly Chalker Volume Pedal, Match Bro, BJS Bar..I was keyless....when keyless wasn't cool....

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, when someone buys the same gear a famous person used, thinking they will get that same "famous sound", they're rudely disappointed.