edit. I checked out Ebay. About $700.

[This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 30 August 2006 at 08:37 PM.]

The only one for sale on ebay right now is supposedly a 79 - it looks earlier, Vibrolux Reverb Amp in block letters - for a Buy It Now of $1100 plus $75 shipping. Maybe replaced speakers with later date codes led them to the 79 conclusion?

IMO, across comparable vintages, Vibroluxes are the most valuable of all the blackface and silverface amps, with the exception of the blackface Vibroverb - a fact corroborated by the Vintage Guitar Price Guide values. The silverface Vibrolux is, hands down, the most valuable silverface Fender, with the amps made between 68 and 72 being the most valuable. Even a couple of years ago, VG Price guide listed retail for the 68-72 version at $1100-1400 in excellent, original condition, and they've definitely gone up significantly since then.

Of course, condition and originality is everything. Any change, except for normal maintenance items like tubes and filter capacitors, can cut the value down significantly. IMO.

As far as value, these amps were selling for more two years ago. They seem to have come down a bit in the past year. Exactly 1 year ago I sold my other '67 blackface VibLxRvb on eBay for $1750... which was $500 less than the price listed in the price guide. It was 100% original and very clean, and over 1500 people had viewed the auction. About 16 months ago I sold my '69 silverface for $1100. It was clean, but had new speakers (Webers).

Bill, I would suggest keeping the amp, unless you absolutely need the money. These amps will increase in value in future years and they sound excellent.

As to why the smaller amps like the Delux Reverb and Vibrolux Reverb bring more, they are smaller and yet you don't have to run everybody out of the room getting a nice edge on the sound of them.

Tele players would buy a $700 VR in a heartbeat, sight unseen.

Edited to add:

I checked eBay closed auctions.

There are several non-serviced amps, ones with changed speakers, added casters, etc for $700-800. One at $600 on a "buy it now", which means the seller had no clue. A '79 with no apparent servicing for $800. A serviced '78 for $1200. A bunch at $600-700 that are the new PCB Custom Vibrolux Reverb, a new amp.

I'll stick with my number of $1200 for a "9".

[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 31 August 2006 at 05:44 AM.]

I am pretty confident that if somebody walks into a major guitar show with an excellent, original condition 68-72 Vibrolux Reverb for $700, the dealer shark line will pounce on them with hundred dollar bills and fight over it to get it for resale at a significantly higher price. I spent quite a few years in the vintage guitar business, and this is for real, IMO. Tell you what, Bill Y. - if you want to sell yours for $700 (or even a bit more, frankly), I'll be happy to buy it.

Honestly, though - I've seen some ebay stuff that makes me laugh, talk about phishing. But strangely, sometimes it works and people do sometimes overbid.

Now the dealers are there to 1) show off their collector-quality stuff, and 2) BUY instruments from walk-ins.

All the "deals" are gone on the initial "booth participant" night, when they trade amongst each other. By Saturday there is nothing but overpriced but pretty stuff on display, and sharks (working for the dealers) roaming around looking in every guitar case for deals.

quote:

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Now the dealers are there to 1) show off their collector-quality stuff, and 2) BUY instruments from walk-ins.

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So true. Often a Dealer will put the show on, produce it and promote it as a swap meet... because he's wants to buy up the "bargains" that come in the door.

I think of these shows as "displays" of vintage gear, and places for wealthy buyers to find the rare guitars they are looking for.

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 31 August 2006 at 03:44 PM.]