Fender VIBRO-KING User Manual

Fender Musical Instruments 7975 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258 U.S.A.
A Message from the Chairman
Since 1946, Fender realized the importance of your amplifier. You see, your amplifier is more than just a combination of dials, wires and speakers. It is a finely tuned musical instrument. And like any fine musical instrument, it should be treated with special care and attention to detail.
Whether your are after that classic Fender tone, a clean crisp sound for your Bass or Keyboard or the raw driving power of modern distortion, your decision to purchase a Fender amplifier is one you will appreciate with each passing note for years to come.
Wishing you years of enjoyment and a heartfelt thank you,
Bill Schultz
Bill Schultz Chairman of the Board Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
FENDER®PROFESSIONAL TUBE AMPLIFIERS
ALL TUBE PREAMP AND POWERAMP GENERATE THAT TONE AS ONLY TUBES CAN
MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE REDUCING CHASSIS ELIMINATES UNWANTED NOISE AND RADIO INTERFERENCE
FENDER SPECIAL DESIGN HIGH PERFORMANCE SPEAKERS
ROAD-WORTHY AND MUSICAL COMPONENTS, CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE MOST DEMANDING PERFORMANCE SITUATIONS
CONSTRUCTED FROM HAND­SELECTED WOODS, EMPLOYING RUGGED CORNER JOINERY FOR ENDURING RELIABILITY
COVERED IN GENUINE TOLEX®FOR LONG LIFE AND LASTING GOOD LOOKS
VIBRO-KING®INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of a Fender Vibro-King Professional Tube Amplifier. The Vibro­King is a single channel all tube combo amplifier built entirely using point to point wiring. Moreover, each Vibro-King amplifier is individually hand-crafted from the finest components available and assembled at the Fender Amplifier Custom Shop in Corona, California, USA.
The All-Tube Vibro-King features 3 Reissue “Blue Frame” 10" speakers with Alnico Magnets speakers and is rated at 60 Watts R.M.S. into 2. Furthermor e, the Dwell, Mix and Tone knobs control the all-tube reverb allowing a “custom” designed reverb tone. Still, the footswitch offers the ability to remotely switch on and off both the Vibrato and Fat features. With the built-in effects loop, adding an external signal processor is a snap.
Designed for the most discriminating of guitarists, the Vibro-King produces tones ranging from the crystal clean to a smooth yet smooth overdriven crunch. Couple the Vibro-King with the optional Vibro-King 212 Enclosure and you have an amplifier that is undoubtedly The King of Tone.
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In order to thoroughly understand the operation, features and functions of your Fender®Vibro-King Professional Tube Amplifier, please read and refer as needed to this operation manual. By doing so, your amplifier is sure to provide you with years of trouble­free music making and maximum playing enjoyment.
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FRONT PANEL FUNCTIONS
A. INPUT 1 - Plug your guitar in here. B. INPUT 2 - A lower impedance and sensitivity input
than input 1, useful for guitars with active pickups.
NOTE: Input 2 may also be used for chaining multiple amps together . With your guitar plugged into input 1, insert a cord in the number 2 input and connect the other end of the cord to another amplifier. The number 2 input now acts as a Y jack sending the guitar’s input signal to another amplifier.
C. DWELL - Adjusts the amount of Reverb sustain. Lower settings create a “choked” or gated effect, while higher settings produce a bouncy or saturated (water dripping in a cave) effect.
D. MIX - Adjusts the “wet / dry” ratio of the Reverb. Lower settings produce a “drier” guitar sound with less Reverb. A higher setting will produce a “wetter” or heavier Reverb signal in the mix.
E. TONE - Adjusts the overall tonal characteristics of the Reverb. Lower settings produce a darker Reverb sound while higher settings produce a much brighter sound.
F. FAT - In the up position, this switch boosts the gain of the preamp in a frequency range best suited for an electric guitar. This results in an overdriven or “fatter” sound at lower volumes.
G. VOLUME - Adjust the overall volume of the Vibro­King Amplifier.
H. TREBLE - Adjusts the level of high frequencies of your Vibro-King. NOTE: Like many vintage amplifiers,
all tone controls are pre-distortion and adjusting them determines how the amplifier will overdrive.
I. BASS - Adjusts the level of low fr equencies of your Vibro-King. Performance Tip: When overdriven, the
tube power amp enhances bass frequencies. It may be necessary to use lower bass settings when playing at high volume settings.
J. MID - Adjusts the level of the mid-frequencies of your Vibro-King.
K. SPEED - Adjusts the speed of the Vibro-King’s Vibrato feature. Turning this knob clockwise increases the speed of Vibrato oscillation.
L. INTENSITY - Adjusts the level of signal modulation of the Vibro-King’s Vibrato feature. T urning this knob completely counter -clockwise turns the Vibrato feature off. The Vibrato feature can also be turned off via the footswitch.
M. PILOT JEWEL - Illuminates when the Vibro-King is receiving power. Should this bulb burn out, turn off and unplug the amplifier, unscrew the pilot jewel and replace the lamp with a type T47 bulb.
REAR PANEL FUNCTIONS
A. LINE CORD - The Vibro-King is equipped with a grounding type supply cord to reduce the possibility of shock hazard. Be sure to connect it to a grounded AC receptacle. DO NOT ALTER THE AC PLUG.
B. FUSE - The fuse is in the AC supply of the amplifier and will help to protect the amplifier in the event of an electrical fault or tube failure. If a fuse blows, replace it only with one of the same type and rating. (Refer to the specification page to determine the correct fuse type and rating for your amplifier).
NEVER use a fuse with a higher current rating as this could damage the equipment and present a serious safety hazard. If the amplifier repeatedly
blows fuses, it should be taken to an authorized Fender service center.
C. POWER SWITCH - Turns the AC power ON and OFF. When the amplifier is in the OFF position, the amplifier is completely shut down.
D. STANDBY SWITCH - When the power switch and this switch are ON, your Vibro-King is ready to perform. In the STANDBY position, power is supplied ONLY to the tube filaments and sound will NOT come out of the amp. Using the STANDBY SWITCH during short breaks eliminates tube warm­up time and will increase tube life.
E. MAIN SPEAKER JACK - This is the main plug-in connection to the speakers and must always be used as their primary connection.
F. EXTERNAL SPEAKER JACK - Plug-in connection for an external speaker enclosure. This jack is wired in parallel with the main speaker jack and must ONLY be used in conjunction with the main speaker jack. If this jack is used without the main speaker jack, no sound will be produced. The external speaker jack should be used with the 4Vibro-King 212 speaker enclosure. Under this configuration, the resulting speaker load will be optimum for full power.
G. FOOTSWITCH (INCLUDED) - Plug-in connection for the footswitch. The footswitch allows the remote On / Off selection of the FAT and VIBRATO features. Using the footswitch overrides the front panel FAT select switch .
H. EFFECTS RETURN - This 1/4 inch, unbalanced, TS, input jack is designed to accept signal from an external processing device, such as a digital delay or a chorus unit.
I. EFFECTS SEND - This 1/4 inch, unbalanced, TS, output jack is designed to feed an external signal processing device, such as a digital delay or a chorus unit.
TUBE REPLACEMENT
TROUBLESHOOTER’S CHECKLIST
Tube life varies depending upon playing style and application with power tubes having a much shorter life than pre-amp tubes which can last for years. For continued optimum
performance from your amplifier, the tubes should ONLY be replaced with the same type tubes as specified on the tube location label inside the cabinet.
A simple way to check if the tubes are worn is to replace the set in your amp with your spare set. (You do carry spare tubes and fuses, don't you?)
When changing the tubes, ALWAYS unplug the amplifier and remember THE TUBES ARE HOT! Either wait for the tubes to cool or use an insulated oven mitt to remove them from your amplifier.
• First, replace the OUTPUT tubes in the amplifier
and listen.
• Next, re-insert the original output tubes. Replace
the PRE-AMP tubes and listen.
• Finally, try replacing both the OUTPUT and PRE-
AMP tubes and listen.
If there is a marked improvement in the tone of your amp at any point in this procedure, leave the new tubes in your amp and purchase another spare set.
Your Vibro-King's tube compliment consists of:
Two 5881 Tubes (part #099-5090-000),
Five 12AX7A Tubes (part #099-5091-000),
One Special Design 6V6 Tube(part #099-5093-000).
If the amp is set up but does not function, check the following items:
• Is the amp power cord properly plugged into an electrical outlet?
• Is there power to the outlet?
• Is the fuse blown?
• Is the speaker(s) properly connected to the amplifier?
• Is the amp on standby?
• Are the amplifier VOLUME, TREBLE, MID and
BASS controls above 0?
• Is the instrument volume control turned up?
• Is the instrument plugged into the amplifier?
(Eliminate any effects pedals and try another guitar cord.)
Check under all tube covers to see if the tube filaments are glowing.
If, after checking all of the above, your amplifier is not performing correctly, consult your nearest authorized Fender service center.
COVERING CARE
Your Vibro-King is covered in genuine Tolex for long life and lasting good looks. To clean the Tolex covering, use a sponge and a light soapy water solution. Avoid spilling liquids on the
operating surfaces, grill, volume and tone controls, switches and speakers. ALWAYS unplug your amplifier before cleaning or approaching it with fluids.
SPECIFICATIONS
TYPE CSR 4 PART NUMBER 081-1070 (100V)
081-1000 (120V) 081-1040 (230V) 081-1030 (240V)
POWER 100V AC, 50/60 Hz 195W REQUIREMENTS 120V AC, 60 Hz, 195W
230V AC, 50 Hz, 195W 240V AC, 50 Hz, 195W
POWER OUTPUT 60W into 2 INPUT IMPEDANCE INPUT 1: 1 M
INPUT 2: 136 k
TUBES Four (4) 12AX7A Tubes
Two (2) 5881/6L6 Tubes One (1) 6V6 Tube
FUSE 3A 250V fuse for
100V and 120V versions
1.6A 250V fuse for 230V and 240V versions
SPEAKER Three (3) 8Reissue “Blue Frame”
10" speakers with Alnico Magnets (P/N 037617)
FOOTSWITCH 2 Button Footswitch, Controls
Fat and Vibrato Select (P/N 041273)
DIMENSIONS Height: 25.5 in 64.8 cm
Width: 24.75 in 62.9 cm Depth: 10.5 in 26.7 cm
WEIGHT 72 lbs 32.7 kg
PRODUCT SPECIFICA TIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE, REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY. Service by persons other than Fender
authorized service technicians may void the warranty.
THIS UNIT MUST BE EARTH GROUNDED.
A Product of:
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Corona, CA 91720 USA
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