Electric Guitar Review

What can I say? I’ve been coveting Fender’s classically-cool Vibro-King Custom for as long as I’ve been playing the guitar… and that’s longer than I’d like to admit.

First off, I’m a true tube-amp freak, and the Vibro-King is all tube/all the time, including dual 6L6 Groove Tubes, five 12AX7 pre-amp tubes, and something you seldom here of anymore, a 6V6 tube to drive that badass Fender reverb unit.

Of course, these beauties aren’t cheap, but that’s because they offer serious Fender craftsmanship, including hand-wiring, a trio of 10-inch alnico-magnet Jensens, the Vibro-King’s namesake vibrato (nothing else sounds like a true Fender vibrato,) and a unique reverb unit, circa-1963, that’s customizable with “tone,” “mix,” and “dwell” settings.

These things produce both shimmering-clean, and punchy vintage overdrive equally well, and even include an effects loop, tilting legs (one of the most useful features Fender ever added to a guitar amp!) and a 2-button foot-switch.

Downsides? At nearly 2’ tall, and packing three 10” speakers, the Vibro-King Custom feels like it weighs a ton. Other than that, it’s a Fender, and it’s built solid as a rock.

Specs: Weighs in at 72 lbs., with cabinet dimensions of 22.5“ H x 24.75” W x 10.5“ D.