Hand-Built Blackface Guitar Amps
The case for Replica Amplifiers
I love building blackface amplifiers and have built several for my own personal use, including the Vibroverb™, Super Reverb™, Vibrolux™ and Princeton Reverb™.
Original, unmodified examples are getting harder to find and if you do find one, they can be very expensive. Taking investment grade originals to a gig may be risky and using an original for just banging around the house might be tying up capital that could be better used. Settling for a recent pc-board-based, off-shore built, off-the-rack amp is one solution.
I believe a better solution exists right in between. Find a reputable builder to assemble an amp using the highest quality, as close to original-specification components as possible, using established build techniques and diligent attention to detail.
The Vibroverb™
The BF Vibroverb™
Possibly the most desirable blackface amplifier, the Vibroverb™ AB763 circuit, around 40 watts with 1-15" speaker, 2 channels with reverb and tremolo. This particular custom version has a Mid control in the 2nd channel unlike the original. Think Texas Blues, Rockabilly, Jazz, Country, more. Extremely pedal friendly, a great clean platform. Power transformers from Pacific Audio, Mercury Magnetics output transformer, over=spec'd choke, fiberglass circuit board and the highest quality components available.
The BF Vibroverb™
No compromises! Using only solid pine cabinets made by today's premier cabinet makers, the best transformers and board components available, bult to the original specs (no additional fuses to meet international standards, no corporate cost-cutting) wire-dressed the old way just like the originals.
The Tweed Twin
The BF Princeton Reverb™
A blackface Princeton can be built for a much lower cost than a hand-wired version, using the highest quality components. Shown is a recent reissue that has been completely rebuilt. Rebuilding a reissue can sometimes be more cost effective than starting from scratch. I have never bought or assembled a "kit."