1960 Fender Vibrolux 5F11 Tweed Narrow Panel

Serial # F 003372 — 110V

Condition: VERY NICE

A beautiful and increasingly rare 1960 Fender Vibrolux 5F11 Tweed Narrow Panel, made in Fullerton, California, dating to May 1960 according to the original tube chart.

This is a particularly attractive example, retaining its original lacquered tweed cabinet, original Jensen P10R 10″ speaker, original transformers and original 5F11 circuit. The tweed is in very nice condition, showing only moderate age-related wear, particularly around the lower corners and edges. The grille cloth appears correct for the amplifier, although we cannot guarantee that it has never been replaced with vintage-original material at some point in its life.

The amplifier has been properly serviced while retaining its vintage character. A number of quality filter capacitors and resistors have been replaced, and a safe modern power cord with a solid plug has been fitted. The original leather handle had deteriorated and has been replaced with a period-correct reproduction leather handle. The original wooden Fender footswitch is missing; a new reproduction brown-era footswitch is included and works perfectly.

Importantly, the amp still retains its original transformers, original circuit, original Jensen P10R speaker and original tweed cabinet — all key features for collectors and players looking for an authentic early Fender Tweed amplifier.

The Sound

The 5F11 Vibrolux is one of the less common members of Fender’s late Tweed-era amplifier family. Its compact format combines a pair of 6V6GT power tubes with Fender’s distinctive tremolo circuit, producing the warm, responsive and harmonically rich character associated with the best Tweed-era Fender amplifiers.

Plug in a good guitar and the amplifier immediately delivers that unmistakable Tweed Fender sound — warm, dynamic, touch-sensitive and wonderfully organic. Push it harder and the small-format 6V6 power section begins to sing with natural compression and vintage tube overdrive.

The built-in tremolo adds another important part of the 5F11’s character, ranging from subtle movement to deep, hypnotic pulse.

History

Introduced during Fender’s Tweed era, the Vibrolux 5F11 was designed as a compact guitar amplifier combining Fender’s 6V6-based output section with onboard tremolo. By 1960, Fender was approaching the end of its famous Tweed period, making these late examples particularly interesting to collectors.

The narrow-panel Vibrolux is considerably less common than Fender’s more widely encountered Deluxe, Princeton and Champ models. Today, original examples are sought after for their combination of compact size, classic Fender circuitry, genuine Tweed-era construction and distinctive tremolo sound.

This particular amplifier represents a very desirable combination of late-1960 Tweed-era specification and substantial originality, while having received the service work necessary for dependable use.

Specifications

• Model: Fender Vibrolux 5F11
• Year: 1960
• Serial: F 003372
• Tube Chart: JE — May 1960
• Country: USA — Fullerton, California
• Power: approximately 10–12 watts
• Cabinet: Original Narrow Panel lacquered tweed
• Speaker: Original Jensen P10R 10″
• Transformers: Original
• Circuit: Original 5F11 circuit
• Power tubes: 2 × 6V6GT
• Preamp tubes: 2 × 12AX7
• Rectifier: 1 × 5Y3GT
• Inputs: 3 × Instrument
• Controls: Volume, Tone, Speed, Depth
• Tremolo: Built-in
• Voltage: 117V / US specification
• Power cord: Safe replacement
• Footswitch: Reproduction brown-era footswitch included
• Handle: Period-correct reproduction leather handle

Service / modifications: quality replacement filter capacitors and resistors, replacement power cord and plug, reproduction leather handle and reproduction footswitch.

Please note: This is a US-specification 117V amplifier. A suitable step-down transformer is required when used with European 220–240V mains.

Manufacturing date codes and detailed interior photographs are available upon request e-mail

Fandango Guitars · Lugano, Switzerland

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