Would you trade...

[CyaNitrate]

..a stock, slightly beat up 1979 silverface Vibrolux Reverb in bad need of a cap job and reverb repair,
for a 1984 Marshall JCM 800 2x12 50w combo, model 4104, tha'ts been converted to turret board ??

Here's the link
http://prescott.craigslist.org/msg/4843507152.html

It might be a moot point because he has a potential buyer. But as of now I don't play the Fender because I lack the funds for the cap job and repairs. I know they are apples and oranges, just looking for outside opinions.

Thanks!!

[rustywire]

Would.

[blindrabbit]

Totally.

[misterstomach]

absolutely yes, if you're cool with combos. i'd take that amp and put it in a headshell, cause i hate combos, but that thing's killer. i'd wanna do a little research/looking into the turret board conversion. you wanna make sure that shit is legit and done well and preserves the original circuit. seems like a strange thing to do to an existing amp, but you know, if it's good then cool.

[Gone Fission]

Mod makes no fucking sense to me. The vertical input 2203/2204/4104 amps were the ones with hand wired pots, rather than board mounted. Not a fucking thing wrong with the PCB design. Some idgit either burned up the old board or got sold snake oil. Kind of kills any idea of vintage premium on the pricing.

Vibroluxes are pretty fucking awesome, though differently so. Somehow they seem to do better with the worst level of stock speaker than other Fenders of similar era. Even with the more fuzz-friendly low input, the Marshall will probably be a lot louder and bigger sounding, and less scooped. But, I dunno, it largely comes down to which flavor you prefer.

[whiskey_face]

fuck yes. then drive it down to phoenix and lemme haz

[hbombgraphics]

I think I would make that trade,
but I swap amps way to often

[Gigahearts_FX]

personally no, I dont like Marshalls

would much prefer the Fender, but appreciate the fixes are probably expensive

[antennafarm]

probably yes, but ultimately it'd depend on the other amps that you have in your arsenal and how much i used the vibrolux!

[CyaNitrate]

Well, I bought the Vibrolux as it sits, and it sounds good clean, but introduce any fuzz or od and it buzzes awfully, and I don't wanna hurt anything so I haven't been playing it, wanting to have the cap job done first, just to be safe, so I kinda feel like I haven't really gotten to know the amp yet, hence some hesitation.
My plans with the amp are:
-cap job, blackface, fix reverb, replace pull boost knob with standard volume knob
-new speakers
-new cab, either black, or Carolina blue from mojotone(all pine...stock is particle board with butt joints)
-nos faceplate without the "pull for boost" under the Vibro side's volume
-play the hell out of it

Like I said, it could be a moot point, should know later today. But I'm torn because Vibroluxes aren't as common as Twins or Deluxes, but the Marshall is ready to play and needs nothing...ah decisions..

[CyaNitrate]

Also possibly worth noting, the seller doesn't know who did the turret board conversion, and believes the hi/lo switch to be pentode/triode. I'm not savvy enough to know if this is the case or even possible, so if anyone could shine some light on that, it'd be appreciated.

[antennafarm]

what happens if you flip the switch?

[Tristan]

I dunno about either option really, the only thing I know is I wouldn't get the Marshall as that PTP mod brings down the value considerably and it being a combo doesn't help in that regard either as Marshall combo's are considered far less desireable on the market.
I'd do a simple cap job (not a full Blackfacing) on the Vibrolux to see whether you like it and if you don't I'd sell off the amp then look for something else.

[CyaNitrate]

Why not blackface? I've never heard anyone argue against it, and it seems to be the thing to do, especially with such a late year silverface.

[Tristan]

Costs more monies right?
If not too much then do it, sure, but I wouldn't go for the whole cab upgrade yet, though people say it's supposed to be a big improvement I don't know whether the amp is worth it for you (unfortunately it seems to be one of the less wanted newer silverface models) and it won't up the value much if any.
But hey, opinions schmopinions...