Fender 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb Retube Kits

Fender 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb.

Full Retube Kits for the Fender 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb. Regardless of your style and application we have you covered!

All of our Fender 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb full Retube Kits are designed specifically for these amps. Every kit is configured to provide a specific sound/experience.

The Default power tubes for these kits use the Special Double Mica version of JJ’s 6L6GC-DM. The Double Mica modification has no effect on the sonics of the tube, it simply helps to reinforce the internal assembly to minimize the chance of tube rattle, however you can use the Power Tube drop down to select the JJ 5881’s. The JJ 6L6GC-DM’s will maintain the OEM headroom/breakup point for the output stage. 6L6’s are known for their bold cleans, deep bass, crystalline highs, and naturally scooped mids. The JJ 5881’s will drop the output power by about 20%. 5881’s have less bass extension, a crunchier mid-range, and bright jangly highs that compress when pushed.

The Standard Retube Kit is as close to OEM as possible. Maintaining the amps stock level of headroom and gain while providing a warm but even handed overall sound. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, four Standard ECC83S’s for V1, V2, V4 and V5. One Standard JJ ECC81 for V3, and one current Balanced JJ ECC81 for the phase inverter in V6, Closest to the power tubes.

The Gold Pin Retube Kit this kit includes the JJ ECC83S Gold Pin variants to provide a smoother, creamier, and more singing overall sound. This option is less aggressive and has less “teeth” when driven hard. If you like a classic raunchy gritty overdriven tone, we recommend looking elsewhere… If sweet, open, and more refined is what you’re after this kit will do it. The kit includes one matched pair 6L6GC-DM’s by default, four Standard Gold Pin ECC83S’s for V1, V2, V4 and V5. One Standard Gold Pin JJ ECC81 for V3, and one current Balanced Gold Pin JJ ECC81 for the phase inverter in V6, closest to the power tubes.

**These amps are adjustable bias, and the bias should be checked and adjusted as necessary anytime you swap power tubes. All you need to adjust the bias is a multimeter. Fender recommends setting the bias at test point TP33 (to ground) to 60mV for the factory 6L6’s. We suggest a setting of 65-80mV with the JJ 6L6GC, or 60-70mV with the JJ 5881’s.