Fender Vibro-King amplifier combos and extension cabinets
Click to view larger version Fender 2002 and 2003 catalogues.
In recent years, with the Who’s resurgence on the concert stage as a five piece, beginning in 2000, Pete has used Fender Vibro-King amplifiers, paired with his Fender Eric Clapton model Stratocasters.
His first use of these amplifiers was for solo performances in 1998, where he would use the Vibro-King for the electric split.
Then, following a brief use of Hiwatt DR103Ws for the Who’s first outings as a five-piece in 1999, he switched to the Fender Vibro-Kings and has used these amplifiers almost exclusively until present. (He again went back to including Hiwatt in his rig — one Hiwatt Custom 50 signature series model CP103 50w amplifier into one Mesa/Boogie 2x12 vertical speaker cabinet, set up as half-stack — for early 2006 shows, including it in between two Vibro-King stacks.)
Specification:
- Fender Vibro-King amplifier:
- 60w 3x10″ combo.
- 10″ JBL speakers.
- Blond Tolex covering and oxblood grill cloth.
- Sovtek tubes.
- Fender two-button footswitch controller.
- Fender Vibro-King 212 Speaker Enclosure:
- 12″ JBL speakers.
- Birch plywood, blond Tolex covering and oxblood grill cloth.
- Closed-back cabinet.
Alan Rogan discusses Pete’s Stratocasters Vibro-Kings.
2006 setup
Pete’s “stack” consists of one Vibro-King combo on top of one Fender Vibro-King 212 speaker cabinet. He uses one or two stacks (depending on venue size) as the primary amplifier rig, with one or two stacks as backup, powered on and set up behind the primary amplifier(s). Then there is a third rig offstage for troubleshooting. All signals are passed through a Pete Cornish Custom Design piezo/magnetic splitter (Pete Townshend s/n 0602, built August 2006):
- A to onstage Vibro-King(s)
- B to offstage Vibro-King(s)
- C to another Cornish splitter, which would bring in the rear (spare) Vibro-King(s). (Spares are powered on, but on stand-by so that the amp can’t be accidentally be brought in by PT.)
Signal paths
2000–2002 basic signal path:
Guitar (magnetic) pickups --> MXR Dyna-Comp --> Boss OD-1 --> |splitter box|--> Vibro-King/cabs --> SM-57 (or other mic) --> PA
Fishman (piezo) pickup -->|splitter box|-->DI --> PA
2004–2006 basic signal path:
Guitar (magnetic) pickups --> MXR Super Comp --> Boss OD-1 --> |splitter box|--> Vibro-King/cabs (and Hiwatt) --> mic --> PA
Fishman (piezo) pickup -->|splitter box|-->DI --> PA
2006 basic signal path:
Guitar (magnetic) pickups --> Cornish custom effects pedal board --> |splitter box| --> Vibro-King/cabs (three sets, see above) --> mic --> PA
Fishman (piezo) pickup -->|splitter box|-->DI --> PA
See the main equipment index for full rig details.
Endorsement
From Pete’s 2003 endorsement of these amplifiers in the 2003 Fender catalogue:
“They do exactly what I need … [like] the massive rigs of the ’60s I used to use. Remember that the first Marshall amps were very close emulations themselves of the Fender amps I first used — and which I asked Jim Marshall to make ‘ten times as loud!’. Today, this rig fills every hall I come across. If I play a stadium, I simply add another rig, but rarely need to turn it above ‘2’. I’ve never ever come close to using my basic setup over half volume. Forget ‘eleven’, these babes go up to fifty-seven. And they are Fender. The real thing. There are very few products Fender has made — even in bad times — which were ugly. This amplifier is so pretty I have one in my living room next to the expensive furniture. It reminds me why I wanted to play guitar in the first place. I thought I looked prettier with a guitar. I do. But with a Fender Strat and a Vibro-King I’m as cool, as irresistible as James Dean.”
— Pete Townshend, November 2002
From May 17, 2004, Gibson Guitars interview: J-200s, regrets over smashed guitars, The Who ‘Then and Now’ and more: Q&A with Pete Townshend
- What precautions do you take when you play live to protect your ears?
I use smaller amplifiers than in the old days.
Quote from Alan Rogan
Pete Townshend’s longtime guitar tech Alan Rogan: “Pete gets a killer sound through Fender amps. On recent tours he’s playing through a Vibro-King with the Vibro-King extension cab, so it’s three 10s and two 12s. He’s using two of these stacks onstage, but only one of them is miked. Onstage we start off at volue 2, maybe 2½. That’s it. The second amp is on but we start with the volume turned all the way down. As the show gets ‘larger,’ if you like, Pete just adds it in. It’s not a monitor. It’s just there for pete if he wants it. it makes the whole sound picture far bigger. It all depends on the gig.
“Along with the one Vibro-King we had tried a new Hiwatt back in 2004, a 100 watt amp with four 12s. It was great but it was just too big, too much, so we went with the pair of Vibro-Kings, and that setup just suits Pete down to the ground. He loves it so much. He records with them as well. I always take one or two ’round to the studio, and they live there for his convenience.
“Pete’s using an old Clapton Strat, meaning it has the Lace Sensors rather than the Noiseless pickups. It does have a Fishman on board with the extra knob, but otherwise it’s stock, and he goes through the one or two Vibro-Kings. All my buddies come to the show, incuding John Porter, the producer and a great guitar player himself. They all say they never heard a live sound — anywhere, ever — as good as Pete’s.”
Close-up of Fender Vibro-King, ca. 1998.
Ca. 2000, in front of dual Fender Vibro-King combos and extension cabs. Guitar is Fender Eric Clapton model Stratocaster.
Ca. 2006, detail of Fender Vibro-King primary/backup setup (microphones: left: Shure KSM44?; right: Shure SM-57).
Ca. 2006, at very left of photo, two-button Fender control pedal visible in shadow under large wedge monitor. (Pete Cornish custom pedal visible at right of Pete’s mic stand.)
Click to view larger version (508kb) Ca. 2004, rear view of Fender Vibro-king setup.
Resources and Information
Manufacturer:
- Fender: fender.com
Information:
- Fender Amp Field Guide: ampwares.com/ffg/vibro_king.html