TopHat Vibra-Trem 20 1998 - Purple tolex

Hello, I’m listing a TopHat Vibra-Trem 20-watt combo amp that I bought new in 1998. There weren’t many Vibra-Trems made. Like all TopHat amps, it’s all hand-wired. It has two el84 power tubes, a gz34 tube rectifier, and three 12ax7 preamp tubes. The amp has a standby switch, high and low inputs, and a footswitch jack. There is also an additional speaker output. The control panel has the typical Volume and Tone knobs but also has Intensity and Speed knobs. There is a push/pull on the Intensity knob - when pushed, the effect is Tremolo; when pulled, you switch to a warbly vibrato. The footswitch (connected with a normal instrument cable) turns the tremolo/vibrato on and off. No power or battery is needed for the footswitch.

This has been a bedroom amp for over 28 years and as a result the tolex is in good shape. There are corners where the tolex is separating slightly but that’s due to age, not abuse. Some of the hardware is slightly oxidized but, again, that is due to the age of the amplifier rather than misuse or improper storage. When I ordered the amp in late 1997 I requested purple tolex and, as far as I know, this is the only purple Vibra-Trem. The 12 inch Greenback speaker was made in England. Always kept in a non-smoking, climate-controlled home. Please note that class-A tube amps run warm but that’s completely normal.

My amp repairman just checked it out and gave it a thumbs-up. You’ll find that tubes last a long time in this amp - the preamp and rectifier tubes are original. I bought a number of sets of tubes when I bought the amp and I have one left. It’s a Fender branded, Groove Tubes matched pair of Sovtek el84s from 1998. I also have a set of four Groove Tubes that I bought during the “tube scare” after the Russian invasion a few years ago. I’m including them as well. Three pairs of el84s means that you won’t need to buy power tubes for a long time.

Also included is the owner’s manual and informational sheets from 1998. You’ll read that the amp is meant to emulate the classic Vox AC-30 “Top Boost.” Shortly after buying the amp, I had some trouble that was quickly fixed by Brian Gerhard at TopHat. Since that time (September 1998), I haven’t had a single problem with this amp. You can see a reference to the September 1998 warranty repair written in sharpie on the chassis.

I will double-box this amp for shipping. Please let me know if you would like any additional photos or have any questions about this amp. It’s vintage voiced and sounds like an old Vox AC-15, but is far more reliable (and inexpensive!) than vintage. It sounds great with an overdrive but I recommend trying it with an overdrive and a treble booster. A treble booster with this amp is a perfect combination, though an overdrive pedal is handy to get you to “edge of breakup“ without a lot of volume. I promise you will not lack volume with this class-A amp! The dimensions are 19.5” high, 18.75” wide, and 9.25“ deep.

Please ask any questions you might have before placing an order. Sorry, but I’m not accepting returns for this amp. It’s not that I think you will be disappointed, but I’m a private seller and can’t offer a 30 day trial like you might have at a store like Guitar Center.

After all these years I will miss this amp, that’s for sure, but my wife and I are downsizing!