Fender Vibratone

The Fender Vibratone, produced from 1967 to 1972, is a rotary speaker cabinet designed to emulate the swirling, Doppler-based effects of a Leslie speaker in a more compact and guitar-friendly format. Based on the Leslie Model 16, the Vibratone featured a 10-inch speaker firing into a rotating 15-inch Styrofoam drum powered by an electric motor. The rotation created a Doppler effect, resulting in rich, modulated sounds ranging from shimmering choruses at slow speeds (40 RPM) to warbling tremolo effects at fast speeds (340 RPM). A two-button footswitch allowed players to toggle between speeds and enable or bypass the effect. Though initially overshadowed by its larger Leslie counterparts, the Vibratone became a staple for psychedelic rock and remains highly valued for its unique tonal character.

Historical Development

• Origins: Fender licensed the design from Leslie, adapting it into a more portable cabinet aimed at guitarists. It included a crossover filter to send midrange frequencies to the Vibratone while routing highs and lows back to the amplifier.
• Design: Unlike standalone amplifiers, the Vibratone required an external amp for power and signal processing. Its black Tolex-covered cabinet made it visually consistent with Fender's amp lineup.
• Legacy: Despite its short production run, the Vibratone left a lasting impact on music history and inspired modern rotary speaker emulations in pedals and digital processors.

Notable Players

• Stevie Ray Vaughan: Used the Vibratone extensively on tracks like "Cold Shot" and "Couldn't Stand the Weather," showcasing its swirling modulation in blues-rock contexts.
• David Gilmour (Pink Floyd): Featured it on tracks like "Breathe" and "Time," using its ethereal qualities to enhance Pink Floyd's iconic soundscapes.
• The Beatles: While not directly using the Vibratone, their use of Leslie speakers influenced its adoption by guitarists during the late 1960s.

Popular Settings

The Vibratone's versatility allowed for a range of effects:

• Slow Chorus: Use the slow speed setting (40 RPM) for rich, shimmering modulation ideal for clean chords or arpeggios.
• Fast Tremolo: Engage the fast speed (340 RPM) for dramatic, warbling effects suited for leads or psychedelic textures.
• Balanced Setup: Combine the Vibratone with a secondary amp for stereo imaging, balancing EQ settings to emphasize midrange frequencies.

Legacy

The Fender Vibratone remains a highly sought-after piece of gear for its ability to create lush, rotating speaker effects in a compact format. Its association with legendary players like Stevie Ray Vaughan and David Gilmour cemented its place in music history. While original units are rare and expensive today, its sound lives on through modern rotary speaker simulations in pedals and digital platforms.