Fender Deluxe

Features: Tone knob. That's king. It does so much and does what it says. Other than that, volumes and cross patching. I didn't care too much for the cross patched sound, nor the normal channel. Also, cab extension... unlike the bassman combo. :(

Sound Quality: Amazing. Tone king. I traded for a Bassman and I miss the Deluxe already.

Reliability: Great amp to rely on I suppose. It didn't break on me. The stock cone wasn't played through much since I had a cab.

I played this for 5 years. Traded it for a bassman rig. I just traded that bassman rig for a Matchless DC-30. So we'll see what's up.

Just bought this amp 2nd hand, 12-18 months old, made in mexico, you know all the features of this amp, clean, drive & more drive, effects loop, reverb. Use with a Korg AX3000G effects pedal plugged straight in to the input, use a volume box I made plugged in to the effects loop.

Using with a 50's classic player strat, excellent range of tones using both inputs. Amp is to loud to play at bedroom level if you want to get that nice overdriven tone. I have built my own valve volume tamer getting all the stuff from Maplins, this just plugs in to the effects loop and allows you to crank up the volume/drive and use the volume box to keep at a reasonable level. Lot of people say the drive is rubbish, I totally disagree, you can get great blues crunch to classic rock tones.

Hard to tell yet, have replaced the first pre-amp valve with a electro harmonics, as the groove tube had went microphonic and was buzzing a bit.

Dont suppose I have any warranty, as bought 2nd hand

Pleased with all the features and think I made the right choice. Previously used a Vox AD30VT which sounded great, however the Deluxe is a cut above, I guess you can't replicate real valve/tube tones.

Mine is a mexican built amp from '05. 2 and a half channels, but i only use the clean and some dirt pedals. The second channel (or gain stage) does not have separate EQ, so it's pretty useless. But a nice clean is good enough for an effects freak like me!

the deluxe is not a great sounding amp when you get it in the shop. It's a tube amp all right, and quite a good bang for the buck. But if you put some effort and a little extra money into it, you can turn it into a great amp, that can compete with its mega-thousand-dollar colleagues.

- first off you need a new speaker. Ditch the stock eminence and get a good one. I got me a Celestion Vintage 30, and that works great. Thight bass, spakling bright high end and solid midrange. It's a little louder than the stock one, though. Other good option is A Jensen C12, that was originally used in the twin reverb.

- While you have the amp for changing the speaker, go ahead and perform a simple brightness mod. you have to get underneath the PCB, which is a bit akward, but it's so sweet! just connect two terminals of the midrange pot, and you'll get rid of the muddieness, and will allow you to control the EQ and volume settings better.

- Get rid of the Fender GT tubes (rebranded russian sovtek, really) and get some good ones. I got me some TAD 6L6GC-SRT's. but there's plenty of choice. If you don't like the hotrodded character of the amp, you can also replace the preamp tubes with other models with less output, which will give you more clean at louder volumes.

- replace the input jacks. They WILL fail. if not now, soon. they are soldered to the PCB, and one yank at the guitar cable is enough to make em cut out. use normal ones and solder them to the PCB using wires.

- Replace the volume pot. It is to weak, 100K audio taper. get a 150K big difference.

And after all this effort (about 130 dollar investment, and one afternoon of work) you'll have a great sounding amp that won't break down! Then, and only then, i'll give this amp a 10.

input jacks are the weak point. the first week i had it, one of the inputs cut loose of the PCB. No other problems for me, though.

if you mod, you void your warranty...

I use my amp with a series of effects (Morley Wah, Boss OD1 overdrive, EHX Little big muff fuzz, Boss TR-2 tremolo, boss DD-5 delay, RC20XL loop station, EHX Black finger compressor/preamp, Ernie Ball volume pedal) And with the modding, i got a GREAT sounding amp for its price. it's all down to taste, though, but if my amp got stolen of burnt, i'd get me a second hand deluxe and start modding again right away!

Bare bones 1959 5E3 circuit tweed amp with a 12" Jensen. All original caps. completely stock with NOS Tung-Sol 1950s tubes (even marginal used tubes made by RCA, Tung-Sol, etc are worlds better than modern Chinese or Russian tubes. eBay has them by the ton for reasonable prices compared to net tube dealers. Just be sure they are at least minimallt tested.)
This 59 was a closet classic. Dead mint condition. 99% perfect tweed! And it sounds as good as it looks! 2 input. Only volume and tone adjustments.

This is why the 5E3 version of the Deluxe is the best. It is pure perfection. The tone is legendary. Not an overly powerful amp, but it doesn't need to be. tone is great with single coil or humbucker. Very bubbly with a single coil. Especially with my 52 Tele reissue. The tone on this thing is even better than my real 59 Bassman which is known by many as the Holy Grail of amps. Sound quality is perfect!

be they used for 50 years or stuck in a closet, all of my 50s tweeds have been work horses. never any problems.

Can't say as I've dealt with the new Fender at all. But if they are like most large corporations customer service, I won't hold my breath. I wouldn't entrust this amp to them anyway.

If it were lost, I'd buy another despite the heavy cost. This one came at an extra high premium on eBay since it was cosmetically dead perfect. You can get the 5E3 Deluxe for less than I paid, it just won't be as pretty. But will no doubt sound as good as mine. I bought mine as an investment piece.

2006 model. You know the features from all other postings, 2 inputs, 2 channels (they say 3 with the more drive), effects loop. 40 watt tube amp. Unfortunately the drive side of this amp (atleast for my style and taste) isn't all it's cracked up to be, but the clean channel is great and loves my DS-1 distortion pedal so the drive channel isn't necessary in my opinion. Plenty of power (actually pretty loud in the house). I have read that is because of a linear pots not an audio pots being used for the volume, doesn't matter to me anyway.

This amp has a huge sound for the price of this amp. I tried out every Fender all the way up the food chain of sound and for this amps clean side it stands up to their amps twice the price. The distortion channel on the otherhand is something to be desired. I really haven't messed around with it too much but it is very muddy. You could probably do some tweeking and get a pretty good blues sound out of it but for any heavier rock your gonna want to pull out your pedals. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though, considering most of the other Fender models above this don't even have a distortion channel. Personally I would just buy this for the clean channel (excellent tone for its price point). I use this with mostly teles and strats but have used it with some guitars with humbuckers and with your trusty DS-1 pedal this thing melts paint off the walls. As far as hum or noise it is considerably more quiet than my Blues Junior. To me it just makes typical amp noise from my single coil guitars, nothing major, you dont need to turn your volume down in between songs or anything like that. Is far as sound goes this thing rocks when just using the clean channel with or without pedals.

Just recently purchased so I have no opinion yet on this.

Haven't needed it yet.

I've been playing for 25 years and have had many amps, from classic tube amps to cheapo solid state amps. If I had unlimited funds I would probably get another amp but I would still get one of these along with my others, It is a great amp for the price. When you read the reviews saying you won't be creating your own sound with one of these, they are dead wrong, this thing loves pedals and effects and you can paint your own style very easily. Once again the distortion channel needs to be mentioned, if you have no pedals and plan on buying this amp for rock and roll, forget it. But think of all the pedals you can buy with the money you save compared to some other tube amps. As far as the distortion channel goes I wish they would just leave it out and charge you less for leaving out all the extra circuitry. You really shouldn't buy an amp anyway for its distortion. You have to have a great clean channel first then build on your sound. This amp is great for that. The reverb is also huge sounding. Overall, a great amp for the price, super fender tone. If you wanna rock go get a $39 DS-1 and your ready to go. If this amp was stolen I would buy another.

Model 5B3 Wide Panel Deluxe, produced in 1954. Off/Tone/On switch, Instrument volume, Mic. volume, 2 Instrument + 1 Mic. input. Very simple amp and I found out after 30+ years that these are far better than other new amps with so many combinations. It is all about the sound, where we come to it's teritory. Features one Jensen C12Q speaker, 2 x 6V6 in power section. Power rating is 10-14 W.

The sound is incredible both with single coils and humbuckers. Will beat any today's amp with it's tone. So much real vintage tube tone comes out of the speaker, that cannot be compared with any other amp I have heard. Very interactive tone and volume controles, but again very easy to get the right sound. Breakes up nicely in real creammy natural overdrive at about the half way. Don't let them full you saying that this amp is not for giggs, it is very powerfull little amp, and adding some boost infront of it, you can go out and play any stage. Perfect for home practice, and recording. Sounds like a dream.

Besides few caps everything is 100 % original and works for the last 50 years without any problem. Looks like keeping this shape at least for the next 50. No problems at all.

Fender is all around and no problem finding spare parts. Preatty easy to maintain it.

I play for over 30 years and own some really nice vintage gear, like 67' Vox Ac 30TB, 62' JMI Domino, Fender Tween Amp, 64' Supro 1606, 64' Alamo Capri, 63' Kalamazo Model One, 66' Gibson Skylark, Laney 15R. All great amps, but Delux is just next to the Vox AC 30TB at the top of the line. It is very rare to find such an amp in this shape and this gives even more value to it. Once you get the real one, only than you'll know what I talk about. Incedable amp and worth any penny, whatever you pay for it. Just get it!

bought used for $150.schematic says '94.two inputs-input 1 has higher impedance & is hotter.two channels,normal & drive. three band eq on clean & single vol.three band on drive too.mid is labeled contour & notches mids as you turn clockwise.90 watts into 4 ohm 12".loud enough!footswitch for reverb & channel switching.pre out & power in jacks & headphone jack[brittle & hi-fi]clean sweet spots-vol.6,tre.3,mid3-4,bass 1-2. drive sweet spots-gain 6.5,treble 0-2,contour 7-8,bass 1-2.reverb has small tank boinkiness.clean ch.stays pretty clean even when dimed and is fendery enough as far as freq.response.sounds better w/dyna comp. in front!drive channel has plenty of gain,still more fendery than marshally.think nugent!good feedback amp.drive vol.on 3 will surely be enough for anybody with hearing.strat bridge p.u. still to bright even w/treble control on 0!i roll my tone back halfway on a s.c.pickup to make the drive ch. tolerable.had it 2 yrs. reverb quit,but otherwise fine!i run a rockman stereo echo in the eff.loop & sometimes a rolls vol.pedal in the loop as well-a good idea in any eff.loop esp. when your drive vol.[master]is on "1" and your wife....well.. works good with a pod ran directly into the eff.return too!

i use a kit strat w/duncan nashville studios & a custom byrdland scale archtop that i designed and was built by john gray.it has duncan 59's. i do country & classic rock & some gospel.traditional fender clean,only more hi-fi....mxr dyna comp will tame those transients!drive ch.is fine w/me!only complaint is that it doesn't clean up well w/guitar vol.tweaks!

reverb quit..tank?that's about it.a good light dependable solid state amp.not a boutique tube thang,just a tool!

called fenders # off schematic to find cln.ch.vol.control they directed me to "smart parts" and i got it from them

i've been playing 30 yrs.i've had jcm800,blackface vibrolux...,music man,lab series,ampeg...this amp is easily replaceable & more versitle than alot of stuff!i'd buy the new deluxe 90 w/dsp if i could get one for under$200.right now i'm using a pod2.0 as a preamp through the 112plus's power amp in jack,bypassing it's preamp altogether.brit blues[jtm45]setting on pod is pretty tube amp sounding!i still love tube amps!need to get one made to my specs...one day...

This review is for a 1955 Deluxe with One twelve Jensen alnico speaker that now resides inside of a 1947-1952 T.V.front Cabinet.It has Instrument volume and microphone volume that can be active with each other to get a clean sound . The only E.Q. here is single tone button.I don't have no desire for this amp to have anything else.I think the watt rating on these to be some where in the 14-18 range.

I became very fond of this amp soon after I bought it.I play with a 1965 Epiphone Riviera w/ mini P.A.F's and a Strat.This little amp does'nt get as loud as my 1959 Gibson Ranger but it has a better tone.
A really cool thing about this amp is you can have a amp tech change the extention speaker jack to a Line out. Therefore making it possible to run it straight into a P.A. or through a higher volume amp . A Peavey Classic 30 works well for this purpose because of it's rich clean tones.The Deluxe is a Cathode Bias amp which gives it a silky overdrive (smooth) You won't find anything harsh sounding here! Also the touch is more sensitive to the strings making the notes sustain in a perfect combination with the tone. Very, Very enjoyable.
This amp will send you to Strat Heaven if you have never experienced a Cathode Bias Amp before. The tweed Deluxe has a way of making you feel like your body loses gravity during a bend! If you have a chance to get one do whatever it takes . If you love the Blues and or Classic rock .

These amps have been around a long time and each of them are different because of probable work that has been preformed on them over the years.If you buy one that has the original mighty mite caps in them and all original parts , tubes , be prepared to spend some more to get it up to it's full tone and output.Also, the original power tranformers are known to go bad in these amps.Fender made a whole lot of these Deluxes and N.O.S, Triad parts are not hard to find for a good amp tech.I had mine recapped w/Sprague Capicators and have been real pleased. Output Transformers cost around $12-$15 dollars. Not a big deal.Other than that ...Fender Built !!!!!!

Fender is still around of coarse, but I don't know if they would help with a 40-50 year old amp. I would recommend the amp guy down the road.I would'nt want to let mine out of my site for shipping and that long of a wait any how.

I have been playing since the Beatles came over from England. Just like every other youngster then.I would be very disappointed if this amp was stolen. It would'nt pay me to catch up with that guy. These little amps ARE expensive and really not worth the price that they want for them. But, I would feel more stupid if I paid 3 to 5 k for a 1959-60 Bassman. Buy one of these and fix the extention speaker jack and enjoy!I'am going to put a no opinion on this amp because of the price tag that these go for . A $1000.00 can buy a heck of a nice newer amp. But, the value will drop half once you walk out of the store with it. The vintage stuff very rarely goes down in value. But , it's all a matter of what your flavor is. I really love the Cathode Bias amps . Keep playing!!!!!!!!!!!

1954 wide panel Tweed Deluxe-pretty basic 6v6 amp with 12-15 watts, 6SC7 preamp.

Use it with a '52 Tele, a '53 ES-350, or other assorted guitars. Great clean sounds (rumor has it that a tweed Deluxe was the house guitar amp for Blue Note records). Great Champ-style overdrive at about 7, gonzo Neil Young/Beck trash at 10. Sounds best with single coils (Fender or P90); humbuckers seem to make the amp raspy.

Had the PT go about 5 years ago-not unusual in these amps. Other than that, pretty stock except for filter recap. Still have original P12...I wouldn't run this thing all night on 12, tho-buy a Kendrick and blow that up.

Fender wishes they could still make this amp-the boutique guys can't even cop it. I've owned more than a few boutique tweed knockoffs, and they are terrible sounding amps, for the most part. Gadzillions of parts for this amp out there-speakers, iron, caps, you name it.

Nothing in the world like a genuwine Fender Tweed amp-a unique critter of all the amps out there. Beautiful clean sound, good distortion (if buzzola and reconing speakers is yer thing), and looks that can't be beat. Loud enough for rehearsals, great recording amp, (I've done about 100+ tunes with it), a good harp amp as well. Will NEVER sell it. Why buy a boutique copy when you can get the real thing for approximately the same dough?

I'm giving this a 10 because it has the most important features period: TONE and useable power amp overdrive in a club setting. This is a tweed Deluxe style from the late 50's. These comments should be taken in a Blues context, thank you.

With a Strat. this thing is fat, open and musical. This design lets you play the amp as you play the guitar. I use it at the Blues jam here in Texas.

No problems if you take care of them. Very simple circuit with five tubes. You can replace the tube rectifier with a solid state one and get a little more power and a different tone. I haven't done that.

A lot of people know how to work on these. Being from the 50's you are pretty much on your own I think.

Maybe I'm projecting my application some but I really think this is a great amp for Blues in a club. If you use it by itself I think it's kind of trial by fire in that it's just you a great amp and your guitar. It breaks up at the right point and responds to your emotions. I think that's what it's all about for the Blues anyway.