Fender Deluxe Reverb

1972 Fender Deluxe Reverb, HEAVILY MODIFIED...REPLACED TRANSFORMER WITH SUPER REVERB TRANNY, IS NOW 6L6 POWERED. NEW OUTPUT TRANNY, NEW WEBER C12, MODIFIED TO RUN REVERB/VIBRATO ON EITHER CHANNEL, BLACK FACED AND VOICED TO HAVE MUCH MORE CONTROL OVER MIDS...NEW PREAMP TUBES...MISSION AMPS IN ARVADA, CO...PLAY INDIE ROCK, PUNK AND HI-LIFE JANGLE. IT HAS ALL OF THE FEATURES THAT I COULD REASONABLY EXPECT WHILE RETAINING A BLACKFACE FENDER CHARACTER...PLENTY OF POWER; IT IS LOUD AS HELL WITH 33 + WATTS BEFORE CLIPPING, VERY EFFICIENT WEBER...IT WILL SILENCE ANYONE SILLY ENOUGH TO TRY TO CARRY ON A CONVERSATION AT A GIG, OMNIPRESENT. BOUGHT FOR A STEAL, VERY CLEAN ( $550, BUT ADDED BETWEEN $300-400 TO IT).

THE AMP HAS IMMENSE HEADROOM AND GREATER ABILITY TO SHAPE A TONE; I LIKE SCOOPED ( GOD FORBID!) VOXY MEETS FENDER TONE...I USE G&L ASAT SPECIALS, 58' LP CUSTOM SHOP WITH DUNCAN PARALLEL SINGLE COIL JB ( SH-4), RICKENBACKER 360, 68 GIBSON ES-335 12, FRANKENSTRATS...AMP IS SILENT. IT BREAKS UP MUCH LATER THAN A DR...USABLE TO 10 AND IT NEVER FALLS ON ITS FACE, IT TURNS INTO A VERY PISTOLS, POWER ROCK MACHINE WHEN GASSED. I CAN DO STEVIE RAY STUFF WITH IMMENSE CLARITY, JAZZ COMPING, INDIE/REM STRAIGHT IN OR HOOK UP A LEXICON AND IT WILL DO HUGE, DEAFENING SPACE NOISE TO ELLICIT A POLICE RESPONSE. IT MATCHES UP WELL WITH SOLDANO GTO, RADIAL TONE BONE AND EVEN A BOSS MZ-2 FOR BUZZSAW. HUGE MID SUSTAIN, RARELY USE A COMPRESSOR. OVERDRIVE IS REAL, NOT MODERN, INDISTINGUISHABLE TONE...YOU CAN HEAR THE WINDINGS IN THE STRING. REVERB AND VIBRATO MODIFIED FOR SMOOTHER MORE MUSICAL RESPONSE. TYPICALLY USED FOR RECORDING.

IT WILL OUTLAST ALL OF US

I RELY UPON MISSION AMPS LIKE A JUNKIE NEEDS HIS DEALER AND A BORN-AGAIN NEEDS HIS BILLY GRAHAM...I ALWAYS GET WHAT I NEED!

I HAVE PLAYED FOR 17 YEARS..OWNED EVERYTHING AND I MEAN EVERYTHING...MISION FENDERS ARE WHAT I KEEP ( 68' BANDMASTER 6L6, 68' BANDMASTER KT66, FENDER 4X12 WITH VINTAGE 30S, 68' SUPER REVERB, 83' MONSTER CHAMP ( 26 WATTS AT SQUARE WAVE, GRRR)..ALSO A HEAVILY MODIFIED GIBSON GOLDTONE 15...I HAVE SOLD AC30, JMP MARSHALL, BOGNER, ORANGE, MATAMP, BOOGIES AND A LOT OF EXTRANEOUS JUNK BEFORE NOW. I WOULD ENJOY ANOTHER JMP, BUT THE COST OF SETTING UP A LOUD AMP ( AND THE PURCHASE PRICE) IS JUST TOO HIGH, GIVEN THAT EVEN 500+ VENUES DON'T WANT YOUR 120dB RIG...FIND YOUR TONE AT A LOWER VOLUME, LOWER COST AND BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN ALL THE LINE 6, DUAL RECTIFIER GOOFBALLS...I HAVE OCD ISSUES ABOUT EVER LOSING IT, WISH I HAD 3 MORE, BUT THE PRICE HAS GONE UP AND I DON'T GIG RIGHT NOW. IT IS TAILORED TO MY TONAL TASTES AND PLAYING STYLE AND WILL OUTRIGHT SPANK ANY MANUFACTURERS' 6L6 AMP ( I HAVE AB'D IT WITH HOLLAND, BAD CAT, MATCHLESS, VICTORIA, HERITAGE...I WOULD OWN ONE OF THE OTHERS IF IT MADE ME HAPPIER...) IT LOOKS TOTALLY STOCK AND IS A REAL SLEEPER, CONSTANTLY ASTONISHING PEOPLE. MY ONLY PAUSE IS THAT I WOULD LIKE A 6V6 MODEL THAT IS NOT SO STENTORIAN AND PATTON-ESQUE IN ITS COMMAND OF THE STAGE; IT'S A BIT FRIGHTENING...THE BEST KIND OF LOUD, THOUGH. I HAVE SPREAD MY BIT OF THE GOSPEL.

1965 Deluxe Reverb w/ original speaker and guts. a few original and NOS U.S. tubes

All the standard bells and whistles of a DR. The only features I think a Blues harp player should have between their mic and the speaker.

No guitar pickups. This amp can handle any harp mic with balls including Hot crystals and 545's. It can also handle low tuned harps for a tenor sax sound. While it's important to develop strong personal tone, rather then try to find it in an amp this amp adds a whole new dimension to my tone. Think Paul Butterfield Live. It reproduces that "balls in your face" sound at any level. This particular unit doesn't need cranked for the speaker to start breaking up. Mine has the brown/gold series. I've owned Sunn, Roland, other vintage Fenders, Valco, Premier and Gibson amps.None have the versatility of this amp. I used it last night at an acoustic gig rather then going through the pa. It has the low volume breakup I couldn't get with other amps. It out does my GA-5 in low volume situations while keeping that Chicago sound.
The amp is noisy with the reverb on but I generally don't use reverb. Natural reverb from the cab is good enough for me. I did however swap the weak reverb tube and it improved somewhat.
Since the tube was NOS I let the amp on for 10 hours to burn in the tube. The vibrato channel requires a foot switch for it to work.
Given it's age and originality the noise is expected and tolerable in a non-studio enviorment.

I can't say enough about this amp. In a way I'm glad it took 30+ years to find it. I worked hard on my chops using lesser amps and this amp just accenuates every nuance in my technique on stage.

I'm not sure how long I can depend on it since it is mostly original and I don't know its history for the past 40 years.
Once my amp tech checks it out I'll feel more comfortable taking it alone on gigs.

I've been playing amplified harp on and off since 1976. The most amps I've owned at one time was 5. The only amps I still own are a Gibson 1961 GA-5 and a 1965 Gibson Invader which is my backup amp.

My wrist has been hurting for some time now. Along with that and the fact I needed someone to help me lug the 4/10 Concert to my van and back I can easily use the subcompact car for gigs now.
I don't have the money to buy another one if it were stolen. I had to gradually buy vintage amps and trade up to get the kind of trade I got on the Concert. The dealer that bought the Concert is selling it for $1,500. I paid $1,100 for it 4 years ago. Nice investment. Btw, it was the opinions here that made me decide to trade for the Deluxe Reverb. Thanks guys.
ps. I wish I could say I traded a couple 8 track tapes and a cb for it.:(

1975 Silverface Deluxe Reverb. Two-Channels. PTP wired. All-Tube. 22-Watts of beautiful Fender Tone. Stock "Special Design" 12-inch speaker (Jensen?).

I play both strats and LPs through this amp. I play in an Oldies/Classic Rock band so this amp fills the bill to a "T". Clean 'til about 4 and then I get some nice breakup. Has the classic Fender Reverb to go "surfing." I am very impressed at how well my pedals sound through this amp. TS-9 and Sparkle Drive both sound awesome! I may possibly upgrade speakers as the stock speaker gets a little "farty" on the lowend when you push it. This is typical of the stock speakers. But current speaker is definately usable for the volume level I need.

I've only owned it a few weeks but seems pretty sturdy. I've seen a ton of old Fenders still in action and assume this amp will hold up as well.

Never owned Fender Amp before.

I had been looking for a quality SFDR for the past few months on ebay. (The reissues are nice amps, but I really wanted a PTP - and when you can get a SFDR for the same or less money as a reissue it's a no brainer!) Most I had been watching were in fair to good condition and going for $650 - $750 plus shipping. I just happened to stumble across this baby at a consignment store here in town. It was purchased new in 1975 from a local music store. I'm the second owner - original owner is a lady who played steel guitar through it. Judging from the appearence it must've set in a closet for the past 20+ years! Beneath the dust it is pristine. No marks on the tolex - No marks on the face plate. All original RCA tubes. I feel fortunate I was able to find it. It is in excellent shape, I didn't have to pay $50+ for shipping, and I got to play before paying! As mentioned above, I may replace the stock speaker at some point.

I play a couple times a month in an Oldies/Classic Rock band. This amp is perfect for me. At "4" I get the perfect "Cuts Like a Knife" tone. This amp is perfect for everything from CCR to the Beatles. With my Tubescreamer I can get into the cool 80's rock territory (Pat Benatar, Cars, Robert Palmer etc...)And ad my Boss CE3 Chorus and I'm in the Police! I love this amp! A great guitar sound begins with a great foundational tone. I believe this amp provides that. It's awesom all by itself, but it also will sound great when I add "gadgets" into the mix. Go buy a Deluxe Reverb today!

I traded a relatively new Vox bass amp for this used Deluxe Reverb in the mid/late 60's as a teenager. I've played guitar, keyboards and bass through it since then. It's probably an early 60's model, since there was a little wear on it when I traded for it. It has two channels, one with reverb and tremolo. I'm amazed at the volume and osund quality from just 22 watts. And now, being old, I LOVE the small size and light weight (portability). I use it with an amp stand for better projection.

I've used it with my Gibson 335, a Strat,Farfisa organs and Yamaha keyboards. I've even used it to power a Fender Vibratone (Leslie 16, really). I've used pedals with it. Once I even used it to power an Ampex 4 x 10 speaker box. My band members stopped the reheasal to tell me to turn it down it was so loud!

Since I traded for it used nearly 40 years ago, I replaced the speaker once (there was a little tear in the speaker cone when I got it). I may have replaced a tube once or twice in that time. The speaker cloth was replaced in the late 60's.

The local repair who replaced the diode told me never to sell it, that it was a beauty.

I've been playing almost 40 years, since I was a teenager in the early Beatles days, both organ, keyboards and guitar. I've never really used another amp. I've used it for amplifying my Takamine electric acoustic as well, and it sounds great. There are times I wish I had a Twin Reverb for the extra volume, but at this point I wouldn't trade for the Deluxe's small size and weight. When we do large gigs we just mike it now. I wish it had an effects loop, but when this baby was made there were no effects other than echo and reverb! I've played through Peaveys (which were nice)and other amps, but I always come back to the Deluxe. If I lost it I might buy another, but at the going rate of almost $800 I might think twice.

Mine is a Sept. 1965 (OI) Blackface model. I traded two CB radio's for it in 2001. Never owned an amp like this one before and I was impressed the day I took it home. Very versatile at any volume.

The original speaker was replaced with a Peavy Scorpion!!! (YUCK!!) I found a 12 inch speaker in a old tube radio console. The tone was much better after I replaced that junky speaker. The Vibrato was disconnected inside and the intensity pot was converted to a Master volume. I undid this retarded modification and I restored the Vibrato circuit to normal. The sound from the amp was much better. I can't believe someone would hack up such a wonderful piece. The 22 watts is a very loud 22 watts and the distinguishable tone is heavenly. I have used many guitars through this amp. I believe my Strat sounds the best through this amp.

I use this amp everyday. It is a work horse. I t will take whatever I can dish out and still have plenty of "breathing" room. The amp has only broke down on me once. It needed the caps replace in the power supply. Probably due to the modifications aforementioned. The tubes are in good shape. I don't use groove tubes. I understand they are high quality, but I like to use it just the way they did when it was new. 7025's are rare and hard to find.

Repaired it my self. A little patience and some help from Mr. Gearhead.com was all I needed. Fairly easy to work on. Never needed to contact Fender for anything. All the info you needed is on the web.

I have been playing for 16 years. I will never get rid of this amp. I got a heck of a deal on it and I have finally found my sound. If you find one, buy it!! Worth the price at any cost. Also, remember to keep it as original as possible. Even if the grill cloth is stained, or the tolex is not perfect......These amps are worth more if they are kept as original as possible. Restoring may make them look nice and I know parts can vary from tolerance over time, but preserve history by keeping your gear as original as possible.

I have a 72 silverface model which was recently serviced and all out of spec parts replaced. The original speaker was also replaced since it sounded a bit tired and I decided to preserve it. It was replaced with a re-issue Jensen P12N. The ratings are based on this.
As you know this is a simple two channel non-master volume amp with reverb and vibrato on the second channel. Also ther is no mid control, just bass and treble. Not a versatile amp but a great sounding amp as a foundation to built your sound upon.

I play both an american series strat and a gibson es-335 with this amp. I also have replaced the old tubes with NOS. The sound quality is the best i've ever experienced in an amp. The amp is very pedal friendly as well. I used to own the deluxe reverb re-issue and that amp just didn't have the chime and sparkle of this one but did sound better with a better quality speaker. I eventually sold the re-issue. This amp stays clean up to 5-6 with single coils and 4-5 with humbuckers and overdrives very nicely as you get louder. I never give 10's but this is the best sounding amp I've ever owned.

It was built 32 years ago and is very simple in design and to repair. Other than some maintenance this amp should never die.

No experience with Fender

If you like clean tones, Jazz and Blues this amp is the one. Classic and hard rock and nu-metal will require the appropriate pedal, but this amp will deliver.

See my previous review.

Ok, i take back my previous review and jack it up a few more notches. I really LOVE this amp. At a good volume (around 4), i love the PUNCH this amp has. Kind of reminds me of Neil Young's "keep on rocking in a free world" - total amp distortion, not preamp. This amp has big, hairy, porkchop sideburn, balls!!! When I first reviewed this amp, it was after a week of owning it and all at '73 Silverface spec's except for true bias adjust (not balance only). Since then, I've done a cap job, replaced the dying output tubes w/ Marconi NOS, a bad preamp tube, and more minor blackface conversions to it (just removed the parasitic caps off of the power tubes). Wow, this amp really sings now. I also took out the original Utah speaker (for resale value) and installed a thoroughly broken in Jensend C12N reissue. I SERIOUSLY soaked this puppy with acetone to soften the cone material and it sounds so thick and punchy with that plump midrange bark the Jensens are known for. This amp barks big time and sings the blues like no other with either my Barber LTD, Vox Valvetone, or DDSS up front.

Hell, its lasted over 30 years !!!!!!!

I really don't expect Fender to care about a 31 year old amp.

Love it, love it. I play this more than my Fuchs Od 50 just because its so damn COOL sounding. Just barks with authority and sustains like nothing else. I'm basing the total value on resale, tone, and ease of use. Love the funky vibrato!!!

A loaded amp for its day, but basic in today's terms. Two separate channels (normal and vibrato). I mainly use the normal channel. Reverbe, tremelo, bass and treble, volume, etc. This is a 1973 silverface Deluxe which has been changed to close blackface spec's.

Here's where this amp shines. A great rock and blues amp. Not much headroom so if your playing a club, you might want to mic it up. Clean up to around 4, at 5 and above is the overdrive range. Excellent smooth tube saturation. Sound like Greenday's "When I Come Around". I think he used this amp in recording actually. I know he's a Fender man, or at least was when they first hit it big. I saw him in concert and he had a Fender behind him. Mine has been converted over to "semi black face" specs (bias changed to adjustable not cathode, caps removed off of the power tubes, etc.) I really love this amps "mojo". Great sound.

ITs lasted this long.

Don't know, do you think Fender will support a 1973 amp?

A nice amp, goes well with my stable of Fuchs OD50 and handmande "boutique" 6v6 amp (Matchless Spitfire circuit). I love this amp, low power can easily grind without blowing out your eardrums and takes pedals VERY well.

Mine's a '78 I think, cuz there's no "Line/Out" jack, but there 'is', a "Pull-Boost" on the Vol. knob. (I'm trying to find out how many "watts rms these speakers are? If anybody knows, please write me @: lcuky@juno.com-Thanx!)...It breaks-up waaaaay too early!! At "4", leaving the rest of the power after about 6, useless. I'll have to take it to a Tech. An AU7 driver, will solve that problem, but I prefer AT's.
Even at 3, tho, the amp is almost loud enuff for me to "use" clean. I play Blues, so clean is essential. The reason I bought this amp was, a friend of mine's stayed clean until about 8!! The Reverb is fantasticly "deep", but I was hoping for more of a "boinky", Surf type; The "Vibrato", is pretty darn "weak" (There again: In to the "Tech."!) I paid waaaay too much for this amp ($673. w/"shipping" on Ebay), but I never saw one for "Buy It Now" for LESS than, $750. before, & this was "$640.", & recently "serviced". So I jumped on it...It's "probably" got enuff power for me, but after the Tech. replaces the appropriate resistors, & maybe, puts 6'L'6's in it instead...I'll be "perfect"! I DO like it! It just needs headroom.

I use 57/62 (the "new" ones, with the "original magnet material" in them) pick-ups on my Am. Strat; & Gibson 490's, & 500's (rear) in my Les Paul. I haven't even tried the "Paul" thur it, yet, cuz I figure, if it can't handle the 5.6Kohm, "57/62's", it'll never be able to handle the Gibson. I DO have a "Gibson Nighthawk" I played thru it with tho, & that don't sound too bad.
The amp, even more than other Fender amps, seems extemely "trebley"!!? And I got rid of my Cus. Vibrolux "becuz" of the "ten's" in it & too much treble!!? But, it's versitile enuff for "me", being a "Traditional" Blues Player, I INSIST on VERY "Low Volumes" of any band I work with. The distortion, like I said, is ridiculous. But Fender has done as many "stupid" things, as they have "good", in my opinion: In this case, not made this amp with "6L6's", & a "GZ343/Aru4" (instead of the weaker, AU4 "I" got in mine)...

This amp came with ALL but "one", original, "Fender Spcl Design" tubes (RCA's really, 'disquised' as...). That should tell u how "reliable" they can be!/? No, I wouldn't use it on a Gig w/o a "Back-up". There's NO such amp. I always take my "Blues Junior" (& a 1,or2 pre-amp tubes), just in case.

Cust. Sopport doesn't exist...Not "really"-? Unless you consider , "Holding" (on the phone) for 18 hrs., customer support?
I don't use "Authorized" Fender Tech.'s. I know PLENTY of good Tech.s, better than those, & much cheeper, too!

I've been using "amps" for 25 yrs. (PLaying, for 40. I was a drummer, then a harp-player, etc, until '79).
I wouldn't pay $673. for another one; I'd probablly get a B/F Bandmaster head instead, for $350.They're "40W's", but really more like "30", if you don't over-do it with the "spkr.(s)"?
It "is" (Going to BE!) the best amp I've ever owned. Sooo tierd of those, so-loud-"40W" amps, that I always have to use an Over-drive pedal cluttering-up the stage, etc!!

I found tonal true love when I bought my 1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb in December of 1990. I'm a blues guitarist on the East coast and this little gem provided me with all the tone and power I needed to work in 90% of the venues I play. Prior to this amp, I had a '61 1x12 Vibrolux but really missed the luxury of a built in spring reverb and I HATE using pedals....ain't nothin' like the real thing, right? This Deluxe Reverb is pretty much stock, save for the speaker and was my workhorse for all my performance & studio work until I got my '59 tweed Deluxe in 2002. I only use N.O.S. tubes in the amp, usually Sylvania or G.E.s. The speaker was replaced with a Fender Deluxe Reverb reissue Oxford about 10 years ago after a repairman stole the original while the amp was in for routine mantainance. I've also added a grounded 3 prong A/C cord for practical purposes.

My main guitar with this amp was a 1961 Stratocaster or on occasion a Gibson ES-5 with P-90 pickups. I also played an ES-335 for a short period of time. I always thought that the amp breathed better with a single coil pick-up, so I no longer have any guitars equiped with humbucking pick-ups.
For something so simple in design, it's one of the most versatile amps I've ever owned; and I've had ALOT over the years including Mesa Boogies and other Fenders! She'll start to break up just @ 4 and will really get "creamy" when run a bit to the hot side, say @ 5-6. For cleaner tones, I'll just roll back to volume control on the guitar and it's like a baby Twin in clarity and tone.

In the 12 years that I used this amp exclusively, it has NEVER let me down. The only problems that have occured have been so minor, that they've never been an issue; usually just a tube going bad or a loose connection from being jostled on the road. I still use this amp on occasion, usually with the ES-5....it really gets that "old time" tone with just enough cleanliness to hear each note and just enough dirt to make it funky! It's now my main back-up amp.

N/A

I've been a guitarist for 25 years and also own a 1959 tweed Deluxe Amp (my new #1), a 1966 Super Reverb Amp, a 1963 Tube Reverb unit and a 1995 Pro Junior. The type of gig dictates what guitar or guitars I'll use. My main instrument these days is a Gibson '56 Les Paul Historic Authentic, which I bought in '02. I also will use a Fender '56 Relic Strat, the Gibson ES-5 or for slide work, a '60's Kingston...just like Hound Dog Taylor's old thing.
What I love about the amp is it's versitility and compactness, sure beats lugging around my old Super Reverb. Realibility is another asset. On the downside, what makes it so great is also sometimes a liability; it's only a 22 watt amp. I found that it was a little thin for certain dates and had to resort back to the Super Reverb to really push the air that was needed to be heard well. But like they say, "it is what it is".
I believe if anything ever happened to this amp, I really wouldn't know what I'd do. I literally played through 23 Deluxe Reverbs before I found this one. All of the others paled in comparison and had various problems with them. I guess that I'd start the "quest" again, but really doubt that I'd find another this nice. Honestly though, since I purchased my tweed Deluxe, I haven't used the amp very much and would probably look for another tweed.