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Description

The Fender Deluxe Reverb, originally issued between 1963 and 1981, is a cornerstone in the world of combo guitar amplifiers. Revered for its classic tone and reliability, this amp has been a favorite among musicians for decades, capturing the hearts of both vintage enthusiasts and contemporary players. With its 22-watt power output, it strikes the perfect balance between power and portability, making it an ideal choice for gigs, studio sessions, and home practice alike.

Its all-tube circuitry delivers a warm, rich sound that is both versatile and expressive, capable of handling anything from clean, shimmering tones to gritty, soulful overdrive. The onboard spring reverb is legendary in its own right, offering lush, ambient textures that can be tailored to suit any musical style. The vibrato channel adds further depth, allowing for dynamic and immersive soundscapes.

With its durable construction and timeless design, the Fender Deluxe Reverb not only sounds great but also stands up to the rigors of regular use. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring guitarist, this amp provides the perfect platform to explore and expand your musical horizons.

Key Features:

  • 22-watt all-tube power output
  • Dual channels: Normal and Vibrato
  • Classic spring reverb and vibrato effects
  • 12-inch speaker for full-bodied sound
  • Iconic Fender blackface design
  • Suitable for both stage and studio use

Product specs

Amp Type tube
Onboard Reverb yes
Summit Guitar School by Brett

Summit Guitar School by Brett

Is This Vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb Worth It ? -- How I Scored a Vintatge Amp for a Steal

Video thumbnail for Is This Vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb Worth It ?  -- How I Scored a Vintatge Amp for a Steal by Summit Guitar School by Brett

Is This Vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb Worth It ? -- How I Scored a Vintatge Amp for a Steal

Summit Guitar School by Brett

Summit Guitar School by Brett

Reviews

PROS

  • Exceptional clean tone, rich and sparkly with the stock speaker

  • Versatile gain control labeled as volume, offers saturated sound quickly

  • Equipped with both Reverb and Tremolo effects, including speed and intensity controls

  • Comes with an attached pedal for easy Tremolo and Reverb activation

  • Features a "Drip Face" trim for a classic aesthetic

  • Offers two inputs on the Normal side for different setups

  • Unique AB768 circuitry in models just before the switch preferred by many

  • Can be found mislabeled online, potentially leading to lower prices

CONS

  • Preferred AB768 circuitry not in all models, requiring careful selection/research

Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 14 Ratings

5 star
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xaqary

Favorite amp. Silverface but with the AB763 (circuitry of the Blackface)

Yep, don't let the Silverface fool you!

I did my research and the 1967 Fender Deluxe I have is juuuust before they switched to the AB768 circuitry that put people off of the Fender Silverface amps & why the Blackface Fender Deluxe is generally held in much higher regard.

I double checked again before I started writing this review to confirm I was being accurate. This amp is just magic. No volume knob, just gain (it is labeled Volume, but it's gan) & it gets saturated fairlyquick & the tone. That tone!

At lower gain its clean tone is rich a sparkly (stock speaker it came with!)

On the Normal side you've got 2 inputs, Volume (gain), Treble & Bass.

On the other channel you've got the same but also -Reverb -Speed & Intensity (for tremolo) -Attached pedal for turning on & of Tremolo & Reverb (or both)

Plus it's got that beautiful "Drip Face" trim around the Tolex.

*Pro Tip- I have seen these miscategorised on eBay and several other places and as a result sell for for cheaper than they would if they knew what they had. Do your research & you might get lucky!

It's a blast re-amping thru this guy as well. Just hit play and blend & shape the harmonics & tone...

There are of course other amps I love. Some I have some I want but this guy keeps me so happy I generally don't think about expanding my amp collection much.

I always invite more input or corrections so feel free to comment & I'll be sure & update everything

UPDATE-more insightful information in the comment below by Jimmarchi1- check it out.

jimmarchi1

actually, the deluxe reverb enver changed schematically during its long original run.... while drip edge means close to blackface in most silverfaces, when it comes to princetons and deluxes the only thing in the guts that changed apart from a few component brands as suppliers changed was the positioning of the filter caps

xaqary

You are the rare man to know these things. For YEARS if I mention my 67 I always have someone say "nope, that's a 68 or later". I grown & try to explain. This was my attempt to speak directly to those people & hopefully hear less of that -with the knowledge I'll never change their minds on the overall BF/SF argument on a broader scale. Tried to keep it simple & address the common misunderstanding, (reason for the gratuitous "yes, I have researched this" remarks while I groaned audibly) but like the mensch you are-you filled in where I missed like always.

I just never wanna have that stupid 67/68 Backface/Silverface bullshit argument again at a gig again + it leads to the whole mythologizing amps & that culture is exhausting too me...Waxing over great tones, mods, oddball finds, etc? Love it. I could do that forever. The smug "cult of _______ amp(s)" talk? Ugh...awful.

jimmarchi1

I tech amps sometimes. I've seen a lot of Deluxes. A lot.

xaqary

That's a set of tools I really wish I had. Never worked on amps, but I'm planning on taking my 1st stab at it as I mentioned in my review of the Roland Jazz Chorus.

jimmarchi1

I would never start on a solid state, PCB amp... get a broken 50s Valco or something and Aspen Pittman's book. I honestly rarely agree to work on a PCB amp and NEVER work on solid state amps either. So much going on, so easy to burn up a trace just diagnosing a problem on some PCBs

xaqary

Ha, this occurred to me of course but I was feeling all ambitious- I thought hell, I know a bit-my wife is a mechanical engineer, one of my closest friends is a electric engineer & has focused his craft on everything music, I'll figure it out! 1st call to my buddy to kick things off he just said "step away from the amp".

R

Not an Original issue

But I modded it to get it as close as I possibly could. I love this amp.

yannisbonin1974

A legend

Nothing more to say, got mine, a 67’ in the 90’s it’s a little beast from clean to dirt...

torssongeek

Best amp ever.

The ultimate Fender vintage amp.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Paul McCartney uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Paul McCartney

Bassist, Singer

The Beatles

...
Verified via Hog Hill Mill Blog

Paul McCartney is associated with the Fender Deluxe Reverb (original issue, 1963-1981) as detailed in the Hog Hill Mill Blog's "Amplifiers & Pedals" post.

See how Dan Auerbach uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Dan Auerbach

Guitarist, Keyboardist

The Black Keys

...
Verified via The Guitar Magazine

In this article they say Auerbach uses two Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifiers for The Arcs. Auerbach also used a silverface Deluxe Reverb while recording Black Keys' 2019 album, "Let's Rock", according to 2019 Music Radar interview.

Then I used a Deluxe Reverb - a silverface Deluxe Reverb. I prefer the silverface for rock ’n’ roll-type stuff. Blackfaces are really nice and pretty and they’re really versatile, but I don’t need to be versatile. Not all of the time, anyway!

See how Joe Bonamassa uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Joe Bonamassa

Singer, Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Premier Guitar

I ended up using two Deluxes. I had one Deluxe Reverb and one brown Deluxe," says Joe. We wonder if Joe was referring to a reissue Deluxe Reverb that might have happened to be at the studio, or one of his rare closet classics. He immediately snaps, "Think about that critically and ask yourself again, 'Who are you talking to?'" Point taken, Joe! /.../ "When I was a kid, I had a black [panel] Deluxe Reverb. I think this is probably one of the ones that I had for 25 years," he clarifies. "The black and brown circuits are totally different, so you get that kind of sweet/salt mix. The brown Deluxe does the real thick midrange stuff and the black does the low and the high. That's kind of always been my M.O. It's never just one amp. You're mid-stacking with amps that don't necessarily do the same thing. The bigger, thicker tones you hear on the solo, that's the high-powered Twin. The more jangly stuff was the Deluxes."

See how Taylor York uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Taylor York

Guitarist

Paramore

...
Verified via Equipboard

Taylor York is associated with the Fender Deluxe Reverb (original issue, 1963-1981), as mentioned in an Equipboard article.

See how Elliott Smith uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Elliott Smith

Guitarist, Singer

Heatmiser

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram photo, Elliott Smith is seen with a Fender Vibrolux Reverb amplifier, identifiable by the number of knobs on the first channel and the bright switch. The blue text format near the light also matches other silverface Vibrolux models. [Instagram link]

See how Duane Allman uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Duane Allman

Guitarist

The Allman Brothers Band

...
Verified via Groundguitar

Used in the early days, prior to ABB, paired with his Fenders. The amp had JBL speakers.

See how Nile Rodgers uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Nile Rodgers

Singer, Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via guitarworld

Used for C'est Chic, particularly on "Le Freak", as stated by this February 3, 2020 Guitar World article.

The Neve console’s 31102 mic preamp/EQ channel strip generously reduces bass (to provide extra room for Bernard Edwards’ booty-shaking bass low-end thump), while a miked Deluxe Reverb recorded simultaneously on a second track mixed below the direct track preserves body.

(...) Original gear

Guitar: 1960 Fender Stratocaster with maple 1959 neck and hardtail bridge (neck pickup only), Master Volume: 10, Neck Tone: 10

Direct input: Neve 8068 console with 31102 channel strips (Mic Preamp Level: -30dB, High Frequency: 12kHz, HF Level: +6dB, Mid Frequency: 4.8kHz, MF level: +4dB, Hi Q: On, Low Frequency: 220Hz, LF Level: -6dB, High Pass Filter: 160Hz, Low Pass Filter: off)

Amp: c. 1968-77 Fender Deluxe Reverb (Normal Channel input 1, Volume: 4, Treble: 7, Bass: 5) with Oxford 12K5 12-inch speaker

Effects (outboard): Neve 33609 compressor (settings unknown), Pultec EQP 1A3 2-Band EQ (settings unknown)

Strings/Tuning: D’Addario XL120 .009-.042/Standard

Pick: Fender Thin

See how John Scofield uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

John Scofield

Guitarist, Composer

Medeski Martin & Wood

...
Verified via Guitarplayer

1964 Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface)

The amp on the record is a ’64 Deluxe Reverb I bought about ten years ago at a music store in New York. I liked the way it sounded, but noticed it was really soft. Then, it just sort of died. I took it to a repairman, and he said, “This thing has been in a flood. You’re screwed.” I thought, “Oh, man,” and it sat in my basement for a few years. Then, last year, I brought it to a different guy for a second opinion. He replaced the transformer with another vintage one of the same type. Now, the amp is up and running and sounds great. I usually set the volume just above 3, for a touch of breakup. Fender’s reissue Deluxes are good, too, by the way.

See how Bill Frisell uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Bill Frisell

Guitarist

The Bill Frisell Band

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video he uses a Fender Deluxe Reverb

See how Peter Green uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Peter Green

Singer, Guitarist

Fleetwood Mac

...
Verified via Photo

Peter Green has been seen in photos using a Silverface Fender Deluxe Reverb during the album "Fleetwood Mac in Chicago" in 1969.

See how Brian Setzer uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Brian Setzer

Singer, Guitarist

The Brian Setzer Orchestra

...
Verified via reverb.com

This Fender Deluxe Reverb Amp was owned by Brian Setzer

This amp is in really great shape. The tolex has a few minor scuffs here and there but nothing major. The grill cloth is a bit dirty from age but no major tears. The amp functions completely as intended and sounds amazing. Super splashy reverb and the amp breaks up with perfection. The plug is currently a 2 prong with no ground. Comes with vintage foot switch.

See how Stephen O'Malley uses Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981)

Stephen O'Malley

Guitarist

Sunn O)))

...
Verified via Guitar.com | All Things Guitar

I used a Deluxe Reverb as well. That was different for us. There are also times when we’ve played with just the two of us live. We’ve incorporated a Fender Twin with each setup, so you have an extra push over the cliff.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981), it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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doby4343

Gear IQ 47

5 alternative and related items for Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981), curated by the Equipboard community.

Fender '64 Custom Deluxe Reverb

$2,649.00 - $3,359.99

similar sound cheaper alternative

The Fender '64 Custom Deluxe Reverb is a handwired, reissue version of the AB763 Deluxe Reverb circuit.

Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue 1x12 Combo Amplifier

$1,450.00 - $1,839.00

newer similar sound cheaper alternative

The current reissue version of the AB763 Deluxe Reverb, introduced in 1994.

3rd Power Amplification KITCHEN SINK 6VEL Head

 

similar sound cheaper alternative

The Kitchen sink has a "Blackface" switch that when engaged, it will emulate a classic blackface or black panel fender amp.

Line 6 Flextone 60-Watt 1x12" Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
similar sound

The Line 6 Flextone has a model named "Black Panel", which is described in its manual as being modeled after a 1964 Fender Deluxe Reverb

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