Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

[Rockstar216]

I've been looking at Fenders lately and anytime I go to GC or Sam Ash thats usually the amp I plug into. I always said that if I were ever going to buy a Fender to gig with It would probably be a Deluxe Reverb because it's not as heavy as a twin but stays pretty clean at loud volumes. The clean channel on my Blackstar HT40 kind of reminds me of the Deluxe not in the character but in the way that if you push it it becomes a bit driven but still clean.

Reissues and original specs don't matter to me but I know some say they hear the difference.

 

[LReese]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Its a fabulous foundation for pedals. Sounds great on its own... What's not to like?

I don't own one - yet... Have a newish Princeton RI with PTP board and a '66 Vibrolux Reverb.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

It's probably Fender's best sounding and most versatile amp of all time. What's to know?

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

I own a reissue. Its the embodiment of the fender clean tone. Decent headroom, the best reverb sound you may ever hear, and its loud. Like, difficult to keep pictures on the wall loud.

 

[erksin]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Hmm I guess I'll be the lone dissenter here - not really a fan.

I've owned an original from 1965 and have played several Silverfaces and reissues (we use a pimped out reish as one of our test amps at work). My main beef is that they don't stay clean for very long (typical breakup begins around 3-4 on the Volume and only compresses after that without getting a whole lot louder), and for a 1-12" they sound pretty small due to the under-sized (IMO) cabinet. Reverb (IMO again) is just okay when compared to other makers like Ampeg or the old Gibsons with reverb.

I know guys that use them and get good sounds out of them, but they're typically modded quite a bit (JBL speaker, bigger iron, or even 6L6s). For a stock amp, I'd much rather have a Custom Vibrolux Reverb reissue - way more versatile amp. At the very least, you have to clip the bright cap if you're gonna use dirt pedals with it as it makes them sound harsh.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

I've never understood the "BF/SF Fender amps are a good pedal platform" stance...those amps all lack midrange and the top is so sharp that most every dirt box you run into it ends up being shrill and fizzy.

I'm not saying it can't be done...it can be done but IMO it takes more work to get a good sound that way then it would to use any number of other amps.

The Deluxe Reverb is a great amp for some guys but I am not one of them...like erksin I have issues with those amps. In fact the only BF/SF Fender amps I really love is the Princeton Reverb and even then I'd take a brown Princeton over a PR any day of the week.

FWIW, my first good amp and an amp I still own is a 69 Twin Reverb and while I can't bring myself to sell it i never use it...

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Well I'm not that big on Fenders to begin with. Not that their bad their just not my bag but are the perfect amp for most of the gigs I do. (Gospel/Jazz/R&B,Soul)

I like Twins but would never gig with one unless I had a roadie to move it for me because those are some heavy SOBs and are too loud most of the time. Thats why i'm partial to combos especially 1x12s easy to move and carry. Also I don't view amps as pedal platforms I like to keep the signal chain clean as possible. I'm a big fan of on board reverb and multi channel switching.

 

[erksin]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

If you're looking for a 1-12" combo around 18-20 watts with reverb and trem, look for a '60s Ampeg Reverberocket. More headroom than the DR, better feel overall IMO, and the reverb kills anything Fender ever did. Killer Jazz/R&B amp.

Clean vintage examples go for about the same or less than a new DRRI.

 

[mrpinter]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

I guess you either like the "Fender sound" or you don't. I've had a few good amps - including a couple of Matchless (Lightning and Chieftain) and an old Gibson 15w tube amp. I think I like my DRRI and older Champs as much as or even more than any of those amps I used to have. I don't even feel the need to swap out the speaker on the DRRI - it sounds good to me the way it is. And the matched pair of SF Champs (modded a bit with Kendrick speakers and AT-7 preamp tubes) make for a great stereo rig.

 

[Securb]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

My first band when I was 14 I played through a Deluxe Reverb, I miss that amp badly. That baby handled every size room we played in and was even powerful enough for a few outdoor gigs. I ran it with a ROSS distortion I loved the tone we played a lot of Who, Clash, Hendrix and a few originals back then. I eventually moved on to my Quad Reverb when I started playing metal, which I still have. I have serious GAS for another Deluxe.

I've never understood the "BF/SF Fender amps are a good pedal platform" stance...those amps all lack midrange and the top is so sharp that most every dirt box you run into it ends up being shrill and fizzy.

I get a great deep barking distortion our of my Quad Silverface. In my metal days I would try to emulate Tony Iommi's tone on my rhythms and came pretty close with that amp. I guess is all about how you setup the amp and what guitar you use with it.

 

[erksin]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

I guess you either like the "Fender sound" or you don't. I've had a few good amps - including a couple of Matchless (Lightning and Chieftain) and an old Gibson 15w tube amp. I think I like my DRRI and older Champs as much as or even more than any of those amps I used to have. I don't even feel the need to swap out the speaker on the DRRI - it sounds good to me the way it is. And the matched pair of SF Champs (modded a bit with Kendrick speakers and AT-7 preamp tubes) make for a great stereo rig.

I love Fenders - even Blackface ones. Tweeds, Brownface, Silvers. The DR just isn't one of them.

 

[erksin]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

And honestly, I don't think the DR is a good representative of the 'Blackface sound' in general because of it's propensity to over-compress - a Pro Reverb or Super Reverb are better examples to me.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Out of all of the blackface family, I like the Pro Reverb the most. Seymour has two in his office, I noticed at User Group Day. I have a blackfaced 74 non master.

I've heard Erksin saying good things about the Gibson Falcon, and I have the opportunity to scoop up a vintage Falcon or Discoverer. I want to hear some details on those amps, because I have a Gibson Goldtone from 98, and wouldn't mind a primo Gibson example from the mid 60's. Way different amps, I know, but each is mint and $500.

 

[mrpinter]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Well, I still like my DRRI. I'll just go with the medieval idiom: There's no accounting for taste.

 

[erksin]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Got pics of the Falcon? $500 is a great price for any of the '61-'65 versions if they're mint - but could be a fricking steal if it's the right one.

I just bought a second one myself - another '63. More than $500, and it's about as close to mint as you find these things.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

if i was only allowed one amp for every gig and recording date between now and when i die, i would choose a deluxe reverb.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

if i was only allowed one amp for every gig and recording date between now and when i die, i would choose a deluxe reverb.

Exactly. To me, they're the Telecaster of amps -- the, "If I had to just pick one thing to do it all" choice. I actually think that the Princeton Reverb sounds just as good. But the Deluxe is a better amp for gigging, especially if you play with a drummer, a bassist, etc.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Just spent some time in a local shop with both the Blackface reissue and the brand new Silverface 66 RI.
Side by side same settings same guitar the 66 Silverface burred the Black face RI. Noticeably bigger fatter smoother rounder beefier tones on the silverface in particular from the "normal" channel head to head every time. Don't know what the internal differences are but head to head it was VERY noticeable!!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

I like the DR, and Princetons, and twins, but IMO, the Super Reverb trumps all in the BF category. Those 4 10s bring the mids without being obnoxious overkill. It sounds great clean and cranked, the others do not sound so good cranked, IMO...they sound best clean or just starting to edge. The funny thing is, I absolutely HATE 10" speakers normally, but 4 of them in a Bassman or Super, are some of my fave tonez evar!

If I were to buy a new Fender, other than the SRRI, I would love to own one of those new silverface 68s with the Bassman tone stack.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Tell me about the Fender Deluxe Reverb

I have a 67 or 68 Deluxe Reverb. Almost gave up on it but I manage to hang in there with it and goth the amp doing what its supposed to. The Re-Issue amps are a whole different thing then the originals. I would not describe the Deluxe Reverb as clean. The beauty of the amp is it is 22W and you can crank them up to get a good natural overdrive with the amp. When I do gig out I usually use this amp and a small board. A CE2, DD3, TS9, Wah and tuner. Its directly what I need. I use the TS9 to push the amp harder then the normal volume out of the amp. I usually set the amp with the volume on 4. Any more then that its very hard to keep it clean especially with Humbuckers. The big challenge is if the club or facility you are playing in is big and there is a lot of people in the room you will need to mike the amp. My settings are pretty simple I usually set the volume on no more then 4, The Treble on 3, the bass pretty much all the way up and the Reverb on about 3(depending on the room). Once I have the amp set then I adjust my TS9 for a bit more gain & sustain and a touch more volume.