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Author
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Topic: Fender Deluxe Reverb Amps
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Nick Reed
Member From: Springfield, TN
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posted 23 August 2006 11:32 PM
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I've been using my old '64 Fender Deluxe Reverb at a small Restuarant gig on Friday nights here lately. We play a dinner show where I don't really need alot of volume. I've been amazed at what a great little Steel Amp it is. I use the clean-normal channel with only a Boss RV-3 for reverb & delay. I've owned this Amp for over 35 years and till here lately didn't realize what I had. It's a Jewell! NR
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Klaus Caprani
Member From: Copenhagen, Denmark
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posted 24 August 2006 12:05 AM
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I play an early silverface and love it  ------------------
Klaus Caprani MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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Mike Archer
Member From: Church Hill, Tennessee, USA
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posted 24 August 2006 04:14 AM
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i bought a 65 reisue from a fo-bro
about 6 months ago and i have to say
its a great amp!! it has a lot of power
and the tone is wonderfull.....i mostly play my tele through it but im going to
put my steel through it and give that a
try soon[This message was edited by Mike Archer on 24 August 2006 at 04:15 AM.] |
Jim Peters
Member From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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posted 24 August 2006 04:30 AM
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I love my Deluxe, but not with my steel, except at very low volumes. JP |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 24 August 2006 05:40 AM
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Set up right, a Deluxe should be able to handle more than low-vlume playing. If it's a blackface or silverface, check if the filter caps have ever ben replaced - if not, they need to be done NOW; they are far beyond their service life and will kill your headroom. Once that's done, the right tubes, right speaker and a simple rebias can tigten the amp up where it'll work great for most small club use with a band. |
Rick Johnson
Member From: Wheelwright, Ky USA
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posted 24 August 2006 06:44 AM
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Nick
I love them old Fenders too.
That Deluxe Rev is worth about
1750.00Hang on to it. Rick
www.rickjohnsoncabs.com |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 24 August 2006 08:43 AM
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I play thru a '68 Deluxe most of the time since my gigs are pretty low volume for the most part. It's got a JBL D-120 in it, and that honestly makes it more than twice as loud as a stock Fender speaker. It's really a great amp. It's the holy grail guitar amp in my opinion. On the left channel, I moved a wire to bypass the tone section and then I put in a 12AU7. Now that channel lets me use the Deluxe as simply a 22 watt tube powered speaker to use with my steel preamp. I've played gigs with two loud drummers, loud guitars, and loud monitors. I simply place it about 1 foot behind my back so I can hear and feel it, then it can be in the PA and monitors for others to hear. It's really got a sweet breakup if you reach max power. Other times I've used it strictly as a steel amp all by itself, and I was able to fill a couple of small bars with it no problem. What a tone. Gotta love those 6V6 power tubes. If you play quiet gigs, a JBL loaded Deluxe Reverb will really cut the mustard. Didn't Lloyd record with a JBL/Deluxe Reverb before he switched to the Twin back in the '60s? Brad
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Chris LeDrew
Member From: Newfoundland, Canada
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posted 24 August 2006 12:24 PM
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Lloyd did most of "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" with a Deluxe reverb. He only used a Twin for the stuff done in L.A."You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" is the fingertip through a Deluxe. A quote from Mr. Green, taken from last year's thread on this subject: "Since this has some historical merit would you tell Chris LeDrew and Dave Van Allen that I did use my blackface Fender Deluxe/w 12'' JBL on all of my "Sweetheart" cuts except the two tunes we cut in Los Angeles, "One Hundred Years From Now" and "All I Have Are Memories".
On those two songs I used a Fender Twin with stock speakers that was in Columbia Studios out there.
While I would never speak for J.D. one can assume he probably used the same amp in L.A. that I used, since that's where the tracks on which he played were cut. At least, to my ears, it sounds like a Fender Twin." Lloyd G.
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Rich Gilbert
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee
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posted 24 August 2006 12:43 PM
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I'm with ya, I use my 65 Deluxe Reverb with my Sho Bud Pro I a lot! I got a Steel King for higher power gigs, but I have to admit it doesn't really have the sparkle that the Deluxe provides. However, the Deluxe doesn't give me as much rich full low end as the Steel King. Apple s and oranges I know, but I wouldn't part with either. I have to say, I'm surprised that I don't see more steel players using Deluxe Reverbs with their steel, as I said before they're great sounding steel amps for low volume gigs. And if it's a gig where you're switching between guitar and steel, you've got both bases covered with one amp. |
Dave Mudgett
Member From: Central Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 24 August 2006 04:57 PM
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Yeah, I love my '64 Deluxe Reverb for low-volume gigs or recording. I used a white-frame, orange-label EV SRO speaker when I was using it for steel, probably my favorite speaker for a Deluxe. This is the smaller, older version of the SRO.But I don't find that I can use this for the live gigs I'm playing these days - it just doesn't have enough clean juice for steel, even with the upgraded speaker. So I'm looking for a reasonably priced but beat silverface DR with some problems to clean up, put bigger transformers in, and bias up for 2-6L6. Overall, a Deluxe Reverb is my favorite sounding guitar amp ever, and I'd sure like that sound and small package, but a bit louder and cleaner for steel. I agree that the EV or JBL speaker alone makes a big difference, but still not enough for me without beefing the amp up. |
Doug Beaumier
Member From: Northampton, MA
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posted 24 August 2006 06:30 PM
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I have a '66 Deluxe Reverb , mint condition, and I Love the sound of this amp in the studio! Very punchy at low to moderate Volume. It works best when overdubbing. I tried using it to record with a live band (bass and drums) and it just turned to Mud because I had to crank it somewhat to be heard. But for overdubs it's out of this world. The sound is vintage '60s for sure.I also tried my '67 Vibrolux in the studio and it was terrible. The Deluxe with it's single 12" and 22 watts was far better. The Vibrolux is killer for guitar, but not good for steel, oddly enough. |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 24 August 2006 07:01 PM
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Now you guys have got me thinkin'. I'm gonna have to try out my modded Princeton Reverb with my steel. It's got the Stokes mod, so it's pumpin' out 21 watts. Beefier xformers, and a Celestion 12" speaker. It has some other mods, and plays very clean, and it's LOUD!. Hmmmm,,,,,,,,,[This message was edited by John Billings on 24 August 2006 at 07:32 PM.] |
George Redmon
Member From:
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posted 24 August 2006 07:43 PM
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Nick i just loved my black face 65 deluxe reverb amp. I also had the white SRO in mine, and i used a closed back 2X12 Black widow peavey bottom with it. And as you can see we were playing outside, had plenty of power to spare..I put the black grill cloth on it, the original grill was all but gone.
One of the best all around amps i ever owned.I was playing an old sho~bud at that time.
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Twayn Williams
Member From: Portland, OR
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posted 24 August 2006 11:04 PM
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If you want a little more bottom end out of a DRRI, try using JJ 6V6's. I swapped out the EH's that were stock and it was almost like getting a new amp! The JJ's are sort of like little 6L6's. I've also thought about putting a Celestion Neo in it for a bit of shrillness control, but haven't got around to it yet. |
Jim Peters
Member From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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posted 25 August 2006 06:07 AM
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My deluxe is set up for 6 string in a low volume bluesy band. It has an efficient speaker(Reverend), and has more headroom than a "stock" Deluxe. It's the old balancing act, the more you set it up for guitar, the worse it is for steel. Brad, your rig does sound great, but if you're just using it as a 22 watt power amp, why not just build a tube power amp? The charm of a deluxe to me is it's early breakup- the perfect mid volume club amp for reg. guitar. JP |
Al Sato
Member From: Texas Hill Country
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posted 25 August 2006 11:10 PM
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Nick, you've got the goods there. I play a BF Deluxe Reverb and a SF one (that's been modded back to BF). Both are spectacular guitar amps and I play my Stringmaster D-8 through them as well. I don't play PS at all so that's not an issue.The Deluxe Reverb was conceived as a budget amp that still sounded good. Yup. It ain't no budget amp but it sounds good. I use several different speakers: JBL D-120F, ElectroVoice SRO, vintage Jensen P12N, new Weber P12N, reconed vintage Jensen P12N. They are all variations on great-sounding speakers. The Deluxe Reverb is a winner! ------------------
So many stringed instruments, so little time... |
Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 26 August 2006 08:30 AM
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I play a Deluxe Reverb reissue that I've retubed with my Stringmaster and Rickenbacker lapsteel and it sounds fantastic. Works great for trio gigs (Hawaiian mostly) and I have it set up with an A/B switch to be able to use it on the gig with my Telecaster for surf and other non-steel music. |
KENNY KRUPNICK
Member From: Grove City,Ohio
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posted 29 August 2006 11:38 PM
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What's the deal with the re-issue Deluxe Reverb? I've heard these have circuit boards,instead of point-to-point wiring. Are these as good sounding as the older Deluxe amps?Reliable? |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 30 August 2006 06:45 AM
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Kenny - No, and no.Cabinet construction i different, they use PCB's instead of eyelet board wiring, and there are other differences. They sound good...but don't sound exactly like a vintage Deluxe Reverb. IMO the durability won't be as good, buttime will have to prove that on. One important fact, though, is that you can get a slverface DR for about the same money as a reissue...and the SF amp will go UP in value, not to mention sound better if it's been maintained. The "smartest" buy is a SF DR with the push-pull volume control. They are the least expensive, and when serviced and adjusted properly will sound as good as any BF. Plus, again - the value will increase. |
Michael Brebes
Member From: Northridge CA
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posted 30 August 2006 04:34 PM
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They sound very good with Celestion Vintage 30's installed. Actually the cheapest decent sounding Deluxe Reverb is the Deluxe Reverb II. Made in the 80's with a footswitchable high gain channel. If you stay on the clean channel, the Deluxe sound is still there. There are mods that can be done to make it even closer to a stock DR. You should be able to find these for less than a DR SF. |
Gerald Menke
Member From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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posted 31 August 2006 09:36 AM
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I bought a used DR reissue in 1998, and have used it since then on a weekly basis, for steel for low volume gigs, in the studio even and for tele on lower volume gigs. As far as reliablity is concerned, I haven't even changed the tubes in 8 years, and it always sounds great. I did have to replace the reverb system last year, but hey, after 8 years of gigs and bouncing around in the back of a truck to and from , it's been a great, great amp. I paid $500 for it, it was in mint condition at the time. I am currently beginning shopping for something with more headroom for guitar, though. I have to play loud with a couple of artists, and it just doesn't give me a loud clean tone. Maybe a Fuchs or a Two Rock... |
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