This is one of the best amplifiers around for clean tones, even at low volumes. However, turning up the volume also unlocks some of the best natural overdrives you'll hear.
Advantages
+Rich, full tone
+Clear and detailed
+Works well with all guitars
+Sounds good even when it's quiet
+Amazing handling when pushing
Disadvantages
-No master volume
-Vibrato is loud at low volume
As the name suggests, this is a reissue of a Fender Deluxe Reverb combo amplifier from the mid-'60s. The black front panel is modeled after the original pre-CBS models, and the circuitry inside has been designed to deliver the same sound as well.
Since this is an all-tube amplifier, it should not be confused with the Tone Master version of the same amplifier. In the preamp section there are 4 x 12AX7 and 2 x 12AT7, and in the power amp section there are 2 x 6V6 and a 5AR4 tube rectifier.
There are two channels, one with reverb and tremolo, one without, each with two inputs. It's worth remembering that this is a fairly faithful remake of an old amp, so there's only one volume control per channel - if you want this thing to distort, you'll have to turn it up loud. There is no master output volume to compensate for this.
With 22W of power, you have enough power for performances, but not so much that you can't play at home. It's equipped with a single 12-inch Jensen C12K ceramic magnet speaker and to be honest, it's the perfect example of a workhorse amplifier. The Deluxe Reverb has been used extensively by a wide variety of players over the last 60 years. It's easy to see why.
It sounds incredible. There's that crystalline Fender glitter up top that everyone's talking about; It's bright, but not overly bright, and you've got the rich, warm bass to complement it. They have treble and bass controls to help you dial in your ideal sound. Some may miss the control over the mid-range frequencies, but if you're looking for a mid-range amp then this probably isn't the one for you. As a clean amplifier it really is one of the best on the market. You also get a lot of attack on the notes as well as really nice natural compression (Guitar World review).
If you want to get some graininess out of it, it does that too. For me it started breaking around 5, although it depends on which pickups you use. In this volume range of 4 to 5 you are in the “edge of resolution” range. So if you want to drive the amp harder with the pedals, you can easily do so.
After 5 years you begin to experience a wonderful, warm, organic breakup. It also starts to compress more (but this happens slowly before 5). Keep going and you'll experience some incredible sounding distortion. I had it at full volume for a short time and it's probably the best sound my Gibson SG has ever had.
It accepts boost pedals very well, as well as various types of overdrive. For me, overdrive pedals with a slight boost to the mids worked best as they balance the overall sound a bit and also allow for distortion at a more appropriate volume.
The 65 Deluxe Reverb isn't just an amp that only sounds good when it's loud. Presumably because the volume control has a bright cap, it retains a good amount of detail in the high end as well as the nice tone in the low end when played at lower volumes. It's actually a surprisingly excellent bedroom amplifier. I've played a lot of black and silver panel Fender amps, but haven't lived with one for a while and was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded at room-level levels.
Of course, if you want to turn it off, it's loud - probably too loud for most people at home, but at a gig you can probably push this amp where you want it without hearing the sound that people hate (which isn't the case with many other non-master volume amps). There's a reason the Deluxe Reverb has been such a popular amp for guitarists over the last 60 years - that 22W is kind of a sweet spot.
With some amplifiers, certain guitars sound really good, while others sound less so. This made every guitar I played sound great and helped me get the most out of the instrument.
Aside from the effects, the two channels sound slightly different. The vibrato channel is slightly brighter and clearer, although the difference isn't big at all, at least to my ears - the difference wouldn't be comparable on the Silver Panel '68 Reissue. However, inputs 1 and 2 on both channels are more different because they are designed so that you can pair them with guitars that have different tonal characteristics and outputs. Input 2 is slightly quieter (-6 dB) and slightly muffled compared to input 1, which is louder and brighter.
The reverb is very lush; Super washed out and dreamy when you turn it on right. It has a real spring inside so obviously spring reverb is the only kind you can get out of it, which might not work for everything but it really is the perfect sound for everything like surf and rockabilly. At a setting of around 1 or 2 it provides a nice texture that you can leave on all the time without it getting in the way of your gaming.
Vibrato can add a really nice element to your sound, and the speed and intensity controls let you control how fast it is and how much it is integrated into your signal. The only downside is that it is a bit loud at lower volumes. Regardless of the speed set, a slight hissing sound can be heard. When you turn up the amp, the volume of the noise stays the same, i.e. h. it's pretty quiet, so it's only really a problem if you're recording with it at very low volumes.
Final Verdict:
This is a fantastic amp, especially if you're looking for really full sounding cleans at any volume. It's perfect for giggling and when you push it you get a fantastic sounding overdrive. At 22W you can get that clipping without the volume going crazy, but it's still loud; probably too much for home use. It's really easy to see why so many players have turned to the Deluxe Reverb for studio use, performances and home practice.
Specifications
Price: £1549/$1599
Type: Combo
Power: 22W
Tubes: Preamp: 4 x 12AX7, 2 x 12AT7, Power amp: 2 x 6V6, Rectifier: 1 x 5AR4
Speaker: 1 x 12 inch Jensen C12K with ceramic magnet
Effects: reverb, vibrato
Weight: 42 lbs (19.05 kg)
Contact: Fender
