Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb

It's an interesting time to talk about the Fender Deluxe Reverb. There are 3 seperate AB763 Deluxe models available now; 1 - the new "original" hand wired '64 Custom Shop AB763 Deluxe circuit ($3,249.99), 2 - the printed circuit board '65 Deluxe version ($1,429.99), 3 - the digital Deluxe Tone Master ($1,039.00) version. Electric, electronic and digital. Each one has pros and cons. The new digital Tone Master Deluxe has no tubes, is light weight (23 lbs) solid pine, least expensive, recording cab sim output, scalable down to 0.2 watts. Ninety percent of people could not tell the difference between this and the other amps. The 65 Deluxe Reissue has been a Fender best seller since 1993. The 65 Deluxe Reissue has tubes, has two channels but reverb and tremolo in only one channel, is a printed circuit board design (42 lbs), birch plywood. Built on an assembly line; a bit of warning about the 65 Deluxe Reissue: The circuit boards used to build these amps are what’s known as “single-sided” boards and do not have something called “plated-through holes.” This means the thin, foil-like trace is the only thing on the board the solder adheres to. It’s a very inexpensive board, used to keep production costs down, and is not the best when it comes to servicing or modification as it easily overheats and becomes damaged. This amp will go down in value. On the other hand, the expensive '64 Custom Deluxe Reverb hand wired amp is durable, reliable, built in Fender's Custom Shop in Corona California, solid pine, 39 lbs., output tube bias tremolo for throbbing sound with bloom, gain that is clean up to "5" and harmonically rich saturation beyond. This amp is expensive but will go up in value. I went for Door #1 and Door #3. These days require a different approach. The Digital Tone Master Deluxe and the Hand Wired Custom Deluxe. The hand wired Deluxe is three times as expensive but will be a treasured collectors item decades from now. The digital amp may, in a few years, become a footnote in history like Gibson's robot (epic fail) tuning pegs. However, I think Fender made a good decision with three good amps. The best amp is the most expensive. It's for the ten percenters who want breathtaking tone that may not be obvious to most people. But once you play one, it's difficult to go back to lesser amps.

Owned 2 super reverbs back in the 70s and early 80s have been looking for that sound for years , found it in the 65 deluxe reverb reissue love it

I've owned originals and reissues. The amp is a classic and is arguably the best gigging pop/rock amp ever made. No questions asked however... and here are the 'buts' on the reissue version... A stock Jensen reissue C12K 100 watt speaker in a 22 watt amplifier... really? Why add weight and shrill the tone? A C12N 50 watt or a C12Q watt (the latter not with JJ 6V6S replacement tubes) would be better factory choices and truer to the original tone of this amp. A decent Weber or Eminence are also worthwhile upgrades. Factory power tubes and their biasing... These generally come from Fender biased colder than a witch (well under 50%) and in my experience the stock GT power tubes are inconcistent and poorly selected. I had one where, with the original factory GT 6V6s in it, with the bias adjustment, per tube, maxed and I couldn't get to 70%. That's cold. The Deluxe Reverb itself is a great amp but like the cheap tires on a factory new car, the speaker, power tubes and a re-bias are necessary immediate re-dos right out of the box.

It s the best amp i never had.. in all styles of music...

I have the special edition Blonde/Wheat Grill with the alnico p12q jensen. Crystal clear chiming cleans for jazz and country and pedal of your choice for blues, just an amazing sound. Starts breaking up around 5 with a Les Paul Standard, 6 or 7 with a Tele/Strat depending on how hot your single coils are. I think you will get more headroom with a ceramic speaker (Vintage 30 or a Cannabis Rex). Certainly loud enough volume wise to gig with provided you're not in a metal band. It really is a versatile amp in its own right. Worth miking through the house for larger venues if needed. I really just love this amp, worth every penny. It's a musical extension of your guitar, very touch sensitive in natural overdrive. I use a Fulltone OCD to dial in the full range of distortion from a bit of hair blues to Marshall rock. Just wonderful.

Rented this amp for a gig. Beautiful clean sound. Never needed to turn the knob higher than 4 to match levels with drums and bass. Definitely on my wish list for new gear.

I love this amp with all of my heart. The shimmering cleans, those beautiful tones, and just the perfect amount of crunch/breakup with the right Overdrive pedal. Haven't found a pedal that doesn't sound good with it, and it really does get loud. Has some pretty good headroom, breaks up around 5, but really, going up to 4 is all you should need for a beautiful clean tone. The EQs are beautiful, and the Reverb doesn't even need to be talked about, because we know how perfect it already is. I've been able to use many types of guitars with it, including Gibsons, Fenders, (obviously,) and other things like Gretsch, and PRS. All in all, the perfect amp!

I absolutely stole this little gem for $600 used at my local L&M. I can say this amp will die with me, beautiful cleans! Loud if pushed and not too dirty when cranked, just right. It also takes pedals as well as any amp I have played. Highly recommended!

lively....chimey....detailed...hendrix and srv sound.....i have the special edition bordeaux blues with the alnico p12q jensen...best amp ever....changed the preamp tubes to tungsol 12ax7...best move ever...just buy it....you know you want it

Bought this amp lightly used from L&M and what an amazing amp! I know fender is being true to the 65 specs but a very small part of me wish this amp had an effects loop, however this still takes pedals very well. Paired with my American Standard 2012 Strat, I couldn't be happier!

I have read often that this amp and the 68 custom are pretty identical except the 68 is more versatile since both channels will use the reverb and tremolo...yet the 65 is over 200 dollar more expensive...why?

Bought new in 2002. Excellent bottom end and overall tone. I recently replaced the AT-7s with NOS RCAs from the 60s. WOW, the sound is even better. You can't miss with this amp, add a Stratocaster and you're in Fenderland.

The size and tone on this amp are perfect. Easy to load, with a power level that allows you to push the amp. I had the Blues deluxe for many years, also a great amp, but could never push the volume because it was just too loud. Best all around amp for your money.

Excellent

It's everything I thought it would be and more. If you buy this amp it will be the last one you need to buy. We play blues and rock with it and love it.

Great sound, it's so good the hair will stand up on the back of your neck. I play a 63 reissue strat and the out of phase is to die for.

Great sound. I wish I'd bought this amp a long time ago rather than being scared away by the price. I haven't found another amp under $1000 that beats the sound and quality of the Deluxe Reverb.

Would be nice if this model had some sort of a pocket to tuck away the power cord and effects pedal rather than running the risk of puncturing the speaker.