Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb (Black) Reviews

4.3/5.0 based on 10 customer reviews

Sweetwater Advice

Carson McClain

Charm, tone, vibe, and feel are all words that you'll hear when describing a '65 Fender Deluxe Reverb. Nothing can really touch this classic sound - and that's why owning one is a necessity for any guitar player who's looking to add to his amp collection.

Sort By Date Sort By Rating

Customer Reviews

from Mid Michigan
April 7, 2013Music Background:
lifelong hobbyist

great amp

I am somewhat new to tube amps, but this amp has a fantastic fat clean tone, with nice on board reverb. The tremelo effect is neat but not my style. I am running an OCD distortion pedal for some slight overdrive when needed. This with the gibson 335 sounds fantastic. I am very happy with this amp.

It is loud enough for me to accompany a swing big band in a hall setting with plenty of headroom.

If I had a complaint it would be that this is pretty heavy so carting it around is a bit of a pain, however any good amp is heavy in my opinion.

Ken
from Clinton, TN
December 18, 2012Music Background:
Just play for myself now.

Great amp

This amp sounds great. Had one in the mid 60's and this one sounds exacly the same. Fender gear has never let me down.
Played as a pro- amature in the 60's, loved the amp then and the reissue sounds the same.

Gary
from Philadelphia
August 23, 2012Music Background:
Gigging Musician, Pro Musician

The only amp you'll need

What do you want in an amp?
A Clean Sparkle channel - Well its a fender so thats almost an automatic- This amp puts out the signature clean that made Fender so famous. The tube reverb is superb. There is a reason this Blackface is the sound that digital emulators try to reproduce. Outstanding
Tube distortion - @22 watts The amp starts to break up at about 5. Push the volume and you get the unmistakable overdrive crunch only a tube amp can give you. The amp is very very responsive to your guitars volume control. Turn the amp up to 7 crank your guitar and and feel the fun! Turn your guitar down and the amp cleans up really nice!
Do you gig? If you do you know how much it sucks to lug around a heavy amp but smaller lighter amps just dont have the bass or fullness that you need. PROBLEM SOLVED this amp is 40ish lbs which makes it easy to take with you and the 12" Jensen Ceramic puts out a really BIG full sound.
Work with pedals? HELL YEAH. The key to a great pedal sound is a great clean amp. Again this is a Fender and with the 12" speaker response you'll be very happy
Volume, If you rock out with a heavy metal band and need stack behind you to be able to hear over the rest of the band, then this is not the amp for you. It gets plenty loud for just about any other type of venue. If the room is too big for this amp, then it should be mic'd anyway and sent of the PA.
Over all I have been playing for 35 years. 20 of those years as a professional. I have owned Ampeg, Traynor, Crate, Peavy, Fender Super Reverb, Vox. This 65 Deluxe is without a doubt get the highest rating of any amp I have ever owned.
BUY IT!
For the guy that had problems with the tubes. Bring it back bro. Try another one. these things happen sometimes. I promise you'll love it!!!

CWS
from midwest
July 3, 2012Music Background:
hobbyist

Great tone

Fender is doing a nice job with overall quality in my experience. This amp is no exception. I just can't dial in a bad tone. I'm using it for clean tones only, so can't speak to break-up/distortion goods or bads. But in terms of clean chiming ringing pure sound, I don't know how this could really be improved. Delighted!

Woollymonster
from Houston, TX
March 29, 2011Music Background:
Rockin' the party

Great Tone and Very Versatile

I bought this amp and in short order changed out the stock speaker ceramic speaker for an Alnico Weber Vintage 12F-150 (with light dope). The change in tone (for the better) was more than I could have ever expected. Also had one of the tube amp gurus here in Houston replace some bad tubes with some NOS, reset bias, and upgrade some caps and resistors. We were all amazed at the tone this little jewel produces. The original speaker is a little brittle, harsh and too barky for most purist taste. The Weber has a smoother, creamier crunch to it and beautiful clean tones. I run my Les Paul through Normal channel 2 using a Keely mod TS-9 Tube Screamer, and Keely Compression pedal. Single coil Tele's and Strat's go straight into Vibrato channel one with just a little reverb and vibrato for a nice "John Fogerty" tone. Very versatile amp. Will do anything except syntho-metal. But who listens to that anyway? I have two other completely hand wired point to point tube amps but just keep coming back to this one. It just sounds better.

Phil
from Chicago, IL
August 28, 2012Music Background:
gigging musician, but mostly at church these day

Great Amp...beautiful Fender tone

Just bought the DRRI Wine Red special edition with Alnico speaker and it is a gem. I have also owned the standard reissue with the ceramic speaker. These are great amps at great prices.
I have owned many amps, including boutique amps (currently my Victoria Victorilux 1x15 combo is my main amp, but mostly because it has the volume I need at church--we have a large auditorium). The deluxe reverb is a great clean amp that loves pedals, too. Use an overdrive to push it into a great lead tone. Or plug right in and enjoy...I prefer single coils with this amp, but of course it sounds good with humbuckers too.

Pres Stedman
from Sonoma County , CA
January 22, 2011Music Background:
Hobbist

One of the Fender's that is a must in your backline !

This one of my favorite amps that I own.
Yea , the vintage 60's Deluxe's are to die for , but for the money , this
wonderful amp is a keeper.
And you don't have to hire a guard to keep watch over a vintage amp
when you gig.
I always use when I long for that country / Bakersfield / twag sound.
So many tubes !
Such a rich tone !
Pedals work well with it and single coils , P90's , and Humbuckers all
sound great with the amp.
If you want that classic Blackface sound , this is the amp .

Robert
from Pa. USA
December 23, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician

Amazing Amp

This is the most clean sounding amp, hard to believe how powerful this baby is with amazing toned. Their is no overdrive but with a great pedal, it is. I have one and other really good amps but this is is a great amp for clubs, studios, recording and concerts.

Edward J Kujawa
from Rochester , N.Y.
October 22, 2010Music Background:
Play Pedal Steel and Fender Jazzmaster over 35 years

Sweetie

Best little amp weighy in at 22 Watts she has a recifier tube where Twin was solid state with the Deluxe dont change the tube to a solid recifier
type by doing so you will bump up the powersupply output voltage
to a high level Fender ran these amps at maximum voltage back then
recifier is more than adequate 5Ar4 I think on cbs Deluxe it was a 5U4
full wave Rect tube she has a sweet sound blusey and pretty and for a small club is very good bigest thing with Twin is its massive weight
but thats only draw back mine never left my house stayed in the basement Eddie Kujawa (Reverbie65)

Jim Beck
from central Florida
August 8, 2012Music Background:
gospel music

Tube issue

Still waiting to see what all the fuss is about bad tubes from fender right out of box, what a shame. Amp was a suprize gift from my wife