The Chetboard

Some of us were discussing the Fender Deluxe Reverb on the Delay topic. I ran across this photo on the internet of an original 1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, new in the box! It was from a few years back though:



I personally think that the orignal blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb like the one pictured above was one of the best guitar amps ever made. The new re-issue 65 Deluxe Reverb is a good amp too, but it's not built like the old amps. The re-issue uses a particle board cabinet instead of solid pine and it uses printed circuit boards instead of the old style point to point wiring, which makes it a little more trouble to work on.

I use a Standel clone that I built as my main amp for the last few years. The Standel is great, but it's also not easy to lug around. I'm now in the process of buying the parts as funds are availble to build a Deluxe Reverb clone. I will be building it as close as possible to the original blackface model using available parts so I can have a brand new amp built like they used to be.

I would like to hear from others on the Chetboard that love the Fender Deluxe Reverb Amp.

Hi Chuck,,,yeah, I'm a big fan of the '65 Deluxe reissue. Over the years, at one time or another, I've had almost every amp made. For our style of fingerpicking, I believe the Deluxe has the best overall tone - - a Gretsch guitar sounds great thru one. Personally, I like the sound qualities of the new reissues better than the older amps, althought I agree that the older versions are probably built better. I think its the newer, Jensen Special Design speaker that gives it such a good tone. I have played through this amp with a fairly large band (including a steel player) and never had any problems being heard, even without a mic on the amp! Its the loudest 22 watts I ever heard, PLUS, it doesn't break-down since that new Jensen speaker in this amp is the 100 watt version......it will 'carry the mail'! These '65 reissues are not cheap but they are super amps for everything from the living room to a concert hall and I'm really impressed with them.
Gayle Moseley

guitarchuck wrote: I use a Standel clone that I built as my main amp for the last few years. The Standel is great, but it's also not easy to lug around.

Hi Chuck -
Have you thought about building a smaller 12" version of the Standel using the exact same circuitry? Brother Bud built me one and it sounds pretty good (AND easier to carry...). I'd like to try it with that Jensen speaker that Gayle mentioned, though.

Gayle - is that an alnico? Do you know the Jensen model number of it?

Thanks,
Bill

Gayle,
The speaker is better in the re-issues in my opinion. The originals had very inefficient speakers, most people change them out. A lot of the older Deluxe Reverb's haven't been maintained well, that's why some don't sound as good as the new re-issues. I'm putting a Eminence Lil Texas 12" neo in the amp I'm building.

Bill,
I gave the smaller 12"speaker Standel some thought, but I decided to go the Deluxe Reverb route. It's a little less work for me and I love the amp. I can buy the chassis & cabinet without having to go to the trouble of building that part. The speaker that Gayle has is a Jensen C12k. It has a ceramic magnet. You might check out the Eminence Lil Texas 12" neo magnet speaker. Some say it has the warmth of an alnico and the punch of a ceramic. The best thing is that it only weighs 4.1lbs! It's very efficient: 101db spl and it's rated at 125w. It's made in U.S.A.

Hi guys,,,,you're exactly right - that speaker is the Jensen C12K. What's really amazing is that I've cussed ceramic speakers forever (had that BIG Fender Twin w/ the 15" ceramic and I sent it back; didn't like the tone)
Always loved JBLs and I have O'Dell's old Standel that Paul restored and gave to me, it has a 15" Altec Lansing and I love the sound of it. Point is, I hated ceramic speakers until I played this '65 reissue - - it does NOT sound like any other ceramic speaker I have ever heard before.
When I got this amp a couple of years ago, I immediately called Paul and told him it was the best thing I had ever heard for a fingerstyle amp (or country/jazz/pop/whatever you play), and we had both heard and played thru many of the older ones. Well, he came over to my house and played thru it.....HE was impressed with the sound, so since HE felt that way I knew it had to be pretty darn good! Shortly after that, Paul got one himself one and that reinforced my belief even farther.
Chuck, I'm anxious to hear how you like the Emincance Lil Texas 12" neo,,,,I'll bet its a good sounding speaker too.
Something else I wonder about now and that is,,,,,if the Jensen Special Design 15" would sound as good as its 12" counterpart? Paul said, "well you never can tell, it might not since they're two different animals and a 15" just has different qualities from a 12" speaker".....so, I never persued that any further. The Jensen Special Design doesn't seem quite as "hot" as a JBL, it sorta reminds me more of the Altec speaker, a little "flatter sound" (great for jazz stuff, big chords or single string), however, it has plenty of mid-range which you need to get "balls" when you're thumb-pickin' - - maybe that's why I give the edge to the Jensen even over both the Lansing speakers. All this is just my opinion but I've heard enough super pickers in 50 years to know what sounds good and what doesn't to my ears..... ☺
Anyway, "hello" to both you guys, Bill and Chuck, I've missed seeing you at CAAS over the last several years, maybe I'll get started back one day,,,I read your posts all the time and enjoy them. I don't post much anymore, I'm sorta 'out of the loop' these days but I do enjoy most subjects here on the Chetboard.
Ya'll talk care, Gayle

If I may 'bend' the discussion a bit, how does the Fender Deluxe reissue compare to a Music Man RD50 with stock or JBL speaker? I have the RD-50 but have not tried the Fender reissue yet. Good discussion...thanks!

Ronnie,
I've owned 2 Music Man RD50's, both with stock speakers, 3 re-issue Fender '65 Deluxe Reverbs, and 1 original 1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb. I like the Deluxe Reverb amp better than the Music Man, but that's just my opinion. I think it has a sweeter tone and the reverb is definately better than the Music Man. I've owned a total of 35 amps, both tube, solid state and hybrid amps. The Fender Deluxe Reverb and the Standel 25L15 are my all time favorites.

Back to the speaker subject, a speaker change is the easiest thing a person can do to change the tone, volume and response of an amp. You have to be careful if you buy a used 65' Deluxe Reverb re-issue amp. The early re-issues had an inefficient Eminence Fender labeled speaker. Then they had a lower wattage Jensen for a while I believe. The new ones come with the good Jensen C12K. I've used a Weber Ceramic California 12" with a paper dust cap in a re-issue, I was real happy with that speaker too.

Chuck, I'm anxious to hear how you like the Emincance Lil Texas 12" neo,,,,I'll bet its a good sounding speaker too.
Something else I wonder about now and that is,,,,,if the Jensen Special Design 15" would sound as good as its 12" counterpart? Paul said, "well you never can tell, it might not since they're two different animals and a 15" just has different qualities from a 12" speaker".....so, I never persued that any further.

Gayle, It may be a while before I find out, I'm buying the parts a little at a time as I can afford it. I do have the speaker, I found it at J&R Music World for $74 delivered. I also have the cabinet & chassis, lots more to buy though. I don't know about the Jensen 15".

Anyway, "hello" to both you guys, Bill and Chuck, I've missed seeing you at CAAS over the last several years, maybe I'll get started back one day,,,

I haven't been to CAAS in the last few years either, I hope to get back soon!

This is a good discussion. Starting to feel a little bit like the old Chetboard. Hopefully, we can get more of this sort of thing going. Keep it up, guys!

Bill B.

Hello Gayle nice to hear from you, Hi Chuck, I agree about the Fender Deluxe Reverb, and I've had them all. It's the best, although I don't know much about the Standell, probably never will due to the high cost. Al