I was a little nervous given that some early reviewers complained about a louder than normal hiss, mine is dead silent at idle. from West Virginia on July 1, 2020, Music Background: Small alternative rock band, By Big Daddy Rich Perhaps I should put the vintage Mullard in the V2 custom to slightly brighten it up. Just kind of a low fidelity stock ceramic speaker IMHO. There is a little "pop" when you turn off the standby, but I kind of like the way it sounds. Now another Caveat - I'm using quiet a bit, the Rivera Rockcrusher and I would suggest ANY and ALL bedroom or recording level dB's should get one because they are invaluable and sound great. Over the last two weeks, I recorded at earth rumbling volume, practiced with pure tone, and worked on songs with someone playing an ACOUSTIC bassbut I almost took it back before all this. So, with this amp, where original Deluxe Reverbs of the period would have had a Normal channel, sans tremolo or reverb, the new '68s have a 'Custom' channel with a new voicing, courtesy of a "modified Bassman tone stack" that's billed as being more pedal-friendly. We are going from smallest to largest, and so this week we will be discussing the best replacement speaker for the '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb amp, which produces about 22-watts via a pair of 6V6 tubes and feeds it to a single 12" speaker, ie: a formula that is proven like none other. As noted, had it a year now, and it gets better and better. It feels and plays like the listing says it does. I cannot express the amount of gear I have been through in the last 40 years and coming back to this amplifier was the right choice. When it's working properly, it really does sound fantastic. I have a dear friend who is 5 years older than me who is a PHENOM guitar player with over 40 years of playing under his belt. On the '74, the VIBRATO channel has more lush reverb and sounds brighter than the '68 reissue. The older I get the more I long for low wattage that breaks up quicker. Special mention to my sales engineer Ed Needler - You rock, my main. This is by far the best amp I've ever bought, and the clean tone is next level. 1968 was a transitional year for Fender amps with tone that was still pure Fender but a look that was brand new. The two channels Blended together clean sound big and thick! It was nice to get away from the more elaborate setting of my last amplifier and much easier to see the settings on stage. I'm impressed, my compliments to you and Fender! and failures. I've tried a buncha vintage G12-65 was nice. Pros: Two different voiced Channels He is a Fender guy through and through which is probably why I am. Sign in to see your saved items. Its not cathode biased and please don't risk getting fried, (I almost did one time 120 volts almost went straight into my heart) get professional help like Sweetwater and GET THIS AMP! It took a little time to bring up the 65 from the warehouse so I played the 68 for a little while and was loving the tones. Well, that was a waste of time, wasn't it? too too bright for my '66 strat w/ maple neck. You ears can get used to it, but once you put an EQ in the tone chain, it becomes very noticeable how Vintage this sounds without a midrange tone control. Most orders placed before 3 p.m. It is an outstanding amp! Also, when I bought this amp it was $1000, now it's going for $1049. Let me preface this review by admitting I'm not a great guitar player. I've been through a number of amps over the last thirty years, but nothing compares to this one. I was torn between this one and The limited edition DRRI with the wine colored tolex. It is LOUD if you want it. This is the ultimate blues amp, hands down. Thanks again to Scott A. and Randy for all the help in the decision making process, great service and FAST-FREE shipping that has become the Sweetwater trademark! The home work paid-off. In the real world, the noise floor will make it go away. Just curious. More sparkle and less flatulence. However, if you are planning on playing at quieter bedroom volumes, you aren't going to want to turn it much past 2, which still sounds great to me. Equal payments required for 48 months. Very high end custom and vintage guitars, pedals, etc. Pros: The versatility on this amp is amazing. Because the clean is so nice, putting an overdrive in front of it is the tone that is just sweet. if you need a metal player setup, move along, but anything else it's up for the task. Biggest strength is the fullness of the clean sound. Maybe I'm missing something with the light indicator. Because of his help, I decided to buy from Sweetwater rather than another company. from Nederland on September 26, 2018, By Doug Kokkeler I hope that Rick Hines ( Fender Amp Product Specialist ) and Fender Corporation understand what their lack of quality control and greed has done to harm their reputation. All in all I would recommend this amp for anyone seeking the famous Fender tone in an easy to use,light weight amp. Plus, the reverb is noisy past 3. I recall reading numerous interviews with guitarist where the argument was made that tone is all in the fingers, or some such thing. Part of the perceived low headroom is because of the amp's design. from Bloomington , IN on February 9, 2015, By John Scalera This amp is normal in background noise for an amp with modern Russian / East Europe tubes. Store Hours, If you have any questions, please call us at I was a huge fan of the SuperSonics Bassman side but it was kind of limited as the SS22 had this huge behemoth footpedal that was a huge PITA. I was so impressed with this little amp that I decided to keep it. You really can't go wrong with this amp in your arsenal. Or there is something wrong with yours. I love it! Single coils, P90, and hums react very differently (as they should) and the amp handles them all well. Also, I don't know about other fuzzes but an EQD Hoof is epic. Upon opening the box it was apparent that the amp had been repacked, having different packing materials, an obviously used footswitch and a light covering of dust. The highs in the custom channel are more restrained than on the normal channel. Then I decided to make sure the rca connector to reverb tub was properly connected. purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of This is the best sounding amp I've had the pleasure of playing since keeping a 65 super reverb amp for a friend 30 years ago. Most players reduce the bass to compensate for this, which is unneccessary on the '68 Custom. Have been using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III for several years now and was very satisfied with it. I've got a Custom shop Strat, and 3 different Tele's. A GREAT AMP. Back in the day out band played Sabbath to Zeppelin and of course I played a Marshall and Les Paul or SG. Not professionally, but playing routinely. Both sounded so full and rich. Took it out of the box and went to a gig with it. Thanks to Fender for building it and to Sweetwater for awesome sales/service! It still sings and very touch sensitive with gorgeous harmonics at such relatively low volumes. Sweetwater is THE place to buy. Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb 22W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp with Celestion G12V-70 Speaker Black. PROS: The '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb offers TWO distinct and exceptionally good vibrato and reverb channels compared to the original and has a tighter bass response. The Custom channel does take pedals well, too. from South Dakota on November 10, 2014, Music Background: Rank Amature with 45 years of experience, By Jacob Cody or By Ed T That's not for me. Anyways, Thanks a bunch for yalls input. Some believe it is not only the best amp not only made by Fender, but by anyone anywhere. And for context I mostly use a classic player 60's fender Strat with custom 69 pickups. Amazing cleans, works well with pedals, I'm coming from a mini silver jubilee half stack and to be completely honest I prefer this amp. So far Ive gigged with it 3 times and evey gig Ive had folks comment on how great my tone is. I play a Stratocaster mostly and so long as you're not sitting right in front of the amp it is very quiet. I've been playing guitar for nearly 40 years. Honestly, it's been incredible. Tremolo was a pleasant surprise. It was this circuit that Marshall's started w/ the Fender Bassman circuit it lile a Blules Breaker Pexi 4 input w/master vol. Each channel feels like an extension of the other, the tones compliment each side of the amp. I bought this amp as a demo $100 off full retail, when I called my sales Rep. James Shilliday and asked about the amp, he said they were selling as a demo because the factory box was damaged on arrival, what an awesome deal. Every electric guitarist should own at least one Deluxe Reverb amp in their life. Please check the fields highlighted in red. . Sweetwater Sound I would also normally think something with more headroom but 70 watts on a 22w amp should be more than plenty? from NYC on May 20, 2015, Music Background: All aspects of music (performance, production, recording), By Bernie C I am a professional player who's played for years and has used every amp imaginable including a lot of fenders.my style is roots, blues rock and beyond and I can honestly say I've never been happier with an amp. HUGE tonal versatility available. Any opinions on the Cannabis Rex or Neo Creamback for this 68 CDR? The shipping company will call you to schedule your delivery date and time, Someone will need to be home to receive the package, Be sure you have measured your entryway and have help available to carry the item in, Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks, For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. I use this with the straight clean sound which is gorgeous fender sparkle, and I put a tube screamer through for mild grit and a vox satchurator pedal for more serious ooomph. My vintage twin is heavy and unreliable. from Union City, MI on November 28, 2014, Music Background: Vocalist, Live Sound Engineer, Guitar Hobbyist, By Claude I've recently put this speaker in several cabs and am really happy with it in all locations. I've since seen that it's a common problem for this amp. And the bass man stack! I have a Strat and a Paul, and both sound amazing through this amp, but dang it sounds good with the Seymour Duncan Antiquity PAFs in my Gibson! I get absolutely no noise, the breakup comes at about 6 or so which is great. Absolutely love this amp! Well I'm sure my sales representative, mr AJ Becerra, doesn't want to hear this but, this may be the last amp I will ever need to own. "pageName": "" I've had this amp for a while, and it has probably become my favorite. I got this on my sweetwater Music Background: Professional writer and recording artist. The response is amazing. I have only had this for a few days but am astonished with this amp. That is the sound Ive been hearing in my head and waiting for all my life. It sounds very 'musical', to use an overused term. "Custom" channel features a 50s Tweed "Bassman" tone circuit for more low mids and sooner breakup. ProAudioLand, LLC - All Rights Reserved. Interestingly the problem would not happen while in his shop. I finally understand why these modern reissues are so much more expensive than the others. You could probably find a used one for cheap. Anyway, I rolled the dice. Probably one of the best deluxe reverbs I've had, This amp was a big surprise. You are using an out of date browser. Very happy with the two different channels and am always surprised by the difference I get from each, with the various guitars I pay. As others have mentioned, there is an audible hiss that gets louder as you turn the amp up, which is the only reason it gets 4.5 stars. The left side now has the reverb and vibrato, which is a huge plus. The '74 has a softer, compressed, bass attack with a clanky edge that gets flubbier with power chords as you turn up the volume. The Deluxe Reverb really shines around 3 on the volume and has splendid tones above and below. I messed around with the patching, and even an AYB pedal. So I could get the 65 DRRI I wanted plus the other cool new features. This amp however is LOUD at 22 watts. It has absolutely fabulous circuits on both channels. So then I swapped the unit with the one from amp #2. If you're looking for an amp that is plenty loud and can do many things tone-wise, you should try this one. complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment. Anyone can sell on Reverb. The reverb is present, but not overbearing at all. replaced on January 23, 2020, By Sweetwater Customer Nothing beats a Fender clean tone in my opinion and it takes my pedal board with ease as well. This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. With that, this is one sweet amp. Music Background: Semi-pro guitarist with 30+ years of experience. Anyways, it's not so much of a complaint as I should have expected this, but as a mostly bedroom player myself, I could not get this amp to break up on its own without losing my hearing. from Marysville CA (Just downstream of the famous Oroville Dam) on February 28, 2017, By Ryan Mowdy I use a Full Drive II for lead work and the combo with this amp is too good to pass up. drive pedals sound a little fizzy, even with the tone rolled. This amp doesn't have one and I'm not missing it at all. You have the bassman tone stack on channel one and you get that classic fender tube reverb and tube vibrato on both channels (custom/vintage - which both have EQ settings). He is gonna sell his '63 but he said he would consider getting this amp for himself 'cause he wouldn't have keep fixing things on his vintage stuff! Whether you use it to be a monitor or the final output, in a small venue it does very well. When the the 68 custom came out, I knew one day, she would be mine. I've opened it up just for fun by diming the volume and it is LOUD and has the gnashing, smashing snarl that I sought. He was very patient. The amp makes your guitar tone just plain better period. from Napa on June 18, 2015, By VT The first of these amps had lots of problems, and I had to return a few, but luckily, a place like Sweetwater will work with you until you get an amp that works great. I put the foam in place and once again the feedback problem is gone. of from Oklahoma on February 28, 2017, By Jason In fact, I find myself just throwing it on tracks because it sounds like it's supposed to be there. Speaker recommendations for 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb. This thing a monster of sound. JavaScript is disabled. I am awaiting the arrival of a 68 custom twin for larger venues. If you love vintage fenders, do yourself a favor and sell yours and buy one of these. I"m now considering get an A/B switch so I won"t have to manually move my input jack from one channel to the other. My wife even commented on the amp saying that she understands why I bought it. The only thing it doesn't give me is that old school traditional Fender sound, so I bought the Custom Deluxe. I currently have 4 pedals for overdrive & gain on my board (Xotic EP booster, Xotic BB Preamp, Fulltone Fulldrive2, Wampler Plexi-Drive) and all sound awesome with the amp. I bought the strat that day and had been considering buying a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III for quite some time. Removing the reverb unit I heard rattling and opened the unit. I had hoped that I would receive a quality product from a reputable brand that I once had confidence in. Nothing beats a Fender clean sound, nothing. I know.fancy LOL. I was excited again! There is nothing like Fender tube reverb. Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear Then the 65 came up. While the amps are slightly different, I feel it really tightened up the bass, smoothed the highs and added a little more mids vs the stock Jensen that I found scooped and bass heavy. It's part of the wiring, it's part of the hot Rod circuitry, it's what gives it its tone, and sounds as amazing as it does. It would be cool to have an indicator light for when your reverb or tremolo is on. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GA-SC64--eminence-ga-sc64-signature-12-inch-guitar-speaker. Don't wait, but it now. Only played through the new tubes a few times. It's loud and handles some of my heavy-handed drummers without issue. *The initial Payment (plus tax) is charged at lease signing. Well, I managed to be very lucky and scored a higher priced 68 DR but it was modified by a rather famous guy who modifies famous musician's amps. Again, a very small nuisance. So, not a perfect amp, but a amp with a lot of potential if you are willing to work with it. Top Notch! It has been nothing short of blissful sound whether it be the clean channel or breaking it with overdrive. Couldn't find an old pre-master volume Super Reverb locally last week, (like the one I had years ago that I'm having remorse and nostalgia for), so.. However, due to QC problems I don't recommend it. Plenty of life left in them. I cannot overstate how amazing the 68 DR is. I found that when I lightly tapped one output tube it crackled loudly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It sounds better right behind the guitar. This fender amp blows them all away. What will change if I were to step down from the 70w v-type to 40? Add an overdrive or two and you can really cover a ton of ground stylistically (and yes, it's handles pedals very well as advertised). Comes equipped with Celestion Speakers (V Type) for a more modern, punchy sound that breaks up nicely when pushed. Those amps are great for what they do, but the Blues Junior was always missing the low end response, while the other two have such high headroom that my overdrives always sounded inorganic to my ears. The early breakup on this makes it an even sweeter experience. Pedals (especially dirt) sound way better looped like this rather than in the front end. There were great reviews of course, but there were some concerning reviews as well, especially involving hiss, noise floor, and tremolo. Small, light and moderately powered, the Deluxe Reverb received a fresh new face in 1968a silver-and-turquoise front panel with aluminum grille cloth trim, with tone, reverb and tremolo that was still pure Fender. Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or Then I plugged in the amp and was happy to find there was no surprising noise or other problems, until I turned on the reverb, NOTHING! Tone, weight, volume and size all equal a great gigging amp, that will record great too! What ultimately swayed me, after listening, reading, and watching dozens of reviews and comparisons, is that the most common complaint about the '65 DRRI is the bright cap not playing well with some pedals--especially overdrive. Sonically, the amp performs as advertised -- drippy reverb, scoopy-mids, beautiful cleans, as well as being very dynamic and responsive to pick attack. They use different speakers in their Limited Edition amp models and I'd like to hear those too, but the stock G12 seems heavy duty and I don't think I would have to replace it anytime soon, other than a fix for the relentless pursuit of tone. Sent back to Sweetwater twice and only issue they said was tubes. The amp looks very classy, too, if that kind of thing matters to you. So I went for the 68. The reverb on this amp is incredibly deep, better than a Twin (it really is). If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is Haven't put a lot of time in but I gotta say the tone is fantastic. And use Ben Porter at Sweetwater- he's the best! The Mesa 5:25 Plus is another do it all amp, but with the right pedals, the 68 DRRI gets it done for a little less -- plus it's a Fender. Reverb and Trem on both channels Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. Would be cool if they re-issued a matching 1x12 cab like they did a while ago for the Bandmaster VM. from CA on March 2, 2022. Find answers at our, Gear Buying on December 8, 2021, By Robert Ramalho from West Virginia on July 21, 2016, Music Background: Semi Pro Gigging musician, By Jim Because of this the '68 channels are wired in phase and can be blended for more tonal options, via A/B/Y box. As i got older I started to appreciate different styles of music, the Marshall as great as it is has a very hard clean tone. I bought the Marshall DSL40CR,amazing amp, going from nice cleans too metal levels. Matter of fact you might say I play with my guitars as opposed to playing them. It has a great clean tone, and takes pedals ok, however I ended up returning two for the same issue. The "custom" channel on this thing is awesome. And I'm using like 10k dollar guitars on it. I simply love this amp and as others have said Fender knocked it out of the park yet again. Great process buying through Sweetwater, prompt shipping and great communication with my sales engineer James. It has so much natural compression. Really punchy. Music Background: Been playing guitar and bass since the '70's. 2) I have NOT noticed any noise/hissing issues whatsoever. So if you are looking for a Tube AMP, if the amp does not have a TUBE rectifier then its not really a Tube Amp in my opinion. A Gear Adviser is ready to take your questions, Looking for something else? I am a HUGE Fender fan. *90-day purchase option Standard agreement offers 12 months to ownership. Run straight in, with the Custom volume on 5-6, and it's exactly where I've always wanted to be. Not real heavy, easy to move from gig to gig, enough power to keep the drummer at bay, and after 5 on the custom side, the breakup is warm and rich. This is the best amp I have ever owned. WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. The tone on this guy is fantastic, loud enough for almost any setting, it's light enough to be able to carry in one hand, and it looks killer with the green pilot. Music Background: Musician and Guitar tech. By James Fallon I'm a happy customer. It has minimal idle noise. I would like to get a 2x12 cab so I could record using one ribbon and one tube condenser mic into a stereo pre. from asheville nc on June 3, 2016, Music Background: 40 years blue grass countey and gospel, By Dean These amps are reportedly built in China. This one sounds even better right out of the box, not even close to being broke in yet. And yes, if you crank it to 10, you're going to get that 1970s Neil Young and crazy horse sound. Why did you buy it if you don't like the way it sounds ? Using my Telecaster or Strat was a real treat. These are CIRCUIT BOARD amps. Vintage Guitars, a Good Hedge against inflation in 2022 ? I use a Keeley Red Dirt, a Jetter GS124, or a Keeley Phat Mod. It's a good sign. It's so good that I really don't want to use a lot of effect pedals, but the amp handles those well too. 1968 was a transitional year for Fender amps with tone that was still pure Fender but a look that was brand new. Which I have. Okay Caveat first - my 68 Deluxe Reverb had a complete makeover I mean the pots, wiring, tubes, tube sockets, speaker, everything was changed by a famous guy who works with famous musicians. on June 26, 2018, By Alfonso Sanchez *Limitations and exclusions apply. on August 6, 2019. I bought a Gator G112 and Ryan had it packed into it and shipped that way. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The tones on this amp are top notch and I'm using both channels for my current solo gig -- using the Vintage channel for my archtop and the Custom (Bassman style circuit) for my Stratocaster. The sound was amazing! Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. yes? Hello again fellow gear-heads! But that's not a big deal to me with everything else this amp has to offer. I think I might bring the amp to my tech and see if there isn't a fix. (Without knowing). After all they didn't make the amp. The left side uses a Bassman tone stack and the right side is basically a 65 DRRI. I've only played this with an EJ strat and a RW 60s strat, and both sounded very 'alive' and 3 Dimensional. Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! Goed met pedaaltjes, prachtig clean geluid. Hate to be that guy, but it sounds like you should switch to the 65 RI. from Mooresville, NC on January 31, 2022, Music Background: 42 years working musician, By Adrian Crawford 1399.99$1,399.99 There is the aforementioned "POP" when either - going to standby (which is not recommended after the amp is on) and also when turning "off" without engaging the standby. The amp is designed to break up a little earlier than its vintage counterparts, and features reduced negative feedback, which Fender's marketing blurb claims will offer a greater degree of touch-sensitivity. But after plugging my strat into the Custom channel, that's all gone. from Auburn Indiana on March 20, 2021. it checks all the boxes for me, and I couldn't recommend it enough. But not a "Fender" amp. With a silver-and-turquoise front panel and classy aluminum "drip edge" grille cloth trim, the Deluxe Reverb received a fresh new face as it remained the ideal recording and performing amp. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Amp is relatively light, and loud perfect for the small clubs and bars that I usually play in. And if anyone ever has that problem, you need to buy a Hum Debugger pedal from Electro Harmonix. Original speaker included. If you have bought one of these amps and are unsatisfied with the tone, try an Alnico speaker, you might be surprised. And it looks GREAT! Fractal Audio FX8 straight into it opens Pandora's tonal box. But as my playing evolved and my musical tastes changed I had my mind set on owning a Marshall, in particular the new SV20H as I was hoping to go towards a more Hendrix inspired tone. The PlimSoul still worked for songs like I Love Rock and Roll, but for a more Marshall like tone, I picked up a Boss OD-3. This amp I could play without any additional effects. massive feed back with a 20 foot cord. For comparison, I set it next to a '74 mint Deluxe Reverb (Weber C12N speaker) and a Supersonic 22. First chord I played through it on the neck pickup of a demo Strat Professional had me sold.. very touch responsive.. like my old Super Reverb.. clean is very ver sweet and clean, slightly bright and somehow it has 'grit' . Play with some single coils and you have a rich, even palate that starts to break-up nicely around 5.5-6 on the volume dial. The Custom Deluxe is so good, I sold my old amp and trimmed down my pedal board significantly. As the advertisement states, it's not a reissue but a hot rodded Deluxe with appointments made from the suggestion of players. Tons of headroom but can still growl when you push it. Now that it's here, all I hear is that unbelievable sound that makes me just want to keep playing. The amp I received was in perfect condition, packed very securely and professionally. However, the tone of this amp is richer. I thought the use of those channels would be the reverse of how I'm actually using them with those two types of guitars, but was so surprised by the tones I got with that setup that my mind was changed. This is my favorite recording amp! This is the first gear review i have ever written. But it is not dull. I've been using a Marshall DSL40C, which is fantastic for that classic Marshall OD brown sound.