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Topic: Deluxe Reverb or equivalent? |
Fred Rogan
From: Birmingham, AL USA
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Posted 19 Apr 2017 5:01 pm
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I have been looking for a Deluxe Reverb or something like it. My issue is that Fender is making the Deluxe in Mexico and it is a cheap version of its former self. Granted, a Deluxe that cost $275 in1965 would cost over $2000 based on inflation calculators. You can get by a new Deluxe for $1099. They are cutting corners somewhere.
So, any suggestions? The DrZ Z-luxe looks great but is $2400. _________________ Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps |
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Dave Mudgett
From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 19 Apr 2017 5:22 pm
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Get a clean 70s silverface Deluxe Reverb. They tend to hover around $1000-1200 at guitar shows and even some guitar dealers. I see them occasionally at $800-900, perhaps with a replaced speaker or needing a little attention in the filter cap department.
And I'm not talking about a beat-to-blazes one. They're out there if you look. Blows away the new stuff, IMHO.
Or a Vibrolux Reverb. Might be a hair more, but they're great. |
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Fred Rogan
From: Birmingham, AL USA
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Posted 19 Apr 2017 5:53 pm
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Thanks Dave. Putting some money by in a used one would be a good investment. _________________ Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps |
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Tim Heidner
From: Groves, TX
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Posted 19 Apr 2017 6:26 pm
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The FSR Deluxe Reverb gets great reviews across the board. Sounds pretty sweet on youtube, too. Looks great, as well.
I wouldn't mind having a knotty pine.
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Robert Parent
From: Gillette, WY
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Posted 20 Apr 2017 3:30 am
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I would also keep an eye out for one of the smaller Music Man amps. I like mine much better than any Fender amp I have owned.
Robert |
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Norman Evans
From: Tennessee
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Tony Prior
From: Charlotte NC
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Posted 20 Apr 2017 5:33 am
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SF Fender combo amp would be my alternative. Twin or maybe a
Pro Reverb, sometimes called "half a twin ". _________________ Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Fred Rogan
From: Birmingham, AL USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2017 7:53 am
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Thanks - very good suggestions. Tim, what is an FSR Deluxe and where do you get one? that looks very cool.
I wanted to be clear I ain't slamming Mexico because the made in Mexico Fender guitars are very nice. Just the amps apparently do not have the same quality control and also fender has reengineered the amp to be made in a less durable and therefore less expensive way. That Alessandro do-over is a great piece of work - never seen that and will follow up. _________________ Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps
Last edited by Fred Rogan on 20 Apr 2017 8:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Erv Niehaus
From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2017 7:58 am
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Are you planning to use that amp for steel? |
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Fred Rogan
From: Birmingham, AL USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2017 8:02 am
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Only as back up Erv. It would mostly be for 6 string. the Alessandro speaker is a 40 watt speaker and I really like the Jet Series by Jensen and they have a 100 watt version that sounds great. _________________ Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps |
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Erv Niehaus
From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2017 10:15 am
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Sounds good! |
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Tim Heidner
From: Groves, TX
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Posted 20 Apr 2017 10:36 am
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Fred Rogan wrote: |
Thanks - very good suggestions. Tim, what is an FSR Deluxe and where do you get one? that looks very cool.
I wanted to be clear I ain't slamming Mexico because the made in Mexico Fender guitars are very nice. Just the amps apparently do not have the same quality control and also fender has reengineered the amp to be made in a less durable and therefore less expensive way. That Alessandro do-over is a great piece of work - never seen that and will follow up. |
It stands for Factory Special Release, they also have some they call Limited Edition with FSR badge, not sure if there's a difference.
You can find a few on reverb.com from different sellers, some new, some used. Some also have different speaker options, as well as tolex colors and the knotty pine. They also do a Princeton Reverb.
I don't know where they're made, and I haven't played one, but they look interesting.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fsr+deluxe+reverb+reverb.com |
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Norman Evans
From: Tennessee
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Craig A Davidson
From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2017 4:36 am
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I have a 68 Fender Deluxe re-issue and use it about 75% of the time for steel and guitar. I swapped the Celestion for a Jensen C-12k like they are putting in the 65 Twins. It works great. |
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Bill Sinclair
From: Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2017 10:13 am
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I don't own one but my impression of the Deluxe reissue is that it's a pretty decent amp. You can find used ones in the $600 range. The ones I've seen have pots that are PCB mounted, which is a bummer, but the tube sockets are chassis mounted - NOT PCB mounted - a good thing. The ones I've heard sounded good and there seem to be a lot of them seeing plenty of road use and backline use for sound companies. If you can afford a little more you might want to go for a 70's silver faced like Dave mentioned or a used boutique Deluxe clone/tribute amp. I've been tempted by several sold here on the forum that I think were in the $1000-$1200 range. |
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John Billings
From: Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2017 12:30 pm
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How about this one? Fender gave it to my friend Neil Zaza in I think 91 or 94. It looks brand new. He never used it as he's a 100 watt hi-gain guy. I got it from him, but never used it, as I had two Dr. Z amps. Might need the caps looked after, but it really does look like it was just taken out of the carton!
_________________ Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Ken Metcalf
From: San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2017 4:06 pm
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Dave Mudgett wrote: |
Get a clean 70s silverface Deluxe Reverb. They tend to hover around $1000-1200 at guitar shows and even some guitar dealers. I see them occasionally at $800-900, perhaps with a replaced speaker or needing a little attention in the filter cap department.
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Fred Rogan
From: Birmingham, AL USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2017 4:34 pm
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Another option I have run across is Allen Amplification. Very impressive and not as expensive as some hand-made boutique amps. Plus Dave Allen has some flexibility and I could even get a 15" speaker in what is a Vibrolux equivalent (Encore model).
Thanks for all the good suggestions - I love checking all this stuff out! _________________ Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps |
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Paul Brainard
From: Portland OR
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Posted 27 Apr 2017 6:49 pm
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My SFDR is my go-to amp for any situation where I can get away with it. My suggestion is to have someone tie the reverb & tremolo to the first channel as well, which has a warmer tone voicing and works great for pedal steel (plus you can run guitar or lap, etc. into the other side. . .) It's an easy mod on that circuit.
I recently played through an Allen amp on a gig at the last minute after the other amp I was supposed to borrow crapped out - I was completely blown away, really gorgeous sounding. I think it was the 35W Encore. I just about decided to get one on the spot. You can get them as a kit, too. |
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Mark Fowler
From: Minnesota, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2017 6:32 am
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I built this single channel Deluxe Reverb for my cabinet guy, simple Fender fun. Find a local builder or build one yourself for fun.
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Tim Whitlock
From: Colorado, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2017 7:49 am
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Mark Fowler wrote: |
I built this single channel Deluxe Reverb for my cabinet guy, simple Fender fun. Find a local builder or build one yourself for fun.
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This is great! I have always wished for a single channel version of my Twin Reverb. Smaller footprint, lighter weight and almost everyone ignores the Normal channel anyway. |
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Fred Rogan
From: Birmingham, AL USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2017 7:52 am
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Mark that is a good looking amp.
Paul, that is good to hear about the Allen Amp. I don't understand why there are not more of those out there.
I also recently played a Dr. Z Z-Luxe - his take on the deluxe reverb. It was everything a deluxe reverb is and more which you would expect at that price. But as I mentioned before, based on the inflationary impact on the dollar, the Z-Luxe is about where the Deluxe Reverb should be (dollar wise) if they still built the Deluxe like they did in 1965. _________________ Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps |
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Mark Fowler
From: Minnesota, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2017 10:00 am
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Thanks guys.
Yeah the Allen Amps Sweet Spot is pretty much this same amp but I didn't follow his I used a Fender Deluxe schematic and eliminated the first tube and circuit. I used better transformers for the Deluxe to get as much clean headroom as possible.
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Steven Paris
From: Los Angeles
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Posted 3 May 2017 7:13 am
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If you have some electronics skills, this Weber Deluxe Reverb kit cannot be beat for the money ($628):
https://www.tedweber.com/6a20-c-kt _________________ Emmons & Peavey |
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Mark Fowler
From: Minnesota, USA
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Posted 3 May 2017 3:19 pm
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Seriously don't use Weber's transformers. Myself and many others found out the hard way that the PT's are wound incorrectly and burn up. My first and only kit from Weber, learned my lesson.
The kit is still on my bench because I'm deciding whether or not to put in the replacement they sent me or use a Magnetic Components ClassicTone power transformer. 6A14HP basically a 6L6GC version of the Princeton Reverb. |
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