1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb Black Panel Vintage Tube Amp AB763 Circuit w/ Oxford 12K5 & Ftsw, FEIC
Up for sale, a 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original two-button footswitch and loaded with a bevy of vintage tubes. Freshly serviced and widely considered to be one of the greatest tube amps of all time, this Deluxe Reverb was produced very early in '65, retaining all of this model's introductory Pre-CBS features including a "Fender Elect. Inst. Co." faceplate, no logo grill, flat metal cap on the speaker harness, and no-logo Oxford 12K5 speaker.
The amp has a sweet, balanced sound that delivers the top end sparkle and clarity characteristic of the best amps from Fender's Black Panel era. This amp is very responsive to playing dynamics, working as an ideal platform for effects pedals. And while the treble response can cut with the best, there's a smoothness to the top end that keeps the amp from ever sounding harsh. Turning up past 4 on the Volume dial, the amp begins to push into overdrive territory with light compression and plenty of rich, sizzling bark. The Reverb is lush, with long decay, and the Tremolo has a strong pulse with an almost three-dimensional quality to the effect when dialing up the intensity.
The circuit is very original and serviced as needed for optimal performance and reliability. All of the original blue molded Ajax caps are intact in the preamp (an essential part of the Black Panel sound), and all of the original CTS and Stackpole pots are intact, with visible date codes from the 51st week of '64. The original Schumacher-made transformers all have 1964 date codes spanning the 31st to 51st weeks of the year. The power supply has been professionally recapped with high quality F&Ts sleeved in the original Mallory tubes, and the preamp features new smaller Sprague electrolytic caps. A three-prong power cable has been installed.
Tubes include a matched pair of modern EH 6V6 power tubes, with a GE-branded 5AR4 rectifier and preamp tubes from the likes of RCA, Sylvania and GE. The speaker is the original Oxford 12K5-6 ceramic magnet driver with a clean frame and stamp from the 35th week of '64. The tube chart is intact, and the "OC" stamp translates to March of '65.
The amp retains its original (and clean) smooth black tolex, and the original baffle also retains its silver sparkle grillcloth. All stock hardware is present including the corners, handle caps, and sphinx glides (feet). The early Fender "Elect Inst Co" faceplate retains its full complement of witch hat knobs.
The original two-button footswitch is included.
