Fender '65 Deluxe Reverbchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Commenters repeatedly praise the amp's rich, full, glassy clean sound as a benchmark for the Fender clean tone many musicians have relied on for years. Several call it their favorite combo amp for this reason.

@daverenick5830

I bought it today. It's just too great an amp not to get. And you are sure right about inflation. This amp just surpasses all expectations and sounds better then so many more powerful amps. Everything about it is just perfect. It's like some kind of great Christmas present sitting here in the room next to me and all I have to do is plug in and get just what I want, dial in just the sounds I want to hear. You are absolutely right about this thing and I think any player should try this before they make a mistake. Fantastic tone, lots of tube power, portability, great platform for different pedals. You can just dial in the sweetest cleanest sounds imaginable or get as bluesy as you want. Love it!launch

smart_display

May 20, 2023

@michael_caz_nyc

I have the 65 Blackface Princeton Reverb and my Tone-search ended ( right there ). I can get: SRV, Gilmour, Trower, Knopfler, Hendrix and Nile Rodgers tones. Phenomenal Amp for those Legendary glassy-pristine Fender Cleans. oNe LovE from NYClaunch

smart_display

February 7, 2022

@a.j.garrett9639

I just played one of these with one of the new Player Series Nashville Telecasters.\nThis video doesn't show how rich and full this amp is over my phone.\nSo if you're watching this on a phone be aware, this amp is full sounding. It's gorgeous and I will own one! \nMaybe the best amp I have played and don't own.launch

smart_display

September 30, 2021

@thebreakfastmenu

I'm a big fan of these clean. There's a reason they've been the go-to for clean tones for so long for so many musicians.launch

smart_display

December 4, 2018

Users highlight the amp's reverb and tremolo/vibrato circuits as standout features, with some noting how much better the 65's reverb sounds compared to other Fender models like the 68 silverface.

@skipgoryews1356

Barking dogs ! I like that . I was a Fender warranty center here in Victoria Texas some years back. \nI could not keep the \"65 Deluxe Reverb and the Super Reverb . in stock, I had at least 3 of each at all times.\nThey were so popular because of there unique build and circuitry .the electrolytic capacitor values and the \nrectifier tube verse the silicone diode . My perseverance to attain more of these amps seamed daunting .launch

smart_display

December 31, 2021

@braddietzmusic2429

I have never had any issue needing more clean volume from my DRRI in any room or environment, indoors or out. Admittedly, I’m not playing where you are, or loud blues or whatever music you play, but I play a lot of country and jazzy types of music. I need an amp with a fair bit of good, clean headroom. This amp does the trick, and larger Fender amps like the Hot Rod Deluxe at 40 watts is a lot more amp and volume than I could ever reasonably use, and the cleans from the DRRI are sweeter, and that vibrato channel that the HRD doesn’t have is sublime. I could have bought the HRD much easier $$$ than the DRRI, but the DRRI is the right amp even for more money, and I would not buy a HRD for fairly less money unless I absolutely needed unmic-ed clean headroom above and beyond any other consideration.\n\nAlso, for reasons beyond my ability to explain or sort out, all DRRI or Deluxe Reverb amps do not break up at exactly the same knob placement or volume. Some of this discrepancy is surely that “7” on a dial is not always “7” on the amp due to potentiometer drift and manufacturing variance. My DRRI seems to stay clean fairly high in the volume range due to a number of factors I can’t sort out, but also due to my guitars and playing style.\n\nIt might be that your DRRI that you used to have might have broken up from clean tone a bit sooner than others.launch

smart_display

November 29, 2021

@KRUSTYskates

I was expected to like the 68 RI better but the reverb on the silverface just sucks. When its on 10 it sounds like the 65 would be on 5. Is it the tank on the 68s? I was so disappointed. That was the only drawback for me. The 65 is all around great but not a fan of the breakup. 68 is smootherlaunch

smart_display

December 5, 2016

Multiple commenters describe the amp as an excellent base for pedals, easily achieving blues and overdrive tones when paired with drive pedals like the OCD.

@bristol1312

My research has led me to this video and I’m glad I found it. When it comes to searching tube amps and volume on Google it just gives you Reddit posts. It seems not tube amp is suitable unless it’s 5W and under ACCORDING to Reddit. I was about to buy this amp and then kept changing my mind for the past week . Fk it after this video I’ll just do it. I have a 20 watt Marshall amp in my room now and it’s fine . I just wanted to get the fender cleans that wasn’t a blues jr or Princeton . I am currently using a uafx dream into a frfr powered speaker but it’s not the same .launch

smart_display

December 8, 2025

@trevorgwelch7412

I bought this amp but no overdrive . I bought a Clapton Strat and an OCD pedal now it screams and talks the Blues .launch

smart_display

April 6, 2023

@Dthraco

Love love love this amp. I use the Torpedo X on mine for home recording, works great. TONS of pedals were designed to go in front of this amp. I have the DSL 40CR as well, and pedals are a bit different in front of that amp vs the DRRI. Note about the ToneMaster, they sound great, but in 5 years there will be 2 newer versions and the one out today will be obsolete and worth much less. The Tube version will always be current and retain value.launch

smart_display

November 29, 2021

Several owners report the clean headroom is more than enough for their needs across genres and venues, even without a mic, describing it as a great balance of power and tone versus other Fender amps.

@daverenick5830

I bought it today. It's just too great an amp not to get. And you are sure right about inflation. This amp just surpasses all expectations and sounds better then so many more powerful amps. Everything about it is just perfect. It's like some kind of great Christmas present sitting here in the room next to me and all I have to do is plug in and get just what I want, dial in just the sounds I want to hear. You are absolutely right about this thing and I think any player should try this before they make a mistake. Fantastic tone, lots of tube power, portability, great platform for different pedals. You can just dial in the sweetest cleanest sounds imaginable or get as bluesy as you want. Love it!launch

smart_display

May 20, 2023

@braddietzmusic2429

I have never had any issue needing more clean volume from my DRRI in any room or environment, indoors or out. Admittedly, I’m not playing where you are, or loud blues or whatever music you play, but I play a lot of country and jazzy types of music. I need an amp with a fair bit of good, clean headroom. This amp does the trick, and larger Fender amps like the Hot Rod Deluxe at 40 watts is a lot more amp and volume than I could ever reasonably use, and the cleans from the DRRI are sweeter, and that vibrato channel that the HRD doesn’t have is sublime. I could have bought the HRD much easier $$$ than the DRRI, but the DRRI is the right amp even for more money, and I would not buy a HRD for fairly less money unless I absolutely needed unmic-ed clean headroom above and beyond any other consideration.\n\nAlso, for reasons beyond my ability to explain or sort out, all DRRI or Deluxe Reverb amps do not break up at exactly the same knob placement or volume. Some of this discrepancy is surely that “7” on a dial is not always “7” on the amp due to potentiometer drift and manufacturing variance. My DRRI seems to stay clean fairly high in the volume range due to a number of factors I can’t sort out, but also due to my guitars and playing style.\n\nIt might be that your DRRI that you used to have might have broken up from clean tone a bit sooner than others.launch

smart_display

November 29, 2021

@stratcat7162

In my experience with this amp vintage and reissue. It's a plug in and play no pedals required just some break in speaker timelaunch

smart_display

November 17, 2018

Experienced users report notable tonal improvements from speaker swaps, tube upgrades, and small circuit mods, giving the amp more headroom and clarity.

@jeffbooth1271

I have a friend who also has a DRRI. We compared, and was the same until he put NOS RCA 6v6’s in his amp. Instantly more headroom and much less muddy overdrive when turned up. Also did a tube comparison with a friend who has an original. Same thing. \n\nIt’s a fabulous amp, but if you want the real sound, invest in tubes (and maybe an output transformer.launch

smart_display

February 18, 2025

@MichaelSmithTX

I changed the speaker in my 1977 Deluxe Reverb from the Jensen C12Q 35 Watt that was in it (not original) to a Fender (Eminence) Gt12-8 100 watt speaker. This makes the amp considerably heavier to carry, but gives it a lot more clean headroom. Plus it looks better from the rear seeing that Fender Special Design label on the speaker. The Jensen now resides in a Carvin Vintage 16 amp.launch

smart_display

June 12, 2022

@fiddlix

I have always found the sweet spot on either channel of the DR to be 4 on the treble and 5 on the bass. Clip the bright 75pf cap that is on the volume pot on the vibrato channel. And put a Celestion Vintage 30 8ohm replacement speaker in there. You can also get a nice tonal improvement by replacing the output tubes (valves) with new Tung-Sol output tubes and have them biased to 65% of there maximum output dissipation which is 14 watts. Obviously if you’re not used to this kind of work have a qualified technician do it for you. The combination of all these mods that I listed will make a huge difference in tone. All for the better. Also an Eminence Cannabis Rex is a great sounding speaker replacement that sounds great in the Deluxe Reverb for a bit less money. Especially in the DRRI.launch

smart_display

March 29, 2020

Owners appreciate the look and feel of the amp, including special tolex colors, and some report the reissue even sounding better than vintage originals due to new components and cabinet design.

@rikkousa

I own the 64 DR RI as well as the 1964 DR in mint condition. IMHO, the RI sounds better, I attribute it to the new components and cabinet. I will never sell either of them. I was at NAMM in Anaheim when the 64 DRRI was first released. This was in 2016 as I recall. The brand manager responsible for designing it was playing it on the front stage display as I entered the booth and I told him that was the best amp I had ever heard. My ear is pretty good but I knew it sounded better, similar but better—-more frequencies that matter especially on the low and mids. I bought one immediately after he told me about it. I wonder how the 65 DRRI sounds in person and if is noticeably different than the 64DRRI? I should be careful what I ask for:)launch

smart_display

November 30, 2021

@GuitarExpress

I have the one with the wine red tolex. Looks so great at my living room. Even my girlfriend likes it lollaunch

smart_display

June 15, 2018

A commenter notes that unlike digital modeling amps which become quickly outdated, the tube version retains its value and stays current over time.

@Dthraco

Love love love this amp. I use the Torpedo X on mine for home recording, works great. TONS of pedals were designed to go in front of this amp. I have the DSL 40CR as well, and pedals are a bit different in front of that amp vs the DRRI. Note about the ToneMaster, they sound great, but in 5 years there will be 2 newer versions and the one out today will be obsolete and worth much less. The Tube version will always be current and retain value.launch

smart_display

November 29, 2021