VINTAGE BENCH TEST 1960s FENDER DELUXE SHOOTOUT
By the time Fender introduced the Deluxe Reverb in 1963, its resemblance to the first tweed Deluxe – the 5A3 of 1948 – was virtually non-existent. During the intervening years, there were numerous other Deluxe models released into the world as the circuitry, cosmetics, output power and onboard features gradually evolved.
Most of you will be aware of the three distinct eras of pre-CBS Fender amplification – tweed, brown and black-panel – but a surprising amount changed in just a few short years in the early 1960s. Here, we’re comparing a 1961 brown Deluxe with a 1965 Deluxe Reverb courtesy of boutique guitar-recording and reamping studio Vintage Tone Factory.
6G3 FENDER DELUXE
The last of the tweed Deluxe models were made in 1961 and, the same year, Fender revolutionised the Deluxe amplifier. It was a new look for a new decade, with brown Tolex covering a larger pine cabinet and a brown control panel on the front with white labelling.
Round brown ‘cupcake’ control knobs replaced the old-school chickenheads but the tweed Deluxe’s two-channel arrangement was retained. Fender finally acknowledged that nobody was plugging microphones into their guitar amps and the new channel designations were ‘normal’ and ‘bright’.
Up to and including the 5E3, all Fender Deluxes were
