FENDER ’68 CUSTOM PRO REVERB & VIBRO CHAMP REVERB

People often get upset when you mess about with the classics. But with the not-quite-classics, it’s a different story. Fender’s silverface amplifiers of the CBS era don’t get nearly as much love as the black-panelled icons that preceded them – and that represents something of an inviting blank canvas for the ’68 Custom series.

First launched in 2014, these amps take the semi-vintage combos of that 1967-1981 period and reimagine them for the modern player. And now we have two new models to choose from, based on the heavy-hitting 40-watt Pro Reverb and the peppy puppy that is the five-watt Vibro Champ.

As with the other ’68 Custom amps, the look here is scrupulously authentic: brushed aluminium control panels