OF ALL THE classic amplifiers produced by Fender throughout the ages, the Deluxe is at the top of the heap for many guitarists. But which Deluxe? The narrow-panel tweed 5E3 of 1955–’60 is legendary, and is still beloved today for its crisp edge-of-breakup tones and throaty roar when cranked up to 12. Then again, the Deluxe Reverb of 1963–’67 defines for many the classic crisp, shimmering black-panel Fender sound of the ’60s.
But for guitarists who are hip to what came in between, the brown-panel 6G3 of 1961-’63 is one of the tastiest tone
