I've Never Played a Deluxe Reverb...Until Today

[@glennmartin4232]

I think that is the best tone I’ve heard on your channel.

[@patrickr.5821]

Same feeling here. This is _the_ tone.

[@matthewdavis473]

Trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Cordy had never played a Deluxe

[@ksharpe10]

Probably not all over the place like here in the USA.

[@matthewdavis473]

That’s an excellent point. Anyplace I go to play a guitar there is usually a DR sitting right there

[@jonathanwapner6262]

I'm trying to wrap my head around using reverb from his software and not the amp

[@azcorazon844]

Genuinely cannot be true.

[@blairmichaelhogan4502]

And that he’s in the normal channel using some digital hall verb with the bass on the amp over 4.

[@philipmarsh3522]

The major downside to these Fender Deluxe amps is that once you spend some time with one you realize that your $3,500 boutique amp is really just trying to sound like a Fender Deluxe amp. Or maybe a Fender Deluxe amp with an overdrive pedal.

[@lookmanostrings]

that's a good thing!

[@VintageRadius]

And often to sound like a Fender Deluxe with a bit tighter low end and more headroom. Someone said you pay a lot extra for the smallest improvement (subjective) but that improvement can be worth a lot.

[@seamanjive]

@philipmarsh3522 I used to gig a DRRI...there IS NO reverb on the normal channel...

[@craiger2399]

@@seamanjive There is on the Handwired 64, which is partly why they call it the Custom Deluxe, because it parts ways with the old circuit in that regard.

[@nuthinbutlove]

Agreed

[@juliancarmichael]

Some of the best tone I’ve heard on your channel. Such a great amp. Glad you finally got hands on one

[@csharp57]

I like it too. As a mostly clean player I get tired of all the youtubers running distortion all day long. I do love that almost break up sound though

[@juliancarmichael]

@@csharp57 agreed. cleans and pushed cleans are some of my favorites too. I like em all, but those really do it.

[@arthurgoncalveslima4879]

Living in Brazil and having not much access to Tube Amps, the first time I played through a Deluxe Reverb in a gig a was blown away. Sounds like magic when you plug a Les Paul and push it around 5.

[@petarzutic1165]

Is it loud enough for gigs?

[@arthurgoncalveslima4879]

@@petarzutic1165 On 3/4 is enough, reaching 5 you get that edge of breakup sound

[@petarzutic1165]

@@arthurgoncalveslima4879 Wow that sounds great, and who doesn't like a little breakup 🔥

[@robwebb9413]

THAT is the tone I'm always chasing, even when I'm playing other amps. John, it's your best tone ever. It absolutely showcases your dynamic and melodic playing.

[@modelcitizen1977]

It's perfect. Loud enough for any gig and clean as the day is long.

[@mariodriessen9740]

I wouldn’t call a Fender Deluxe Reverb “underrated”. 😅 I would love to have this amp. Unfortunately in the bands I play in it would be too loud if you want to go for that edge of break up sound, which is what I want. And it’s not even too loud for me personally. I just work with some musicians that can’t stand a bit of volume, while I am so used to playing (relatively) loud. I play quieter than ever and still I have to be careful. The Princeton would be a great alternative for lower volumes. But as much as I like the cleans of the Princeton, the edge of break up sound seems a bit too messy for me. And thus I never bought a Deluxe Reverb, even though I consider this to be one of the best sounding amps ever. 😕

[@robertogarza5377]

Wait til you turn bass down to 1 or 2, treble up to 10 and volume up to 10. Credit goes to Justin Ostrander for that tone tip.

[@sparkster65]

Yup I always ran my Vibrolux with bass on 1 1/2 , treble on 7 , volume around 7-8 , glorious 😊

[@THEItchybruddah]

Welp, as they say here in the colonies: “It ain’t the arrow, it’s the Indian.” M’man, that thing’s just gonna sit there and hum until you start playing. What a lovely touch you have and you sure have learned where to make some wonderful choices. As a guy with “cool x-rays and great stories” I’m a fan of the Tonemaster deluxe with the 2.0 software. (I’ve got both versions but update REALLY improves the reverb taper. And best of all for us geezer types: It weighs almost exactly half of that box with a transformer and glass bottles!)

[@milesharris335]

The perfect amp imho. Beyond loving the tone the feel under the fingers of a deluxe that is cooking is one of the best things in the world. Vibrato channel vol 6, treb 6-5, bass 4 is my personal favorite setting.

[@RJ_HTx]

Volume 6 ? I can’t really go pass 4.2 playing live. I am guessing Volume 6 with guitar volume half way.

[@milesharris335]

@@RJ_HTx I ride the volume a lot but definitely use it full up a lot. I also use those gramma pads under the amp and amp shields. Those help a lot. But that is only in my band on medium to large gigs. More then the tone the way it reacts at 6 what really gets me.

[@26theband]

@@RJ_HTx the Deluxe Reverb doesn’t really get any louder past about 4 or 5…you run out of headroom and you just get more saturation/drive. So at 4.2 you are pretty much maxed out on the volume…it just gets chewy and harmonic filled!! Go for it!!!

[@trickfall8752]

I don't care what anyone else says, the Fender DRRI is the greatest production line amp ever made. It's probably one of the longest running too. I think mine is from '97 or '98.

[@kmjansen]

John, you’ve gotta try this setting from Justin Ostrander: Vibrato channel, Input 1, Treble 10, Bass 1. The Vibrato channel has more gain than the Normal channel, and since the tone stack is reductive, you’re essentially letting her rip. One of the best overdrive sounds you’ll ever play.

[@IamMusicNerd]

I always wanted Fender to release a Deluxe Reverb head so I could plug it into my favorite 412 and 212 cabinets. But Fender seems to prefer mostly doing combo amps.

[@DennisBerkovic]

They did release a head a few years ago in small quantity.

[@karldettling5981]

Cut the bottom off?

[@NFMorley]

Maybe a Fender Supersonic head as an alternative? Supersonic is based upon a DRRI for its 'vintage' channel, and whilst it lacks trem, it has an effects loop so you could use a pedal for that.

[@ChrisPanagopulos]

They used to make a deluxe reverb head. I saw a used one in GC a few years ago. You can still view it on sweetwater, but it was discontinued at some point.

[@MrDevins]

Valid point. Although it’s out of his rig this summer, Trey Anastasio of Phish was using a blackface Deluxe in a headshell for clean with a vintage Trainwreck head for dirt.

[@barthrvatin8297]

Not sure if it’s been commented on but the reverb we hear is not the spring in the amp(and he’s in the effects-free Normal channel,) Cordy likely added it in post. And it sounds beautiful.❤

[@BeefNEggs057]

I was thinking the same thing. I’m hearing reverb and he’s on the dry channel.

[@Andrei.x8]

He most likely runs the amp through a Loadbox and adds FX afterwards

[@ksharpe10]

Thanks Jake for the loan to John, for demoing. You always have such Great Gear.

[@brianwhite3771]

Wow! Great tone brother!

[@mikael.cherin]

Now Cordy, dial in the Stomp Deluxe and stock cab to match what you heard. Pretty please!

[@photobouph]

The stool is a missed opportunity for sponsorship so iconic 😂

[@Bennyplays]

The ‘65 Deluxe Reverb reissue is the amp of choice for just about every touring jazz guitarist around. For years, having one got me guestlist invites to a lot of gigs! Jonathan Kreisberg, Gilad Hekselman, Nels Cline, Peter Bernstein, Brad Shepik, Steve Cardenas, Lage Lund, have all borrowed mine for UK gigs.

[@davidkeller6156]

There are a lot of famous records done in the studio with DRs. When I go to try out new guitars a Deluxe Reverb is my amp of choice.

[@jonalexander8935]

Love that old Hymn J.. God bless you bro!

[@acemodean]

Happy to hear that clean sound has not jumped the shark.

[@BrentGrowe]

Beautiful tones. I have one and love having it around. I’m not on stages big enough to need it live yet but fun to crank up at the house and shake some walls.

[@TheGuitarBling]

Fenders are known for clean sounds, yet they sound so good when they break up.

[@Rael0505]

Gorgeous playing

[@beachcomber4141]

Gorgeous tone and playing. I got mine a couple years ago and could not be happier with it.

[@cisemokram]

Tones aside, that was some of the nostalgia beautif playing ive ever heard. Well done sir!❤

[@jasonmaltz7040]

Just recently picked up a used 65 DRRI and absolutely love the tones! Can’t beat it - the best!

[@thegolfingmusician6345]

Best tone I've ever heard you use on your channel.

[@UltrafineDeluxe]

to me the best cleans out of the deluxe are the volume at 5 or 6 & then roll back your guitar volume until it cleans up on the edge of breakup. gorgeous.

[@Mtn603]

Beautiful playing, John

[@smoothsavage2870]

@3:02 Looks like the tremolo bar got away from you right there 🤣

[@claytonmurrayguitar]

Sounds great. If I could only have one amp for the rest of my life, it’d be that one

[@TomTom-ov5oe]

No digital solution can create this sound !

[@dans5529]

Unfortunately I have to agree. Emulations have come a long way and create a good approximation of this sound, but there’s still something missing.

[@simoGRV]

What a tone ! What a playing 😮 from italy

[@ChanceCooper125]

My love for Deluxe Reverbs is once again validated by the fact that your tone in this video is the most “different” and IMO, best tone I’ve heard on your channel. If you put an Eminence GA-SC64 it’ll be even better by a large margin

[@skylerlovell1780]

I'm an Orange fanboy admittedly, but this is the amp I would buy if I needed Fender clean. You need to do this same "test" on the Vibrato channel, that is where most folks live, it has a little something more for whatever reason. Cheers JNC, thanks for all your videos!

[@larryadams1873]

I’ve been a Fender amp guy FOREVER. I’m 59 now. Give the Deluxe the right OD pedal and maybe other pedals you like with the Strat and it will sing for you. I’ve been doing it for ages.

[@lowyaw]

John holy smokes I think you just sold a bunch of KLines and 65DRs. Those were some killerest Strat toanz ever

[@patrickr.5821]

Gorgeous tone, even on the ultra-clean settings. The strat just comes to life paired with this box.

[@GiovanniReali-pr5ob]

Great playing John!!! And tone is unbelievable beautiful !! Maybe everyone can now understand why pros used it so much both on stage and in the studio (modelers are ok but nothing to compare with this great tone imho)👍🏻👍🏻

[@TomCPlus1]

My first electric guitar was a 1973 Gibson Les Paul -- bought it used, in 1980, for $400. The amp I bought with it -- a silverface Fender Deluxe Reverb, for I think $250 used. Did not know what I had. Yes, the clean tone was glorious . . . however, turning volume past *2* was ear-splitting loud. Neither I nor my apartment neighbors would have ever been able to deal. I never heard a hint of breakup in tone, didn't know it could. And it weighed about as much as a car. I sold the Fender amp, won't even say what I replaced it with (junk in comparison). The Les Paul -- I still have it. 🎸😎

[@mikefromusa6902]

All of the smaller black/silver face amps have that character and I love them

[@rigelloar7474]

That's the SOUND, and the reason why the muses are not moved by simulations . . . . .

[@Glensully]

the speaker and room sound is a simulation................................

[@marcospintor1333]

Fender guitar ->tube screamer->deluxe reverb That combination is absolute bliss. The tube screamer add in the mid range so you don’t need a mid control

[@TheloniusJ]

One of the few serious regrets I have is selling the 1968 Deluxe Reverb I owned in the 80s. I sold it in the early 90s for like $200. I mostly use modelers now, but if I was going to go back to an amp, it would almost certainly be this one.

[@JasonWharton82]

I have the blonde tone master and it only makes me want to try the ‘real thing’ more, they sound great with a Strat/Tele and a blues breaker style overdrive.

[@BreauxBobby]

I heard a deluxe tone master at a country show. I thought, wow that deluxe sounds so warm! I need a deluxe. Then I found out it was a tone master. And I’m a tube amp only kind of guy. The tone master sounded great.

[@pearsonart]

Have a 72, 75 and TM. The TM is a no brainer - perfect live club amp and low volume home amp. My tube amps get played much less - mostly for recording or one off shows where I can baby them. Differences between the tube amps are similar to differences between the tube and TM. Burn in the speaker and enjoy.

[@AlanJan_UK_49]

You're new to me. That was beautiful. I have a DR RI with the Jensen Alnico speaker but my Strat doesn't sound as sweet. What plectrum are you using ( Ha Ha !! ). Great playing and sensitive too.

[@EWhite-95]

Absolutely gorgeous! I was saving up for a Princeton but might have to save more for one of these

[@markmccafferty6515]

Great review. Absolutely loved your playing John, and the tone was beautiful

[@jamescurtis8584]

That was a nice F#

[@robertritchie2860]

Treble at 6, Bass at 2 and volume at 6.. Crunch heaven 😀

[@kaiflorianmehrlander4888]

Try the Julian-Lage-Setting: Treble and Bass around 2.

[@rigelloar7474]

Oh yeah . . . . .

[@rescd4]

I think he uses channel 1, the non reverb side

[@kaiflorianmehrlander4888]

@@rescd4 Yes, he does.

[@BeefNEggs057]

Or just use your guitar tone knobs.

[@iancclark1]

​@@BeefNEggs057but that's just a treble cut.

[@JasonDelk-uf1yh]

I love my DRRI. It is my only amp. I had a mid tone knob added and changed the tone stack on the normal channel to be similar to a Super now I have two different feeling/sounding channels. Fantastic amp.

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

the deluxe reverb is the perfect recording /home amp (along with the vox ac15/10 and marshall 1974) for many reasons: 1. it has a 12" speaker so no compromise there. 2.it uses 6v6's which are the best sounding power tubes 3.the onboard reverb and tremolo are amazing 4.it has great cleans with all guitars and it takes pedals very well it really shows what a genius leo fender was no other brand has such a friendly package vox amps are weird and trebly and marshalls want to bite your head off enjoy!

[@antongustafsson402]

Owned a DRRI since 2011, never felt disappointed even once. Plug a power soak between the amp and speaker and you can really let it sing at low volumes!

[@DanePeterson]

I loved Vox-style cleans for a long time, then I found the DR sound and haven't gone back. It's even really good with some stacked overdrives as well. I think it would be my desert-island amp if I had to pick one.

[@mikedwiles]

Thank you for that beautiful rendition of Danny Boy. It almost made me cry.

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

The interesting thing is, I’m home in the states right now. My pops has a Deluxe Reverb Reissue and a Tone King Falcon Grande. I’ve been playing them both a lot for a couple weeks. The Deluxe Reverb wins hands down. Less options than the TK but one great tone is better than 3 mediocre or compromised tones. The DRRI is a great amp. I can okay for hours just clean and be inspired and it’s great with pedals too. All this from a Marshall guy.

[@erik2446]

Game changer. Suits your style so well.

[@donaldbergmann5405]

Man , that amp sounds great, but I have to say some of the chords you play are total ear candy, just beautiful..

[@ingeronnykvale5786]

Beautiful tones and equally great playing, John! You say you're going thru a Fractal Load Box Care to share the the rest of the signal chain? :)

[@boonerichardson1639]

I’ve had the same amp for about 8 years. It’s fantastic! Primarily play my Gretch’s straight in with clean tones and some reverb. It’s honestly perfect. Only downside is the sweet spot of tone is a bit loud for home. I picked up a Yamaha THR30 for that purpose, which has also been phenomenal.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Since your in the normal channel, what are you using for reverb? Great playing as always. Cheers.

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Is this the standard off the shelf 65 reissue, or the pricey 64 handwired one? Sounds amazing!

[@mikedr1549]

Reached maximum tone on 8!! Every time I think I should explore different amps I stop myself because my DR sounds so magical.

[@JosephKotsifakis]

I d love to hear you get some lead tones from this amp. From all the demos I have heard you made it sound so nice and round. Cheers mate!

[@robertpehlman5195]

That is unbelievable, particularly when you get it cooking,

[@jakollee]

Best live sound I ever had was at a club in NYC that had a vintage 60s DR as part of its back line. They had other amps, but the sound guy actually directed me to this one and suggested I use it. I only had the volume up to about 3, so didn’t really get the amp’s breakup sound, but the clean sound was perfect, and my drive pedals never sounded so good! Got tons of compliments on my sound!

[@robinr.2233]

We recently compared a new Deluxe Reverb reissue with a real 1967 Silverface Deluxe Reverb (pre-CBS mods). The 1967 is stock except for a cap job, new tubes and a new Jensen Falcon 12 speaker. The reissue sounded great. But the original 1967 has a magical depth of tone missing from the reissue. My gigging amps are a Deluxe Reverb or a 5E3 (Tweed Deluxe) unless I’m using a lower wattage Rubicon RC-8 mini (another great amp).

[@meloysmusicstudio]

Beautiful sound! I missed out on electric guitars for most of my life because I bought a shredder guitar and a little Crate amp when I was a kid and I just didn't like the sound of it and at that time I was only playing chords anyway, so I played my acoustic instead. It wasn't until this year (and I'm nearly 50) that I bought a Telecaster copy and found out what playing with a great tone feels like. I'm still playing through the wrong amp (a Fender V2 Rumble 150 bass amp and a Zoom pedal) because it's all I have, but it's SO much nicer than that old setup!

[@hukl3945]

The most underrated Fender Amp imo is the Vibrolux. I have 2 of the modern custom 68 ones and one from 1976 . For me it's one notch above the Deluxe Reverb.

[@cw4744]

agree, but I have a 65 vibrolux reverb

[@savilior]

The Deluxe was/is my second amp after I realized that the Marshall Super Bass 100W with it's 4X15'' cab is a lot to carry around and a vintage shop friend offered a second hand Deluxe. Well, still love it even as I realistically moved to HX Stomp and whatever the place offers

[@Ksumsar]

Nice demo - what recording setup did you use on this video? I didn't see any microphones or cables from the Deluxe?

[@WhataDayDan]

I had my bright cap removed and it was SUCH a good idea

[@eric2892]

Is it mostly to handle overdrives better?

[@WhataDayDan]

@@eric2892 it’s for not losing high frequencies at low volumes

[@eric2892]

@@WhataDayDan So removing the bright cap reduces highs? Is it too harsh at low volumes with the bright cap?

[@WhataDayDan]

@@eric2892 it was painful, especially with single coils

[@Bluesplayer789]

Makes drive pedals sound harsh so I had mine molded to switch out, sounds miles better

[@achill3usoverclocking874]

I just had the Tonemaster version of this but still it was the best sound I ever had. I think this is the goat of guitar amps no matter what you plugin to it will sound just round, lush, beautiful and full.

[@piotrekkoszalka]

All reissues of blackface style amps from Fender sound great on clean sound. What differentiates them from vintage Fender amps is that the old ones work also very well with overdrive stomp boxes. Reissues don’t glue overdriven tones so nicely and sound much thinner than their old buddies when you put a fuzz or an overdrive effect in front of the amp

[@backtothepasture]

John, try using the vibrato channel ... the reverb adds an extra gain stage. (I'm not advocating for one over the other, just mentioning the gain stage.) I own one of these and also a real 1965 Showman ... the normal channel on each is about the greatest clean sound ever.

[@backtothepasture]

The Showman thru the original oversized, closed back 2-15" cab with the JBL df130 speakers is too loud for most modern usage and certainly too much to carry, but it is quite possibly the sweetest clean tone ever produced.

[@arturq13]

You should definetly play it more often. Amazing playing, you are a solid musician - Great!

[@gohjohan]

I have the Tonemaster Blonde version and I'm happy with it. Indeed it's a great amp and my go to. In fact I gave away my other guitar amps to my friend / subscriber. That's how good the Fender Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb Blonde is. I know, mine's a Tonemaster, but still, it's a Deluxe Reverb in its own right.

[@billmanderfield8019]

Nice tone

[@dans5529]

Apologies if I missed it, but how are you recording it? What mic and interface? It sounds beautiful!

[@fatcatnordleadx]

u sounds dam good in any setup bro !!!! loved someday to be able to play like u

[@bradconklin2878]

Man, that's a good dimed sound!

[@TheRycooder]

Great post AGAIN!!!!

[@nedludd3641]

Gorgeous. No pedals, no trem?

[@Jiri-z-Lipe]

Great tone, man. I'd love to see you try match it with the FM3. Just to see it's possible. Or not possible. :-) Can you do that, John?

[@tonedowne]

There was two of them in the backline at a gig I played, so I ran them in stereo. Didn’t push them so they were just running clean, and it sounded amazing. I did it with two AC16 s as well. Not sure which I preferred. Very different sound from both but the same kind of epic experience. Brian May was onto something.

[@lookmanostrings]

Sounds so good. One of my main cover band presets on my FM9 is a 65 Deluxe Reverb. It breaks up a little more than I would want at times but live it gives it that little edge. Too many people on modelers get too-pristine cleans and it's just ice picky.

[@highbox]

Sounds great! Where is the reverb coming from - are you using a pedal or HX Stomp into the front of the amp? Or does the reverb work on both channels of the reissue now?

[@Simeon_Harris]

try the "magic 6" setting. vibrato channel. volume on 6, bass on 2, mid on 3, treble on 6.

[@brianmiller3287]

I have to say, you make that amp sound beautiful!!! I've been on an AC-30 kick for the last year or so and loving it, but I might have to revisit the deluxe now. Thanks ALOT!!!

[@Dreyno]

It’s nice but there’s nothing like a Vox. Pure magic imo.

[@marcospintor1333]

I have both an ac30 and a deluxe reverb. I’ve explored a lot of amps and bought and sold many. But those two are the ones i will keep forever. Brother i recommend both, you will be in guitar heaven

[@brianmiller3287]

​@@marcospintor1333there is something about running two amps. I currently have a several amps and as soon as you plug in two , the magic begins....

[@MRxr400]

gorgeous sounding amp.

[@jrgenlundsgaard9479]

After all these modellers you now have thr real sound

[@sasquatch_life]

Great version of Danny boy. Your chord voicings are fabulous!

[@nathanieldahman9268]

@johnnathancordy Deluxe Reverb's are my favorite small amp. So versatile. You have to try jumpering the channels. I think this really unlocks the tone options of this amp. You can get tones very similar to the higher-powered fenders. Try this setting: Vib Vol4 T10 B1, Norm Vol6 T1 B10. Sounds big like a Bassman. Also, a classic mod is to remove the V1 tube. You get more gain in the vib channel. Take that a step further by replacing the V6 phase inverter tube with the 12AX7 you pulled out of V1. So good❤ Shameless plug: i have TONEX captures of everything i described above of my 1966 DR on ToneNet under the username MusicTech. They are DI captures sent through IRs of the cab loaded with a Weber 12F-150. Those IRs can be found on ToneHunt along with other speakers i tried in that cab.

[@Racoldgin]

Now I really regret selling my Deluxe Reverb. Sounds great with a Strat. I play Gibsons, so I found the breakup to be a little to quick for my liking. It usually happened around 3 or 4, so I found my clean sounds very limiting, considering that is one of the main reasons you use a Deluxe Reverb. Maybe I'll look into a Vibroverb or Super Reverb.

[@mikevanleeuwen2858]

You are awesome . Sounds like magic . Where is the reverb comming from ? Pedal ? Because of Channel 1

[@ksharpe10]

Seen people jumper the Channels for some special stuff. Really Nice playing on this Video. I still like your HeadFirst amplifier, as good as this Deluxe for sure.