The Deluxe Reverb was delivered this morning as arranged and I gave it a quick blast before getting on with my chores for the day. I set it up as David described and was delighted with what I heard, as the sound was just what I'd hoped it would be. I was surprised that how different the Deluxe Reverb was to the Twin Reverb on the way the controls function, they are totally different animals. I expected them to be similar but on a Twin Reverb you get zero volume unless you use the tone controls but the Deluxe is different in that you can have the tone controls off, but the volume pot alone provides sound. So I'm delighted to own one of each now which is surprising because I was one of the people who was very cynical about these just under a year ago when they were announced.
These two amps are nothing like anything that has gone before, all the talk of Mustangs and all the other Cyber thingies that Fender made are nothing to do with these, as this is new technology at the cutting edge. I've heard all the comments about 'too dear for a solid state amp' etc etc - These won't come down in price anytime soon because they deliver, at virtually zero weight. In retrospect my Watkins Dominator cost 38-10-6d in 1962 and this Deluxe Reverb would have cost £37.10 in that year, based on the inflation calculator. A brand new Watkins Dominator today will set you back close to two grand today, made by John Beer under license. None of the valve heads have yet been able to knock these new models and the reason is, they are bloody good. Sure you can drone on about valves are better and break your back or have a heart attack trying to carry one, but as someone who still has valve amps I can categorically say that I won't be needing them any time soon.
Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 5:01 pm