Fender Deluxe Reverb: Silverface or RI

[BrewGuitar]

I want to get a Fender Deluxe Reverb. I understand that earlier silverface models share the same tone as the blackfaces, at about half the price. The reissues are even less expensive. My guess is that the point to point silverface is going to have more fans on TGP, but let me hear your opinions. Thanks for your opinions

[Jeffj]

definately silverface........people can argue tone all day long between the old vs. RI, but the build quality is no contest.....

[meterman]

I've read several times that the Deluxe Reverb was the last Fender amp to get the "CBS treatment" of messing with Leo's circuits, for some reason they supposedly stayed much the same up until '77, not the case for the other models. "Early SF" to me means pre-1973 which is when many of the models started getting MV added, and then in '75 the pull-boosts....

If you can find a clean SF DR in good condition I think that's far and away your best bet. A friend of mine and great player bought two of the RIs and even after having them modded by a good tech they still lacked something and he ended up selling them for a loss.

[1radicalron]

The 67-69 circutry is Identical to the Blackface. Only the cosmetics changed. Any Silverface Deluxe Reverb can be "Blackfaced" to sound very close to, or identical to the Blackface Deluxe.
The Silverface models - up to 1979 have a Hand wired circut board. This makes it easy to work on, and easy to mod. Also, the Build quality on Silverface models are excellent. They are allready over 30 years old, and most are still going strong.

[aeolian]

As long as it isn't one of the pull pot version, the updating (backdating?) is very simple. And in Gerald Weber's book, he likes the PI coupling cap value in the SF better. I chose a value halfway in between when I BF'd my amp. If you get a SFDR you are probably going to want to have it checked and get a cap job anyway, so the few BF updates will be simple. Or if you're doing it yourself, it will only be a few more parts.

The RI's sound much drier to me. I don't know what it is. Maybe the circuit board wasn't SPICE modeled correctly (if at all), but they just don't have the same color and overtones as the older ones.

Bypassing or gutting the pull pot functions will add more complication, but it can be done without too much grief.

[aeolian]

Also, the Build quality on Silverface models are excellent. They are allready over 30 years old, and most are still going strong.
Actually, this is the one issue you may have. The wire dress on the SF models is much sloppier than the BF amps. Which is why they put the snubber resistors on the output tubes. On most amps, you can take these out and everything will be fine. But on some amps, they will oscillate. It may be as low as a background warble, or the amp may actually ring. If that happens, you have to play with the wire dress, following photos (or an experienced tech's understanding) of earlier BF amps.

[meterman]

If you get a SFDR you are probably going to want to have it checked and get a cap job anyway, so the few BF updates will be simple

Exactly, but don't let that put you off buying an old amp, a filter cap job is not expensive (~$75) and only needs to be done once every couple decades I think :) I think I spent $150 getting my '71 Super Reverb tuned up and BF'd by Jeff Bakos, and it was very much worth it....

[Blue Strat]

Definitely the silver face. I own two of the least respected (pull boost) models and one '68 "drip edge" (same as a blackface) model and they're all great.

All they need is a cap job every 20 years or so and they'll last for generations. DRRI's will all likely be in landfills within the first 20 years.

[MrDoty]

silver face

[gkoelling]

DRRI's will all likely be in landfills within the first 20 years.

I reeeeaalllly wanted to send the one I had to the landfill but couldn't afford that.

To the op, if your friend's budget is $1k max, get the silver face.

[stratzrus]

If you can find a clean SF DR in good condition I think that's far and away your best bet.

Absolutely!

[Big Al Z]

I've never owned a Silverface, but I've owned a DRRI. With "owned" being the key word. IMO - you'll being "chasing" that sound you want - speaker changes, tube changes, clip the bright . . . you get the picture.

[Shawn3786]

I've got a RI and LOVE it WHEN it works!!! When you can get it not to churp or have a footswitch malfunction it's great!!! I've found that in order to get my best tone the tubes need to be real hot for about an hour to really get some beautiful tone!!! It accepts pedals extremely well and with the ext. cab jack in the back you can add a ton of "air" and "fluff" to your tone. Enjoy!

[FPicker]

I reeeeaalllly wanted to send the one I had to the landfill but couldn't afford that.

What were your issues with it?

[gkoelling]

What were your issues with it?

It made a nasty blown power tube sound but the problem was intermittent. It might do it every time I used it for a week, or more, then be fine for months.

I had it into one of the better shops in Nashville for a week and they tested it cold, warm, left it powered up for three days straight and could find nothing. I got it back and a week later it started all over again. I told a different tech what it was doing and he just shook his head and said no thanks.

When it worked I had no complaints but I couldn't trust it at all.

Any company will produce a lemon once in a while and I definitely had one.

I still think they're nice but that experience put me off mass produced amps for good.

[davess23]

I have a '72 SFDR, and couldn't be happier with it. This is the deal if you're looking for a hand-wired but reasonably priced amp that's built like a tank and in my opinion sounds as good as any 6V6 boutique. You can find them in good shape for well under a grand, often significantly less, and with a cap job and the speaker of your choice (Weber 12F150 in my case) you should be all set for the next decade or two.

BTW, I've never felt a need to blackface my 72. Sounds very sweet the way it is.

[squeally dan]

I have a '72 SFDR, and couldn't be happier with it. This is the deal if you're looking for a hand-wired but reasonably priced amp that's built like a tank and in my opinion sounds as good as any 6V6 boutique. You can find them in good shape for well under a grand, often significantly less, and with a cap job and the speaker of your choice (Weber 12F150 in my case) you should be all set for the next decade or two.

BTW, I've never felt a need to blackface my 72. Sounds very sweet the way it is.

I agree with everything you said. Mine is supposed to be a 73 but I've never verified that. It sounds great. I can't imagine a black-facing could make it better. It sounds better than my sf twin that HAS been blackfaced. Sometimes I think the black face stuff is over-hyped!

[ptecat]

I have a dreaded 79 SFDR but it sounds great. It has a Weber speaker in it and was modded by Pete Cage. Tone du jour!

:BluesBros

[blackba]

Silverface for sure. The DRRI isn't bad if you can get it used around $500, but I have played a '67 DR and IMO it blew the reissue I had away.

If you do get the reissue, than plan to change tubes, speakers, and maybe clip the bright cap to get it where you want it.

Allen old flame is another option in this price range....

[rich2k4]

haha i played a deluxe reverb reissue and got a great tone. don't let stuff get to your head, play the amps and YOU DECIDE. all that matters is that you like it.

didn't someone make a clip comparison of an old fender and a reissue? i couldn't tell the difference when i heard them to be quite honest.

it's all in a lot of people's heads.

[davess23]

Reissue DR's can sound fine. They're good amps. But I'd still go with an old silverface if for no other reason than for the hand wiring...easier to work on.

[teleman55]

They're both great amps. I've got a silverface.

[SeeMoore]

Or you can do this to a DRRI:

http://store.marshamps.com/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=351


"Perfect way to fast track your restoration, conversion from PCB or DIY Fender amp project. Only high quality components used throughout. Sprague Atom Electrolytics, Orange Drops, Carbon Composition Resistors, Silver Mica's, vintage style cloth wiring!!!! It all in there. You get the completed board loaded with the backing board ready to be installed into your chassis!!!"--- Marsh amps.

I sent them an e-mail asking whats included, involved in making the transition, no reply yet, but it's early yet.

[Blue Strat]

Or you can do this to a DRRI:

http://store.marshamps.com/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=351


"Perfect way to fast track your restoration, conversion from PCB or DIY Fender amp project. Only high quality components used throughout. Sprague Atom Electrolytics, Orange Drops, Carbon Composition Resistors, Silver Mica's, vintage style cloth wiring!!!! It all in there. You get the completed board loaded with the backing board ready to be installed into your chassis!!!"--- Marsh amps.

I sent them an e-mail asking whats included, involved in making the transition, no reply yet, but it's early yet.


Not a bad idea. VERY labor intensive though. Lot's or rewiring to the tube sockets, front controls and power supply components. Definitely not a novice project.

[meterman]

Sometimes I think the black face stuff is over-hyped!

It was a pretty subtle change in my '71 Super Reverb. Made the amp feel just a bit looser/warmer and break up just a bit earlier. Not a dramatic change at all really, and I know mine was done right b/c Jeff Bakos did it. I would probably recommend it for blues, maybe not for funk or jazz players. On a DR, I might actually want the extra headroom....my friend has a '68 DR that just sounds phenomenal, I hadn't wanted a Fender amp in years until I played his amp....

[mrmax]

Silverface, even the pull pot model sounds good. Use your own ears to judge, Tone Snobs sometimes listen with their eyes ! I am a Tone Snob, but I'll give everything a chance to prove me wrong.

[Blue Strat]

Silverface, even the pull pot model sounds good. Use your own ears to judge, Tone Snobs sometimes listen with their eyes ! I am a Tone Snob, but I'll give everything a chance to prove me wrong.

You're right about tone because THERE IS NO better tone. It's all subjective and personal.

THERE IS, however, better construction which leads to easier serviceability and longevity. This is objective, NOT subjective.

[mrmax]

You're right about tone because THERE IS NO better tone. It's all subjective and personal.

THERE IS, however, better construction which leads to easier serviceability and longevity. This is objective, NOT subjective.
True That!

[electroid]

One thing about the pull boost versions... Some of them had linear taper volume pots and that might give the impression that the tone is different from the earlier SF ones. This is because they start to overdrive at lower settings on the volume controls. This can be easily "fixed" by changing the pots to audio taper types.

[LarryN]

I agree with everything you said. Mine is supposed to be a 73 but I've never verified that. It sounds great. I can't imagine a black-facing could make it better. It sounds better than my sf twin that HAS been blackfaced. Sometimes I think the black face stuff is over-hyped!

Indeed, some of the best Twins I've heard were silverface. Sometimes blackfacing makes the amp take a downturn.