Fender Silverface Deluxe Reverb

Model/Circuit Number:
Years of Production:
1968 – 1982
Era: Silverface
Configuration: Combo
Controls: Silver, forward facing w/ blue labels
Knobs: Black skirted w/ chrome center, numbered 1 – 10

Faceplate:

  • Front: Normal: In, In, Vol, Treb, Bass – Vibrato: In, In, Vol, Treb, Bass, Rev, Speed, Intensity – Pilot Lamp
  • Rear: AC Outlet, Ground Sw, Fuse, Power Sw, Standby Sw, Speaker, Ex. Speaker, Vibrato Sw, Reverb Sw, Reverb Out, Reverb In

Cabinet:

Tolex/Tweed:

Grill Cloth:

Logo: Grille mounted, raised, chrome & black script
Weight: 40 lbs.
Speaker:

Effects: Reverb, Tremolo
Watts: 22 watts
Tubes:

  • Pre amp: 4 x 7025, 2x 12AT7
  • Power: 2 x 6V6GT
  • Bias: Fixed with Bias Pot
  • Rectifier: 5U4GB (and sometimes GZ34/5AR4)

Comments:
Fender switched back to the blackface era cosmetics some time in 1980. Deluxe Reverbs produced between late 1980 and 1982 have a black control panel and silver sparkle grille cloth. A “Boost” pull switch was added to the Volume control around ’77. A Line Out jack added to back panel around `79.

26 thoughts on “Fender Silverface Deluxe Reverb

  • October 8, 2011 at 11:17 am
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    Hello there,
    I just bought a 1979 Deluxe Reverb. Does “fixed with bias pot” (above) mean that I can re-tube it without adjusting the bias?

    Thanks,
    Charles

    Reply
    • December 21, 2011 at 7:57 pm
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      No.  In general, you should re-bias fixed-bias amps when you change tubes.  Cathode-biased amps generally do not need re-biasing when tubes are changed (although if you change rectifier types or something like that, you will probably need to make some adjustments.)

      Reply
      • December 24, 2020 at 7:49 pm
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        Preparing to sell a 1973 (Silver Face) Deluxe Reverb Amp. Once owned by my brother-n-law that recently passed away. It appears to be all original.

        What would I look for that would prove it is “not” original.

        It is in very good condition cabinet, grill etc…I am not sure if he bought it new or not. Unable to find any P/W on it. I cannot seem to find a manual on line or in any fender archives.

        Reply
  • January 2, 2012 at 5:05 pm
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    I had a Silverface DeLuxe Reverb 1978 in 1979-83. I remember it had 2 10″ speakers, instead of one 12″. Do i remember right, was there such a model version too in existence?

    Reply
  • January 12, 2012 at 6:26 pm
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    You probably had a Vibrolux (it has 2 10s)

    Reply
  • March 13, 2012 at 8:26 pm
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    Does anyone know where I may find a componant layout and wiring schematic for a 1975 silverface deluxe reverb

    Reply
  • January 4, 2013 at 11:19 am
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    any way to tell me what year my deluxe reverb is by the serial # A42653

    Reply
    • November 21, 2014 at 7:17 am
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      Mark, my late ’69 DL has serial # A29479, if that’s any help.

      Reply
    • May 30, 2015 at 4:52 am
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      A guy named gagliano has a list of chassis serial numbers and advice on how to date the amp beyond just chassis number. Apparently fender made these in large lots and put them in bins and techs just grabbed any one and used them so a chassis could have sat around for a year before getting used as guys didn’t often grab them from the corners.

      Reply
  • November 15, 2013 at 6:00 pm
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    DELUXE REVERBS BF AND SF ARE ALSO DIFFERENT AS MOST OF FENDERS ??

    Reply
  • April 3, 2014 at 2:43 pm
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    i have a 1979 fender deluxe reverb,and i never had the original speaker. i want to put the original type back in this amp.any suggestion what might have been original? been thinking about an oxford 12k5. i do use pedals, but i would like to have this amp be a grab and go. guitar into amp. go. i also play a strat. thankyou very much!

    Reply
    • April 23, 2014 at 7:45 am
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      I have a 1980 silverface, it came w/ a pyle 12″ speaker w/ fender label, want to buy it for $30 + shipping. Fender did not put very good speakers in these amps. That is why I replaced it. Eric

      Reply
      • June 28, 2018 at 8:33 am
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        …mine (1980) also had a Pyle – I replaced it with a 1979 CTS and am most happy with it!

        Reply
    • June 2, 2015 at 1:39 am
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      Danny, Vin-Tone offers speaker re-coning and restoration of Era Correct speakers for these amps. We also have a large inventory of Era Correct speakers to choose from. Please contact us for options.

      Thanks,Dutch
      info@vin-tone.com
      914-595-5142

      Reply
  • June 1, 2015 at 5:08 pm
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    I have a Reverb Deluxe Amp with serial number A895855 Can you tell what year this was made?

    Reply
  • November 26, 2015 at 11:22 pm
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    A8+5-digits – 1978

    Very likely a 1978.

    Reply
  • July 24, 2016 at 9:03 pm
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    What was the original speaker in a 1973 DR?

    Reply
  • August 26, 2016 at 11:22 pm
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    I have a deluxe reverb w/ numbers on transformer 606-828. What does that mean

    Reply
    • November 29, 2016 at 10:17 pm
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      Hi Jason. 606 means it’s a fender original transformer and 8-28 means 8th year, 28th week. So if it’s silverface it can be 1968 or 1978. I think a 1969 would have a silver border around the grill cloth known as the drip edge.

      Reply
  • November 29, 2016 at 10:18 pm
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    Sorry *1968, not 1969 in my previous comment

    Reply
  • September 11, 2017 at 8:20 am
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    Hi
    I have a 71 silverface deluxe reverb with a 6L6 tube chart + tubes.
    Cannot find any info on this as most 6L6 DR I have seen are modified.
    The tube chart is original
    any info would be appreciated.
    thx

    Reply
    • January 22, 2020 at 2:37 pm
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      I call Brian Toma in Tiger Ga. He built me an exact copy of a Deluxe Reverb. His company is TomaTone. Pretty low key but superb knowledge

      Reply
  • February 23, 2019 at 5:13 pm
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    I’m the proud owner/user of a 1971 DR. I had 2 late 1960s- early 70s JBL D110Fs laying idle, so I decided to use them in the DR. I built and covered a 2×10 baffle, and installed the D110Fs. The difference in tone was amazing: bigger lows that are tightly focused and broad, mids that are replete with the famous JBL punch, and crystalline, shimmering highs that only Fender can provide. Enthralled as I was, I knew I was not done. I added a SS rectifier, JJ 6L6s and a rebias and presto! I have a mini Twin. Since I play clean about 95% of the time, this little monster is just about perfect. The 6L6s add about 8-10 watts output, which is not enough to make the amp sound a whole lot louder, but it does provide clean headroom that is markedly increased.

    Reply
  • January 3, 2021 at 12:58 pm
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    I’m looking at purchasing a ‘91 DR. It’s a silverface, but I’ve not been able to find info about whether the 2 channels are like the new DRs, ie a Custom and a Vintage channel.
    Anyone have a good link or knowledge on the DR tonestacks from 90s?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  • January 27, 2021 at 3:05 pm
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    I have a 1968 Deluxe Reverb. There is a label on the back of the speaker, underneath the (peeling off) blue Fender label, that says on three lines: 023028, 465-749, 12K5-12.

    I don’t know that the first line is, but the second number (465) means Oxford speaker, and 749 means it was made in the 49th month of the year 1967. The last line is the model number. I’m familiar with the 12K5-6 model, but not the 12K5-12 model.

    Does anyone know what the number after the hyphen in the third line means?

    Reply
  • February 12, 2022 at 11:42 pm
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    I noticed with the SFDR volume boost schemati, c the standby switch is after the reservoir caps instead of before (as with earlier schematics). This seems like it would put a lot of stress on the rectifier tube. Is this something that needs to be addressed? Or is it not a big deal?

    Reply

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