Fender 1959-1960 Tweed Deluxe Amplifier Demo

[luther357]

I had one of these in the early 80's and despised it for not being a nice new GK. It rotted away in my mother's garage until someone got it in a garage sale (for $25).

I despise myself now.

[spankystrat49]

I agree there is something about the tone that is not quite right

[Putaspellonyou]

sheeat!!! that is sweet sounding.

[salutetheflag]

Hmm I'm a huge fender amp fan -- something about this amp I dont like. too muddy maybe?

[124slowhand]

I have the best 59 in the world. Lots of headroom and volume and lots of high. I dont know why, but it sounds different than all these. very clear also. I mike the shit out of it and put it in the monitors. all of my other amps are collecting dust. the first night i took it too the gig, everyone went whoa and my twin came off the stage, never to get on again. forget supers, blackface deluxes, this amp is the shit

[davec3487]

@124slowhand Please post a demo.

[slpplexi1969]

@124slowhand There's either a microphone or there isn't. You can't "mike the shit out of it".

[124slowhand]

I own a beat up 60 with a celestion. Oh my god, since I got it, 3 months ago, all my other amps, including a new Richter, are for sale. The kits and reissues do NOT EVEN COME CLOSE!!! Ive owned over 70 amps, mostly fenders, this is my first tweed, been playing 43 years, I used to be great, but with this amp, i am even better. INSPIRATION

[MrGodam29]

i justr lookd at victorias evrybody said oh thats the best sound,these sound ALOT better on distortion and just as good on clean ...a much better guitar tone from old fenders 50,s models.

[BuryMeDown]

i've got a question. last week i bought my first vintage amp. a 1959 Fender 5E3 Deluxe Tweed. but int it theres now a new JBL speaker. is this good or should i search for an old original speaker? please answer cause i want to have for this money the best sound i can get

thx and greetings from germany

[Dendrite55]

@BuryMeDown > It will be hard to locate an original cone/ date correct Jensen P12R. If you find one buy it and put it aside- if you sell the amp that will be a desirable feature and increase resale value. I have a 1955 Gibson with an original P12R. Do not gig with an original speaker in your vintage amps. I like Weber P12N or Celestion Alnico Blue with my home buit 5E3. JBL is fine but you probably will not get much speaker break up. That can be good or bad depending on your taste.

[snorrevonflake]

that is thee definitve tweed deluxe sound, i have never heard a demo of any reissue, not even from the most expensive "boutique" makers that comes even close to this - most sound just terribly bright and harsh. wonder whats the reason - i dont really believe in any mysteriously aged components - maybe the speaker is the main reason why it sounds like that. nice that you did not delete this video after selling the amp.

[shootinggypsy]

Nice playing, man, especially the jazz chords at the end.

[StangLX718]

Sweet amp!

How does this sound compared to a Deluxe Reverb?

[sangandongo]

one sounds like it has reverb.

[richardg1968]

sounds awesome

[strawwoodclaw]

Sweet!

[wjombat]

I'll take 7 of them. Do you find the flip-flops add to the tone.

[colejoshrocks]

My friends' sounds exactly like Steely Dans Reeling in the years intro.

[Rastafire589]

how much would it cost to buy a vintage deluxe amp from 56-59? I'm looking to buy my first vintage amp

[retroaficionado]

If you can find one of these for less than $2500 in good condition with all original parts, BUY it. No one is selling them right now. If you want something more affordable, Blackface Bass Man heads are some of the most undervalued amps in the entire market. You can get a good one for $600-$700. This is a steal.

[Rastafire589]

Really, I didn't know that wow thanks alot!

[silvermediastudio]

@Rastafire589 If you're still looking, check out a company called ValveTrain. They make some great hand wired tube amps that compare to the vintage Fenders and are a bit more affordable. Awesome tone and (I think) they're just as attractive.

[Rastafire589]

@silvermediastudio Thanks man, I'll definitely check them out =).

[LarryRickenbacker]

Gosh, but there's not much treble..

[MrGodam29]

@LarryRickenbacker it does need more trebel

[ledzepacbasslyn423]

a couple of questions is it loud enough to gig with and what do you like about it

[retroaficionado]

Any amp is loud enough to gig with when Mic'd, but yes these are loud enough for most sorts of music. Neil Young's last tour featured 2 of these amps with 2 mics on them. The 6v6 tweed deluxes have a very "Huge vintage Marshall Plexi" stack sound when they are turned all the way up but without having to own a huge and heavy Plexi turned to 11.

[stymye]

here's a great investment...lessons

[retroaficionado]

Sorry I currently have 28 students that I teach when I am not on tour, but I do have a waiting list if you want to sign up.

[andrewlikesguitar]

hahaha i love your response.

[darwinator12932112]

tone is amazing

[skydog46]

Sounds great...dont play clean out of that amp!!!

[guitarcapo]

Clapton used a tweed CHAMP to record Layla...not a Deluxe. Totally different amp

[MarcoZucchi81]

Hello. Could you tell me the guitar you' re using? You know, that' s my favourite amp... I' m buying a replica and I have a Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, a semiacoustic with 2 humbuckers.

[retroaficionado]

I am using a 1990 Heritage 535 Almondburst. It has Schaller PAF copy pickups in it. Basically a hand made 1960's 335. This amp in particular was a real firebreather, I think because of the values changing over time with the caps leaking a bit. The Transformers were original. The Speaker was a later grey painted Anico from the 60's that probably came out of an organ.

[PatToscano]

nice amp ! warm and deep. I got a 57 Tremolux, same amp with a trem. Sounds good too.

[bigfatjoeman]

You are rubbish at playing guitar.

[gergface21]

jealous?

[javiceres]

LOL!!

[Joeman3438]

you are rubbish at speaking english

[johnlespaulstrat]

did you run it straight to the amp or did you use pedals?

[retroaficionado]

I just used the volume knobs on the amp and guitar, the amp is run straight out no effects. The way all the old time players got distortion and tone would be to crank the amp up to it's saturation point and then use the guitar's volume knobs and natural difference between the neck and bridge pickups to get the sounds they want. When you have an amp under 50 watts this is a possible thing to do.

[johnlespaulstrat]

good. Because you'd be wasting that amp by using pedals.

[surfbop]

Cool to see this vid still up. I own this amp. I put in NOS tung sols 6v6's and the NOS mazdas 12ax7's,NOS 5y3gt. I replaced the speaker w/ a celestion blue and this is one great sounding amp. I mostly play teles and it has that great keith tweed tone. Everyone that hears it is blown away. Some amps are just special and this is one.

[guitarcapo]

Hums a bit. It might need new filter capacitors

[retroaficionado]

Not the amp, single coil p-90 and the electrical outlet in a kitchen.

[mattchoo87]

Signal screening and earthing/grounding have come a long way in the best part of half a century. As has DC filter design (8uF caps anyone?)

[jazzlefty]

a litle bit noisy isn"it?

[retroaficionado]

Demo was done in the kitchen as an afterthought, bad grounding in a 1920's historic house.

These amps are usually pretty quiet, but all of these will hum when you dime them.

[spittingflames12]

cool

[jtomrx]

Great Blues Tone! Were these ORIGINAL Tweed Deluxes fitted with 6v6 or 6L6's. Thanks john

[retroaficionado]

All original "Fender Deluxe amps" and "Deluxe Reverb" were fitted with a pair of 6V6 tubes, and a 5y3 rectifier, with 12ax7 tubes in the preamps.

[jxmxfxpx]

These 5E3 amps originally had a 12AY7 in the preamp and a 12ax7 PI tube.

[retroaficionado]

Ah I am incorrect, any amps on or before 1954 that were "Deluxe" models and were 5B3 circuits had 6sc7 tubes in the preamp. I actually still own a 1954 5C3 circuit model that was a transitional one, from the factory with 12ax7 style tubes (subable with 12AT7 or 12AY7) and appropriate sockets, but some of the wiring and incorrect caps from the 5B3 circuit. I had it converted to a 5D3 circuit, which I favor over 5E3. Just a personal preference.

[StanzTheManz]

"Tweed" and "Blackface" Fender amps are very sought after amps as their tone is very desirable. The Hot Rod Deluxe and Deville are modern day amps mass produced and marketed to take advantage of those glory days. They are ok amps, don't get me wrong, but not the same by any stretch of the imagination.

[StanzTheManz]

Uh, a Deville is made on PCB, propably in Mexice, and Leo Fender had nothing to do with it production, and was built in the 90's.

A Fender tweed = 1955 - 1960

A Fender Blackface (or pre-CBS) 1960 - 1965

(last amps that Leo Fender made before selling Fender)

A Fender Silverface 1965 - 1974 or so.

[XCaptainJohnnyX]

Acctually the blackface amps started in about '64. 61-64 were the brown and blond amps.

[danguini]

Thanks, I read that Duane->Silverface Champ, EC->Tweed Champ!

[danguini]

LOVED IT!!!!  MORE MORE MORE!!! ps. did Duane play tweeds??? Is that what is one the Layla album?

[retroaficionado]

Yes, Clapton and Duane both had little Fender Tweed amps set up on top of a baby grand piano in the studio and cut the tracks together in that manner. Keep in mind that, at the time, these amps could be had in a pawn shop for $50 or less. Back then you could also get a Les Paul TV Yellow Junior for $100 in a pawn shop well into the 80's... or at least, that's what all the old timers tell me.

[freedomman121]

They used tweed Champs on that album. Clapton used tweed Champs quite a bit.

[heartofsoul]

Sounds Great! There is nothing like original Tweed tone. Thx. -K

[heartofsoul]

Stock P12R ? Thx, -K

[retroaficionado]

This actually had an old Alnico replacement speaker in it, dated from the 60's grey paint, no specific logo. It may have come out of a parted out Hammond.

[jeffers1234562]

which pre amp tubes do you use(brand)? I also want that kind of tone on my fender  blues deluxe reissue.

[retroaficionado]

NOS RCA 5y3gt (usa)

NOS Mazda 12ax7 greyplates (french)

NOS RCA 6v6 JAN Blackplates (USA)

But unfortunately due to the caps and wiring of your amp it will not sound like this one.

[jeffers1234562]

alright thanks mate. Do you ,by any chance know a kind of tubes(brand) that will make my amp a little more "crunchy" and more vintage.

Thanks already

[plechatam]

sell it..

[mattofatto]

sounds shitty to me

[retroaficionado]

To each their own. I think I am going to take the word of Claption, Duane Allman, Keith Richards and pro studios over your opinion though. This amp sold for $3000.

[eddible239]

whats the difference between the deluxe and deville. cuz i gota 1958 deville 4x10 and would love to know i could get the kinda money for it

[qgallen]

fender didn't start making deville's until the 90's. so its not a 1958

[eddible239]

that suckss so much fucking ass the site i got it from is wrong i typed it in on three diff times and it said 58.. w.e. its stil a dec amp

[HendrixClaptonSRV]

dude are you serious lol? it sounds pretty good

[opdev]

your an idiot that's why

[retroaficionado]

Tubes in this amp were as follows.

NOS RCA 5y3gt (usa)

NOS Mazda 12ax7 greyplates (french)

NOS RCA 6v6 JAN Blackplates (USA)

Had a couple questions about that.

[retroaficionado]

This item has been sold. I am going to be listing various videos of gear before I sell it, so there is an online reference for some of these rare pieces that normally you would never get to hear. The next ones will be a Supro Taurus amp, and a 1968 Dove Gibson Acoustic.