Up for sale, a 1964 Fender Deluxe Reverb in collector-grade, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original two-button footswitch. The circuit on this first year example is dead stock, right down to a complete vintage tube set featuring RCA and General Electric valves. Operating exactly as Leo Fender intended and given a fresh check-up by our techs here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, this Deluxe Reverb is a true Pre-CBS example. First year features include the "Fender Elect. Inst. Co." faceplate, no logo grill, flat cap on the speaker jack, and Oxford 12K5 speaker without a Fender foil label, hallmarks of the earliest Black Panel Deluxe amps.

Loaded with a bevy of vintage tubes, the amp has a sweet, balanced sound that delivers the top end sparkle and clarity characteristic of the best amps from Fender's Black Panel era. This amp is very responsive to playing dynamics, working as an ideal platform for effects pedals. And while the treble response can cut with the best, there's a smoothness to the top end that keeps the amp from ever sounding harsh. Turning up past 4 on the Volume dial, the amp begins to push into overdrive territory with light compression and plenty of rich, sizzling bark. The Reverb is lush, with long decay, and the Tremolo has a strong pulse with an almost three-dimensional quality to the effect when dialing up the intensity.

The circuit is 100% original, and it cannot be emphasized enough how rare it is to see a fully undisturbed circuit still functioning as intended, even including the main filter caps and bias cap. The blue molded Ajax caps are intact in the preamp (an essential part of the Black Panel sound), and all of the original CTS and Stackpole pots are present, with visible date codes from the 18th and 20th weeks of '64. The Schumacher-made transformers date between late 1963 and early '64. The original two-prong power cable is still present, and a three-prong can be installed at the next owner's discretion for no additional charge.

The speaker is the original Oxford 12K5-6 ceramic magnet driver, and the speaker has been freshly reconed. The date code on the edge of the speaker frame is from the 12th week of '64. The original tube chart is intact, and the "NG" stamp translates to July of '64.

The amp retains its original smooth black tolex and silver sparkle grillcloth on the early no-logo baffle. The enclosure shows only light wear, with all stock hardware present including the corners, handle caps, and sphinx glides (feet). The early Fender "Elect Inst Co" faceplate retains its full complement of witch hat knobs.

The original two-button footswitch is included.