The Silverface Sound, Hot-Rodded
There's a reason the late-'60s Fender silverface amps have held onto their reputation for decades. That silver-and-turquoise panel, the aluminum drip-edge grille trim, the blue jewel pilot light — and behind all of it, a touch-sensitive, harmonically rich tube circuit that players keep coming back to. The '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb isn't a straight reissue of that era. It's something more interesting: a tribute that takes the best of the original and sharpens it for the way people actually play today.
At 22 watts through a 1x12" cabinet, it sits in that sweet spot where you can push the amp into natural overdrive at volumes that won't clear a rehearsal room. Two channels give you two genuinely different voices, and both have access to the onboard tube-driven reverb and tremolo — something the original '68 Deluxe Reverb couldn't offer. Whether you're looking for clean Fender shimmer or something with more bark and bite, this amp has a lane for you.
If you've been wanting a small, giggable tube combo with real vintage character and enough flexibility to work with your pedalboard, the '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb is worth a serious look.
Two Channels, Two Personalities
The Vintage channel is what you'd expect from a classic Deluxe Reverb — traditional silverface tone with that familiar Fender clarity and feel. The Custom channel takes a different path, using a modified Bassman tone stack that pushes the midrange and adds more low-end weight. It responds differently to pedals, too, making it a strong platform for players who run a lot of dirt or boost in front of the amp.
On both channels, you get access to the full tube-driven spring reverb and tremolo circuits — a meaningful upgrade over the original design. Dial in a little reverb on the Custom channel with a light overdrive pedal in front and you've got a setup that covers a lot of ground without ever leaving the amp's menu.
All-Tube Circuit, Built to Feel Right
The '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb runs a full all-tube signal path: four 12AX7 and two 12AT7 preamp tubes, two 6V6 power tubes, and a 5AR4 rectifier. The tube sockets are hand-wired, and the transformers are custom Schumacher units built to the same specs as the originals. That combination contributes to the amp's feel as much as its sound — there's a responsiveness to pick attack and guitar volume that solid-state designs struggle to replicate.
Fender also reduced the negative feedback compared to the original circuit, which means the amp overdrives a little faster and responds more directly to how hard you're playing. Players who use their guitar's volume knob to clean up will appreciate that sensitivity.
Speaker and Aesthetics
Rather than the Jensen speakers associated with classic Deluxe Reverbs, the '68 Custom uses a 12" Celestion G12V-70. It adds articulation in the upper midrange and tightens up the low end compared to the vintage Jensen sound — a slightly more modern, rock-leaning character that pairs well with the amp's hot-rodded voicing.
Visually, Fender nailed the period detail: the black textured vinyl cabinet, silver-turquoise grille cloth, aluminum drip-edge trim, and the skirted control knobs with nickel-plated caps all land exactly where they should. This is one of Fender's more distinctive-looking amps, and it's aged well.
Product Features:
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Output Power: 22 watts
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Amp Format: 1x12" combo
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Amp Type: All-tube
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Channels: 2 — Vintage (traditional silverface voicing) and Custom (modified Bassman tone stack)
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Speaker: 12" Celestion G12V-70
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Preamp Tubes: 4x 12AX7, 2x 12AT7
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Power Tubes: 2x 6V6
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Rectifier: 1x 5AR4 tube rectifier
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Onboard Effects: Tube-driven spring reverb and tremolo (vibrato) — available on both channels
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Transformers: Custom Schumacher, vintage-spec
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Tube Sockets: Hand-wired
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Inputs: Four 1/4" inputs (two per channel)
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Aesthetics: Late-'60s silverface style — silver-turquoise grille cloth, aluminum drip-edge trim, blue jewel pilot light
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Weight: 42 lbs.
Brand: Fender
Model: '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb
SKU: 2274000000
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
