Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb VS 68 (Comparison)
Our pick: The Fender 68 Custom
Everything we like about the 65 Deluxe is present in the 68 Custom. So unless you really want a Jensen speaker instead of Celestion, we recommend going with the 68 Custom and saving a little bit of money.
What are the differences between the Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb and the Fender 68 Custom?
As it turns out, not a ton, but there are a couple things to note.
The second channel is a modified Bassman circuit, giving you two amps in one. The Bassman circuit is a much warmer and heavier sound. Also, there's no bright cap on the 68, while the tremolo and reverb are shared between the two channels.
Thanks to David in the comments section for pointing out these features in the 68.
And there is a price difference between the two, which leads us to recommend the 68 Custom as the better value, assuming we're not talking about the "pro" version which is significantly more expensive.
But in this one-to-one comparison, we like the 68 better, for less money.
Without many tangible differences, save a little money and go with the 68.
Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb VS 68: Comparison Section
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Amp | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb | n/a | |
| Fender 68 Custom | n/a |
Both amplifiers sound appreciably similar. As we expect from Fender, they produce a warm, tube-driven sound with exceptionally good reverb. With a similar set of controls and the exact same tube types in the preamp and power amp, calling out any differences in tone gets into too much hair splitting. In these two demos, the 68 sounds a little brighter with more of searing high end, but we'd blame that on the guitar used in the demo instead of differences with the 65.
Specs Sheet (side-by-side)
The biggest difference we can identify in these two amps is the type of speaker, with a 12 inch Jensen in the 65 and a 12 inch Celestion in the 68. Other differences are essentially non-existent.
Header | 65 | 68 |
|---|---|---|
Typical Retail | $1500.00 | $1300.00 |
Circuit Type | Tube | Tube |
Number of channels | Two channels | Two channels |
Preamp Tubes | 4 x 12AX7, 2 X 12AT7 | 4 x 12AX7, 2 X 12AT7 |
Power Amp Tubes | 2 x 6V6 | 2 x 6V6 |
Tube Brand | Fender | Fender |
Total power | 22W | 22W |
Speaker Brand | Jensen® C12K with Ceramic Magnet | Celestion® G12V-70 |
Speaker Size | 1 x 12" speaker | 1 x 12" speaker |
Effects | Vibrato and reverb | Vibrato and reverb |
EQ | Two-band | Two-band |
Knobs | Volume, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Speed, Intensity | Volume, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Speed, Intensity |
Inputs | 2 x 1/4" instrument (normal channel), 2 x 1/4" instrument (vibrato channel) | 2 x 1/4" (custom), 2 x 1/4" (vintage) |
Outputs | 2 x 1/4" (internal speaker and external jack) | 2 x 1/4" (internal speaker and external jack) |
USB | No | No |
Weight | 42 lbs. | 42 lbs. |
Ideal Music Style | Blues and classic rock | Blues and classic rock |
Ideal Playing Style | Lead | Lead |
Ideal Guitar Pairings | Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, PRS, Grestch | Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, PRS, Grestch |
Ideal Skill Level | Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb VS 68. What are the differences between them? As it turns out, not much.
Summary of Comparison
You can't really complain about either of these amplifiers. And while some of the nuanced differences between the amps might loom larger for some people, the big-ticket items are almost all exactly the same. Tubes, controls, power, even the weight of these two amps all come out the same.
So we'd argue that it makes more sense to go with the cheaper option, where it looks like they've saved a little bit of money on the speaker cab.
Unless, of course, you really like Jensen speakers.
They're nice, sure. But I'm happy with the Celestion cone and a couple hundred extra dollars in my pocket.
Questions and Comments
Do you disagree? Do you think the 65 is worth the additional cost?
If so, leave us some hate mail in the comments section below. We can handle it.
You can also leave questions about these amps there as well.
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You forgot to mention that the reverb and tremolo are shared between the channels on the 68. You can also jump them and make cool sounds. The 68 also has no bright cap and it’s like buying two amps in one as the vintage channel is the deluxe and the custom channel is the bassman.
David, thanks for mentioning this. I added a paragraph in the article and gave you credit.
I just read the review of the ’65 and ’68 Deluxe Reverb amps. You didn’t mention the Custom Channel on the ’68 amp which is supposed to have a Bassman tone stack? Does that make a difference in your opinion?