It’s no secret that guitars are one of the world’s most loved and widely played musical instruments. From their versatility and affordability, there could be many reasons why they are so popular among musicians. They could be used to play any genre, even if the song does not have any guitar parts.
If you are a guitarist, you’d know the importance of guitar amps. Whether you are looking to play guitar in a jamming session or have to perform in an auditorium, you cannot go wrong with a guitar amp.
Guitar amps are the tools that take your sound up a notch by strengthening the weak signals. Every guitar needs an amplifier to amplify the tunes for speakers for more clarity and detailed sound.
However, to enjoy the best playing experience, you have to choose the suitable guitar amp for your guitar. Of course, not every guitar amp is to be trusted, and some cheap ones can completely ruin your tone.
Talking about guitar amps, one cannot just leave Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb behind. Manufactured by Fenders, these are the two most sought-after guitar amps on the market.
They have been in use for a long time now and have staked their claim on the hearts of millions of guitarists all over the world. With that out of the way, if you are a guitarist, you may go through a dilemma while choosing one for your guitar.
In this article, we intend to compare the Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb guitar amps so you can make the right decision as per your needs. Let’s begin with the Twin Reverb guitar amp.
Twin Reverb vs Deluxe Reverb Comparison
As it turns out, Deluxe Reverb and Twin Reverb have lots of similarities.
| Features | Deluxe Reverb | Twin Reverb |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage | 120V | 120V |
| Channels | Two | Two |
| Input | Four | Four |
| Total Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Speakers | One, 12” Jensen | Two, 12” Jensen |
| Power Tubes | 2 x 6V6 | 4 x 6V6 |
Twin Reverb
Twin Reverb is unarguably one of the most widely used guitar amps prized by millions of guitarists. It first got popular in the 60s when it took the music industry by storm. It holds the same popularity even today.
It is very versatile and could be used for anything, be it recording, composing, or concerts. Of course, there is a reason why it has survived decades in the market.
The Twin Reverb is an 85-watt guitar amp that comes with dual 12 “Jensen C-12K speakers, dual channels (normal and vibrato), and tilt-back legs. Now, let’s talk about the two different channels of Twin Reverb.
On the normal channel, things are pretty straightforward. It has high and low inputs, a bright switch (which helps you bring your tone forward at low volumes), volume, and three-band EQ, i.e., treble, middle, and bass.
Since Twin Reverb is set up to vintage specs, you do not get the reverb vibrato on the normal channel. However, it’s a great choice if you are running pedals.
Now coming to the vibrato channel, you get more options on this channel. It is the same setup for the inputs, you get the bright switch, the volume, and the EQ, but you also get reverb and vibrato in this channel.
As far as its construction is concerned, the Twin Reverb is a well-designed guitar amp. It is manufactured in California, USA.
It comes with a timeless design that combines contemporary and a bit older aesthetics, making it the right choice for any studio, stage, or even cafe. Its design keeps it safe from dust, and you will not have to clean it often.
The Twin Reverb is quite cumbersome as it weighs 72 kg. Some users also call it a “backbreaker,” and rightly so. If you are to travel with your guitar, this guitar amp could be a pain to carry around.
Deluxe Reverb
Now talking about the Deluxe Reverb guitar amp, it is another excellent guitar amp that has stood the test of time. It has been around for decades and has been used to play all genres, be it blues, jazz, or any other genre. You name it; the Deluxe Reverb can play it.
The Deluxe Reverb guitar amp uses 22 watts of power output to deliver incredibly clear sound. You can take that all the way down to 0.2 watts. Apart from 22 watts, its attenuation has five positions, and you can choose between the full 12 watts, 5 watts, 1 watts, 0.5 watts, and 0.2 watts.
If you want to practice guitar at home but are afraid of grumpy neighbors, these attenuations come in handy. You can attenuate the Deluxe reverb, and it will keep you on good terms with your neighbors.
With a lower level, the sound will be hardly audible outside the room where you are playing guitar.
As for its specifications, the Deluxe Reverb has one 12-inch speaker and two separate channels for normal and vibrato modes, as we see in the Twin Reverb guitar amp.
Each channel has six-decibel pads on them. It features a built-in tube reverb and a vibrato effect that you can kick on with a footswitch.
The layout of the panel looks pretty much the same as Twin Reverb. In a normal channel, you have treble, volume, and bass options. On the other hand, you get high and low inputs, volume, treble, bass, and the reverb and vibrato controls.
The vibrato and reverb sounds look great, but you can get plenty of different sounds as well. When you crank it to ten, you will find that the Deluxe Reverb has a remarkable natural overdrive, making it a perfect choice for blues-rock tones.
The Deluxe Reverb has a pretty simple look to it. Fenders hasn’t overdone anything, and the guitarists love how it looks and how it feels.
When it comes to performance, the Deluxe Reverb is as good as anything. It comes with quad-core processing power to replicate the sounds. The convolution reverb is thorough, ensuring that the spring reverb sounds right.
The Deluxe Reverb uses Class-D power to replicate the power of a tube amp. As a cherry on the cake, it also gives you the flexibility to try fun things. You can rest assured that the guitar will only lower the volume and retain the same tone.
The Deluxe Reverb features an XLR line output with two impulse response cabinet solutions. It gives you the luxury of setting up the guitar amp, so you do not experience any emulation.
Playing the Deluxe Reverb at lower levels is quite clean. But it is around five when you start getting the natural overdrive. And yes, if you choose higher volumes, you will have to back off on the bass, so it cuts better. The original ones had a feature to help you play clean for articulation.
However, the newer models tend to subside a bit as you turn up the volume. So, if you are into overdrives, know that it works well once you get past about five or so.
Like the original models, the tone is a bit darker on the normal channel since you do not have a bright cap. Depending on your guitar and pedals, it may work well for you.
The Deluxe Reverb guitar amp weighs 42 kgs, which is quite manageable. It is an excellent option for traveling, and carrying it won’t be an issue for most users.
I respect Fender amps pertaining their place in history. From 1948 to present. I love the SRV tone. Only tubs will get you there. Same with Marshall. But the cost is way out there. The Fender Champion 100 is very nice if on a budget. You get authentic famous looks as well. For solid state you cant beat it! Pravey does well, but with Fender you get the famous looks plus ability to sound good at low volume and have mega watts on standby gor a gig and easy to cary. Tube amps are high matainance and do not sound good unless cranked half way or plus.