'68 Custom Pro Reverb 1x12" 40-watt Tube Combo Amp Review

Speaker issues

Got mine from my local gc. When playing at home, I noticed what sounded like rattle when playing a low F & F#. I plugged the amp into my tweed deluxe speaker and no rattle. I plugged the tweed into the neo creamback and the rattle was back. Listening closer, it was a fizzy speaker. So back it went. They ordered me a new one and the new one had the same issue. I really liked… read more the idea of a 35lb, 6L6 40w combo - it checked all the boxes. I returned the second one and ordered one last try. I guess third time is the charm and the speaker fizz disappeared. I probably stumbled on a bad batch of speakers from celestion. Fast forward past the return window and I wasn't really bonding with it like I had hoped. I was on the verge of trading it back in when I received a promo email from Weber speakers offering 10% off. I've never tried Webers before but I've always heard good things. I pulled the trigger on a 12F150 50w. They custom make each speaker and they offer to break it in before shipping - which I gladly opted for as I didn't want to wait to hear what it's supposed to sound like. Two weeks later and it arrived. It barely fits behind a metal surround in the speaker but indeed it did fit. WOW, what a difference! This amp now sounds beautiful! Very soulful and dynamic. It is warmer than the stock celestion, and the tone controls affect the tone way more than before. I have the bass on 6, mid on 5 and treble on 4 at the moment. I could never dial in this tone on the old speaker. I emailed Weber and asked about whether I was risking blowing the 50w speaker with the 40w amp, and what i could do to ensure I didn't blow it, they said they conservatively rate their speakers and i shouldn't have an issue as long I wasn't running it loud with a bunch of distortion for an extended period of time. It did add almost 4 pounds to the weight, but it's still lighter than a deluxe. So it's no longer a surprise each time I pick it up but it still isn't a back breaker. IMO, the only reason for the neo is the 4lb weight saving. It just doesn't sound good in this amp. I had traded in a Princeton with a 12in Jensen alnico for this. I had swapped that out for an alnico blue, and before that I had a blackface deluxe with a Jensen c12n. This combo blows those away now.

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Excellent Amp

I went into the Sweetwater store to try out a couple of Mesa combos, and walked out with this Fender Pro Reverb! Absolutely blew me away. If you want a Deluxe but need more headroom, and don't want to go with a Twin, I'd highly recommend this amp. It's very light weight, takes pedals very well, and 40 Watts gives me the headroom I need. I'm on and off the road frequently and in… read more long tracking session and rehearsals on the regular, and it has proven to be up to the task. Handles everything I've thrown at it.

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Love!

Just got this amp and already thinking I might not need my Maz 18 anymore. This amp bleeds classic Fender tone with my telecaster. Tons of clean headroom and works amazingly with a Green Rhino to get my Mike Campbell on. Gear geeking is an illness, but I could see myself keeping this amp forever.

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Exceeds my expectations

Bought my first Fender Pro Reverb amp about 4.5 decades ago. Nice silver face, but with 2 twelves and large cab, much too heavy. NOW, Fender has the right combination of power, sufficient clean headroom, frequency response and light weight! Using it mostly for pedal steel and a little bit of Tele. Loving that great Fender tube sound. Surprisinly strong down in the lowest ranges… read more of my pedal steel. Must have something to do with the Celestion cream back speaker. I like it a lot.

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Fender Pro Reverb

I love this amp! Bought it as a backup for my Fender Twin Reverb. Now the Twin has become the backup! Great sound and feel! I run my King of Tone into the Pro Reverb and it sings! Lots of volume and headroom. Also at 35 pounds you aren't going to break your back. So glad that I pulled the trigger on this one!

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