Would you pay $300 more for '68 SF Deluxe vs. a '70's model?

[Custom Deluxe]

As the title states, would you pay more (say $300-$400 more) for a '68 SFDR with a new Weber 12A alnico speaker vs. a '70's version w/ stock Fender speaker?

Assume amps are in excellent working condition.

[TeleV]

Unless the 70's sounded way better, yes I would pay more and it appears most people do as well: http://codekinesis.mine.nu/price/list_history

What year is the 70's model?

[Stuco]

It depends if you're wanting an investment or not. Both would be an investment but you get what I'm saying.

[skeksis]

yeah, I'd pay the premium for a '68. I'd want to know what it sounded like - but with the given info I'd say yeah, it'd be worth an extra $300 to me.

[endzone]

Considering the prices of both amps were reasonable and within a decent price range, I'd say paying only $300 more for the '68 would be a bargain and well worth the price.

[Tim Armstrong]

I don't have money to throw at vintage gear just because it's vintage gear, so nope, given two otherwise similar Deluxe Reverb amps, I'd buy the less expensive one!

Tim

[imsilly]

I'd buy the one that sounded best.

I'd also demand that I paid the same for both amps because I love to haggle. I'd be like, "I love the amp, but there is some other guys offering me the same SF Deluxe Reverb for $300 less!" Then see how close I could get the amps in price. I think it's the buyer's duty to try and get the price as low as possible and the seller's to get the highest price they can. In the end reaching a happy medium. I would be worried about trying to get the best amp for the lowest price.

Generally I think I'd pay a premium for nice Blackface amp if only because of their collectiblity. They just have an inherent extra value to them for whatever reason. There are very little differences between all generations of the Deluxe Reverb. So I'd be more reluctant to add a massive wad just for a drip edge. Even though there are differences you might argue none significant enough to justify a massive difference in price.

I looked for a decent Deluxe Reverb for a while and ended up with a 1972 Silverface which had been modded back to Blackface specs with an old power transformer and GZ34 rectifier. I felt that I was getting good value for money and a great sounding amp. I didn't put much consideration to whether it was Blackface, Drip edge or any other form. Only if I was buying to sell would I think about that and I'd still try to get it for as cheap as possible.

[romiso]

I'd definitely pay extra for the '68 if it had the drip edge design -- I'm a sucker for early SF amps with the drip edge.

[Custom Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I don't have money to throw at vintage gear just because it's vintage gear, so nope, given two otherwise similar Deluxe Reverb amps, I'd buy the less expensive one!

Tim

Tim:

I here you on that. The deal is this amp will be my last (well, for a while at least). I sold '66 DR and have have had sellers remorse ever since.

I need a DR in my life. That will be it for sometime.

CD aka Tim

[Singin' Dave]

Originally Posted by TeleV

Unless the 70's sounded way better, yes I would pay more and it appears most people do as well: http://codekinesis.mine.nu/price/list_history

What year is the 70's model?

+1

[Custom Deluxe]

Originally Posted by TeleV

Unless the 70's sounded way better, yes I would pay more and it appears most people do as well: http://codekinesis.mine.nu/price/list_history

What year is the 70's model?

The '70's models have ranged from '70-'79. From $1,400 for minty clean to $900 for '80's minty clean.

I like my gear to be nice and I'd pay a premium for nice stuff.

[Wally]

IF the '68 were an early '68 with the BF circuit...meaning that it runs the GZ34 rectifier....and both were holding original trannies...then yes to the '68. IF the '70's has the velcro-attached grille board, then double yes. The absence of the original speaker in that '68 does hurt the value some if indeed the rest of the amp is orignal.
IF the '68 doesn't have cloth-covered wiring, then I might think the amps are equal. Withotu the cloth-covered wiring, then the '68 is the later circuit...that is, it is identical to the '70's amp for all purposes....except for the cab, right? That velcro grille board doesn't excite me at all.

[Custom Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Wally

IF the '68 were an early '68 with the BF circuit...meaning that it runs the GZ34 rectifier....and both were holding original trannies...then yes to the '68. IF the '70's has the velcro-attached grille board, then double yes. The absence of the original speaker in that '68 does hurt the value some if indeed the rest of the amp is orignal.
IF the '68 doesn't have cloth-covered wiring, then I might think the amps are equal. Withotu the cloth-covered wiring, then the '68 is the later circuit...that is, it is identical to the '70's amp for all purposes....except for the cab, right? That velcro grille board doesn't excite me at all.

Wally- The 70 does have the velcro board. Should I be aware of issues with this?

[Ringo]

The later SF amps have a glued in MDF(particle board)speaker baffle board with a seperate grill cloth board that is attached with velcro.
Some folks think the "floating" speaker baffle on the earlier amps sounds better.
I'm personally not convinced, I had a 68 DR for years, the baffle on that amp was also particle board, just like the later glued in baffles. Lot's of newer amps have glued in baffle boards and they sound fine to me.

I'm also of the opinion that if possible you should play them both and see which one YOU like better.

Speakers are an easy upgrade in a DR and can make as much difference or more than other mods. I had a 80 watt ceramic magnet Celestion in my 68 DR and it sounded great, better than any other speaker I tried in that amp, big and full and good clean and OD tones.

A lot of the later SF Deluxe Reverbs that I've heard seem to have more clean headroom than the BF early SF DRs.
Which may or may NOT be what you want. If you want to play clean at louder volume then it's a good thing, if you want to play blues / R&R and want the amp to break up earlier then you may prefer the 68 with an alnico speaker.
You can't really go wrong either way, they are both great amps , easy to work on and both should sound great.

[crossroader]

Assuming the sound and condition of both amps are about equal, yes, I'd pay the premium.

But I'm slightly biased because (a) I love that drip-edge look, and (2) I own a '68 DR that I absolutely love.

[tomfarnan]

Originally Posted by Singin' Dave

+1

+2 ... I bought a '70s Vibrolux and didn't like it much at all. When I plugged into a '66 there was a massive difference in tone - I loved it. To me the blackface circuits are the absolute epitome of their type, their tone and the way they react to playing through them is just so good that it's worth paying for.

[don jon]

Nope.

Do you want a collector's item to keep in your museum, or do you want an amp to play guitar through? Both are going to be just as collectible as time passes and technology changes. For my purposes the $300 difference isn't worth it unless the 70's model just doesn't sound as good.

[Wally]

It isn't the baffleboard that bothers me about those '70's cab, Custom Deluxe. I don't like the velcro attached grille board. They tend to get to the point where the velcro doesn't maintain its grip and the grille board will create vibrationallly induced noise......adn they look sloppy when they are hanging loose. The wiring in that amp is also the less-desired plastic coated wire with a different lead dress. IF the '68 is cloth covered wiring and dressed in the manner of the BF amps, I would find it much preferable. Others mileage may vary.....

[Custom Deluxe]

Wally:

Got it. Makes sense. Thanks. I think I'm actually going one smaller with a BF Princeton Reverb.

[Ramblin Ray]

So, when did Fender stop using finger joined solid pine cabinets?