The TC Electronic Combo Deluxe '65 is a twin-channel digital preamp pedal that models a 1965 Blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb tube amp. TC Electronic describes it as faithfully recreating the sound of that amp in a pedal, using the company's AMPWORX modeling technology, with independent channel controls, an integrated modeled spring reverb, optional cab simulation, and dedicated DI and headphone outputs12. It is one of TC Electronic's AmpWorx Vintage Series pedals, each based on an amp from 19653.
Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen described it plainly: "the Combo Deluxe 65' is based on a black-panel Fender Deluxe Reverb," with a speaker emulation modeled on a Celestion 12-inch G12M Creamback3. Pedal of the Day called it "a true-to-life digital simulation of a 1965 Blackface Fender Reverb Deluxe combo amplifier"4.
A '65 Deluxe Reverb preamp in a pedal
The pedal is part of TC Electronic's AmpWorx Vintage Series, announced in June 2023 alongside the DC30 and JIMS 45, each emulating a vintage '60s tube amp; the Combo Deluxe '65 takes a black panel Fender Deluxe Reverb as its model5. Guitar World's news coverage noted the series' period detail, with "witch's hat" control knobs on the Combo Deluxe '65, matching the style of the original amp's knobs5.
The two channels follow the original amp's layout. Pedal of the Day explains that the green channel and red channel are modeled after the Normal and Vibrato channels of the original Reverb Deluxe4. TC Electronic says the green channel is the normal clean channel, while the red channel has more gain and a slightly different voicing1.
The controls
The control panel mirrors the amp, with a few additions the original never had341:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the input gain of the selected channel36 |
| Level | Sets the output level36 |
| Treble | High-frequency tone36 |
| Bass | Low-frequency tone36 |
| Middle | Midrange tone; the original 1965 amp had no middle knob, though later revisions added one13 |
| Reverb | Sets the amount of modeled spring reverb36 |
| Reverb Tone | A tone control for the reverb, not present on the original amp; at 12 o'clock it gives the original tone1 |
| Bright switch | Adds a sonic edge to cut through the mix14 |
| Reverb footswitch | Engages the spring reverb36 |
| Channel footswitch | Switches between the green and red channels36 |
The Middle knob and the Reverb Tone control are both additions. Guitar World's reviewer noted "The Combo Deluxe 65' features a Mid knob, which the original never had"3, and TC Electronic explains the Reverb Tone control was added because it "was not on the original amp," with the 12 o'clock position giving the original tone1.
Outputs and cab simulation
The pedal offers three audio outputs plus USB, and the cab simulation is applied selectively rather than globally13:
- OUT jack: no cab sim. TC Electronic says this is useful for going to a combo or an amp with a cab, or when inserting into an amplifier's effects loop1.
- DI output: includes the cab sim, ideal for going directly to a PA system or recording through an audio interface1.
- HEADPHONES jack: includes the cab sim for silent rehearsal1.
The cab simulation itself is an official Celestion Creamback speaker impulse response, which TC Electronic chose to integrate into the pedal1. Guitar World identifies the modeled speaker as a Celestion 12-inch G12M Creamback3.
Power: 9V, 300mA
The pedal runs on a 9V DC center-negative supply drawing 300mA, and the adaptor is not supplied23.
At 300mA, this pedal draws more current than most analog stompboxes, so plan a power supply with adequate headroom and avoid underpowered daisy-chain taps.
The spring reverb model
The reverb is a digital recreation of the original amp's spring tank. The 1965 Deluxe Reverb used a dual-spring GIBBS tank embedded in a tube-based transformer circuit to generate its reverb1. For the pedal, TC Electronic says it "took the very same original GIBBS unit and extracted a high-resolution 4-second impulse response, using a zero-latency convolution engine" with detailed circuit modeling1.
MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described it as "a four-second convolution reverb algorithm that is engineered to give you the sort of spring reverb splash found on a vintage Black Panel combo amp"7. Gearnews noted the reverb should give "those classic Fender spring reverb tones, though this one is a digital recreation"8.
Bypass and channel switching
Out of the box, the pedal is in always-on Dual Channel mode, with the two footswitches selecting channels and reverb1. Pressing REVERB and CHANNEL at the same time switches to Bypass mode, where the pedal works as a stompbox, using whichever channel was selected in Dual Channel mode1. Guitar World lists the bypass as buffered3.
Videos
TC Electronic
Mike Hermans
Pedalboards of Doom and Jason Wharton
Questions
Does the Combo Deluxe '65 have cab simulation on every output?
No. The DI output and the headphones jack both include the cab simulation, an official Celestion Creamback impulse response. The standard OUT jack does not include it, which suits running into a real amp or an amplifier's effects loop.
How do you put the Combo Deluxe '65 in bypass mode?
Press the REVERB and CHANNEL footswitches at the same time. The pedal starts in always-on Dual Channel mode; the combined press switches it to Bypass mode, where it works as a stompbox using whichever channel was selected.
Is the TC Electronic Combo Deluxe '65 analog or digital?
It is digital. TC Electronic describes it as digital amp modeling of the 1965 Blackface Deluxe Reverb, built with its AMPWORX modeling technology, including a convolution-based spring reverb and an impulse-response cab simulation.
Can I use the Combo Deluxe '65 in my amp's effects loop?
Yes. TC Electronic says the standard OUT jack omits the cab simulation, which makes it useful for feeding a combo or amp with a cab, or for inserting into an amplifier's effects loop.
Did the original 1965 Deluxe Reverb have a middle knob?
No. TC Electronic notes that no MIDDLE knob was to be found on the original amp in 1965, though later revisions of the amp added one. The pedal includes a Middle control as an added option.
Sources (8)
- COMBO DELUXE 65' PREAMP, TC Electronic
- Combo Deluxe '65 by TC Electronic, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- TC Electronic AmpWorx Series, Guitar World, 2024-11-18
- TC Electronic Ampworx Combo Deluxe 65' Preamp, Pedal of the Day, 2023-12-09
- TC Electronic's first guitar amp modeler pedals package classic Fender, Marshall and Vox tones with Celestion IRs, Guitar World, 2023-06-29
- TC Electronic Ampworx Vintage Series Combo Deluxe 65', DC30, and JIMS 45 preamp pedals review, MusicRadar, 2023-09-19
- TC Electronic is packing the value and guitar amp sounds of the '60s in its Ampworx Vintage Series preamp pedals, MusicRadar, 2023-06-28
- TC Electronic Ampworx Vintage Series: Classic '60s amps in a pedal, gearnews.com, 2023-06-28
