Fender Deluxe 6G3 Model Tube Amplifier (1961), made in Fullerton, California, serial # D0363, brown tolex covering finish.
This "brown" Deluxe is a super clean and VERY early example of this classic Fender amp. It dates to the dawn of the '60s, a period which saw a major revamp of both aesthetic and sonic design introducing the "modern" amplifier styles still de rigeur today. The new features included slanted front-facing control panels, new Tolex-covered cabinetry and a plethora of new models for the start of the soon-to-become iconic decade for Fender.
The new brown-panel 6G3 Deluxe picked up where the tweed 5E3 Deluxe left off, though the new circuit is quite a departure from the 1950s classic. It features a two channels with entirely independent controls for volume and tone, as well as a bias-vary tremolo. The new power section was fixed-bias and used a GZ34 rectifier, resulting in overall more headroom, volume and a tighter feel and response; the classic '60s sound. The preamp has comparatively more gain and offers more saturation and compression when pushed, while maintaining plenty of headroom for the dual-6V6 amp category. The 6G3 puts out around 15-18W into a 12" speaker. These brown amps are sonically unique, and we feel were underappreciated for decades.
Height is 17 in. (43.2 cm.), 20 3/4 in. (52.7 cm.) width, and 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm.) .
This amp is in very fine original condition with relatively little wear anywhere. The tube chart code appears to have been preserved with a plastic covering, glued to the inside bottom of the cabinet. There's no visible stamp, however the amps low serial number of D0363 indicates it as one of the first 400 ever made. The brown Tolex covering is in pristine shape with hardly any wear; there are a couple of small pinholes in the tolex on the right of the pilot light from something long ago. The control panel looks stellar as well. The grillcloth is in great shape with no tears or disfiguration and the handle appears original with all the surrounding hardware and chassis straps free of any corrosion or major blemishes.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. The speaker is a period-correct Fender-branded Oxford 12K5-3, marked 465-204, dating it to the 4th week of 1962. It's possible this is a very early replacement, or simply the amp was not shipped until early 1962. Both the Schumacher-made power and output transformers are original and are marked 606-042 and 606-121, dating to the 42nd week of 1960 and the 21st week of 1961, respectively. The amp has received our typical servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic caps, a 3-prong grounded power cord installed, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and biased to spec.
This is a superb example of this great-sounding Fender, far better preserved than most. Loud enough for most modern gigging situations but small enough for recording purposes, the brown Deluxe has a real signature sound with a smooth overdrive curve suitable to many applications. One of the shop favorites here, and about the nicest we have had. Excellent Condition.
