I love my Pro Reverb, and the single 12" Jensen is perfect. I like that it has an effects loop so I can run my pedals through it, and the four-button footswitch is fantastic. I only wish it had a second input on channel two. I paired it with a 4×12 Fender closed-back cab loaded with four Celestion 30s for outdoor gigs — the perfect combination for that situation. The only downside is the weight — it comes in at 75 lbs. Luckily, I don’t usually have to move it since the roadies handle that, but on the rare occasion I do, it’s a pain. Still, you can’t beat it for the money overall. I use it in the studio too, and I’m always able to get the tone I want on the first channel. I just turn it up and use a couple of pedals for a little more volume and time effects, but honestly, it sounds great even kept simple. I’m totally satisfied with it, and I got a super deal because someone didn’t want to lug it around. Mine’s a rare one, in brand-new condition, with casters, a cover, and the four-button footswitch. I feel blessed to have found it, and it was too affordable to pass up — especially since I see them going for three to four times what I paid. If you can lift it, buy it! Ha ha!
Hello from Finland. If you have problems with the reverb, squelch, feedback or noise or screaming… this is a solution which i made to my ptpr. Wrap an old t- shirt around the reverb tank. It will reduce the vibration from the cab. An isolation from resonation you got it….!? By the way it is an amp you can do anything with…
I have one of the 2002 Fender Pro Reverb amps, I love it but the tremolo has not worked since the day I got it. Could it be a tube issue? Also the bright button on the clean channel seems to be stuck in the bright position and I cannot get it to disengage. If it’s gonna be stuck in one position I would rather it be stuck in the normal positiona nd not the bright position. Any help addressing these matters would be greatly appreciated
This might help…The Fender Pro Reverb is a high-end guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was in production from 1965 and was discontinued in 1982. The Pro Reverb is a 40-watt tube amplifier and has a pair of 12″ speakers; however, models later than 1976 were increased to 70 watts. Teagle and Sprung, authors of the definitive book on Fender amplifiers (Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years) described the Blackface Pro Reverb as the best amplifier ever produced likely due to its combination of the two twelve inch speakers, its high quality reverb and tremolo, and just the right amount of power to get either classic Blackface Fender cleans or natural tube breakup at reasonable volumes. They wrote, “the author recommends these amps as the best all-around amp ever made—by anyone”.1 The Pro Reverb is most often used by players seeking a traditional Fender clean tone, with, owing to the relative low output power, propensity for ‘breakup,’ or musically-pleasing distortion. Many players note the quality of the tube driven spring reverb and tremolo (inaccurately referred to as “vibrato” by Fender). At a time when Fender was increasing the wattage of most of its tube amps in an attempt to provide players with cleaner tones at higher volumes, the Pro Reverb was somewhat unique in the Fender lineup due to its relatively low power output (prized by today’s players) and smaller output transformer, which gave the Pro Reverb a “dirtier” sound than most of its contemporaries. Because of this, at the time the Pro Reverb did not find the widespread popularity of amplifiers such as the Fender Twin, but in recent years it has seen a revival and has become highly sought after due to its rarity and excellent tonal characteristics. Pro Reverbs were first sold in mid-1965. Since CBS bought out Fender in January 1965, all of them are “post-CBS” Fenders. Even so, some have “Fender Electric Instruments Co.” on the front panel under the Pro Reverb Amp logo instead of the CBS era “Fender Musical Instruments.” The original Pro Reverbs are “blackface”—they have black control panels with white lettering, script logo, silver/black/white grille cloths, raised Fender logo on the grille cloth and black Tolex covering. They use two 5881/6L6GC power tubes, a GZ34 tube rectifier and are rated at roughly 40 watts. They have two channels, one of which has reverb and tremolo. A dual footswitch controls the effects. In excellent condition, with original speakers these amps were selling between $1900 and $2400 in 2010 (2011 Vintage Guitar Price Guide). Mint examples usually sell for more.
I have had one for about 10 years, fabulous amp but heavy, I also have ’65 DRRI, the Pro is a far better amp in all areas except the weight. Never liked the overdrive sound on Fender master volume amps but this one is good and very usable, it has an effects loop, extension speaker out and 1/4 power switch, very versatile by far the best Fender I have had, the sound is amazing and loud. Unfortunately it is just too heavy for me these day, just lugged it up and down stairs at gig and have decided it’s time to sell it and use my Trademark 60 for gigging along with the DRRI for smaller rooms. Looking at a Roland Bluescube as well – and use the Trademark as a slave for outside gigs.
14 comments
I love my Pro Reverb, and the single 12" Jensen is perfect. I like that it has an effects loop so I can run my pedals through it, and the four-button footswitch is fantastic. I only wish it had a second input on channel two. I paired it with a 4×12 Fender closed-back cab loaded with four Celestion 30s for outdoor gigs — the perfect combination for that situation. The only downside is the weight — it comes in at 75 lbs. Luckily, I don’t usually have to move it since the roadies handle that, but on the rare occasion I do, it’s a pain. Still, you can’t beat it for the money overall. I use it in the studio too, and I’m always able to get the tone I want on the first channel. I just turn it up and use a couple of pedals for a little more volume and time effects, but honestly, it sounds great even kept simple. I’m totally satisfied with it, and I got a super deal because someone didn’t want to lug it around. Mine’s a rare one, in brand-new condition, with casters, a cover, and the four-button footswitch. I feel blessed to have found it, and it was too affordable to pass up — especially since I see them going for three to four times what I paid. If you can lift it, buy it! Ha ha!
Hello from Finland. If you have problems with the reverb, squelch, feedback or noise or screaming… this is a solution which i made to my ptpr. Wrap an old t- shirt around the reverb tank. It will reduce the vibration from the cab. An isolation from resonation you got it….!? By the way it is an amp you can do anything with…
I have one of the 2002 Fender Pro Reverb amps, I love it but the tremolo has not worked since the day I got it. Could it be a tube issue? Also the bright button on the clean channel seems to be stuck in the bright position and I cannot get it to disengage. If it’s gonna be stuck in one position I would rather it be stuck in the normal positiona nd not the bright position. Any help addressing these matters would be greatly appreciated
This might help…The Fender Pro Reverb is a high-end guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was in production from 1965 and was discontinued in 1982. The Pro Reverb is a 40-watt tube amplifier and has a pair of 12″ speakers; however, models later than 1976 were increased to 70 watts. Teagle and Sprung, authors of the definitive book on Fender amplifiers (Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years) described the Blackface Pro Reverb as the best amplifier ever produced likely due to its combination of the two twelve inch speakers, its high quality reverb and tremolo, and just the right amount of power to get either classic Blackface Fender cleans or natural tube breakup at reasonable volumes. They wrote, “the author recommends these amps as the best all-around amp ever made—by anyone”.1 The Pro Reverb is most often used by players seeking a traditional Fender clean tone, with, owing to the relative low output power, propensity for ‘breakup,’ or musically-pleasing distortion. Many players note the quality of the tube driven spring reverb and tremolo (inaccurately referred to as “vibrato” by Fender). At a time when Fender was increasing the wattage of most of its tube amps in an attempt to provide players with cleaner tones at higher volumes, the Pro Reverb was somewhat unique in the Fender lineup due to its relatively low power output (prized by today’s players) and smaller output transformer, which gave the Pro Reverb a “dirtier” sound than most of its contemporaries. Because of this, at the time the Pro Reverb did not find the widespread popularity of amplifiers such as the Fender Twin, but in recent years it has seen a revival and has become highly sought after due to its rarity and excellent tonal characteristics. Pro Reverbs were first sold in mid-1965. Since CBS bought out Fender in January 1965, all of them are “post-CBS” Fenders. Even so, some have “Fender Electric Instruments Co.” on the front panel under the Pro Reverb Amp logo instead of the CBS era “Fender Musical Instruments.” The original Pro Reverbs are “blackface”—they have black control panels with white lettering, script logo, silver/black/white grille cloths, raised Fender logo on the grille cloth and black Tolex covering. They use two 5881/6L6GC power tubes, a GZ34 tube rectifier and are rated at roughly 40 watts. They have two channels, one of which has reverb and tremolo. A dual footswitch controls the effects. In excellent condition, with original speakers these amps were selling between $1900 and $2400 in 2010 (2011 Vintage Guitar Price Guide). Mint examples usually sell for more.
I have had one for about 10 years, fabulous amp but heavy, I also have ’65 DRRI, the Pro is a far better amp in all areas except the weight. Never liked the overdrive sound on Fender master volume amps but this one is good and very usable, it has an effects loop, extension speaker out and 1/4 power switch, very versatile by far the best Fender I have had, the sound is amazing and loud. Unfortunately it is just too heavy for me these day, just lugged it up and down stairs at gig and have decided it’s time to sell it and use my Trademark 60 for gigging along with the DRRI for smaller rooms. Looking at a Roland Bluescube as well – and use the Trademark as a slave for outside gigs.