Fender amplifiers (especially blackface amps) are famous of their sparkling clean tone. The '65 Deluxe Reverb is no exception: this amp with its managable 22 W power gives shimmering, sparkling beautiful cleans even at bedroom level.
In contrary to the Fender Blues Junior and some other low-budget Fender tube amps the volume potentiometer of the Deluxe Reverb is tapered beautifully: the amp gets loud at around 4, below that it can be used at home without problems (especially when input 2 is used). Many reviewers across the internet mention that the sound can be icepicky - this is something that I did not experience. In my opinion a Marshall plexi or a Marshall Studio Vintage are bright amps and can have harsh treble, but the Deluxe Reverb is a totally balanced amp which can sound beautiful with any guitar (I tried with a Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster and with Gibson humbuckers).
Those who expect rock and roll overdrive from an amp may be disappointed by the Deluxe Reverb. Turning up the volume will first produce heavenly tube compression and then a light/medium overdrive (at this point the amp is very loud). One should understand that this amp is not designed for overdriven tones, it is made to produce bell-like cleans. And I have never heard an amp doing it better than the '65 DRRI. Being a great pedal platform, overdriven or distorted tones can be achieved with stompboxes. Looking at the Fender range of RI tube amps the Fender Twin Reverb is too loud and heavy for a non-arena gig, the Princeton is too small. '65 DRRI has the perfect size and weight.
I know that the amp is not cheap at all, but in my opinion it is worth every penny. I also considered the '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb, but after listening many YouTube-reviews I found it to lack those shimmering highs which are present in the tone of the '65 reissue. After owning a few good smaller sized tube amps (30 W Orange, Fender Blues Jr., Marshall SV20C) I did not want versatility, I just wanted one good sound that can be the foundation of my sound. I am glad I found it.
I have to add that the reverb and vibrato (which really is a tremolo) effects on this amp are out of this world. Last time I found a built-in effect useful was the chorus sound of a Roland JC120. The effects of the '65 DRRI are just as (or even more) iconic as the chorus of the JC120.
