Many would say the Fender Deluxe design reaches its peak with the narrow-panel 5E3, becoming the ultimate tone machine for public performance and recording. The 5E3 is also the most cloned guitar amp of all time. It has an elegantly straightforward signal chain that maximizes tone and minimizes parts count, making it a favorite for kit makers and kit builders alike. In fact, there is perhaps only one other amp design that can compete with the 5E3 in terms of popularity, particularly among working musicians. Ironically, it also carries the name "Deluxe" - the blackface AB763 Deluxe Reverb.

This book examines both electronic circuits in great depth. The wide panel 5D3 and the brownface 6G3 are also fully explored, because they represent major milestones in the evolutionary development of these iconic amps. From "woody" to blackface, the book explains how these amps work, the motivation behind their system designs, and the performance of their electronics in the context of a real musical performance.

Author: Richard Kuehnel is a member of the Circuits and Systems Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.