TC Electronic Combo Deluxe 65' Preamp

This original tube amp with legendary reverb ranks among the world’s most sought-after vintage combos and is likely one of the most recorded amps in music history – for good reason. It sounds amazing! But it’s rare, and if you find one it likely comes with a price tag to match. However, there are other ways for you to get your hands – and feet – on this iconic guitar tone: Enter COMBO DELUXE 65’!

The passionate and guitar-playing team of engineers set out to faithfully recreate the original amp with the painstaking accuracy and attention to detail that only guitar players with actual hands-on experience with the original amp can achieve. At the heart of COMBO DELUXE 65’, the AMPWORX modelling technology works its magic, carefully recreating the classic guitar tone that’s the sum of each and every component from the circuit of the original. The result? The best and most precise digital amp modelling of this famous amp you have ever run your guitar through.

When released in 1965, the original amp featured a dual-spring GIBBS tank embedded in a tube-based transformer circuit for generating the reverb sound we all know and love. To nail that sound, TC Electronic took the very same original GIBBS unit and extracted a high-resolution 4-second impulse response, using a zero-latency convolution engine combined with detailed circuit modelling - TC Electronic faithfully recreated that sweet, original reverb. In addition, Reverb ‘tone control’ has been added, (which was not on the original amp), in case you want to tailor it for your style of playing. If you just want nothing but the original tone, just leave at 12 ‘o’ clock and you’re good to go!

Obviously, the cab speaker is a key component of any combo – COMBO DELUXE 65’ is no exception! With today’s convolution-based IR technology it’s possible to sample the past with great accuracy and authenticity. And TC Electronic might have done exactly that, only someone else has specialised in this sonic art form – and who would be better at this than the company that has delivered cab speakers for countless classic guitar combos throughout music history: Celestion. After intensive testing, TC Electronic decided to integrate the official impulse response of the beloved Creamback speaker. It truly is a tone match made in heaven.

When you plug into COMBO DELUXE 65’ for the first time, it’s in the always-on Dual Channel mode. This means you toggle between a green and a red channel. The green channel is the normal clean channel and red has more gain and a slightly different voicing. If you press REVERB and CHANNEL at the same time, you will change to Bypass mode. Now, COMBO DELUXE 65 simply works as a stompbox that you can punch in and out whenever you want. The channel that was selected when in Dual Channel mode is the one that’s used if you switch to Bypass mode.

Depending on your guitar, pedals, playing style, band configuration and much more, you may sometimes need that ‘little extra something’ to really cut through the mix. On COMBO DELUXE 65’, this translates into a dedicated BRIGHT switch that will give a sonic edge when you need it the most. Nowhere was a MIDDLE knob to be found on the original amp in 1965. And if you prefer it just like that then simply leave it, well, in the middle. But upon the launch of the original amp, many users requested a mid-control, and in later revisions, a middle knob was actually added. TC Electronic decided to give you the option to choose whether you want to sculpt the mids or not.

Your guitar signal can exit COMBO DELUXE 65’ in three different ways. The DI output includes the cab sim and is ideal if you go directly to a PA system, or if you record through an audio interface. The OUT jack does not include the cab sim, which is useful for when you go to a combo or an amp with a cab, or when inserting the pedal in the FX Loop on an amplifier. Finally, the HEADPHONES jack includes the cab sim to give you the perfect silent rehearsal scenario.

Features

• Guitar preamp pedal faithfully recreates the tone, touch and feel of a 1965 Blackface Reverb Deluxe* tube amp
• Two channels with independent gain, volume, EQ and Reverb controls for all-American vintage tone
• Built-in 4 second convolution spring reverb, taken directly from an original blackface deluxe GIBBS reverberation unit spring tank. Includes adjustable, set it and forget it, Reverb Tone control on the back panel
• Added MIDDLE control modification based on the MIDDLE knob of a blackface twin reverb amplifier
• Bright switch mod adds additional sparkle and bite for when you really want to cut heads
• Dedicated DI output, equipped with official Celestion 1x12 G12M Creamback cab sim IR, turns your pedalboard into a gig-ready rig direct to PA system or audio interface for recording
• Dedicated headphone output, equipped with official Celestion 1x12 G12M Creamback cab sim IR, for huge tube amp tones and practice sessions that won’t disturb your neighbours
• Optional bypass or always on channel change footswitch modes
• Groundbreaking TC AMPWORX modelling technology provides low latency, huge dynamic range and feels like the real deal
• Perfect pedalboard-friendly pedal platform takes drive pedals like a champ