Used a BF Princeton Reverb on the gig...

Brian Herder · Post by **Brian Herder** » 23 Jan 2020 8:09 am

I have a 67 Princeton with 12" Eminence Legend on a new baffle (the original is in storage). The 12 made a big difference for steel. I've used on occasion with a full band (keys, acoustic guitar, bass and drums.. a James Taylor tribute thing). It works out for double duty with guitar/steel as long as it's not too loud on stage.

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 23 Jan 2020 10:56 am

Sadly, i just missed an excellent condition early SF PR on a local listing.

We had a cold spell of -40 and it sold before I could fetch it.

US900 was the ask.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 23 Jan 2020 7:40 pm

Sadly, i just missed an excellent condition early SF PR on a local listing. ... US900 was the ask.

Too bad, but not surprising. That's an excellent deal if it's in reasonable shape. Early SF Princetons are probably my favorite version of that particular amp.

From what I saw, if you don't use the pull boost, there is no difference.
There *might* be, but I didn't see it.
But even the pull boost versions have gone crazy with their prices.

Yeah, the pull-boost doesn't mess with the normal circuit. They sound fine. What was "silly" was the boost circuit itself, a lot of work for nothing, IMO. But everybody was trying to cop the Boogie thing, mostly not successfully. And I also have always played plenty of blues and rock and roll - I am not afraid of some hair, in the right context.

I wonder what jumping 4 Princeton's would sound like! LOL!

Never tried 4, but I sometimes used to use a short pyramid of 3 Princeton Reverbs, 2 on bottom, 1 on top. Copped from seeing Johnny Winter and Rick Derringer way back in Johnny Winter And days with a pyramid of 3 Twin Reverbs each. Ouch! but they sounded great. I prefer 3 Princetons.

And as Brian H. will attest from several years back at the Philly guitar show, a Vibrolux Reverb can make a very fine pedal steel amp indeed. 10" speakers can be just fine for pedal steel, at least E9. And there is not a finer Telecaster amp anywhere on Planet Earth, IMHO.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 24 Jan 2020 9:22 am

Dave Mudgett wrote: "Yeah, the pull-boost doesn't mess with the normal circuit. They sound fine. What was "silly" was the boost circuit itself, a lot of work for nothing, IMO. But everybody was trying to cop the Boogie thing, mostly not successfully."

The first thing I noticed about the pull boost is that it REALLY boosts, and sounds awful (brittle) IMO.
The second thing that I noticed was that the reverb disappeared.
Looking at the schematic it's easy to see why.
Strangely enough, I noticed this on an early Mesa Boogie years earlier.
They both used the same method to get extra gain, at the expense of sacrificing the reverb.

I would not be afraid of a pull boost PR if I were going for traditional Fender tones.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 24 Jan 2020 12:20 pm

A Fender Princeton has been on my bucket list for some time. A nice clean pre CBS blackface is difficult to find without a hefty price tag. Also, don't want to buy one and then have it restored. My question, there are some amp builders that make clones of the Princeton. The amp may not say Fender but if it's a clone with all new components it might be worth considering.
Thoughts?

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 24 Jan 2020 12:47 pm

If you can run a soldering iron and can follow directions, one of these (or any number of similar kits from other sellers) may be worthy of your consideration:

https://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Ele ... p_Kit.html

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 24 Jan 2020 6:20 pm

Len Amaral wrote:A Fender Princeton has been on my bucket list for some time. A nice clean pre CBS blackface is difficult to find without a hefty price tag. Also, don't want to buy one and then have it restored. My question, there are some amp builders that make clones of the Princeton. The amp may not say Fender but if it's a clone with all new components it might be worth considering.
Thoughts?

I would probably go silverface these days - in fact, I did! But if I was thinking about a repro, I'd seriously consider one of these by forum member Mike Marsh: viewtopic.php?t=353573

I haven't played one of these, but I've played a couple of his tweed Deluxe style amps, I thought they were well made and sounded good. I saw the lead dress in one of them - looked good. That is important on any tube amp, but especially important on blackface/silverface Fenders, IMO.

I probably wouldn't choose a BF/Silverface Fender Reverb amp clone as my first build. I would first suggest trying a tweed Champ type circuit first - there are quite a few subtleties to building tube amps.

Bill L. Wilson · Post by **Bill L. Wilson** » 24 Jan 2020 11:00 pm

I bought this little amp from an old friend down in East Texas 3yrs. ago for $1500, had it recapped and put in a Rajin Cajun 10” speaker. I play steel thru it at home, but on a gig my Deluxe Reverb is the lowest power amp I’ll use for steel. Occasionally I play guitar thru it on a low power gig.

Brian LeBlanc · Post by **Brian LeBlanc** » 6 Feb 2020 6:43 am

Just missed a black PR at open jam Tuesday

Guy brought 1 in to sell...laying on the floor!

Problem with them is ...they've gotten expensive

and...easier to walk off with than a Twin on break...

Tommy Boswell · Post by **Tommy Boswell** » 6 Feb 2020 10:20 am

Brian Herder wrote:I have a 67 Princeton with 12" Eminence Legend on a new baffle (the original is in storage). The 12 made a big difference for steel. I've used on occasion with a full band (keys, acoustic guitar, bass and drums.. a James Taylor tribute thing). It works out for double duty with guitar/steel as long as it's not too loud on stage.

Brian, there are several different models of 12" Eminence Legend. Would you mind sharing the model number on yours? Thanks!

Josh Yenne · Post by **Josh Yenne** » 12 Feb 2020 12:56 am

I use a Princeton with a burly 12 inch speaker for lots of steel gigs. 12w into a 50 watt 12” with big magnet goes a long way!

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 12 Feb 2020 5:17 am

I have bigger amps but lately I play through two SCXD's in stereo. I LOVE the sound I get through two and having both gives me lots of options tonaly and logistically. I bought them second had in mint condition and I upgraded the speakers and tubes and I still have less than $600 invested.

FYI, I recently played a gig where I was assigned a Twin (backline) to play through which was mic'd. The sound crew only allowed me to turn the volume up to just past 2 and my tone was weak. Next time I will bring one of my 22 lb SCXD's with me that I will be able to turn up to get good tone and both I and the sound crew will be happy.

Adam Tracksler · Post by **Adam Tracksler** » 12 Feb 2020 6:00 am

Anyone tried the new reissue?

https://youtu.be/UqAuu4Lt_1g

Travis Wilson · Post by **Travis Wilson** » 12 Feb 2020 7:01 am

Dave Zirbel wrote:Yes, we play quiet and have dynamics.

such a mythical band exists??

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 12 Feb 2020 7:09 am

such a mythical band exists??

Adam Tracksler · Post by **Adam Tracksler** » 12 Feb 2020 7:30 am

Yes... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyL-iJQSk5A

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 12 Feb 2020 9:20 am

Adam Tracksler wrote:Anyone tried the new reissue?

https://youtu.be/UqAuu4Lt_1g

I haven't tried the new 68 Princeton RI but I did buy its big brother the 68 Vibrolux RI. A nice amp but in retrospect it was too much amp for my purposes. I wish I had bought the Princeton instead.

The "68 Custom" series of RIs are designed with less negative feedback, which makes them break up more and sooner. When you hit 5 on the volume you're into some significant distortion and it gets worse (or better?) the higher you go, unlike the 65 RI which stays pretty clean all the way up.

I think a 68 Princeton RI would be a good amp if you modify it to add the negative feedback back in. I've seen info on how to do this on some other forums and it doesn't look hard. The easiest way to go would be to get the 65 RI or better still, an original blackface or silverface Princeton.

Dave Meis · Post by **Dave Meis** » 12 Feb 2020 12:24 pm

Adam Tracksler wrote:Yes... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyL-iJQSk5A

ðŸ˜ƒ

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 12 Feb 2020 2:17 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZBiRaQxsY&t=45s

Loving the '64 Princeton hand-wired re-issue!!!

David Spires

Lee Holliday · Post by **Lee Holliday** » 12 Feb 2020 11:07 pm

I couldn't resist one of the new 68 reissues on offer before Christmas in seafoam mint green, it like all my other amps is too much for me but what the heck, it is a statement piece in this colour, with the trem and reverb I am more akin to playing conventional guitar in an Americana style, like every amp I have it is too powerful for the house and as I do not gig it is wasted I guess, but I like it none the less.

Lee

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 13 Feb 2020 7:23 am

Travis Wilson wrote:
Dave Zirbel wrote:Yes, we play quiet and have dynamics.
such a mythical band exists??

Not in my world.

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 13 Feb 2020 7:26 am

Lee Holliday wrote:I couldn't resist one of the new 68 reissues on offer before Christmas in seafoam mint green, it like all my other amps is too much for me but what the heck, it is a statement piece in this colour, with the trem and reverb I am more akin to playing conventional guitar in an Americana style, like every amp I have it is too powerful for the house and as I do not gig it is wasted I guess, but I like it none the less.

Lee

Lee, you might be better off with one of the new Fender
Tonemaster amps. They make lightweight versions of a Twin and Deluxe with power scaling.

Lee Holliday · Post by **Lee Holliday** » 13 Feb 2020 10:52 am

Mark, aside from the Princeton and a few rare SJB Audio Ant & Hornet amps I even have a Roland Micro cube which is too much but what the heck, maybe when everyone is out I can let rip.

Lee

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 15 Feb 2020 10:14 am

After all this fuss about my small amps I went out and bought a 1970 Twin with a 15” JBL today

only because it was $500

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 15 Feb 2020 10:39 am

Dave Zirbel wrote:After all this fuss about my small amps I went out and bought a 1970 Twin with a 15” JBL today only because it was $500

Twin Reverbs are the best value out there for vintage amps. If you can manage the weight, a Twin with a JBL or Altec is pure magic. I schlepped mine for 20 years. The spirit is still willing but the knees say no more.

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