Fender Princeton advice needed

[drc]

I am looking to purchase a Princeton. I have a local 1971 model without reverb that I can buy for $750. It appears to be all original and in excellent condition. I guess what I am looking for here is some advice and opinions.. Any and all would be appreciated.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/msg/4440593036.html

thanks

 

[jcwu]

In high school, friend of mine in the band had a Princeton Reverb, silverface. He got mad at one of our performances and drove his guitar headstock through the speaker.

If he knew then that one day his amp might fetch $750, I think he might have reconsidered his actions.

 

[Default]

Unlike the reissues, it's fixable - no circuit boards. Not sure what the going rate for non-verbed Princetons is, but that sounds in the ballpark.

 

[AcornHouse]

Doing a quick "sold" ebay listings, for non-reverb, silverface, Princetons, $600 is more in the ballpark. They've gone in the high $500s with one going for $660.

 

[gilded]

Princeton non-reverb amps don't sound as good as the reverb amps. Ever. Period.

Reverb amps have an extra half preamp tube worth of gain.

Caveat Emptor. HH

 

[drc]

10-4! thanks Chris

 

[drc]

Princeton non-reverb amps don't sound as good as the reverb amps. Ever. Period.

Reverb amps have an extra half preamp tube worth of gain.

Caveat Emptor. HH

thats what I need to know! thanks Gilded

 

[Walter Broes]

For a non-reverb silverface, 750 is a little high.

Be aware that a Princeton and a Princeton Reverb are almost completely different amps : that extra tube in the preamp of the reverb one makes a lot of difference. Non reverb is clean, clean, clean, Princeton reverb is more like a mini vibrolux, and starts breaking up around 3 or 4 on the volume dial.

 

[drc]

Thanks, I am going to pass on the Princeton.

 

[Sal]

With no money in the slush fund I was watching sadly as this brown Princeton recently slipped away for just over a grand:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FENDER-BROW...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[shihan]

I'm kind of late on this, but the non reverb Princeton is a completely different circuit than the reverb model. Some guys swear by them; when in good working order, they sound fantastic. I would definitely check that one out and see how it sounds; maybe offer a little less if you like it.

 

[Sal]

Princeton non-reverb amps don't sound as good as the reverb amps. Ever. Period.

Guilded, maybe you're referring specifically to blackface non-reverb Princetons? Both the earlier tweed and brown Princetons did not have the reverb option and they are wonderful low watt amps in their own rights. Both different from the later blackface, and all currently very desirable!

 

[AcornHouse]

Here's a discussion from the Fender forum about this very type. You can get more viewpoints.
http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=85040

 

[mavuser]

Sorry to be late to the party here, but u can get the early 70s silverface princeton reverb for 750 or not a whole lot more on a good day. The non reverb silver face princeton is not such a hot ticket.

U can get the early 70s silverface SUPER reverb for 750 on a good day which is the wholy grail of wholy tones for certain guitars, in my opinion.

 

[mavuser]

Guilded, maybe you're referring specifically to blackface non-reverb Princetons? Both the earlier tweed and brown Princetons did not have the reverb option and they are wonderful low watt amps in their own rights. Both different from the later blackface, and all currently very desirable!

We are talking about a 1971 silverface non-reverb princeton. Not much to talk about

the tweed ones are different, as you know...nice! ;

 

[Sal]

Silverface, right, right. Non-reverb silverface. Sorry, my bad. I knew that and somehow kept typing blackface…

 

[mavuser]

From the Jim Campilongo forum (and Jim himself):



THE CAMPY FORUM

Be polite and respectful. Don't sell stuff. No envy, no fear, no meanness.​

• All Discussions

Fender Princeton amps (non-reverb)

• campinout February 20 EditFlag
  
  I have seen blackface and silverface Princeton non-reverb amps from the 60s and 70s. Any thoughts on them, from Jim or anyone else? I've never heard one.
  
• DakotaRedTele February 21 Flag
  
  I know they are a lot more affordable.
  
  I hear they stay clean even when cranked.
  
• hinck February 21 Flag
  
  Great sounding amps. I have a '65 non reverb and an early 70's w/ reverb. The '65 non reverb will stay clean pretty much all the way where the 70's reverb starts to dirty up around 4 or 5. The 70's reverb is also a good deal louder than the non reverb, I believe due to the extra gain stage for the reverb. Volume at 6 or 7 on the non reverb is about the same as 4 or 5 on the reverb.
  
• JimCampilongo February 23 Flag
  
  me like reverb...
  
• awp February 23 Flag
  
  Me too
  
  
  
• campinout February 25 EditFlag
  
  Thanks all, something rare and pretty popped up on the radar but sounds like its of little use for my purposes. Will let it go
  

 

[StarfireXII]

IMO most Fender combo amps built after 1969-70 are not worth getting. Some of this has to do the components used and circuit design changes-especially in any amp with 6L6 tubes. I have more of an issue with the dadoed cabinets:they are major tone suckers plus the particle baffle boards can deteriorate in 40 years of aging. The brownface Princeton 6G2 is a great amp-a more hifi tweed Vibrolux. Get one before they start clearing $2K as that amp will work for almost every type of basic guitar sound except metal. The Princeton Reverb AB763 is a great amp, but is a bit expensive to me. Better to get a Pro Reverb or 68-69 Bandmaster Reverb head. Since you live near Canada, be on the look out for a Traynor YGM-3 in pawn shops. Though not the same tone as a Princeton, they can be found for much cheaper. As is, they are solidly built with a decent reverb and exceptional Vox like vibrato circuit. With a few mods, they can be awesome fire breathing EL84 tone machines.