New Princeton Reverb Reissue -- first look - Page 2

Robin Nahum · May 12th, 2008, 10:48 PM

I hope they use decent power tubes.

tiktok · May 12th, 2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Nahum

I hope they use decent power tubes.

They ought to offer a gear-board special: no tubes, no speaker, since so many folks seem to reflexively replace them regardless.

BrianF · May 12th, 2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiktok

They ought to offer a gear-board special: no tubes, no speaker, since so many folks seem to reflexively replace them regardless.

You need a removable speaker baffle as well...just to be complete!

and while they are at it maybe they should add a OD pedal, COMP and attenuator

skeksis · May 12th, 2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedenphoto

if you approach the reissues with open ears and perhaps be ready to change the speaker and tubes...

anyone else think that this is all too familiar for fender amps... I mean, they sell at a certain price point, then you dump some $ on tubes and a speaker, then you get something you'll be happy with. I'm excited about this amp, too, but c'mon, at that price point why not just get it (more) right out of the box? I can see taking a Blues Jr and it needing some fine tuning, but why not get the reissues at > 2x the cost better tuned from the get-go.

Robin Nahum · May 12th, 2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiktok

They ought to offer a gear-board special: no tubes, no speaker, since so many folks seem to reflexively replace them regardless.

I just think that they could have chosen a more robust and reliable 6V6 for the DRRI.

scooteraz · May 13th, 2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_red7882

So, who else makes a princeton clone besides allen and webber?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

The Gomez G Reverb amp (made by our very own CancerLeoCam) is based on a Princeton Reverb, but instead of a 10" speaker, he puts a 15" speaker in there!

One day, I WILL own one!

Cheers, Tim

Headstrong is another. They clone the (I believe) AA1164 circuit, with a choice of speaker, 10, 12 or 15.

tiktok · May 13th, 2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeksis

anyone else think that this is all too familiar for fender amps... I mean, they sell at a certain price point, then you dump some $ on tubes and a speaker, then you get something you'll be happy with. I'm excited about this amp, too, but c'mon, at that price point why not just get it (more) right out of the box? I can see taking a Blues Jr and it needing some fine tuning, but why not get the reissues at > 2x the cost better tuned from the get-go.

If we assume that Fender's not gouging the market, then it's because adding in the standard JJ tubes and a more expensive speaker would probably add another $200 to the price, at which point demand goes down.

There's plenty of guys who are quite happy with the standard speaker/tube options, and Fender services the mass market with most of its product line, including the various blackface RI's.

chabby · May 13th, 2008, 01:05 AM

Thats why there is a boutique amp market now people. Because Fender has always done this. Heck, every BF and SF I looked at today had crappy speakers and tubes in them. That is the mass market. Not everyone is as picky as we gearhead tele-nuts. In fact we are probably the minority. But that's why folks like Swart and Victoria are thriving, do you want Fender to put the PR out for about 3 grand? Thats about where it would need to be to be up to boutique snuff. I'd rather mod it myself and save at least a little coin over time.

xjazzy · May 13th, 2008, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott S

The Princeton Reverb originally *came* with a ceramic speaker -- what would you expect?

- Scott

An improvement!

Billm · May 13th, 2008, 06:29 AM

Gosh, I wish I hadn't seen or played the PRRI. Then I could complain about it too.

xjazzy · May 13th, 2008, 07:09 AM

Billm, I'm just talking about my experience. I always see people upgrading the speakers on the BF RI's and one of the things I see is people tend to prefer the AlNiCo. I think fender should take that in consideration.
But hey, was just my opinion! I'm GASing already for this new amp

Billm · May 13th, 2008, 08:39 AM

xjazzy, I wasn't singling you out.

I could have hallucinated it, but I'm pretty sure I saw a P10R in the PRRI, as I said in the first message in this thread. That's an alnico speaker.

As for JJ 6V6s being the "standard," some would disagree. It's not a traditional 6V6; it's more like an underpowered 6L6 and somewhat different tonally than traditional 6V6s. They appear to be more rugged than the current crop of Electro Harmonix 6V6s, but there are certainly other 6V6s out there, including NOS. Besides, speakers and tubes are a matter of taste. Fender can't possibly hit everyone's sweet spot.

And the speaker baffle is removable. As I also said in the first post.

chet · May 13th, 2008, 08:50 AM

Heh heh...I have a bunch of NOS 6V6's that are just sitting around doing nothing right now...

Hoodster · May 13th, 2008, 09:17 AM

So Bill, you're not sure it was a P10R? Hopefully someone can confirm the speaker before everyone gets all worked up about the choice!

It would be strange since they use a C10R in the PRA (which is the appropriate budget choice IMO--even better would be a Weber Ceramic Signature 10S).

Hoodster · May 13th, 2008, 09:19 AM

Another argument about the price point--Why buy a PRRI instead of a SFPR in great condition? The value of the SF will probably only rise.

tiktok · May 13th, 2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoodster

Another argument about the price point--Why buy a PRRI instead of a SFPR in great condition? The value of the SF will probably only rise.

SFPR's aren't easy to find these days, at least in my neck of the woods, and are already routinely going for north of a grand. There's plenty of folks who'll just want that tone in that size package with the Fender name on the front and a warranty and available from their local store rather than hunting down some guy on craigslist selling a vintage piece with the wrong speaker and no footswitch for another couple hundred bucks over the anticipated street price of the PRRI.

Billm · May 13th, 2008, 10:45 AM

My mistake about the speaker. It's a C10R. I'll correct my initial post.

BTW, Shane confirms that the PRRI has a bias pot, externally accessible.

skeksis · May 13th, 2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billm

My mistake about the speaker. It's a C10R. I'll correct my initial post.

BTW, Shane confirms that the PRRI has a bias pot, externally accessible.

great... now a bunch of us who've grumbled about the speaker choice will also have to revise our posts

thanks for the correction, c10r (whatever our opinion) at least makes sense for that amp.

pedenphoto · May 13th, 2008, 11:33 AM

I hope my original post concerning the Princeton Reverb reissue is not misunderstood. Our original impression of the reissue was VERY positive "out of the box". If you are on this forum, by definition you are questing for tone and wouldn't all of you consider a tube and speaker substitution on any amp with the possible exception of 40s and early 50s historical ones where the speakers are hard wired ? I think Fender has done a very smart thing. The amp is very good as they are shipping it. Obviously they can not ship a new amp with NOS tubes and a premium speaker that would run the price up and please only a narrow segment of the market. If you want the sound of a Princeton Reverb I think you should be very happy that they have made available this amp sounding this good at this price. You could be happy with it just as it ships but if you want to tailor it further to your particular taste it is a real tube amp just like the original so the easy substitutions (tubes & speakers) are available just like the originals. This is lots of fun right? John Peden

milocj · May 13th, 2008, 11:55 AM

Great comments, John.
The first thing that I was told when I bought my 1964 Vibrolux Reverb several years ago (that's worth about $2500 now) was that those original Oxfords suck and that I should replace them with something "good" yet somehow it's worth more with those speakers

A lot of people today will buy something that they know is of a lesser quality or made by "slaves" getting $0.10 an hour if it saves them five bucks. I'm sure that even if Fender wanted to upgrade the amp with $10 worth of parts at their cost it would be marked up internally through several different departments, then again by everybody's hands that it passes through and would be something like a $100 change at the street price.

I hope it's a great little amp. Is it US made?

xjazzy · May 13th, 2008, 12:05 PM

I'm very pleased with this news. I just question the speaker choice in the Re-issues. But that's something I think and others may have a different opinion... like Fender!

Hope I can get one around here to try it out. I have to start saving some money...

deep · May 13th, 2008, 12:46 PM

Will this mean that my original 1966 PR will only go up in value?

telel6s · May 13th, 2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet

Heh heh...I have a bunch of NOS 6V6's that are just sitting around doing nothing right now...

Hey Chet --- I've got a '72 Princeton and he would be glad to give those 6V6's something to do if they're getting bored and restless. Fell free to send 'em my way and I'll give them a good work out. (Set amp to 10....Plug in P90s with guitar volume on 10.....AAAaaahhhhhhh)

chet · May 13th, 2008, 01:58 PM

My NOS 6V6's would love to get together with your Princeton. Ship it up to me ASAP.

May 12th, 2008, 10:48 PM	#41 (permalink)
Robin Nahum Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 56 Posts: 1,607 12 Photos	I hope they use decent power tubes. __________________ RN

May 13th, 2008, 07:09 AM	#51 (permalink)
xjazzy Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portugal Posts: 804 6 Photos	Billm, I'm just talking about my experience. I always see people upgrading the speakers on the BF RI's and one of the things I see is people tend to prefer the AlNiCo. I think fender should take that in consideration. But hey, was just my opinion! I'm GASing already for this new amp __________________ Still got the Twang! myspace.com/jotacaster

May 13th, 2008, 12:05 PM	#61 (permalink)
xjazzy Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portugal Posts: 804 6 Photos	I'm very pleased with this news. I just question the speaker choice in the Re-issues. But that's something I think and others may have a different opinion... like Fender! Hope I can get one around here to try it out. I have to start saving some money... __________________ Still got the Twang! myspace.com/jotacaster

May 13th, 2008, 01:05 AM	#48 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,257	Thats why there is a boutique amp market now people. Because Fender has always done this. Heck, every BF and SF I looked at today had crappy speakers and tubes in them. That is the mass market. Not everyone is as picky as we gearhead tele-nuts. In fact we are probably the minority. But that's why folks like Swart and Victoria are thriving, do you want Fender to put the PR out for about 3 grand? Thats about where it would need to be to be up to boutique snuff. I'd rather mod it myself and save at least a little coin over time.

May 13th, 2008, 06:29 AM	#50 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 325 1 Photos	Gosh, I wish I hadn't seen or played the PRRI. Then I could complain about it too.

May 13th, 2008, 08:39 AM	#52 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 325 1 Photos	xjazzy, I wasn't singling you out. I could have hallucinated it, but I'm pretty sure I saw a P10R in the PRRI, as I said in the first message in this thread. That's an alnico speaker. As for JJ 6V6s being the "standard," some would disagree. It's not a traditional 6V6; it's more like an underpowered 6L6 and somewhat different tonally than traditional 6V6s. They appear to be more rugged than the current crop of Electro Harmonix 6V6s, but there are certainly other 6V6s out there, including NOS. Besides, speakers and tubes are a matter of taste. Fender can't possibly hit everyone's sweet spot. And the speaker baffle is removable. As I also said in the first post.

May 13th, 2008, 08:50 AM	#53 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 6,011	Heh heh...I have a bunch of NOS 6V6's that are just sitting around doing nothing right now...

May 13th, 2008, 09:17 AM	#54 (permalink)
Hoodster Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 297	So Bill, you're not sure it was a P10R? Hopefully someone can confirm the speaker before everyone gets all worked up about the choice! It would be strange since they use a C10R in the PRA (which is the appropriate budget choice IMO--even better would be a Weber Ceramic Signature 10S).

May 13th, 2008, 09:19 AM	#55 (permalink)
Hoodster Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 297	Another argument about the price point--Why buy a PRRI instead of a SFPR in great condition? The value of the SF will probably only rise.

May 13th, 2008, 10:45 AM	#57 (permalink)
Billm Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey Age: 61 Posts: 325 1 Photos	My mistake about the speaker. It's a C10R. I'll correct my initial post. BTW, Shane confirms that the PRRI has a bias pot, externally accessible.

May 13th, 2008, 11:33 AM	#59 (permalink)
pedenphoto TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 36	I hope my original post concerning the Princeton Reverb reissue is not misunderstood. Our original impression of the reissue was VERY positive "out of the box". If you are on this forum, by definition you are questing for tone and wouldn't all of you consider a tube and speaker substitution on any amp with the possible exception of 40s and early 50s historical ones where the speakers are hard wired ? I think Fender has done a very smart thing. The amp is very good as they are shipping it. Obviously they can not ship a new amp with NOS tubes and a premium speaker that would run the price up and please only a narrow segment of the market. If you want the sound of a Princeton Reverb I think you should be very happy that they have made available this amp sounding this good at this price. You could be happy with it just as it ships but if you want to tailor it further to your particular taste it is a real tube amp just like the original so the easy substitutions (tubes & speakers) are available just like the originals. This is lots of fun right? John Peden

May 13th, 2008, 11:55 AM	#60 (permalink)
milocj Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 314 3 Photos	Great comments, John. The first thing that I was told when I bought my 1964 Vibrolux Reverb several years ago (that's worth about $2500 now) was that those original Oxfords suck and that I should replace them with something "good" yet somehow it's worth more with those speakers A lot of people today will buy something that they know is of a lesser quality or made by "slaves" getting $0.10 an hour if it saves them five bucks. I'm sure that even if Fender wanted to upgrade the amp with $10 worth of parts at their cost it would be marked up internally through several different departments, then again by everybody's hands that it passes through and would be something like a $100 change at the street price. I hope it's a great little amp. Is it US made?

May 13th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#62 (permalink)
deep TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kathmandu, Nepal Age: 34 Posts: 30	Will this mean that my original 1966 PR will only go up in value?

May 13th, 2008, 01:58 PM	#64 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 6,011	My NOS 6V6's would love to get together with your Princeton. Ship it up to me ASAP.