New Princeton Reverb Reissue -- first look

[Billm]

I saw and played the Princeton Reverb Reissue today at the New York Guitar Show. Proud poppa Shane Nicholas (Fender vp of marketing) says it'll be in stores in June at $799.

It sounds like 1965 all over again--surprisingly rich bass, better than most PRs I've heard. And that Blackface tone is exactly right, but it gets that great Princeton edge and fairly reasonable volume. The reverb is rich and full, and can be moderated from a pleasant echo to full surf. The tank is in a bag. The lowest speed on the tremolo is slower than I remember, which is a good thing, and it has that great bias-trem sound.

THIS IS NO BEDROOM AMP. It's loud, although like other 15 watt amps, it will likely be marginal with a loud drummer.

It's built just like the DRRI and the TRRI, on a circuit board. I think that's the right way to go... maybe a little inconvenient for us modders, but it ensures consistency from amp to amp. Yes, sure, some owners will tear out the circuit board and install an eyelet board, and they'll rave about how much better the tone is. But for 99 percent of people who have been yearning for a real live blackface Princeton Reverb, this is the real deal.

The speaker is a Jensen C10R*, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded it the PR cab. The baffle is removable, and there's room for a 12-inch speaker if you're so inclined.

* corrected speaker type

[alexpigment]

seriously?? $799 MSRP or street price?

[Flannel Pat]

God, I just found where most of my check from Uncle Sam is going.

[Billm]

$799 is the street price. So $150 below the street price of the DRRI. Seems reasonable to me.

[Stuco]

I hope this doesn't jack up the price of the SF princetons.

[BrianF]

now that this will be available ...why would one pick this amp over the Deluxe Reverb 1x12?

[Scott S]

That's good news, Bill. If I get a chance, I'll try one out.

- Scott

[maestrovert]

Originally Posted by BrianF

now that this will be available ...why would one pick this amp over the Deluxe Reverb 1x12?

it'd be a bit smaller/lighter without losing anything tonally speaking, would be my guess.....

[micpoc]

Originally Posted by BrianF

now that this will be available ...why would one pick this amp over the Deluxe Reverb 1x12?

Less headroom (probably), and the 10" isn't inferior to the 12"... it's just different.

[gpower]

I can't wait to put one through it's paces. If it holds true to the vintage Princetons, tonewise, it should sound gorgeous.

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by BrianF

now that this will be available ...why would one pick this amp over the Deluxe Reverb 1x12?

It's all about the Tremolo circuit on those (at least on the Originals)

[bradpdx]

Originally Posted by BrianF

now that this will be available ...why would one pick this amp over the Deluxe Reverb 1x12?

Same reason you might have in 1965 - the Deluxe is a bit louder, a bit bigger, a bit more amp. The differences aren't as earth-shattering as going from a Champ to a Twin, but very real.

The Princeton will definitely give you more breakup on the bandstand than the Deluxe, all else being equal. Conversely, the Deluxe will give you more headroom. Not much in either case, but that's why the difference is only $150.

[BrianF]

Interesting.. I have a SF Princeton Reverb and without mods it is weak and boxy sounding compared to a 1x12 or 2x10. My observation is that people tend to want to mod amps to make them something they are not...namely make them sound bigger. The PR falls into that category... especially for gigging. I think there's a reason Fender discontinued the PR...lets see how long this one sticks around.

[Big Mike Simpson]

Originally Posted by BrianF

Interesting.. I have a SF Princeton Reverb and without mods it is weak and boxy sounding compared to a 1x12 or 2x10. My observation is that people tend to want to mod amps to make them something they are not...namely make them sound bigger. The PR falls into that category... especially for gigging. I think there's a reason Fender discontinued the PR...lets see how long this one sticks around.

Interesting... I have a SF Princeton with a 12" speaker that sounds GREAT!

[BrianF]

See? you modded it! Any other mods?

[Paul G.]

68 here. Didn't sound boxy, but the Oxford couldn't handle the bass.

Threw in a 10" Weber California, and ta-da--big sound, small package.

Differences between a DR and a PR are not that big, but the PR's more primitive PI, and bias varying Tremelo do make them sound different. The DR sounds thinner at lower volumes, but breaks up more smoothly when you crank it. The PR sounds richer clean, mild OD is great--that point where you're "on the edge"--but full on crankosphere can get pretty ratty.

Different amps, different feels, different sounds.

Are they too close to have one of each? Probably.

Both are considered very high up in the Fender food chain, because they are both great, and I mean GREAT amplifiers.

Give me a Gibson or Fender guitar, ten feet or so of wire and a DR or PR, and I am a happy camper.

P.

[Capel]

I've played it - can't wait to get one.. it the goods!!

[bluesfordan]

where did you get to play it?

[Capel]

Fender Australia had one for their dealer seminar last weekend.... when I get my act together I'll post up pictures of the custom shop fenders & gretches.

[Billm]

Originally Posted by bluesfordan

where did you get to play it?

I'll take a guess and say that he was at the NY/NJ Amp Show. That was its first public appearance.

[outbreak]

capel do you by any chance know the rough australian rrp? been thinking of a blues jnr lately but one of these would be ALOT nicer

[VWAmTele]

Bill - are you able to compare this with the Princeton Recording amp? Thx.

[Dacious]

I have a SF Princeton Reverb I put a bias pot in and changed to a 240 Volt primary tranny and almost nothing else. I use a Vibrolux Reverb for my big gig amp, but the PR is a great lower-volume unit and lives with our drummer. Same reverb pan, even better tremolo.

The only changes I have planned are to do a cap job, as it's futzing out on low notes to easiliy, and maybe going to some Radiotron NOS tubes I have.

Even with the stock 10" eminence speaker (I presume it's stock - 1980 date matches other components in the amp, Silverface costmetics) it sounds just fine.

[mistermullens]

This is great news! I've been looking for a new amp for a long time and I'm hoping this will be the one. I've been looking so long that I've been considering upping my budget on this amp quest. I can wait another month or so now. Thanks!!!

[Big Mike Simpson]

Originally Posted by BrianF

See? you modded it! Any other mods?

Brian,
The previous owner had put in a peavey black widow for more hearoom and I took it out and put in a Fender labeled Eminence. I paid $150 for the amp and sold the BW for $68 then bought a used speaker for $20... Just about every time I take it to a jam someone remarks on how good it sounds. No, no other mods as far as I can tell. I'm the 2nd owner and I don't think it has had anything done to it since it was new, the tubes are old RCA's.