Princeton Reverb Reissue yes...

[Mik]

yes it's a great little amp.

Couldn't stop playing one yesterday (Teles and Strats) at a Best Buy yesterday.

Clear, sparkling clean tone to 5 on the volume (didn't push it past 5), deep lush widely adjustable reverb. Tight full sound, nothing lacking in the stock speaker at the volumes I played.

Like a widdo DR or mini SR

Nothing not to like about it, the price was only $619 , close out. Stomps anything else out there I've played at that price.

Anyone thinking about a 12-15 watt "too loud for the bedroom, not 'nuff for the stage" amp this is THE Fender amp to buy at 600 bucks.

[leebman]

Yep and yes and oh yeah. I love mine and when you get bored of that tone swap the speaker for another and its a different animal.

[sekt88]

Yes, but my honeymoon lasted only a short time. Once you start going past 5, the amp, IMO, sucks. The only way to get that thing to sound good at loud volume is to hot bias and retube very often, turn the bass down, use a very light touch and use the guitar volumn knob almost all the time. Great for a small gig with a quiet drummer, but other than this it is a students amp inspite of the "holy grail" moniker it has been given. Campilongo can make it sing, but he plays with a stand-up bass, a quiet drummer and doesn´t play any sort of power chords. Triads sound find, but hit a power chord and the amp farts like a rhino on a 1000kg diet of beans and sauerkraut. I did all the mods and replaced with a 12" speaker, BillM OT. In the end a waste of money and time.

[EZchair Picker]

The PRRI is "that fender sound" that I've wanted for a long time but didn't find in any of the other fender amps I've tried or owned. I've used mine both at home and with a full band without any problems.....granted that I'm not sure how well it would do at a gig without a mic on it. I can't really comment on the whole 'student's model' thing (champ anyone?) as I generally look at amps and such as tools for getting the job done.

[leebman]

I use mine with the band and run it on 7 sounds great. I don't even mic it. I wouldn't re-bias it hot unless you've got lots of money for valves. Remember this is a 6v6 amp the tubes are running at there limit so pushing them harder than necessary may cause them to collapse and wipe out your OT and speaker and a few other bits and pieces I see this in champs all the time.

[cbucki]

Originally Posted by sekt88

Yes, but my honeymoon lasted only a short time. Once you start going past 5, the amp, IMO, sucks. In the end a waste of money and time.

My experience, EXACTLY. Bought one at the BB $620 price, but it only lasted 48 hours...

[Soopajeanmi]

Originally Posted by sekt88

Yes, but my honeymoon lasted only a short time. Once you start going past 5, the amp, IMO, sucks. The only way to get that thing to sound good at loud volume is to hot bias and retube very often, turn the bass down, use a very light touch and use the guitar volumn knob almost all the time. Great for a small gig with a quiet drummer, but other than this it is a students amp inspite of the "holy grail" moniker it has been given. Campilongo can make it sing, but he plays with a stand-up bass, a quiet drummer and doesn´t play any sort of power chords. Triads sound find, but hit a power chord and the amp farts like a rhino on a 1000kg diet of beans and sauerkraut. I did all the mods and replaced with a 12" speaker, BillM OT. In the end a waste of money and time.

I guess you don't choose a princeton reverb if you want to blast power chords, right...?

[still_fiddlin]

This is a great amp for what it is. It is not an amp for gigging without a mic, and if you plan to play it for hours with tubes in overdrive, you better get another cabinet. And, yeah, I don't know anyone who is trying to play power triads on a Princeton Reverb, new or otherwise, except possibly in a studio.

But, for pure Fender tone, it's a very, very nice reproduction. My plan is to use mine, as is, for 5 years, in case I need a warranty claim, then get it blackfaced. I have no regrets, and I paid more than $600. (I'd buy a 2nd if I didn't have a Tele in front of that on my list. :))

[Groovey Records]

Originally Posted by sekt88

Great for a small gig with a quiet drummer, but other than this it is a students amp inspite of the "holy grail" moniker it has been given. Campilongo can make it sing, but he plays with a stand-up bass, a quiet drummer and doesn´t play any sort of power chords.

1 I've seem Campy play a dozen times in the last year and not once did he use an RI.

2 He plays plenty of Power chords (try and Lisen to "Helen Keller's Waffle Iron" for an example.)

3. Jim does hot bias his NOS tubes in his original BF and SF Princetons and switch the speakers.

4. He always goes through the PA.

5. I've seen him play with Organ and Saxaphone along with his Trio.

6. Stephan Crump's Bass is Stand up running through the PA and an Aguilar 500 watt 4x10 amp

7. Tony Mason rocks, his style is all over the place and he slaps those skins when the song calls for it

[jedi]

[quote=Groovey Records;2123381]1 I've seem Campy play a dozen times in the last year and not once did he use an RI.

2 He plays plenty of Power chords (try and Lisen to "Helen Keller's Waffle Iron" for an example.)

3. Jim does hot bias his NOS tubes in his original BF and SF Princetons and switch the speakers.

4. He always goes through the PA.

5. I've seen him play with Organ and Saxaphone along with his Trio.

6. Stephan Crump's Bass is Stand up running through the PA and an Aguilar 500 watt 4x10 amp

7. Tony Mason rocks, his style is all over the place and he slaps those skins when the song calls for it

Great shot! A Princeton can definitely be used for gigging. I have used a Tweed Deluxe and a Princeton Reverb in the past and for most rooms, if the drummer is not a complete animal, it can handle it. Of course, best case is to throw a SM57 on it and put a little through PA-on-a-stick or whatever sound reinforcement is available.

I have witnessed so many live acts that use amps way to big for the room and their tone just sucks. I personally do not like od/fuzz/distortion boxes for main rhythm and in many cases you have no choice with too much amp no matter how good the amp might be.

It takes a little time to adjust to smaller amps but once you get used to working the amp and the room your tone becomes better and cuts through the mix better.

[Singin' Dave]

I would concur that brand new, A PRRI is a hell of an amp for $600, and I would recommend it to many.

If possible though, and depending on your market, its SF equivalent can be found for the same $$, and IMO smokes the PRRI tone wise and everywhere else (collectability, reliability, "mod-ability", ease of maintenance and repair, , etc.).

I'm lucky that Chicago has a pretty good music scene and a fairly friendly Craigslist. While the deals on CL used to be amazing here (and has tapered drastically in the last couple of years), I still was able to find two SFPRs in the last 18 mos or so for $600 ('75) and $750 ('71 with two extra Weber speakers in addition to stock speaker, and extra set of NOS JAN 6V6GTs) respectively. The '75 was basically untouched, sold to me by a middle school music teacher who found it at school, fully tubed with RCA's and is the magic amp of the two but they're both stellar. I've turned the '71 into the "gig PR" by installing a 12" speaker (Celestion Gold) and JJ 6V6S's for a little more plate voltage, and couldn't be happier. The '75 is the recording and rehearsal amp I've dreamed of.

Anyway, Moral is the SFPRs are out there and in this market you can score an amazing handwired real deal PR for silly money with just a bit of patience. If you want a Princeton Reverb, do what you can to get a SF and if you can't, the PRRI (with a trip to the tech for bias, etc.) will get you 93% of the way there and make you smile as well.

[Groovey Records]

[quote=jedi;2123593]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

1 I've seem Campy play a dozen times in the last year and not once did he use an RI.

2 He plays plenty of Power chords (try and Lisen to "Helen Keller's Waffle Iron" for an example.)

3. Jim does hot bias his NOS tubes in his original BF and SF Princetons and switch the speakers.

4. He always goes through the PA.

5. I've seen him play with Organ and Saxaphone along with his Trio.

6. Stephan Crump's Bass is Stand up running through the PA and an Aguilar 500 watt 4x10 amp

7. Tony Mason rocks, his style is all over the place and he slaps those skins when the song calls for it

Great shot! A Princeton can definitely be used for gigging. I have used a Tweed Deluxe and a Princeton Reverb in the past and for most rooms, if the drummer is not a complete animal, it can handle it. Of course, best case is to throw a SM57 on it and put a little through PA-on-a-stick or whatever sound reinforcement is available.

I have witnessed so many live acts that use amps way to big for the room and their tone just sucks. I personally do not like od/fuzz/distortion boxes for main rhythm and in many cases you have no choice with too much amp no matter how good the amp might be.

It takes a little time to adjust to smaller amps but once you get used to working the amp and the room your tone becomes better and cuts through the mix better.

Thanks this time tomorrow night I'll be sitting in front of Jim as close as I was in that picture

BTW Orange is for sale at his gigs

[nosuch]

I also fell in love with it when playing my friends (on living room level - clean) and later in the shop (on 10, yes!). Thinking about getting one as a christmas gift for me.
Didn't play one on stage yet, but there's a guy here in cologne who shows up on blues sessions in small clubs with a princeton and a les paul and fills the room with his rocking sound.

[sekt88]

Originally Posted by Soopajeanmi

I guess you don't choose a princeton reverb if you want to blast power chords, right...?

once in a while, a tune calls for a power cord. ANy way, the farting comes as easy with lower chord voicing at gig vol. levels.

[sekt88]

I´ve seen him several times at the living room in NYC.

He never miked his amp.
his trio played relatively quiet.
Whether the drummwr slams a skin hard is rather different than a "loud" drummer.
If JC uses no RI it is of no matter. My observations remain.
According to JC, hi biases his PRs HOT which is why I mentioned one needs to retube often. JC also uses 9´s and has what seems to be a very light right hand.

I am not saying it is bad amp, just not good for me of gigging. For me the amp sucks.


[quote=Groovey Records;2123381]1 I've seem Campy play a dozen times in the last year and not once did he use an RI.

2 He plays plenty of Power chords (try and Lisen to "Helen Keller's Waffle Iron" for an example.)

3. Jim does hot bias his NOS tubes in his original BF and SF Princetons and switch the speakers.

4. He always goes through the PA.

5. I've seen him play with Organ and Saxaphone along with his Trio.

6. Stephan Crump's Bass is Stand up running through the PA and an Aguilar 500 watt 4x10 amp

7. Tony Mason rocks, his style is all over the place and he slaps those skins when the song calls for it

[mannyg]

Bought my Princeton about 8 months ago and I absolutely love it. The tone is just perfect with my tele for country and twanging. When I up the volume it breaks up real nice for a great blues sound.

I have a Dr Z Prescription jr. and I haven't played it more than twice since I got the Princeton. It's just a different animal.

I really love the Fender clean sound.

[brokenjoe]

[quote=Groovey Records;2123710]

Originally Posted by jedi

Thanks this time tomorrow night I'll be sitting in front of Jim as close as I was in that picture

BTW Orange is for sale at his gigs

Not trying to jack the thread, but have you got any more shots Groovey?

[Groovey Records]

Only four came out worth publishing.

I was feeling no pain that night.

These shots are from the Rodeo Bar 39th and 3rd NYC tomorrow night its the Living Room

Have you seen the ones on Jim's web site?

[Groovey Records]

Originally Posted by sekt88

I´ve seen him several times at the living room in NYC.

He never miked his amp.
.

Look again, at the Living room he mikes it from behind.

The PA is bolted to the ceiling.

[Robsocal]

Thanks for those photos, and details. Jim's playing and tone is holy grail to me. I hope to catch one of his shows sometime when I'm in NYC.

[sekt88]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

Look again, at the Living room he mikes it from behind.

The PA is bolted to the ceiling.

Almost every time he walked in with his amp, fired it up and played. I saw no mikes on his amp.