Help! Is this Princeton Reverb worth buying?

[Knopfler]

Hi!

I so desperately want a BF Princeton Reverb. Living in Europe they are hard to get hold on. Now there's a guy with one for sale. It is said to be a 1966, I am told that the following is replaced:

- spaker cone
- some condensors
- the reverb spring
- power trafo (replaced with a 220V one)

Also, the reverb cover is missing.

What do you think? Will this PR give me the famous PR sound? I am not so worried about the originality of the amp, this will be a gigging amp som I am more worried about the sound. Will the power trafo change affect the sound? And what about the changed spring?

Thank you for your help!

[tomfarnan]

It looks ok, but I'd want an amp technician to look over it. The back panels on the cabinet appear to be missing - mojotone and other sites have those, and surely you will find a reverb cover somewhere. It concerns me that the cover is missing though - it makes me think that the repairs have been done by the owner rather than by a decent tech. Makes me wonder what else he's done to it and how good the repairs are.

The power tranny shouldn't make much difference to tone but if he still has the original try and get it as part of the purchase price because it will add to resale value.

The preamp tubes need covers, but again that's no biggie.

Nice to see it has the original Jensen speaker - they sound fantastic and a reconing is to be expected at that age. As for how it changes or doesn't change sound it all depends on who did it and how well.

The metal tube between the power and the output transformer - what's that? Is that normal I wonder?

Personally, I'd buy it if it works out as around the equivalent to US$1800, which is what importing a decent one from the US will cost you.

[T Prior]

I do not believe that is the original Jenson speaker, it looks like one of the Eminence Gold Label series which is used in multiple current amps. Not a big deal though, not a deal killer.

like these from a Hot Rod Deville...

nice amp , buy it !

[Knopfler]

I also have a feeling that it might be the owner himself who has done the repairs. And I wouldn't like that.

Think the metal tube is supposed to be there though.

[castpolymer]

If you have the funds to put another $ 300.00 - $ 400.00 into the amp then buy it. Figure you will need a speaker replace, possibly new tubes and a full run down from an amp tech. If it were available here in Oklahoma for a fair price, I would buy it.

[T Prior]

The "Aluminum Can" is correct, it is the 3 way Capacitors ( 3 x20UF) for the Power Supply rather than individual caps.

Considering the original tone, the power Xformer should have no effect as long as the voltages are correct for the amp. The NEW speaker would indeed have the most pronounced effect on tone, but you may like it...

If I were to buy this amp I would probably replace the Cap Can, the 25uf Bias cap , obviously get a new power transformer , put covers on the 12AX7's, then just play it, see how it sounds, maybe a tube or two if needed , if a different speaker is required then that's an easy change.

The original speaker would have been a Jenson C10 or Oxford C10 series...
t

[imsilly]

What is he asking for it?

That is the only real issue, the rest can all be fixed.

[Knopfler]

It all boils down to the price, I know. He's asking 1500 dollars, converted from norwegian money. Too much?

[T Prior]

$1500 US ? I think yes it is on the high end of the scale ...but if you live in an area where they are never available , very very rare, then money is not the object anymore....the wanna and gotta have it factor rule the day...

If $1000 is a normal price then paying $1500 ( 1/3 premium) for something that is very very rare and hard to find then maybe it's not a bad deal.

here's one on fleabay for a grand as an example..

http://cgi.ebay.com/1979-Fender-Prin...item4cecdebad7

[imsilly]

Realistically you have 3 options; buy a Blackface Princeton Reverb from the states with no issues and at a competative price, buy a Blackface Princeton Reverb from Europe at a stupidly high price or finally get a Silverface from Europe for a decent price.

I would consider a silverface if you are going to gig it and you are on a budget.

For those who might not know the problems we have in Europe compare the two most recent Princeton Reverb auction in the UK on ebay:

Blackface £1500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1964-Fender-Bl...item414c7516da

Silverface £650 (and still hasn't sold)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1974-Fender-Pr...item2a04882962

The fact remains Blackface Fender amps with Reverb are painfully expensive, Silverfaces not so. I luckily scored a Blackface Super Reverb for the same price as that Silverface Princeton, so you can get them, but I searched long and hard for it.

[chet]

Get a PRRI and be happy!

[Billm]

I agree that it would make sense to get a newer silverface or a PRRI. This amp has been completely recapped, meaning that the coupling caps have all been changed too. So it will probably sound a little different than one that has only had the electrolytic caps updated.

Fender worked pretty hard to get the PRRI to sound like the '65 blackface. It's a good amp. Not sure how expensive they are in Europe, though.

[RubyRae]

I know how you feel wanting that amp so bad, but being in limbo about pulling the trigger. Bottom line is you just don't know how the amp is gonna sound. It actually looks pretty good. Nice tubes, speaker, body. It bums me out when I see replace reverb tanks, but you can ask him if the reverb and trem sound good with no strange noises. If you can try to ask him every question in the book, and get as many pictures as possible. Also try to talk him down on the price, even if it's just 100 bucks, cause that can go towards any work you do to it. The bottom line is it is a great amp, and can always be worked on to sound perfect to you, it just might need some work and money to get there. If they are really that difficult to get in Norway then I would be more likely to go ahead and get one. If it is good shape cosmetically and most everything else is good, you will have the vintage blackface PR you always dreamed of, even if it takes a little extra to get it sounding perfect. I, like the poster above, would be a little weary about gigging a lot with a vintage amp, but as long as you are real careful...let us know how it goes. I'm real happy for ya. Don't fret if it doesn'[t work out, there are plenty more to come around, trust me.

[Knopfler]

I want the BF circuit so earlier SF models could be the solution. Reissue is not an option. I have a blonde Tremolux head and a blackface bassman head, and the vintage tone is to die for. Just need something easier to carry around.

Thank you for your advice. I'll try to bargain on it.