Non-eBay sources for a SF Princeton Reverb?

tdu · May 5th, 2006, 07:55 PM

Hey guys,

I am considering going through the final process in my amp 'downsizing' which will include selling 2 old Traynors I have. One is a YBA-1 (1968-70ish) and the other is a YGM-3. I LOVE the YGM 3 and actually only bought it recently, but it's a absolute backbreaker of an amp. Especially for something that is 20 watts. I considered getting another cab made for it, but they made the faceplate design way wider than it needed to be, so I don't even know how much I could reduce the cab size.

Basically it looks like a Princeton Reverb would fill all of my needs, and knowing that I am willing to pay the elevated prices for them. Especially considering it looks like my only alternative would be something like an Allen Sweetspot which costs a TON of money, especially with Canadian exchange and shipping.

I don't think I am comfortable buying an through eBay (unless the seller was someone I knew, or was recommended). Anyone have any ideas on where to track one of these down?

Thanks

Tim Armstrong · May 5th, 2006, 07:57 PM

Funny... I went from a YBA-1 to a YGM-3 to a Princeton Reverb....for all the same reasons!

Good luck!

Tim

tdu · May 5th, 2006, 08:07 PM

Tim,

Ya the tone on the Traynor really is perfect to my ears. But they designed the things TOO well I think. As you know (explanation for others) the cab on the YGM-3 is way oversized for the amp, and made of solid plywood. This is great for sound, but the amp likely weighs close to 50 lbs.

I am open to other amps similar to the Princeton Reverb, but prices on something like the Allen's ( $1,449) are out of my price range. The later model PR's seem to be within my budget.

JohnnyCrash · May 5th, 2006, 08:30 PM

Depending on the local pawn shops, you can usually find SF amps for really cheap in them.

SF are so ugly (they look very 80s to me, regardless of real age), a lot of folks (especially the 15 yr old kids) mistake them for crap... this makes for very good deals on very good amps, at least locally :)

Of course, as you already know, online it's a different story!

tdu · May 5th, 2006, 08:55 PM

Unfortunatly pawn shops are non-existent around here. The only place to track these amps down is in Toronto (45 minutes away). And the eBay prices are actually low compared to the prices there!

It's really a feature set/size of amp issue for me. Ugliness is not really a factor. But to be honest, I kinda of like how the silverfaces look for some reason. It's a pleasant kinda ugly :D

Sidney Vicious · May 5th, 2006, 09:05 PM

I personally would recommend that you overcome your fear of eBay - window shop there for a while and review this Forum regarding the amps and you will be educated enough so that if the right deal comes along you will be ready to pounce.

In my last five years of pawnshop hawking in Louisiana I have never laid eyes on a Princeton Reverb. There are 10 of them or more on ebay at any given time.

If you are careful, you can't lose - you can at least get your money back.

In my eBay experience I have bought ten or more amps - I have three left. When I sold the seven here and there on eBay I made money on each and every one. I have had the same luck with three guitars I bought and sold there.

It really is the market place for used musical equipment. It just takes research and patience. And look for "Buy It Now"s.

D_Schief · May 5th, 2006, 09:25 PM

tdu -- Drop me an e-mail if you want at daveschiefatearthlinkdotcom. I have a '68 or '69 blackfaced "player" SFPR with a 12" Weber. I haven't used it much since I got my Allen Sweetspot, and have thought about finding it a good home.

JohnnyCrash · May 5th, 2006, 09:26 PM

I feel really spoiled...

In Southern California there are pawn shops everywhere and often times SF's are spilling out the door!

I know a lot of folks really like the looks of em, so I hope I didn't offend anybody's SF sensabilities!

To the kids nowadays, they're ugly... to me they're a little unattractive, but the sound more than makes up for it, to me.

eBay is usually pretty safe, for the most part. I've bought and sold many guitars, pickups, and speakers... very few (if any) negative experiences.

tdu · May 5th, 2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sidney Vicious

I personally would recommend that you overcome your fear of eBay - window shop there for a while and review this Forum regarding the amps and you will be educated enough so that if the right deal comes along you will be ready to pounce.

In my last five years of pawnshop hawking in Louisiana I have never laid eyes on a Princeton Reverb. There are 10 of them or more on ebay at any given time.

If you are careful, you can't lose - you can at least get your money back.

In my eBay experience I have bought ten or more amps - I have three left. When I sold the seven here and there on eBay I made money on each and every one. I have had the same luck with three guitars I bought and sold there.

It really is the market place for used musical equipment. It just takes research and patience. And look for "Buy It Now"s.

I actually buy a lot of stuff off eBay, so it's not an overall eBay fear. My main issue is, unlike a lot of the people on these forums I have really limited technical knowledge with amps or amp repairs. I could end up with a real lemon pretty easily.

There are a couple of sites I buy gear from that I fully trust the item descriptions, but they don't have what I am looking for.

Sidney Vicious · May 5th, 2006, 09:47 PM

tdu:

I hear you on the lack of technical knowledge - in that I think I have been plain lucky in not getting stuck with a lemon - but again I also did my "homework" and didn't over spend - particularly if I had doubts.

My thinking still is that eBay - if the seller's got a decent record and gives you good info and pics - is still better than any just about any pawnshop or ad in the paper - in those instances I think you are at an even greater disadvantage.

When's the last time a newspaper ad had pics or tranny codes - or a pawnshop pulled a chassis for you to look inside? Such is common on ebay - and in two clicks you can check to see if the numbers match up or the price is the going rate. Your lack of tech knowledge is more quickly remedied on the ebay internet than at the corner pawn.

So I guess I'm back to where I was - even w/o tech know how ebay to me is the way to go!

eryque · May 5th, 2006, 09:56 PM

tdu, i've found that it's not hard to prevent getting a lemon if you ask the right questions and check the seller's feedback carefully. i've bought and sold several amps and never had a problem at all. you could also post an ad in the "wanted" section of the classifieds here and on other guitar-related websites, where the sellers are more likely to have some technical knowledge of the amp.

and as for your lack of technical knowledge... whenever i buy a vintage tube amp, i assume that i'm going to need to spend the extra money to retube the whole thing plus $100 or so for a tech to straighten out any problems. i can take care of some simple things, but anything more complex and i'm better off sending it to a tech. you should plan on adding a similar budget to your purchase price.

you're right, the traynors are too well-built. i read an interview with pete traynor that his design goal was to make them bullet proof for touring. his test was to drop them out the third floor window of his shop. if they worked after replacing the tubes, they passed the test. if not they got some modifications.

i have both a PR and a YGM-3. The PR sounds much better at low volumes and has an incredibly rich clean sound, but the YGM-3 sounds so much sweeter when it starts to break up.

tdu · May 6th, 2006, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

tdu, i've found that it's not hard to prevent getting a lemon if you ask the right questions and check the seller's feedback carefully. i've bought and sold several amps and never had a problem at all. you could also post an ad in the "wanted" section of the classifieds here and on other guitar-related websites, where the sellers are more likely to have some technical knowledge of the amp.

and as for your lack of technical knowledge... whenever i buy a vintage tube amp, i assume that i'm going to need to spend the extra money to retube the whole thing plus $100 or so for a tech to straighten out any problems. i can take care of some simple things, but anything more complex and i'm better off sending it to a tech. you should plan on adding a similar budget to your purchase price.

you're right, the traynors are too well-built. i read an interview with pete traynor that his design goal was to make them bullet proof for touring. his test was to drop them out the third floor window of his shop. if they worked after replacing the tubes, they passed the test. if not they got some modifications.

i have both a PR and a YGM-3. The PR sounds much better at low volumes and has an incredibly rich clean sound, but the YGM-3 sounds so much sweeter when it starts to break up.

There is an old interview with a "City TV" program (Toronto based channel) where they actually do throw an amp off the roof of the Traynor factory, retube it, and play it. I think they even used the footage for advertising back in the 70's. So that story is not a rumour in any way

Luckily I found a relitively local tech that I trust finally. So if I can find a PR for a decent price, I'd get him to do a checkup on it.

The YBA-1 is a great amp, and it will be a shame to let it go. I paid $75 for in highschool though (in the 90's). I paid $150 recently to get it totally fixed up and get a nice new set of tubes in it. I don't play it much because it's a powerhouse, so this might be a good time to get some cash for and it get something else.

I am focusing on PR's because I may be moving to the other side of the country for a job. I will only be able to take one amp and guitar with me. I play mainly Rockabilly, Surf, and Stones style rock and it seems like a PR is one amp that will cover all the ground I need.

Thanks

telel6s · May 6th, 2006, 12:45 PM

I was in the Guitar Center in Lawrenceville GA a couple weeks ago. They had a Princeton Reverb. I think the price was $825, but don't quote me on that. I only played it a little bit since I was having more fun with a BF Deluxe Reverb they also had (modded, $1300).

http://www.guitarcenter.com/location....cfm?store=763

Wally · May 6th, 2006, 01:23 PM

tdu. gbase is a valuable source of dealer retail sites. You might want to check it out....
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/Gea...reverb&Track=Y

Joe K · May 6th, 2006, 06:41 PM

Check this link and find your closest city in CA (or the US):

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/about/cities.html

If you don't see an amp like this show up soon, post a WANTED ad. That has worked for me (for other products, not amps). I did find my BFPR on Craigs but have not seen another in the last year or two.

Note: Craig's is free.

tdu · May 6th, 2006, 09:07 PM

Joe K, I know all about Craiglist, I sell on their all the time. Thanks anyway though. Princeton Reverbs aren't a common item in the marketplace here. And if they do show, they are way overpriced because of that fact.

I have a line on one though, so my problem may be solved. I'll update y'all.

JimmyZ · May 7th, 2006, 12:26 PM

I bought back a silverface Princeton Reverb that I owned fifteen years ago. I sent the chassis to Headstrong Amps who put it back into original condition for only $175. They do fantastic work and they also make a brand new Princeton Reverb amp that you can even get with a 12" speaker. I converted mine to black face and had them build me a new pine cabinet covered in blonde Tolex with wheat grill cloth. I installed a Celestian Greenback 12" in it and it really rocks.This is the best amp I have used for years and it looks and performs great. The only other amp I would want would be a Matchless Lightning 15 but this has reverb and the match wouldn't. Contact the guys at Headstrong (check the website) and they can help you or build a fantastic new one with warranty and they are priced very reasonalbe.

tdu · May 7th, 2006, 01:55 PM

I know a lot of these handbuilt amps you guys recommend are probably fantastic. But those Headstrong amps are about $1600 without shipping. And I'd have to pay exchange and taxes. A used SFPR, + $100 in tunes-ups will cost me about half of that.

Again no, disrespect meant but a lot of your ideas of 'great priced' are way removed from the reality of my financial situation

. I am not saying those amps aren't worth the money, but there are cheaper solutions out there for people on a budget. If I had $1600 (more like $2000 in Canadian $'s) I'd buy an Allen or something, but I don't.

Tim Armstrong · May 7th, 2006, 04:53 PM

Heck, I'll bet you have an extra kidney just sitting there, ready to be sold!

:D

Cheers, Tim

ralphie · May 8th, 2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

I feel really spoiled...

In Southern California there are pawn shops everywhere and often times SF's are spilling out the door!

How are the prices in general, Johnny?

nonvintage · May 8th, 2006, 08:34 PM

May 8, 2006 on ebay SF princeton Reverb with buy it now. Not affiliated seemed like a good price.

tdu · May 9th, 2006, 06:12 AM

I have worked out a deal with a TDPRI'er, but thanks for the link. That guy on eBay doesn't ship internationally anyway though.

May 5th, 2006, 07:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	Non-eBay sources for a SF Princeton Reverb? Hey guys, I am considering going through the final process in my amp 'downsizing' which will include selling 2 old Traynors I have. One is a YBA-1 (1968-70ish) and the other is a YGM-3. I LOVE the YGM 3 and actually only bought it recently, but it's a absolute backbreaker of an amp. Especially for something that is 20 watts. I considered getting another cab made for it, but they made the faceplate design way wider than it needed to be, so I don't even know how much I could reduce the cab size. Basically it looks like a Princeton Reverb would fill all of my needs, and knowing that I am willing to pay the elevated prices for them. Especially considering it looks like my only alternative would be something like an Allen Sweetspot which costs a TON of money, especially with Canadian exchange and shipping. I don't think I am comfortable buying an through eBay (unless the seller was someone I knew, or was recommended). Anyone have any ideas on where to track one of these down? Thanks __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

May 5th, 2006, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,259	Funny... I went from a YBA-1 to a YGM-3 to a Princeton Reverb....for all the same reasons! Good luck! Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

May 5th, 2006, 08:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	Tim, Ya the tone on the Traynor really is perfect to my ears. But they designed the things TOO well I think. As you know (explanation for others) the cab on the YGM-3 is way oversized for the amp, and made of solid plywood. This is great for sound, but the amp likely weighs close to 50 lbs. I am open to other amps similar to the Princeton Reverb, but prices on something like the Allen's ( $1,449) are out of my price range. The later model PR's seem to be within my budget. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

May 5th, 2006, 08:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	Unfortunatly pawn shops are non-existent around here. The only place to track these amps down is in Toronto (45 minutes away). And the eBay prices are actually low compared to the prices there! It's really a feature set/size of amp issue for me. Ugliness is not really a factor. But to be honest, I kinda of like how the silverfaces look for some reason. It's a pleasant kinda ugly :D __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

May 5th, 2006, 09:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
D_Schief TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 40	If you're interested... tdu -- Drop me an e-mail if you want at daveschiefatearthlinkdotcom. I have a '68 or '69 blackfaced "player" SFPR with a 12" Weber. I haven't used it much since I got my Allen Sweetspot, and have thought about finding it a good home.

May 5th, 2006, 08:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	Depending on the local pawn shops, you can usually find SF amps for really cheap in them. SF are so ugly (they look very 80s to me, regardless of real age), a lot of folks (especially the 15 yr old kids) mistake them for crap... this makes for very good deals on very good amps, at least locally :) Of course, as you already know, online it's a different story!

May 5th, 2006, 09:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sidney Vicious Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Posts: 1,246 13 Photos	I personally would recommend that you overcome your fear of eBay - window shop there for a while and review this Forum regarding the amps and you will be educated enough so that if the right deal comes along you will be ready to pounce. In my last five years of pawnshop hawking in Louisiana I have never laid eyes on a Princeton Reverb. There are 10 of them or more on ebay at any given time. If you are careful, you can't lose - you can at least get your money back. In my eBay experience I have bought ten or more amps - I have three left. When I sold the seven here and there on eBay I made money on each and every one. I have had the same luck with three guitars I bought and sold there. It really is the market place for used musical equipment. It just takes research and patience. And look for "Buy It Now"s.

May 5th, 2006, 09:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	I feel really spoiled... In Southern California there are pawn shops everywhere and often times SF's are spilling out the door! I know a lot of folks really like the looks of em, so I hope I didn't offend anybody's SF sensabilities! To the kids nowadays, they're ugly... to me they're a little unattractive, but the sound more than makes up for it, to me. eBay is usually pretty safe, for the most part. I've bought and sold many guitars, pickups, and speakers... very few (if any) negative experiences.

May 5th, 2006, 09:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sidney Vicious Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Posts: 1,246 13 Photos	tdu: I hear you on the lack of technical knowledge - in that I think I have been plain lucky in not getting stuck with a lemon - but again I also did my "homework" and didn't over spend - particularly if I had doubts. My thinking still is that eBay - if the seller's got a decent record and gives you good info and pics - is still better than any just about any pawnshop or ad in the paper - in those instances I think you are at an even greater disadvantage. When's the last time a newspaper ad had pics or tranny codes - or a pawnshop pulled a chassis for you to look inside? Such is common on ebay - and in two clicks you can check to see if the numbers match up or the price is the going rate. Your lack of tech knowledge is more quickly remedied on the ebay internet than at the corner pawn. So I guess I'm back to where I was - even w/o tech know how ebay to me is the way to go!

May 5th, 2006, 09:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,241 44 Photos	tdu, i've found that it's not hard to prevent getting a lemon if you ask the right questions and check the seller's feedback carefully. i've bought and sold several amps and never had a problem at all. you could also post an ad in the "wanted" section of the classifieds here and on other guitar-related websites, where the sellers are more likely to have some technical knowledge of the amp. and as for your lack of technical knowledge... whenever i buy a vintage tube amp, i assume that i'm going to need to spend the extra money to retube the whole thing plus $100 or so for a tech to straighten out any problems. i can take care of some simple things, but anything more complex and i'm better off sending it to a tech. you should plan on adding a similar budget to your purchase price. you're right, the traynors are too well-built. i read an interview with pete traynor that his design goal was to make them bullet proof for touring. his test was to drop them out the third floor window of his shop. if they worked after replacing the tubes, they passed the test. if not they got some modifications. i have both a PR and a YGM-3. The PR sounds much better at low volumes and has an incredibly rich clean sound, but the YGM-3 sounds so much sweeter when it starts to break up. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

May 6th, 2006, 12:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,180 80 Photos	Saw a SF Princeton Reverb in Atlanta I was in the Guitar Center in Lawrenceville GA a couple weeks ago. They had a Princeton Reverb. I think the price was $825, but don't quote me on that. I only played it a little bit since I was having more fun with a BF Deluxe Reverb they also had (modded, $1300). http://www.guitarcenter.com/location....cfm?store=763 __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

May 6th, 2006, 01:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	tdu. gbase is a valuable source of dealer retail sites. You might want to check it out.... http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/Gea...reverb&Track=Y

May 6th, 2006, 06:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
Joe K Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bethesda, Maryland Posts: 601 6 Photos	Craig's List Check this link and find your closest city in CA (or the US): http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/about/cities.html If you don't see an amp like this show up soon, post a WANTED ad. That has worked for me (for other products, not amps). I did find my BFPR on Craigs but have not seen another in the last year or two. Note: Craig's is free.

May 6th, 2006, 09:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	Joe K, I know all about Craiglist, I sell on their all the time. Thanks anyway though. Princeton Reverbs aren't a common item in the marketplace here. And if they do show, they are way overpriced because of that fact. I have a line on one though, so my problem may be solved. I'll update y'all. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

May 7th, 2006, 12:26 PM	#17 (permalink)
JimmyZ Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Anderson, Indiana Age: 58 Posts: 153	I did it I bought back a silverface Princeton Reverb that I owned fifteen years ago. I sent the chassis to Headstrong Amps who put it back into original condition for only $175. They do fantastic work and they also make a brand new Princeton Reverb amp that you can even get with a 12" speaker. I converted mine to black face and had them build me a new pine cabinet covered in blonde Tolex with wheat grill cloth. I installed a Celestian Greenback 12" in it and it really rocks.This is the best amp I have used for years and it looks and performs great. The only other amp I would want would be a Matchless Lightning 15 but this has reverb and the match wouldn't. Contact the guys at Headstrong (check the website) and they can help you or build a fantastic new one with warranty and they are priced very reasonalbe. __________________ If the phone don't ring it's me!

May 7th, 2006, 01:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	I know a lot of these handbuilt amps you guys recommend are probably fantastic. But those Headstrong amps are about $1600 without shipping. And I'd have to pay exchange and taxes. A used SFPR, + $100 in tunes-ups will cost me about half of that. Again no, disrespect meant but a lot of your ideas of 'great priced' are way removed from the reality of my financial situation . I am not saying those amps aren't worth the money, but there are cheaper solutions out there for people on a budget. If I had $1600 (more like $2000 in Canadian $'s) I'd buy an Allen or something, but I don't. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

May 7th, 2006, 04:53 PM	#19 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,259	Heck, I'll bet you have an extra kidney just sitting there, ready to be sold! :D Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

May 8th, 2006, 08:34 PM	#21 (permalink)
nonvintage Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 506	tdu check it out! May 8, 2006 on ebay SF princeton Reverb with buy it now. Not affiliated seemed like a good price.

May 9th, 2006, 06:12 AM	#22 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	I have worked out a deal with a TDPRI'er, but thanks for the link. That guy on eBay doesn't ship internationally anyway though. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff: