Has anyone here played a Fender® Princeton Recording Amp yet?

WhiteAsh · October 25th, 2006, 07:19 PM

I saw where some may be shipping today?

What do you think of the Fender® Princeton Recording Amp?

Who's first on the block!

WhiteAsh · October 29th, 2006, 01:20 PM

Update:

Now they are not due to ship until JANUARY 10 2007

Guess there is a holdup somewhere along the line....

BrianF · October 29th, 2006, 02:54 PM

Wow...looks like they will be missing the Christmas season for sales...

maggieo · October 29th, 2006, 02:58 PM

Damn.

JohnnyCrash · October 29th, 2006, 03:37 PM

I'll be at NAMM this January, I'll see if I can't try one out...

Joe K · October 29th, 2006, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteAsh

Update:

Now they are not due to ship until JANUARY 10 2007

Argh!!! My birthday is next week. What excuse will I have for getting one in January?

So anxious to try this amp out...

popthree · October 29th, 2006, 07:59 PM

just get a vintage princeton and an attenuator

edit...oh, and Happy Birthday

trandy16 · October 29th, 2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteAsh

Update:

Now they are not due to ship until JANUARY 10 2007

Guess there is a holdup somewhere along the line....

I spoke with Fender the other day...I'm a dealer. They told me they should start shipping within two weeks. They originally said the amps would ship in September, but, as it happens all too often, they ran into some problems that had to be straightened out.

I ordered a half-dozen for the store, including one for myself.

WhiteAsh · October 29th, 2006, 11:03 PM

Musician's Friend states January 10th so I was hoping someone would get them before that. Glad to hear that you are getting some.

I have reservations about getting a $1500 1965 or so Princeton Reverb that has had who knows what done to it and then putting 3 more bills for a cap job and yada yada yada. Those used PR are freakin spensive right now.

Joe K · October 30th, 2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popthree

just get a vintage princeton and an attenuator

edit...oh, and Happy Birthday

First, thanks so much for the birthday wishes!

Secondly, regarding your idea about the attenuator ...maybe. I already have a BFPR (which may make you wonder why I'm excited to try the new amp - it's because I like Princetons and have heard questionable reports on attenuators. Will Fender's engineers deliver anything better? Don't know.)

Here is why I say maybe. While I will try the new amp when they start arriving in stores, this month's Vintage Guitar Magazine (12/06) has a Gerald Weber article ""Building a Two-Stage Power Attenuator." The article includes a circuit diagram and a parts list ($85 total, all of which can be sourced from Mouser). In the article, Weber discusses the pros and cons of power attenuators. I don't think I can/will build one myself but am thinking about the whole thing.

Big White Tele · November 2nd, 2006, 08:45 PM

Here's one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0232&rd=1&rd=1

Sidney Vicious · November 2nd, 2006, 09:27 PM

Looking at that one on eBay I have to repeat my earlier take on the item -

THAT IS one UGLY amp -

What Fender was thinking when they designed it is beyond comprehension.

A modified vintage look would have worked - but that grafted on lower control plate looks like

a grafted on lower control plate.

To me it screams "Made in Cheaplaboristan" - and looks like it was designed there too!

maggieo · November 2nd, 2006, 09:29 PM

Hey, more for us who care more about how it sounds! ;^)

Sidney Vicious · November 2nd, 2006, 09:41 PM

I hear ya, maggieo -

And it DOES sound very fine in the demo clips I have heard/seen -

BarnesTO · November 2nd, 2006, 09:41 PM

I also saw that one on eBay....I don't get it. They are ugly in a way I cannot describe.

trandy16 · November 2nd, 2006, 09:46 PM

Frankly, I really don't care what it looks like. I'm not buying it to sit and stare at it.

I only care how it sounds.

BarnesTO · November 2nd, 2006, 09:58 PM

I know what you guys are saying, but asthetics are somewhat important to most of us. Besides, the amp in question seems to be the answer to a question no one was asking....

Bill · November 2nd, 2006, 10:04 PM

Wow, it's like one of their blackface amps had a high-speed collision with that first zodiac series of solid state amps Fender did back around 1970.

Well, the one thing you can be sure of, it's got to sound better than it looks.

neocaster · November 2nd, 2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

Wow, it's like one of their blackface amps had a high-speed collision with that first zodiac series of solid state amps Fender did back around 1970.

Well, the one thing you can be sure of, it's got to sound better than it looks.

I was thinking that. I love vintage solid state stuff. The early years always looked the same. It was always brushed metal, chunky black plastic controls, and script replaced block lettering. everything said "Solid State" in script...

maggieo · November 2nd, 2006, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarnesTO

I know what you guys are saying, but asthetics are somewhat important to most of us. Besides, the amp in question seems to be the answer to a question no one was asking....

Actually, it's the amp I've been looking for for many years.

stantheman · November 4th, 2006, 11:38 AM

"Zodiac"...I hear Ya LOUD&CLEAR.
Y'know nothin' They do Amplifier-wise get's My blood churning.
Too many disappointments.
The Only ones I warmed up to was The Custom Vibrolux and The
Vibro-King.
For the most part I wish that they'd go back to building FENDER AMPLIFIERS.
They've got Mexican Labor in Ensenada so where's the problem?
Don't THEY look on ebay to see what ACTUAL FENDER AMPLIFIERS are selling for?
....very frustrating.

WhiteAsh · November 6th, 2006, 11:05 AM

So... I guess no one here owns one yet? Can't wait to hear a real guy's or gal's first hand impression.

later I guess

Wild Rice Chris · November 6th, 2006, 11:14 AM

Posted over on the Weber amps forum:

Quote:

Date: October 26, 2006 at 17:59:43
From: BrianF
Subject: Re: Smart move, except . . .

The list the patent number for the Transimpedance Attenuator... I looked it up and read it (I'm an EE)...

When the attenuator is being used...the 6V6 power stage drives a dummey passive resistor....that point then feeds into a SOLID STATE driver that drives the speaker with attenuation controlled by th efront panel knob.....A portion of the speaker complex load current is fed back and summed into the 6V6 load current so that the 6V6 'thinks' it's really driving a speaker complex load... How does it sound? Who knows...

zooropamofo · November 6th, 2006, 02:16 PM

Can't say I like the looks, but it'll be interesting to hear the sound.

But the first thing I thought when I saw the pic was "UGH...."

simon · November 6th, 2006, 05:35 PM

My guess is that during the design process of this amp something went wrong at Fender. Often when companies get bigger many decisions that could be made very easily in a small company have to go over so many desks that in the end the solution is a hundred compromises. I can't think of any other reason for designing such an ugly amplifier today? They should just reissue the 6V6 Tweed Champ and -Princeton and -Deluxe and everyone would be happy.

ruger9 · November 6th, 2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon

They should just reissue the 6V6 Tweed Champ and -Princeton and -Deluxe and everyone would be happy.

Everyone except those who think adding an onboard attenuator to ANY/ALL tube amps is a damn good idea, that is.

The onboard FX I could take or leave. Yes, it's ugly. But if that attenuator sounds good, not only will Fender have a huge seller on their hands, you might just see a stand-alone attenuator from Fender...

The cool thing about an onboard attenuator vs. one you buy yourself is the additional "mojo" of having the attenuator voiced to THAT SPECIFIC CIRCUIT. We've all heard the stories of "THIS attenuator works on THAT amp, but not so good on THAT one..." etc., and onboard attenuator, voiced for that amp, is the perfect solution.

But yes, it's still Fugly!

October 25th, 2006, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
WhiteAsh Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: US Posts: 112	Has anyone here played a Fender® Princeton Recording Amp yet? I saw where some may be shipping today? What do you think of the Fender® Princeton Recording Amp? Who's first on the block!

October 29th, 2006, 02:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
maggieo Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 256	Damn. __________________ Blog -- Music -- Photos

October 29th, 2006, 07:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
popthree Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Age: 43 Posts: 2,837 47 Photos	just get a vintage princeton and an attenuator edit...oh, and Happy Birthday __________________ don't taze me bro !

November 2nd, 2006, 09:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
maggieo Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 256	Hey, more for us who care more about how it sounds! ;^) __________________ Blog -- Music -- Photos

November 2nd, 2006, 09:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
trandy16 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Camdenton, Missouri Posts: 390	Frankly, I really don't care what it looks like. I'm not buying it to sit and stare at it. I only care how it sounds. __________________ "Won't you pour me a Cuban Breeze...Gretchen?..."

October 29th, 2006, 01:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
WhiteAsh Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: US Posts: 112	Update: Now they are not due to ship until JANUARY 10 2007 Guess there is a holdup somewhere along the line....

October 29th, 2006, 02:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
BrianF Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carlsbad, Ca Posts: 2,155 7 Photos	Wow...looks like they will be missing the Christmas season for sales...

October 29th, 2006, 03:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	I'll be at NAMM this January, I'll see if I can't try one out...

October 29th, 2006, 11:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
WhiteAsh Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: US Posts: 112	Musician's Friend states January 10th so I was hoping someone would get them before that. Glad to hear that you are getting some. I have reservations about getting a $1500 1965 or so Princeton Reverb that has had who knows what done to it and then putting 3 more bills for a cap job and yada yada yada. Those used PR are freakin spensive right now.

November 2nd, 2006, 08:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
Big White Tele Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canadian Rockies Posts: 238	Here's one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0232&rd=1&rd=1

November 2nd, 2006, 09:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Sidney Vicious Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Posts: 1,158 9 Photos	Looking at that one on eBay I have to repeat my earlier take on the item - THAT IS one UGLY amp - What Fender was thinking when they designed it is beyond comprehension. A modified vintage look would have worked - but that grafted on lower control plate looks like a grafted on lower control plate. To me it screams "Made in Cheaplaboristan" - and looks like it was designed there too!

November 2nd, 2006, 09:41 PM	#14 (permalink)
Sidney Vicious Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Posts: 1,158 9 Photos	I hear ya, maggieo - And it DOES sound very fine in the demo clips I have heard/seen -

November 2nd, 2006, 09:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
BarnesTO Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, AZ Age: 30 Posts: 691 4 Photos	I also saw that one on eBay....I don't get it. They are ugly in a way I cannot describe.

November 2nd, 2006, 09:58 PM	#17 (permalink)
BarnesTO Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, AZ Age: 30 Posts: 691 4 Photos	I know what you guys are saying, but asthetics are somewhat important to most of us. Besides, the amp in question seems to be the answer to a question no one was asking....

November 2nd, 2006, 10:04 PM	#18 (permalink)
Bill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,667 59 Photos	Wow, it's like one of their blackface amps had a high-speed collision with that first zodiac series of solid state amps Fender did back around 1970. Well, the one thing you can be sure of, it's got to sound better than it looks. __________________ B i l l B a e c k A journal of our year in London

November 4th, 2006, 11:38 AM	#21 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,021	"Zodiac"...I hear Ya LOUD&CLEAR. Y'know nothin' They do Amplifier-wise get's My blood churning. Too many disappointments. The Only ones I warmed up to was The Custom Vibrolux and The Vibro-King. For the most part I wish that they'd go back to building FENDER AMPLIFIERS. They've got Mexican Labor in Ensenada so where's the problem? Don't THEY look on ebay to see what ACTUAL FENDER AMPLIFIERS are selling for? ....very frustrating. __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

November 6th, 2006, 11:05 AM	#22 (permalink)
WhiteAsh Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: US Posts: 112	So... I guess no one here owns one yet? Can't wait to hear a real guy's or gal's first hand impression. later I guess

November 6th, 2006, 02:16 PM	#24 (permalink)
zooropamofo Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ottawa Age: 28 Posts: 910	Can't say I like the looks, but it'll be interesting to hear the sound. But the first thing I thought when I saw the pic was "UGH...." __________________ I was tryin' to find my way home But all I heard was a drone Bouncing off a satellite Crushin' the last lone American night This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there? This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?

November 6th, 2006, 05:35 PM	#25 (permalink)
simon Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 208	My guess is that during the design process of this amp something went wrong at Fender. Often when companies get bigger many decisions that could be made very easily in a small company have to go over so many desks that in the end the solution is a hundred compromises. I can't think of any other reason for designing such an ugly amplifier today? They should just reissue the 6V6 Tweed Champ and -Princeton and -Deluxe and everyone would be happy.