68 Custom Vintage: Princeton VS Deluxe

[torj93]

I've got limited experience with Fender amps but I love the sound in country, jazz, blues, early rock n roll, classic rock, etc. My Fender purchases over the years have been sadly clueless (Super Twin, SF Bassman 100 watt head, Pro Jr.) and have never delivered the qualities I wanted from a Fender. (I did do a show once with a loaned Bassman Ten, and that thing with a Sovtek Big Muff sounded like freaking Godzilla.)

Anyway, I'm obsessed with these fake/non-SF reissues. I love the sound of the Princeton, demo-wise it seems to sound way better than the 65RIs, which didn't quite do it for me. Seems like these drip edge ones would do the trick.

But if I get the Princeton, I'll be pretty limited using it live, right? (I play louder rock w/ larger Brit amps normally, but I like to have smaller combos on hand for tinier rooms or rooms with finicky sound systems).

So the Deluxe is gonna give me the Fender I need for home and studio AND work as a small-room live option for my heavy rock, or anything else I'm ever going to do, right?

Q. Is the Princeton gonna deliver anything tonally that I can't get with the Deluxe? Is it mostly a size/convenience/volume thing?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: PS, no one in my area has the Princeton, so A/Bing them is not an option at this point.

 

[adjason]

I like that the deluxe has two distinct channels. The 68 Princetons do break up pretty quickly-but my experience was limited to playing two in stores

 

[VWAmTele]

The modified Bassman tone stack channel would be the attraction for me with the ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb.

 

[t-luxe]

Some have said the Custom DRs Custom channel sounds a bit like the Custom Princeton. I haven't played both( tho I do own a CDR) so I can't say from experience, but since they have the same tone stack and British-voiced speakers, I can see where there might be some resemblance.
I think the CDR would be more versatile- its louder, has 2 different channels, has a better and bigger 12"speaker, fuller sound, and you can jump channels for more tone options.

 

[waparker4]

I think the CDR would be more versatile- its louder, has 2 different channels, has a better and bigger 12"speaker, fuller sound, and you can jump channels for more tone options.

+1

 

[985plowboy]

+2 for CDR

 

[PumpJockey]

I always go with the bigger speaker, given a choice.

Fender debuted a DRRI head at the NAMM show a few days ago, so you could use it with different cabinets. Seems like a very versatile way to proceed, although I think it was very pricey.

 

[torj93]

Fender debuted a DRRI head at the NAMM show a few days ago, so you could use it with different cabinets. Seems like a very versatile way to proceed, although I think it was very pricey.

That sounds cool, but I really wanna combo.
I have always lugged stacks around. One day soon I wanna have a band where I have one guitar, one amp, and maybe a delay pedal!

 

[torj93]

I've tried the 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb. It was awesome. It was, honestly, the best Fender I've ever played through save possibly a '66 Princeton that I should have gotten once.

I can't find any 68 Custom Princetons to try around here. I'm sold on the Deluxe with one caveat... The Princetons seem, in demos, to have this special flavor, that's the only way I can describe it. It's a unique character that would be cool for rockabilly, Atkins-y picking, dreamy psychedelia, whatever. The Deluxe seems to lose some of that character in favor of a slightly bolder tone and, of course, volume.

Fender veterans, am I imagining things? If I get the Princeton then it'll most likely never be a stage amp, whereas I would feasibly be able to use the Deluxe with my band. But if I'm going to get a Fender, then I feel like I want my ideal Fender tone, and I think that's in the Princeton.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[t-luxe]

You need to find a CPR somewhere and give it a try. That's the only way you'll know.
Personally, while the Celestion V70 in the CDR sounds fantastic, I'm not a fan of the CPR's 10/30-it's just your basic, inexpensive OEM Celestion. For me, a speaker swap would be in order.

 

[jgmouton]

If you mic your PR, you'll have no volume problem on stage.

 

[torj93]

True enough.... I may even have to find a big-box guitar store and take advantage of their special order/30-day return options... Get the CPR, try it out, and if it's lacking in any way (other than the speaker) go for the CDR... Because as of now, NObody's got the CPR in stock. Which is weird, this is such a big product push from Fender.

Now, where'm I gonna find a big box guitar store.... Hm....

 

[hal]

I have the 68 custom and love it. I am blessed to have an original 66 deluxe and an original 68 Princeton. This amp is it's own animal, but it has great fender tone and it is very gig worthy. I think Febder hit a home run with these things.

 

[hal]

Uh that's Fender...not Febder.

 

[jgmouton]

You're talking about the 68 PR or DR?