Fender Princeton Reverbs

[Mike Simpson]

Power Transformer is $60 to $150 depending on the brand.


$64
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/classictone-power-transformer-40-18019

$61
http://store.triodestore.com/40-18019.html

 

[Ess Eff]

Boy, I don't know what that is, but I am liking it!! Did a quick search but came up empty.

Ya, I built the cab myself.

I did a 12" speaker baffle for the original cab but there is something about the 10s that works great, so I thought, why not a 2 x 10 cab?

Has the feel of the 10"s but sounds so big.

I made the cab as compact as poss with the diagonal speakers.
.

 

[chet again]

Power Transformer is $60 to $150 depending on the brand.


$64
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/classictone-power-transformer-40-18019

$61
http://store.triodestore.com/40-18019.html

Can you give me any recommendations on this (which you think are best)? I've read in the past of how the transformers can make the sound of amps better/louder.

 

[tubelectron]

You forgot the Princeton Twin Reverb...

The best of them all!
.
View attachment 738936
View attachment 738937

Good idea, @Ess Eff !

-tbln

 

[Kevin Wolfe]

Can you give me any recommendations on this (which you think are best)? I've read in the past of how the transformers can make the sound of amps better/louder.

From what the tech guys on here say, if you swap in a PT, go with the 100mA version. Runs cooler by not working as hard.

 

[Boreas]

Ya, I built the cab myself.

I did a 12" speaker baffle for the original cab but there is something about the 10s that works great, so I thought, why not a 2 x 10 cab?

Has the feel of the 10"s but sounds so big.

I made the cab as compact as poss with the diagonal speakers.
.
View attachment 739304
View attachment 739305

Great job! It's a peach!
What year is the chassis?

 

[zook]

Can you give me any recommendations on this (which you think are best)? I've read in the past of how the transformers can make the sound of amps better/louder.

I have built several Princeton Reverb Clones and really like the Hammond 290CAX for them. I also like the humble Eminence Legend 1258 In them. I have one I just finished in the shop and can't leave it alone.

 

[pugnax]

There's also the super oddball Princeton Recording Amp, which I have to admit is very tempting to me. There's even one for sale on Reverb right now.

 

[Ess Eff]

Great job! It's a peach!
What year is the chassis?

Thx. It's just a new 65 reissue, 2019.

I just gave it a bit of a retro feel, with the old style logo n knobs, etc.
.

 

[telepraise]

I bought a '65 PRRI SE when it was apparent that my Deluxe was overkill for my church gig (barely getting up to 2.5 on the volume) and I was lugging around more amp than I need. I'd read enough on here to know I'd want a 12" so I went with the Sweetwater '65 special edition. It has a tweed covering (silly idea), 12" speaker (came with a C-Rex I immediately swapped out), and is rated at 15 watts instead of the traditional 12. I can only guess it has a slightly larger transformer.

Speakers make a big difference. After trying a couple, I took the leap on a Celestion cream alnico ($300 speaker in a $1000 amp) and it's perfect for the sound I'm after. I don't know if it's the 90 watt rating or just that it's a 100db Celestion, but the sound is big and clean, way more sound than you'd expect out of that little cabinet. Rivals the Deluxe sitting next it (well almost, a Deluxe is hard to top). And pedal induced overdrive (volume at 4) is glorious. It sounds so good I find myself playing the Princeton instead of the DRRI.

 

[100LL]

I bought a '65 PRRI a month or two ago. 2019 build with little use as the guy was a Vox type and didn't take a liking to the princeton, which he used for some recording.
He swapped out the 10" Jensen for a G10. I got the Jensen included in the sale.

At this point in my guitar journey I have the surprising ability to make any amp sound terrible. But the G10 to my ears does sound less terrible

oh yea, I also solved a noisy reverb issue with a old GE 12AT7 (which permeated throughout the amp actually, even when reverb out). All the tubes were originals. So that was certainly a lesson learned.

 

[chet again]

Power Transformer is $60 to $150 depending on the brand.


$64
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/classictone-power-transformer-40-18019

$61
http://store.triodestore.com/40-18019.html

The tech tried to tell that a transformer would cost about $150.00. Was he trying to rip me off?

 

[Mike Simpson]

The tech tried to tell that a transformer would cost about $150.00. Was he trying to rip me off?

Everyone marks up parts from appliance to automotive repair... some more than others. I don't know what brand your tech uses.
A secondary savings when I do my own repairs.

https://www.amplifiedparts.com/transformers-by-amplifier/fender-princeton-reverb

(link removed)

https://www.mojotone.com/amp-parts/Power-Transformers/Blackface-Princeton-Champ-Power-Transformer-EX

 

[Minivan Megafun]

It doesn't get much more definitive than this:

 

[chet again]

Everyone marks up parts from appliance to automotive repair... some more than others. I don't know what brand your tech uses.
A secondary savings when I do my own repairs.

https://www.amplifiedparts.com/transformers-by-amplifier/fender-princeton-reverb

(link removed)

https://www.mojotone.com/amp-parts/Power-Transformers/Blackface-Princeton-Champ-Power-Transformer-EX

Yeah, I doubt if he were trying to gouge me. I'll ask him again. He might've been quoting the total price. I think I may just go ahead and have the amp restored.

 

[Boreas]

Thx. It's just a new 65 reissue, 2019.

I just gave it a bit of a retro feel, with the old style logo n knobs, etc.
.
View attachment 739471

It worked!!

 

[King Fan]

Yeah, I doubt if he were trying to gouge me. I'll ask him again. He might've been quoting the total price. I think I may just go ahead and have the amp restored.

You have a 'real' PR? For sure, get it restored. As noted by @Kevin Wolfe , you want the 100mA version of the PR PT, because it runs cooler (you said your original burned up?) *and* it's actually vintage correct after about '70-'71. A 100mA repro may cost a bit more (ClassicTone 40-18027 or Hammond 290AX -- IIRC) but it'll last longer.

But face it, you should expect to spend some money. The most likely reason the original PT burned up is an old cap can, and if that was 15 years ago.... Replacing a cap can is labor-intensive, and there are likely a few other parts that need testing or replacing.

Here's the thing. The money you spent to buy the amp back then is gone -- the amp is now worth what a non-working old amp needing a big overhaul will bring on the market. Not much. If *you* do the overhaul a) you have a working original, better than a reissue in most ways, and b) it's very likely to increase in value over time, while the reissues just decrease...

 

[Uncle Daddy]

From what the tech guys on here say, if you swap in a PT, go with the 100mA version. Runs cooler by not working as hard.

It's worth finding out why the original failed. Tec time!

 

[Uncle Daddy]

It doesn't get much more definitive than this:

I love this. The 64 sounds a lot like my clone. That 65 sounds like it has something wrong with it!

 

[chet again]

You have a 'real' PR? For sure, get it restored. As noted by @Kevin Wolfe , you want the 100mA version of the PR PT, because it runs cooler (you said your original burned up?) *and* it's actually vintage correct after about '70-'71. A 100mA repro may cost a bit more (ClassicTone 40-18027 or Hammond 290AX -- IIRC) but it'll last longer.

But face it, you should expect to spend some money. The most likely reason the original PT burned up is an old cap can, and if that was 15 years ago.... Replacing a cap can is labor-intensive, and there are likely a few other parts that need testing or replacing.

Here's the thing. The money you spent to buy the amp back then is gone -- the amp is now worth what a non-working old amp needing a big overhaul will bring on the market. Not much. If *you* do the overhaul a) you have a working original, better than a reissue in most ways, and b) it's very likely to increase in value over time, while the reissues just decrease...

I have a silverface Princeton not a PR.