Fender Princeton reverb Original or Reissue?

zepp76

Is there much difference between an original Princeton and a reissue? Is either more reliable than the other? There seems to be a plethora of different speakers, is there a preferred speaker? I find myself strangely drawn to one especially the knotted pine version with creamback speaker but crikey the price!

AllthegearNoidea

I have an original 69 princeton reverb and have had both the 65 and 68 reissues. The 69 is warmer, better reverb and better trem. 

zepp76

AllthegearNoidea said:

I have an original 69 princeton reverb and have had both the 65 and 68 reissues. The 69 is warmer, better reverb and better trem. 

@AllthegearNoidea  Thank you for the reply, what kind of price would I expect to pay for an original '69 in good condition? 

menamestom

No idea on the originals, but on reliability, my own anecdotal evidence is I've had my '65 reissue for 6 or 7 years and it's fairly well gigged and no issues whatsoever to report.

Maintenance in that period is a valve change, no dodgy pots or inputs and the amp looks almost new (part of the Blackface tolex and aesthetics I believe, some originals look brand new)

zepp76

@menamestom  Thank you for your input, do you know what speaker is in yours? What kind of tone are you getting? Have you tried it with a Les Paul or other humbucking guitar?

menamestom

zepp76 said:

@menamestom  Thank you for your input, do you know what speaker is in yours? What kind of tone are you getting? Have you tried it with a Les Paul or other humbucking guitar?

Yeah, I have a ragin cajun in mine, the stock speaker sounds really nice at low volume but falls apart when cranked.  I use mine with a Gibson Midtown sometimes, sounds great, nice seeet and full blues tone. I can do some clips if it helps?

zepp76

menamestom said:

zepp76 said:

@menamestom  Thank you for your input, do you know what speaker is in yours? What kind of tone are you getting? Have you tried it with a Les Paul or other humbucking guitar?

Yeah, I have a ragin cajun in mine, the stock speaker sounds really nice at low volume but falls apart when cranked.  I use mine with a Gibson Midtown sometimes, sounds great, nice seeet and full blues tone. I can do some clips if it helps?

Thank you for that, I'd want to play it pretty much cranked so that's something to think about. I guess speaker choice is key to getting the most out of these amps. 

menamestom

This was quite loud, 4 or 5, with a boost pedal, albeit with a telecaster:-



I'll get a cranked clip with the Midtown when I can.

richardhomer

menamestom said:

This was quite loud, 4 or 5, with a boost pedal, albeit with a telecaster:-



I'll get a cranked clip with the Midtown when I can.

Great tone and playing!

AllthegearNoidea

zepp76 said:

AllthegearNoidea said:

I have an original 69 princeton reverb and have had both the 65 and 68 reissues. The 69 is warmer, better reverb and better trem. 

@AllthegearNoidea  Thank you for the reply, what kind of price would I expect to pay for an original '69 in good condition? 

I paid £1900

zepp76

menamestom said:

This was quite loud, 4 or 5, with a boost pedal, albeit with a telecaster:-



I'll get a cranked clip with the Midtown when I can.

That was great, thank you for sharing that. 

guitarblaster

@AllthegearNoidea - Hey just interested, it would be really nice to hear your thoughts on those 3 amps in comparison to each other! 

menamestom

richardhomer said:

menamestom said:

This was quite loud, 4 or 5, with a boost pedal, albeit with a telecaster:-



I'll get a cranked clip with the Midtown when I can.

Great tone and playing!

Thanks Rich  

mgaw

Louis electric columbia reverb in the classifieds as we speak...amazing princetone clone, i do know the seller and he is a top chap

AllthegearNoidea

guitarblaster said:

@AllthegearNoidea - Hey just interested, it would be really nice to hear your thoughts on those 3 amps in comparison to each other! 

Hi. I'm working away from home at the moment so cannot get decent speakers to listen through. I'll try headphones later tonight though

zepp76

mgaw said:

Louis electric columbia reverb in the classifieds as we speak...amazing princetone clone, i do know the seller and he is a top chap

Thanks for the heads up but it's way out of my price range as is an original Princeton, it'll be a used reissue once I've sold a few bits.

AllthegearNoidea

guitarblaster said:

@AllthegearNoidea - Hey just interested, it would be really nice to hear your thoughts on those 3 amps in comparison to each other! 

My opinion as a 3rd rate bedroom player
The 68 had something missing. There seemed little top end
65 was a great amp. Speaker needed changing if you planned to crank the amp
69. Sound is 3D. Reverb is out of this world as is the trem. Notes bloom when held. 

Also had a Carr Sportsman. If I didn't have the 69 I'd buy. A second hand sportsman over the reissues. 

AllthegearNoidea

If I was buying a princeton type amp and I didn't have my drip edge I'd buy this

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/107195/fs-carr-sportsman-1-x-12-like-new#latest

riscado

Magic amps vibro prince.

fretfinder

AllthegearNoidea said:

If I was buying a princeton type amp and I didn't have my drip edge I'd buy this

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/107195/fs-carr-sportsman-1-x-12-like-new#latest

No trem though!

AllthegearNoidea

fretfinder said:

AllthegearNoidea said:

If I was buying a princeton type amp and I didn't have my drip edge I'd buy this

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/107195/fs-carr-sportsman-1-x-12-like-new#latest

No trem though!

Agreed but for my needs a trem pedal would suffice