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Post subject: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 7:56 pm
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I’m just a home guitar player. I have a number of amps. I like them all. Memorial day sales are here.
I’m thinking of buying a Fender RI 65 Princeton Reverb.

Is the Fender 65RI Princeton Reverb amp all that people say it is?
It sure seems like a small amp with a big price tag.
Any comments welcome, to buy or not to buy, that’s my question.


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 8:39 pm
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The PR is a bigger sounding amp than it's size would seem to indicate.
The PRRI is a pretty close approximation.
I guess it would depend on how much volume you think you need.
12W vs. 22W.

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 8:55 pm
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Fundamentally, the PRRI is a good amp. However it will benefit significantly with a better speaker and better tubes.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 9:18 pm
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22w meaning Deluxe Reverb. Never owned either one. I'm happy with 6L6 amps for tubes that is. I just thought the reverb and tremolo might sound really good. Never owned a Fender RI - series amp, or original. I had a Bandmaster once. That was a way long time ago. I'm kind of into guitar effects.

I was thinking that the stock Jenson speaker would be ok. Some of the special editions have 12" speakers, but I've read for that amp a 10" speaker works fine. I got to sleep on it before I spend $1000.

I like amps with a good bass sound, so that points me to a Deluxe Reverb, correct? And the Deluxe Reverb has a better blackface sound? From what I've read some say the Princeton is just a sweet sounding amp. Never owned an amp with a tube rectifier either. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. Let me check my bank account.


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 9:44 pm
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A tube and speaker upgrade, omg, already.

For that much money Fender ought to be putting the best tubes and speaker possible in that amp.
Terrible to think I'd have to upgrade a new-amp, what. And besides isn't the 65 RI series like flagship models that built the Fender name,,,,,ok im just saying, imo.


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 10:37 pm
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jackhammer wrote:
A tube and speaker upgrade, omg, already.

For that much money Fender ought to be putting the best tubes and speaker possible in that amp.
Terrible to think I'd have to upgrade a new-amp, what. And besides isn't the 65 RI series like flagship models that built the Fender name,,,,,ok im just saying, imo.


Welcome to twenty-first century corporatocracy and the new world order. When the Princeton Reverb was released in 1964 its designer's name was affixed to the baffle board and he wasn't about to make or sell anything that wasn't the very best product it could be. Fast-forward to now, with a company boardroom populated by mercenaries motivated only by quarterly dividends and annual profits. If there's a nickel or a dime to be squeezed out of production costs, they'll gleefully break out the vise grips then pat themselves on the back for their fiscal acumen.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 6:53 pm
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Maybe, look for a good used PRRI? One where speaker and tubes have already been upgraded.

Good old-stock 6V6GT and 5U4GB rectifiers still abound. So, all is not lost.

Many good 10-inch speakers to choose from, if you go that route.

Good luck with the amp!

:mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 7:22 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Maybe, look for a good used PRRI? One where speaker and tubes have already been upgraded.


+1

Let someone else pay the cost of depreciation.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:23 pm
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I recently purchased a Princeton Reverb from GC and returned it the next day. They didn't have any in stock (as usual) so I ordered it. When I unpacked it the first thing I noticed was that the control panel was pushed back about 1/2 inch making the grill cloth (speaker baffle) stick out. I thought perhaps it came loose during shipping. The top screws were already tightened so I loosened them and pushed the control panel back into place but when I re tightened them it went back to the same place.
I then realized that either the chassis or the cabinet holes were drilled wrong. I thought I would at least plug it in and try it out . It sounded great except for the vibrato ticking like a old alarm clock.
I was so anxious to get this amp because I have a 65 DRRI which was great right out of the box. I don't understand how this amp got past Fender's QC. It was literally a piece of junk. How disappointing!


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:37 pm
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mtown wrote:
I don't understand how this amp got past Fender's QC. It was literally a piece of junk. How disappointing!


Your tragic tale is in no way unique.

See my comments above.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:19 pm
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Pick up a couple of extra shifts and keep an eye out for a mid 70's (pre boost) PR. There's deals out there. Plus the investment would render value........................... much more than a PCB amp.

Just a thought.

UN


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:45 pm
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Even the pull-boost models sound pretty good if you ignore that dubious feature. And of course they're built like Fender amps used to be......that is, they last FOREVER.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:13 pm
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Here's an example.

UN

https://reverb.com/item/5463490-fender- ... silverface


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:21 pm
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Priced a little high perhaps but a fine specimen nonetheless.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 RI Princeton Reverb
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:32 am
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As soon as I saw BMW's comment, buy a used one? I thought that was a good idea. But imo, its still a 10 Watt amp with a 10" speaker and still costs alot. My interest faded.

So I shifted my attention to a Mustang GT amp, which has a 65 Princeton Amp model and effects. I bought one but had to return it, due to operational issues. I'll try again, to buy another Fender amp.


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