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Princeton Reverb Reissue: Worth the money?
Poll ended at Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:06 pm
Yes 33%  33%  [ 4 ]
No 67%  67%  [ 8 ]
Total votes : 12
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Post subject: Princeton Reverb Amp
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:06 pm
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Hi, I'm looking to buy a fairly nice amp just for playing in my room and for myself, that can also be used when I practice with my band. I've been looking at the new Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue. Does anybody have any experience with this amp? Is it good for practicing in a band in terms of how loud it is? In your opinion is it worth the money? Thanks a lot!


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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:51 pm
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I've only fooled with it in the stores, while coming to my final choice ( A Blues Junior ).
It can get loud, surprisingly so, for a low-mid powered 15 watt amp.
But it won't compete with the volume levels coming from a drummer that has gone nuts as usual.
It comes stock with a 10 inch Jensen C-10R speaker.
And I think you get the cover and footswitch with it.

Lots of tubes in it (7) when I peeked in the back.

I found to me it sounded good, but too twangy, better suited to different kinds of music than blues (which is what I really like).

Best is to go visit a music shop and compare the Princeton Reverb, with other similar powered amps like the Blues Junior and the Super Champ XD.

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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:22 am
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I've owned one for a couple of months. I love the amp. I hated paying what it costs but I am not the least bit sorry for my purchase. It is loud enough for a typical band practice, but then it really depends on the band. What kind of music, how loud is the drummer, etc. I see this as the perfect amp for home use and recording. If you need to go louder, well then it depends on other factors.

On the negative side, I've had problems with an intermittent reverb on mine. It's been in and out of the shop a couple of times for warranty service. They finally broke down and ordered a new reverb tank for it. I am without the amp a week or so until the reverb tank comes in.


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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:08 am
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To quote fellow forum member Billm :

"I saw and played the Princeton Reverb Reissue today at the New York Guitar Show. Proud poppa Shane Nicholas says it'll be in stores in June at $799.

It sounds like 1965 all over again--surprisingly rich bass, better than most PRs I've heard. And that Blackface tone is exactly right, but it gets that great Princeton edge and fairly reasonable volume. The reverb is rich and full, and can be moderated from a pleasant echo to full surf. The tank is in a bag. The lowest speed on the tremolo is slower than I remember, which is a good thing, and it has that great bias-trem sound.

THIS IS NO BEDROOM AMP. It's loud, although like other 15 watt amps, it will likely be marginal with a loud drummer.

It's built just like the DRRI and the TRRI, on a circuit board. I think that's the right way to go... maybe a little inconvenient for us modders, but it ensures consistency from amp to amp. Yes, sure, some owners will tear out the circuit board and install an eyelet board, and they'll rave about how much better the tone is. But for 99 percent of people who have been yearning for a real live blackface Princeton Reverb, this is the real deal.

The speaker is a Jensen C10R, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded it the PR cab. The baffle is removable, and there's room for a 12-inch speaker if you're so inclined."

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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:04 am
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I won't pay $900 for any 15 watt pcb mass production amp regardless of who makes it or where it's built or should I say assembled.


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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:38 pm
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Well...I paid $ 862.00 total for mine 9brand new). But I'll tell you this weekend if it was worth it. I just got the call from my guy that it's in.


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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:58 pm
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I'm not saying it's a bad sounding amp in any way. For me, It's over priced for what it is. A great sounding practice/recording amp. The 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue is IMHO a more versatile and gigable amp for not much more money for what I do. If you have a good PA system, you can use a Princeton anywhere.
Congrats on your purchase.


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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:32 pm
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I tried the PRRI at the local GC. It was everything I'd hoped it would be . . . except affordable. When I bought my Vibro-Champ XD, I ended my quest for a vintage VC. However, I still look at the vintage Princetons out there. The price is just too close to the Deluxe Reverb and if I'm buying a reissue, I'll go with the Deluxe first.


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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:53 am
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No hurt feelings here. Everyone needs to follow their true values. I was real tempted to spend responsibly and settle on a Super Champ XD, but nostalgia and some other factors made it all worthwhile. I don't plan on performing anymore so a little extra expendature only meant more size and more weight when lugging it to my friends houses.

Thank you Fender. I love this baby!


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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:54 pm
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I bought the PRRI and love it. Fantastic amp. There are lots of people who will say they would not dish out $900 for a 15W amp and I look at it like this: lots of guys won't spend $300 on a boutique effect pedal and so they buy Boss. Boss is fine if you want generic grade stuff. I buy $300 stomp boxes and I wanted a top shelf amp to go with it. Know what I was looking at before I saw the PRRI at my local shop? I was looking at $2000 20W handwired amps modelled after the PR. When I told the sellers of said $2000 amps I was considering the PRRI, they replied "those are very good amps, Fender did a great job." I was sold. I AB'd a Blues Junior against the PRRI and have to say its a great amp too but I was looking for vintage tone with vintage features like a tube driven reverb, a tube driven tremelo, and tube rectification. I can't say enough good things about this boutique quality "mass-assembled" amp. As for the power behind that 15W, I'm taken aback at the volume and usually have it reigned in at a volume of 3. The Fender video with Jim Campilongo is very, very cool.


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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:02 pm
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^ Jeez, my man...you make me want to go buy another one!!!


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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:48 pm
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There's a guy on this forum that did just that to leverage the tone of the amp in conjunction with his stereo chorus.


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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:01 pm
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I don't have a problem with spending $900 for a 15 watt amp. It's spending that much cash on a mass produced amp with a printed circuit board. Ampeg sells a hand wired 20 watt amp for about $800. The Ampegs not made here, but I bet many of the components are imported. You can build a Princeton clone your self for a bit less and have a hand wired amp with US made components. You could also build a 5e3 clone for $750. They are pretty simple circuits.


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