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Post subject: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:07 am
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Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and I'd like to ask for some advice regarding the Fender Princeton '65 reissue amp...I have a relic '60 custom shop strat and I'm looking to get a smooth and spanky vintage clean sound ....I have a high-gain Soldano amp and it just won't get a Fender clean sound,...I have tried the Fender Princeton amp at a dealer's but I wasn't able to set the volume loud enough to check how the amp might sound when slightly overdriven,...I really liked the clean bluesy tone but I wonder whether it would also sound good when the amp is pushed a little....I like SRV's scooped fat tone and attack (who doesn't...haha), but since the Princeton doesn't have a mids control knob, I wonder how this amp sounds when played quite loudly...I often use the neck pickup and enjoy playing fluid lead runs and punchy rythm,...any suggestions on how this amp will perform...(no real need for loud volume,...just cool tone...!) Or maybe someone can recommend another (Fender) amp for that matter...?!
Thanks in advance for your informed imput.

Peace.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:22 am
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Using your Strat's neck pickup for that SRV vibe, you will find the PRRI's OEM speaker to be sorely lacking, especially with the amp dimed. A DRRI with a carefully-selected replacement speaker will get you closer to your goal.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:45 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Using your Strat's neck pickup for that SRV vibe, you will find the PRRI's OEM speaker to be sorely lacking, especially with the amp dimed. A DRRI with a carefully-selected replacement speaker will get you closer to your goal.

HTH

Arjay


+1

Both PRRI and DRRI cranked to 10 will give you some amazing tones! With the right speaker and tubes you won't be able to wipe the grin off your face :D

You'll be amazed at the different tones you will get just by adjusting treb/bass/reverb on these amps. I love how simple my DRRI is and how flexible it is.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 5:12 pm
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Thanks for the helpful comments guys,...sounds like a good amp to me,...?!

Peace.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:34 am
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For the serious sonic specitivity you seem to be interested in, a new amp usually requires some "tuning" -- especially so with both the tubes (and their idle bias setting) and the type of speaker. OEM components are invariably outclassed by more expensive replacements, with the benefits of upgrading limited only by the depth of one's pockets.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton reissue vs Fender Deluxe Reverb reissue
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:25 am
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Thanks for your help and advice guys...!
I have, indeed, read that the DRRI (Deluxe Reverb reissue...?!) is also a good amp,...
What is the actual sonic difference, however, between the Princeton and the Deluxe???They seem to share the same tone shaping control options: (Volume/Bass/Treble/Reverb/Speed/Intensity) for the Princeton, while the Deluxe has an extra "simple" channel/input (Volume/Bass/Treble) and the "same looking" vibrato channel (Volume/Bass/Treble/Reverb/Speed/Intensity) face as the Princeton...
Is there a significant difference in the tube circuitry,...apart from the wattage difference...Could someone please offer some description/advice?

I live in Bangkok, Thailand, and, apart of the financial limitations, the availability of upgrading products (speakers,tubes,etc..) as well as qualified technicians isn't so easy here...I guess purchasing a stock amp could already be a start....Thanks for your competent suggestions Arjay...!

Peace.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:41 am
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My vote is for the DRRI, you can't go wrong with either amp... the two sound very similar, with the DRRI being the big brother, bigger sounding and louder. If you don't to plan to mod your amp the 12" in the DRRI is better than the 10" in the PRRI. But if volume is an issue for you then stick with the PRRI, but even that amp will get loud, don't let the 15 W fool you.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:38 pm
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Arjay, what type of speaker are you thinking about for the Deluxe Reverb?

I sold mine (couldn't live with the 'fizz' tone) but maybe I should just have changed the speaker instead. I wasn't sure that a speakerchange would be enough to get to the sound I wanted using overdrive pedals.

Jim


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:02 pm
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Weber's 12A150 is my usual recommendation for a smooth organic vintage tone. Cedarblues also reports excellent results using Celestion's alnico Gold. V30's also do not do badly in a DR or DRRI but they really sound their best in a bass-reflex enclosure (Bassman, Bandmaster, etc).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:56 am
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I thought I might chime in and say I've noticed my DRRI produces a much boomier bass than the PRRI. I don't know if it's the speakers or the circuit that does this, but I am guessing it's the bigger speaker that gives it that low end whoomp.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:44 pm
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senggedorje wrote:
but I am guessing it's the bigger speaker that gives it that low end whoomp.


Correct.

The PRRI's speaker has a total cone area of some 78.5 inches while the 12-inch driver in the DRRI measures 113 inches -- nearly 34% more radiating surface. The human ear perceives such a substantial difference mainly in the lower frequencies. Hence, we "hear" more bass with a larger cone than may actually be the case.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:46 pm
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Thank you for your expert comparaison...
I've checked out the Weber web site and they seem to make some really good speakers !
As I don't need much volume...maybe I'll still go with the Princeton (more reasonable price,...here in Bangkok...) and eventually order a Weber speaker...

Thanks again,
peace.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:11 am
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A wise choice, sir.

Best of luck and post some pics when your new amp arrives.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:53 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
senggedorje wrote:
but I am guessing it's the bigger speaker that gives it that low end whoomp.


Correct.

The PRRI's speaker has a total cone area of some 78.5 inches while the 12-inch driver in the DRRI measures 113 inches -- nearly 34% more radiating surface. The human ear perceives such a substantial difference mainly in the lower frequencies. Hence, we "hear" more bass with a larger cone than may actually be the case.

HTH

Arjay



Thanks for the explanation! It's much appreciated.

SD

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"Go wash an elephant, if you wanna do something big."

65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
2006 American Deluxe Strat
2009 National Steel Body Tricone Cutaway
2009 Highway One Texas Telecaster
Mustang III amp
Fulltone Gold Standard Cables


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Post subject: Re: Fender Princeton '65 reissue...?
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:38 pm
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senggedorje wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
senggedorje wrote:
but I am guessing it's the bigger speaker that gives it that low end whoomp.


Correct.

The PRRI's speaker has a total cone area of some 78.5 inches while the 12-inch driver in the DRRI measures 113 inches -- nearly 34% more radiating surface. The human ear perceives such a substantial difference mainly in the lower frequencies. Hence, we "hear" more bass with a larger cone than may actually be the case.

HTH

Arjay



Thanks for the explanation! It's much appreciated.

SD


Just wanted to chime in. I own a PRRI and a bunch of speakers and I have close friends with a 70s Deluxe Reverb and a blackface Princeton Review. I've played my PRRI through the Jensen OEM C10R, a Celestion 10" Greenback, a 12" Greenback, Celestion G12H30, a 4X12 Marshall w/Celestion G12Ls, and my favorite a 2X12 Celestion Alnico Blues cabinet. My opinions:

1. Very little difference between the Jensen C10R and the Celestion 10" Greenback (highs are somewhat rolled off with the Greenback, but not worth the money to "Upgrade")
2. 1x12 : G12H30 and G12M different tone, both nice, but a moderate change from the 1x10.
3. 4x12 cabinet. Huge, huge tone difference from 1x10, lots of bass thump; no flabby bass as with the 1x10" cabs. Tone is darker (a known characteristic of the G12L 4x12)
4. 2x12 cabinet Alnico Blues (closed back). Huge tone difference from 1x10, lots more bass. Of course Alnico Blues are pricey, but I think the cabinet (3/4" China birch) brings a lot of the tone boost.
5. The tone differences between the 2 Princetons and the Silverface Deluxe Reverb were noticeable, but no one amp was the stand-out tone winner--more a personal preference.

Another poster stated that he sold his DRRI in part due to its fizzy tone. I cannot get fizz to come from the PRRI, nor have I heard fizz from a DR. Possibly his amp needed maintenance. :oops: Then again, I might not be clear on the term, "fizz". My definition of fizz: the sound you get with a master volume SS amp, with the preamp gain set to 10, the master volume on 1 or 2 so that the OEM speaker is not pushed hard, and with the treble boosted. Horrendous tone will abound. :wink:


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