Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

[Lewguitar]

I don't want to gig with my old Fenders anymore. I don't want to beat them up. I have a couple of nice blackface Deluxe Reverbs and one blackface Princeton Reverb. I have a Celestion 12 in each of them, even the Princeton Reverb.

The Princeton Reverb, after my brother Bruce at Mission Amps did an extensive circuit tweek and replaced the removable baffle with one that can hold a 12" speaker, is my favorite. It might be my favorite amp I've ever owned!

I want to hang onto the few amps I have left and I'm thinking of selling something else in my now small collection (like one of my 1936 Rickenbacker lap steels...I have two) and purchasing two newer, but used, amps to gig with.

I was thinking of a pair of Pro Juniors but now I'm think of a pair of used Princeton Reverbs. I've seen them used for $500 or so.

My brother, Bruce, doesn't think much of the quality and potential endurance of the reissue Fenders but I'm thinking I could eventually put a handwired circuit board in them and convert them to a 12" speaker.

Or not. Jeff Beck sure sounds full and powerful playing through a pair of 10's and I like playing through two 10's too

For certain, I'd ask Bruce to redesign the circuit of the reissue Princeton Reverbs the way he did my old one.

Is the baffle board removable in the reissue the way it is in the 60's version?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

Thinking of selling one of these. Don't want to sell my '51 Super though!

 

[esandes]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

i have the pro reverb (re-issue from early 2000s) with a 12" jensen. it's well-built and it's been tossed around a bit. i'd consider the mighty deluxe reverb for practice or the twin for gigs.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

As far as I have seen, the baffle boards are removable in most modern Fender combos. There are screws along the front edges, usually 4, that hold the baffle on.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

I don't want to gig with my old Fenders anymore. I don't want to beat them up. I have a couple of nice blackface Deluxe Reverbs and one blackface Princeton Reverb. I have a Celestion 12 in each of them, even the Princeton Reverb.

The Princeton Reverb, after my brother Bruce at Mission Amps did an extensive circuit tweek and replaced the removable baffle with one that can hold a 12" speaker, is my favorite. It might be my favorite amp I've ever owned!

I want to hang onto the few amps I have left and I'm thinking of selling something else in my now small collection (like one of my 1936 Rickenbacker lap steels...I have two) and purchasing two newer, but used, amps to gig with.

I was thinking of a pair of Pro Juniors but now I'm think of a pair of used Princeton Reverbs. I've seen them used for $500 or so.

My brother, Bruce, doesn't think much of the quality and potential endurance of the reissue Fenders but I'm thinking I could eventually put a handwired circuit board in them and convert them to a 12" speaker.

Or not. Jeff Beck sure sounds full and powerful playing through a pair of 10's and I like playing through two 10's too

For certain, I'd ask Bruce to redesign the circuit of the reissue Princeton Reverbs the way he did my old one.

Is the baffle board removable in the reissue the way it is in the 60's version?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks!

Why not just have Bruce build you a point to point Princeton? This way your not dealing with any inferior components that he would have to deal with. I tend to agree with Bruce that most of the new Fenders, although they do sound good pale in comparison to the originals. I like the older amps.... they are very durable and dependable once you have recapped them and a few other issues. I personally like the Silver Fenders non masters as you and I have discussed at length over the years. They can be everything that a Black face is with a few minor adjustments. I now have a Deluxe Reverb from either 67 or 68 and the same with a Super Reverb. I can't remember the last time I used the Super, but it is a great amp. I generally used the Deluxe due to the size of the rooms we play. The Princeton is a great little amp, but you have to be careful with volume/headroom issues. My other guitar player uses one and he can loose some of his clean when we really get it cooking, but the tone he gets is marvelous!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

Why not just have Bruce build you a point to point Princeton? This way your not dealing with any inferior components that he would have to deal with. I tend to agree with Bruce that most of the new Fenders, although they do sound good pale in comparison to the originals. I like the older amps.... they are very durable and dependable once you have recapped them and a few other issues. I personally like the Silver Fenders non masters as you and I have discussed at length over the years. They can be everything that a Black face is with a few minor adjustments. I now have a Deluxe Reverb from either 67 or 68 and the same with a Super Reverb. I can't remember the last time I used the Super, but it is a great amp. I generally used the Deluxe due to the size of the rooms we play. The Princeton is a great little amp, but you have to be careful with volume/headroom issues. My other guitar player uses one and he can loose some of his clean when we really get it cooking, but the tone he gets is marvelous!

I'd be using two Princeton Reverbs. And with a 12" speaker in each.

I've been trying to get Bruce to build my Mission Amps Lew Collins Model for years! Just can't get him to do it. And I need two to gig with.

I was thinking that if I sold one of my Rickenbackers I could buy two reissue Princeton Reverbs and Bruce would have most of what he needs right there.

He could make me a new circuit board with his redesign of the circuit, install his own output transformer (part of the secret!), put a 12" Celestion speaker in it and we'd be done.

Still tossing this around in my mind. Of course I'd much rather have one that said Mission Amps on the front because by the time he's done with a Princeton Reverb it's no longer a Fender Princeton Reverb. But he's so busy with other amp projects it's hard for him to squeeze me in...especially for free.

Bruce will not take my money for anything he does for me just as I've rebuilt several of his guitars and installed new Duncan pickups without charging him anything.

Bruce has become one of the preeminent builders of harmonica amps in the last few years. He's building amps for famous harp players these days and keeping very busy doing it.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

The way I see it, why have the old Fenders if you aren't gonna use 'em? There are plenty of clean, museum quality examples out there in climate controlled vaults in Japan that will never again have electricity going through them. If you have user-quality amps, use them. They will get worn slowly over time, but they will not become useless. What does make them useless is not using them.

My two cents.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

The way I see it, why have the old Fenders if you aren't gonna use 'em? There are plenty of clean, museum quality examples out there in climate controlled vaults in Japan that will never again have electricity going through them. If you have user-quality amps, use them. They will get worn slowly over time, but they will not become useless. What does make them useless is not using them.

My two cents.

I used to think that way. After banging them up and blowing the output transformer in one I now see it otherwise. Now I see them as amps I'll save for use in the studio and as an investment I hope my wife can benefit from someday. :cool2:

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

The way I see it, why have the old Fenders if you aren't gonna use 'em? There are plenty of clean, museum quality examples out there in climate controlled vaults in Japan that will never again have electricity going through them. If you have user-quality amps, use them. They will get worn slowly over time, but they will not become useless. What does make them useless is not using them.

My two cents.

I'm going with ItsaBass here. I think your money is better spent in buying road cases for the amps you already enjoy using live and keeping the maintained and running smoothly. The wear on them should honestly be minimal if they're cased/covered during transit and setup and only uncovered while playing.

I say all this because it's a hope that the new ones will live up to the sound of your old ones, not a guarantee. If they don't quite match up you're going to spend most of your time (at least I would) thinking about how your old amps sounded better and you won't be focusing on playing.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

I'm going with ItsaBass here. I think your money is better spent in buying road cases for the amps you already enjoy using live and keeping the maintained and running smoothly. The wear on them should honestly be minimal if they're cased/covered during transit and setup and only uncovered while playing.

I say all this because it's a hope that the new ones will live up to the sound of your old ones, not a guarantee. If they don't quite match up you're going to spend most of your time (at least I would) thinking about how your old amps sounded better and you won't be focusing on playing.

Ouch! The truth hurts sometimes.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

I would build some clones, myself. Of course, having built amps, it sounds easy to me. I would probably find a modern Fender and build the circuit I wanted in the chassis of a cheaper amp.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

i gig with my old deluxe reverb all the time. ive had the same thoughts as you lew, getting a newer amp so i dont have to worry about the old one, but nothing i find stacks up side by side. its not a museum piece, its an instrument and its meant to be played

 

[Grenade]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

What are you asking for the Ricks?

 

[glassman]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

Lew,

Have you considered one the Rivera era Princeton Reverb II's? They do a really good job of nailing the earlier PR tone plus, with all the pull boosts, they can get well beyond a typical Fender tone if you need it. Might be worth a look.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

Why not just a pair of Mission 18 watters or better yet, get Bruce to finish the Lew Collins Signature amp. Heck, maybe have Bruce build you a couple of Fenders just like your favorite one.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

Personal opinion here....take it for what it's worth...

The little Pro Jr's are cool BECAUSE they are so cheap. It's not uncommon at all to see them sell for $200 and less while a PRRI will bring closer to $650 every time.

If you bought 2 Pro Jr's at say $225 a pop (which is VERY reasonable) and put good tubes and a pair of good speakers in them you're then right at (give or take) the cost of one PRRI which will still need tubes and speakers.

At the $200 for a Pro Jr buy 'em...upgrade 'em and play 'em until they fall apart or die then take your good tubes and speaker back and chunk the carcass...that's a MUCH pill to swallow for me when we're looking at an amp that's 3 times the cost.

Just my 2 cents...

Now, all that said yes...PRRI's (and all other reissue Fender amps) have floating baffles and can be replaced but be warned the cabs are still rather junkie compared to old Fender cabs...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

I would build some clones, myself. Of course, having built amps, it sounds easy to me. I would probably find a modern Fender and build the circuit I wanted in the chassis of a cheaper amp.

I stopped by Robbs Music in Boulder and checked out the Princeton Reverb Reissue. Like Christian said, the baffle is removable. They do not have the filter caps in a can any longer. They must be inside the amp now. Robbs had a nice brand new green and white Princeton Reverb with a Celestion G10 Greenback for $999. I thought it sounded pretty cool!

But if I go through with this, I'll go for two used PR's and spend as little as possible.

I also took a look at the Pro Juniors. I don't know if even two of them will get a clean enough tone to make me happy. I've got to have those Fender cleans for the jazzy old school chords I like to play. The Pro Junior did strike me as having a really good rock tone for solos tho. I can see why Jeff Beck likes them. But my rhythm playing is as important to me as my soloing - maybe more important.

I could probably get $1200 on up to $1500 for one of my Ricky lap steels. They're of historical importance as they're the FIRST ELECTRIC GUITARS EVER MADE and they're super high quality instruments that sound great and are in demand. Many lap steelers think of the Ricky as being the ultimate. I do.

I'm starting to like the idea of two modded Princeton Reverb Reissues. I know my brother can get them to sound great. I have complete confidence in him.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

Pro Jr's do lack the headroom for a great rhythm tone...Jeff does well with them but he plays lead almost all the time!

The internal construction of the PRRI's is pretty cheap...Bruce would likely have to pull all the guts and put back in a whole new board with all new parts.

It's a doable bunch of mods but it ain't gonna be cheap.

I'm not trying to talk you out of it just looking at the other side of things.

There are a few really good Princeton Reverb kits out there that use really good parts or better yet order them w/o parts and have Bruce drop boards in the chassis for you...that way you can start with good stuff, better transformers, better cabs and better speakers right out of the gate??

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

I'm going with ItsaBass here. I think your money is better spent in buying road cases for the amps you already enjoy using live and keeping the maintained and running smoothly. The wear on them should honestly be minimal if they're cased/covered during transit and setup and only uncovered while playing.

I say all this because it's a hope that the new ones will live up to the sound of your old ones, not a guarantee. If they don't quite match up you're going to spend most of your time (at least I would) thinking about how your old amps sounded better and you won't be focusing on playing.

Lew....I agree with the above statement...road cases and your amps....they will hold up and the tone is there.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Princeton Reverb Amp Reissue

Lew,

Have you considered one the Rivera era Princeton Reverb II's? They do a really good job of nailing the earlier PR tone plus, with all the pull boosts, they can get well beyond a typical Fender tone if you need it. Might be worth a look.

Im sad to say that i have and use a princeton reverb II. My buddy that plays in a two guitar jazz duo with me has an old (sf) princeton reverb. Both amps have 12's in there....his sounds better than mine
Maybe its cos he has a cannabis rex speaker (mine is lorantz)?
Maybe its cos the old princeton has a simpler circuit?
I dunno...but its just sweeter and richer sounding (and a bit louder).
What you reckon glassman?