Re: Fender Princeton Recording amp

shaunf

Hi can someone give me a synopsis on these amps from personal experience?

Looking at a trade for on for my JCM but the guy is quite far away so before I go and take a listen it would be useful to have the opinions of you learned folk.

Thanks in advance!

AlanRatcliffe

That's the Princeton with built-in attenuator, compression and overdrive, right? Didn't impress me much - a bit bland in comparison to the PRRI and the attenuator completely neuters it.

shaunf

Thanks Alan.

*Sigh* I wonder if I'm ever going to find a decent trade for my JCM2000. Starting to think I'm better off just keeping it.

Keira-WitherKay

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: That's the Princeton with built-in attenuator, compression and overdrive, right? Didn't impress me much - a bit bland in comparison to the PRRI and the attenuator completely neuters it.

+1 to what alan said, i'm a princeton fan /addict and would not buy a 'recording one" , in fact someone pm'd me recently on gfsa (only nicest people here looking out for others desires ) and pointed me to someone selling a recording princeton for 7K (before negotiation) maybe it's the same one........
anyway princeton 65 reverb reissues rock out big time and of course so would any original princeton so a huge thumbs up for them but NOT the recording one

shaunf

Thanks for confirming Keira. Will steer clear of the Recording model then. The search continues. My JCM2000 is a great amp and so I don't want to trade it just for the sake of it. It's just that I have my other Marshall and I'd like something a bit different as a second amp.

DrGonzo

I was super excited about that fender princeton recording amp - I think I was after the same on you were - going for R8.5k on Gumtree right?

then I went over to Marshall Music and played it and wasnt blown away... I think there may of been something wrong with it because it was really noisy and If they are branding it a recording/studio amp Im sure they would of designed a super quiet amp??

anyway, I played on the super sonic 22w next to it and was blown away - Go and give one a jam and maybe it will be worth the extra dough... ?

Tokai-SA

Has anyone mic'd and recorded a Princeton...I'd love to hear some clips?

shaunf

DrGonzo wrote: I was super excited about that fender princeton recording amp - I think I was after the same on you were - going for R8.5k on Gumtree right?

then I went over to Marshall Music and played it and wasnt blown away... I think there may of been something wrong with it because it was really noisy and If they are branding it a recording/studio amp Im sure they would of designed a super quiet amp??

anyway, I played on the super sonic 22w next to it and was blown away - Go and give one a jam and maybe it will be worth the extra dough... ?

I've ended up changing my mind about wanted a Fender. Decided I want to try and trade my TSL602 for a vintage Marshall head instead.

Keira-WitherKay

Tokai SA wrote: Has anyone mic'd and recorded a Princeton...I'd love to hear some clips?

@tokai, ok before we even start the thread was about the "recording princeton" which is a totally different beast cos it's a hybrid tube amp and solid state compressor /drive prob similar in some ways to the XD i guess.maybe some peeps like it .but not my cup of tea.i have heard em and NOT liked them .........

HOWEVER the re issue '65 princeton reverb ....is a different beast and is pretty cool for a small compact amp with a clean fender tone and a good tube reverb and tremelo (better reverb than the reissue deluxe's by far ) .......

BUT 1st prize would be an original 'point to point" 65 princeton reverb ( the very early princeton's had only tremelo and NO reverb ..till about mid sixties...and as i said the reverb circuit of the princeton is highly admired and respected and thats not just my opinion..so a vintage reverb princeton is definitely 1st prize ) ? the new ones (re issues) obviously like all modern tube amps are all tube but use pc boards which to me is not ideal ..i love the idea of a tube amp thats point to point wired

so what i'm saying is not all princetons are the same amps .........(there's the non reverb ones but with tube tremelo in the early ones pre mid 60's called the princeton then the princeton reverb from mid 60's ........and the 'recording princeton like the one discussed in this thread ....... " which seems disliked by most reviews i read and lastly the Princeton 65 reverb re issue

below is a video /demo of a princeton 65 reverb re issue ......... amazing tones if you NOT looking for huge volume ..btw this player is my favourite player in the entire known universe right now ..the talented Mr Jim Campilongo ...... the tones he gets from this small amp with just a tele is inspiring and btw jim campilongo is known for using a princeton (mostly original 65 reverbs) as his main gig amp in new york ...... and he just mic's it up if it's too soft but has great tone and reverb/trem and is small enough and light enough to carry to gigs where you using public transport like cabs and undergrounds .....

these tones are awesome if you like fender tone ........ true princeton magic

=