Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb Reissue or Fender '65 Princeton Reverb Reissue????

**Hammertone** · 05-15-2018, 05:37 PM

Bah, humbug! Just get an old Ampeg Reverbojet: 18 watts, reverb, trem, 1x12", portable and sounds great.

**Hammertone** · 05-15-2018, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Purple!

Wait, did someone say....purple?

**neatomic** · 05-15-2018, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

Wait, did someone say....purple?

oh man i remember that!..the original line of budda amps were killer..then they sold..to peavey??

i opted for

uk made ac30tbx

cheers

**christianm77** · 05-16-2018, 09:00 AM

Yes.

**Hammertone** · 05-16-2018, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by neatomic

oh man i remember that!..the original line of budda amps were killer..then they sold..to peavey??

Jeff Bober did indeed sell Budda to Peavey, and went on to build East amps. Budda typically used black, not purple Tolex - the Verbmaster head in the picture I posted was put into a custom small headshell built by Krueger Design (Ontario-based cab builder) and sits on a Krueger Design 1x12" cab.

Specific Budda models are still handmade, as indicated on their website. For instance: "The Verbmaster is made to be played loud, with a hand-wired 12AX7 preamp and EL84/5U4 power amp providing vivid tones and dynamic gain interplay. An extra tube stage on the High Gain input overdrives the preamp, increasing the tonal range of the Verbmaster. The Verbmaster is completely hand wired in the U.S.A. using high-grade audio components, with a straightforward feature set in an 18-watt, 1x12 combo format. The amplifier's namesake reverb, driven by 12AT7 and 12AX7 tubes, is divided into two settings - Sand and Surf - and features a global level control that governs the amount of reverb added to the mix for both settings. The "Sand" reverb setting has a high-frequency rolloff, while "Surf" has a decidedly sparkly top end."

**bananafist** · 08-17-2018, 09:40 AM

I have a p-to-p Princeton clone, initially with an EMI RWB 12", then an EMI Cannabis Rex 12", then change to a 10" baffle and install an EMI 1028 alnico 10. Search over, this combo does mellow and tele twang and has the sound I want. No need for 12"s. My other go-to amp is a reissue Vibroverb with EMI 1028 10"s and the PR sounds as good, though not quite as loud, maxed out. For me 10s give the clarity I need.

**christianm77** · 08-20-2018, 05:10 PM

Is it purple?

**christianm77** · 08-22-2018, 03:56 AM

I don’t have rattle with lil buddy

**christianm77** · 08-22-2018, 03:57 AM

I also roll off the bass because bass is for bassists

**Litterick** · 09-14-2018, 04:38 AM

If you have saved your money, you might consider buying this Super Pro Series Princeton Reverb II. One of a hundred. Not shown is the gorgeous amber glow of the jewel when the amp is running.

**Gitfiddler** · 09-14-2018, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Litterick

If you have saved your money, you might consider buying this Super Pro Series Princeton Reverb II. One of a hundred. Not shown is the gorgeous amber glow of the jewel when the amp is running.

At $4,000 Canadian, I predict that rare amp will remain for sale for a long time.

**DMgolf66** · 10-05-2018, 10:21 PM

After hearing some great feedback regarding questions i had about my 1995 Fender Blues Junior, I was curious to know if I upgraded to a '65 PRRI what I can expect improvement sound wise? I figure anyone who had previously replied to this post will be alerted and may have some insight. Apologize if this is a faux-pas.

**rintincop** · 10-05-2018, 10:59 PM

I did a long and careful side by side today at Guitar Center with the Princeton 65 Blackface LTD in red wine with a 12" Jensen and 15 watts, and the Princeton Silverface '68 with the stock 10" and 15 watts , and the Pro Jr. IV tweed 10" Jensen and 15 watts ... I highly recommend you do the same! Do not go by reputation.
The '65 was a distant 3rd place for jazz, it couldn't keep up with the push of my playing dynamics through its dullish 12" , the tone was thin and sounded as if too many were missing. I had the store staff assure me it was operating normally. The Pro Jr. was the warmest, nice clear and present mids, but the '68 was bigger sounding with a classic Silverface Fender Reverb-ish. Think twin silverface. The '68 and the Pro Jr. both had better push in terms of translating dynamics through their speaker behavior. They had "push". I used my P90 pickup Epi Casino guitar. I had another guitarist with me and he came to the same exact conclusions.

**rintincop** · 10-05-2018, 11:10 PM

Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb Reissue or Fender '65 Princeton Reverb Reissue????-prince65-jpg

Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb Reissue or Fender '65 Princeton Reverb Reissue????-2272000000_amp_dtl_001_nr-jpg

Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb Reissue or Fender '65 Princeton Reverb Reissue????-pro_jr_2_large-jpg

**DMgolf66** · 10-05-2018, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by rintincop

I did a long and careful side by side today at Guitar Center with the Princeton 65 Blackface LTD in red wine with a 12" Jensen, and the Princeton Silverface '68 with the stock 10" , and the Pro Jr. IV tweed ... I highly recommend you do the same .
The '65 was a distant 3rd place for jazz, it couldn't keep up with the push of my playing dynamics through its dullish 12" , the tone was thin and almost sound as if so many were missing. The Pro Jr. was the warmest, nice clear and present mids, but the '68 was bigger sounding with a classic Silverface Fender Reverb-ish. Think twin silverface. The '68 and the Pro Jr. both had better push in terms of translating dynamics through sounds waves. I used my P90 pickup Epi Casino guitar. I had another guitarist with me and he came to the same exact conclusions.

Wow, very interesting. Judging only from what I've read, this is a bit of a surprise. Well as you mentioned nothing beats in person testing. Thank you for the heads up.

**christianm77** · 10-06-2018, 03:33 AM

Well I play a 65 PRRI and think that Pro Jrs are garbage. Fight?

**christianm77** · 10-06-2018, 03:33 AM

The 68 is a very cool sounding amp but has no headroom: it’s designed to break up early which is fair enough but no use to me in a gigging amp. Like the 65 (which as stock has more headroom but not quite enough to stay clean with a medium volume drummer) this aspect could be altered with a speaker swap.

Having gigged the 65 a lot, I find myself wishing it was voiced a little more like the 68, as I usually end up cutting the bass and treble to offset the natural scoop. Has anyone tried a speaker swap on the 68?

Ultimately- What do you want? A hairy amp or pristine cleans? Mid range or a scooped blackface sound? Recording and practice amp or lightweight gigging amp?

**christianm77** · 10-06-2018, 03:37 AM

I tested the 65 and 68 side by side before purchasing the 65.

I couldn’t play through the pro junior for long - horrible harsh sounding amp. So who do you believe?

There are guitarists I know who play all three amps and get a great sound.

You have to try them yourself.

**Litterick** · 10-06-2018, 03:52 AM

To avoid a fight, I suggest the Princeton Reverb II, with the optional EVM-12L speaker: warm clean sounds, deep reverb, loads of headroom, and controls for brightness, presence, boost and gain. Fender should make a reissue.

**Gitfiddler** · 10-06-2018, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Litterick

To avoid a fight, I suggest the Princeton Reverb II, with the optional EVM-12L speaker: warm clean sounds, deep reverb, loads of headroom, and controls for brightness, presence, boost and gain. Fender should make a reissue.

This is a little known secret in Fender amp circles. Now you've ruined it for all of us PRII owners.

**DMgolf66** · 10-06-2018, 04:25 PM

Here is what I would like or am looking for since someone ( I think

) asked:
I'm an "at home" begginer to jazz. Current guitars are Gibson ES-335, Eastman 503 w/Lollar Imperial and (fingers crossed) next will have a '57 ES-125. Playing (or trying) Jazz 80-90% of time and then some Blues.

NEED:
*Big, gorgeous, fat, warm tone
* tubes
* great looking cabinet, tolex, grill.

DON'T NEED/WANT:
* Older vintage amps. Used is ok, but recent. I know little about amps and if there is an issue I have no clue how to fix.
* a lot of headroom. I'm a strictly home player and don't see playing out in the next 5 years.
* portability . The amp ain'tz going nowhere once it gets in the house.

I expect my demands to be met and an Amp on my front doorstep ASAP.

(Forgive my NJ sarcasm)

**gggomez** · 10-06-2018, 04:54 PM

Solution for mess really loved my Deluxe RI but too heavy and Pricenton RI never really did it for me - boutique true 65 replica. Not as scooped as the Fender re issues. With treble and bass on 1 it approached a tweed. I went with the alnico 12 inch and it makes my old reissue sound like a muddy toy.

Oh and high quality pine box much lighter than fender mdf.

The clarity, the touch sensitivity and headroom just enough for jazz trio with medium drummer.

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**DMgolf66** · 10-06-2018, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by gggomez

Solution for mess really loved my Deluxe RI but too heavy and Pricenton RI never really did it for me - boutique true 65 replica. Not as scooped as the Fender re issues. With treble and bass on 1 it approached a tweed. I went with the alnico 12 inch and it makes my old reissue sound like a muddy toy.

What boutique company made that for you? Sounds winderful!

**gggomez** · 10-06-2018, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by DMgolf66

What boutique company made that for you? Sounds winderful!

Hand Wired Guitar Amplifiers & Speaker Cabinets. Vintage Fender and Marshall Replicas - Achillies Amplification

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**Litterick** · 10-06-2018, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Gitfiddler

This is a little known secret in Fender amp circles. Now you've ruined it for all of us PRII owners.

Sorry, I forgot the first rule of PRII Club. I'll get my coat.

The first rule of Princeton Reverb Club, on the other hand, is to never miss an opportunity to tell everybody you have a Princeton Reverb.