vintagesurfdude
Joined: Nov 28, 2011
Posts: 795
Prescott Valley, AZ
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 12:31 AM
rockabillysurf wrote:
another + 1 on the Princeton Reverb. Although mine is a Gomez G-Reverb, his version and same size as Princeton. A custom order, not his normal 15" speaker version. I just started playing surf music again and this amp is PERFECT for inside the house practice.(I bought it a few years ago and just now getting a chance to really play it.)
Anyone own one of the new Fender Reissue Princetons? Reviews?
Tried one in a store and really liked it. Sounded pretty "large". I guess "robust" would work.
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tubeswell
Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 01:20 AM
rockabillysurf wrote:
Anyone own one of the new Fender Reissue Princetons? Reviews?
I've tried a RI PR in a local store last year and was a bit underwhelmed. The whole sound was flat and the tone stack didn't seem to be very responsive. Probably could be lifted somewhat with the right speaker and a re-tube but I suspect the OT would really need to be upgraded to something a bit nicer than what they put into the RI. Sure its cheap, but once you spend the extra US$100 on a decent (Weber Vintage Series) speaker and another $60-70 on a good OT (plus ~$100 for installation), and another hundy or so on nice set of tubes that increases the price by $400 or so.
— He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Surf Daddies
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vintagesurfdude
Joined: Nov 28, 2011
Posts: 795
Prescott Valley, AZ
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 01:33 AM
tubeswell wrote:
rockabillysurf wrote:
Anyone own one of the new Fender Reissue Princetons? Reviews?
I've tried a RI PR in a local store last year and was a bit underwhelmed. The whole sound was flat and the tone stack didn't seem to be very responsive. Probably could be lifted somewhat with the right speaker and a re-tube but I suspect the OT would really need to be upgraded to something a bit nicer than what they put into the RI. Sure its cheap, but once you spend the extra US$100 on a decent (Weber Vintage Series) speaker and another $60-70 on a good OT (plus ~$100 for installation), and another hundy or so on nice set of tubes that increases the price by $400 or so.
Well, there ya go. I think a point we may have touched on is an amount of inconsistency in Fenders production amps. I personally think it's the parts their using. Some of 'em sound great, others so,so.
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6V6
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 284
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 01:35 AM
I play mostly through a SF Princeton Reverb these days...great for surf and pretty good for everything else.
I bought mine for $450 off craigslist two years ago...its not stock and was missing the back panels and logo at the time, hence the great price. But it did have a nice Weber and a new transformer.
Funny thing...I was answering an add for a reissue PR...the guy had both. I kind of liked the reissue better (believe it or not, I thought it was smoother), but the SF was $100 less, so I had to jump. I am very happy to have it!
I did have a Blues Jr....its a nice rock amp for the price, but does a poor job for vintage surf, as its a bit shrill. An EQ might help with that, though. I did try my fender reverb tank with the BJ, and it didn't help much, at least for the tones I hoped for.
I would wait for the new Excelsior to come out before making a decision....and think the Mustang and Super Champs are great options for entry level surf amps.
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tubeswell
Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 01:38 AM
vintagesurfdude wrote:
tubeswell wrote:
rockabillysurf wrote:
Anyone own one of the new Fender Reissue Princetons? Reviews?
I've tried a RI PR in a local store last year and was a bit underwhelmed. The whole sound was flat and the tone stack didn't seem to be very responsive. Probably could be lifted somewhat with the right speaker and a re-tube but I suspect the OT would really need to be upgraded to something a bit nicer than what they put into the RI. Sure its cheap, but once you spend the extra US$100 on a decent (Weber Vintage Series) speaker and another $60-70 on a good OT (plus ~$100 for installation), and another hundy or so on nice set of tubes that increases the price by $400 or so.
Well, there ya go. I think a point we may have touched on is an amount of inconsistency in Fenders production amps. I personally think it's the parts their using. Some of 'em sound great, others so,so.
Yeah possibly. Or it could be that I've become too fussy for my own good, or that I'm going deaf or something. 
— He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Surf Daddies
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tubeswell
Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 01:41 AM
6V6 wrote:
I would wait for the new Excelsior to come out before making a decision....and think the Mustang and Super Champs are great options for entry level surf amps.
Yep I've been eyeing up those Excelsiors and they look pretty damn impressive for the price. I happen to have a new Weber 15" Vintage Series in my parts stash that is looking for a new project too...
— He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Surf Daddies
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 01:54 AM
6V6 wrote:
I did have a Blues Jr....its a nice rock amp for the price, but does a poor job for vintage surf, as its a bit shrill. An EQ might help with that, though. I did try my fender reverb tank with the BJ, and it didn't help much, at least for the tones I hoped for.
My feelings exactly. It sounds like broken glass, and gets really ugly with external Reverb (which you'd wand to have high treble on for drippy splashy galore). Stock reverb is usable, but not surfy at all. Many people mod this and that, esp. tubes and speakers (the stock are horrible IMO), but would you really want to go through all that with a new amp? Better choices out there.
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ColtsSurf
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 06:10 PM
The Princeton Reverb Reissue does sound kind of flat straight out of the box. However, once you put some hours on the speaker it really starts to come around. Of course, we all have varying tastes.
I have owned a few of the PR clones (Allen, Headstrong, etc.) and, for me, the best one by far was the Gomez G Reverb. Unfortunately, I traded it to my brother-in-law for some geotechnical work. Miss that amp, but he plays it every day.
The PRRI is a good second choice to the G Reverb. A really light amp that is very home friendly, with excellent reverb. Just make sure to get a newer one (2011 and beyond) that has the Fender bracing fix on the baffle.
— Paul
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 06:25 PM
I don't know what you guys are doing, but my Blues Jr. works great for surf, with or without outboard reverb. I did re-tube mine with JJs and I put an Eminence Cannabis Rex in there and it sounds better now but was very usable before. It all depends on how loud and clean you want to be. If you listen to some old surf music you'll hear cleaner, dirtier, wetter, drier and everything in between. We DO NOT want everyone to sound the same, there is no "surf tone" that is correct. We should embrace amp diversity...as long as they are all Fenders.
DreadInBabylon wrote:
6V6 wrote:
I did have a Blues Jr....its a nice rock amp for the price, but does a poor job for vintage surf, as its a bit shrill. An EQ might help with that, though. I did try my fender reverb tank with the BJ, and it didn't help much, at least for the tones I hoped for.
My feelings exactly. It sounds like broken glass, and gets really ugly with external Reverb (which you'd wand to have high treble on for drippy splashy galore). Stock reverb is usable, but not surfy at all. Many people mod this and that, esp. tubes and speakers (the stock are horrible IMO), but would you really want to go through all that with a new amp? Better choices out there.
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2367
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 06:33 PM
Stormtiger wrote:
as long as they are all Fenders.
Last edited: Mar 08, 2012 18:33:21
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RobbieReverb
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2384
San Jose, Ca.
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Posted on Mar 08 2012 07:47 PM
Stormtiger wrote:
I don't know what you guys are doing, but my Blues Jr. works great for surf, with or without outboard reverb. I did re-tube mine with JJs and I put an Eminence Cannabis Rex in there and it sounds better now but was very usable before. It all depends on how loud and clean you want to be. If you listen to some old surf music you'll hear cleaner, dirtier, wetter, drier and everything in between. We DO NOT want everyone to sound the same, there is no "surf tone" that is correct. We should embrace amp diversity...as long as they are all Fenders.
DreadInBabylon wrote:
6V6 wrote:
I did have a Blues Jr....its a nice rock amp for the price, but does a poor job for vintage surf, as its a bit shrill. An EQ might help with that, though. I did try my fender reverb tank with the BJ, and it didn't help much, at least for the tones I hoped for.
My feelings exactly. It sounds like broken glass, and gets really ugly with external Reverb (which you'd wand to have high treble on for drippy splashy galore). Stock reverb is usable, but not surfy at all. Many people mod this and that, esp. tubes and speakers (the stock are horrible IMO), but would you really want to go through all that with a new amp? Better choices out there.
Plus one on the Blues Junior (without upgrades. Mine (late 90's) was fine for surf at bedroom levels. It's a loud 15 watts. I've upgraded since (Reverend Goblin/Quilter MicroPro 200), and it's collecting dust in possession of my 15 year old nephew, but it's a good amp. Slammed with a reverb tank, it is just fine. The onboard reverb is weak, even for onboard reverb. The Princeton RI's sound great, but for $100 for you can get a DRRI. My #1 choice would be a used silverface combo, though.
— Bob
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