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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Shall I change Blues Jr for 68 Custom Princeton?

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I've got the possibility to add some cash and change my Blues Jr for 68 Princeton, got no chance to try it before
Is it worth some $300 plus?
Youtube reviews are pretty useless(

I generally like Blues Jr and it has master volume and bigger speaker, but I've read here that Princeton is a head over Blues Jr, but I do not hear it in reviews at all

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

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Waikiki Makaki

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Last edited: Jul 09, 2018 07:51:19

-

Last edited: Jul 09, 2018 08:57:34

68 Princeton is head and shoulders above the Blues Jr. Better tone, less "boxy" sounding, better reverb (long pan/tube driven), has tremolo. Definitely an upgrade over the Blues Jr .

I can only suggest that you try one if you get a chance. Tone and sound are subjective and I would think 6v6 vs EL84 would make a fundamental difference.

I have a 65' Princeton Reverb reissue which is a great amp. (I tried a 68' @ Marion's Music (in Melbourne, FL) & what a GREAT amp. (I bought a 1964 Princeton in 1965 & wish I kept it Cry ) but this deal you have going sounds really good & the "price" is right ! Good Luck (both Princeton Reverb amps are wonderful) !

Last edited: Jul 09, 2018 13:28:27

Surfadelphia wrote:

68 Princeton is head and shoulders above the Blues Jr. Better tone, less "boxy" sounding, better reverb (long pan/tube driven), has tremolo. Definitely an upgrade over the Blues Jr .

Thanks! Not really interested in reverb now cause got Surfy Bear but its sure nice to have as an option)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Tailrocker wrote:

I can only suggest that you try one if you get a chance. Tone and sound are subjective and I would think 6v6 vs EL84 would make a fundamental difference.

I am not really into all this tibe difference stuff. What difference it would make in terms of sound, if you can, please) or may be I need to find some simple description somewhere...

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

jonfender wrote:

I have a 65' Princeton Reverb reissue which is a great amp. (I tried a 68' @ Marion's Music (in Melbourne, FL) & what a GREAT amp. (I bought a 1964 Princeton in 1965 & wish I kept it Cry ) but this deal you have going sounds really good & the "price" is right ! Good Luck (both Princeton Reverb amps are wonderful) !

Thanks, I will give it a chance) 64 Princeton in 65? Coool) Guess it was something unbelievable to be there and play surf there)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

The 68 Custom Princeton is a small amp and the '68 Custom series gets a bit gritty at lower volumes than their regular 'blackface' versions (see my signature below showing the amp I use). So, the difference may be that the Blues Jr will stay cleaner at higher volume. Please check into this more if this is a potential concern for you.

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

Last edited: Jul 10, 2018 03:44:08

I would say EL84s are glassier/chimey sounding and sound better distorted than 6V6s. IMO 6V6s sound better clean with more guts. YMMV; as I believe it's all to individual taste.

Tailrocker wrote:

I would say EL84s are glassier/chimey sounding and sound better distorted than 6V6s. IMO 6V6s sound better clean with more guts. YMMV; as I believe it's all to individual taste.

but I don't play clean at all) so I need to think)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Might help? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RzgJlf7SDg

Or might be useless, LOL.

Tailrocker wrote:

Might help? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RzgJlf7SDg

Or might be useless, LOL.

Oh, thanks! Very interesting.

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

don't know the princeton but the vibrolux reissue sound shity stock ,no head room, at 4 with my deluxe reverb i don't like the sound i have but there is some power ,at 4 on the vibrolux it is really quiet and already pretty distorded to my taste
the priceton is a little amp for home or must be miked for live
the 65 serie is the blackface style more headroom ,the 68 have less more blues amp as i understand
you need to test to be sure cause too much overdrive distortion by the amp is not the goal for surf

here it said it is too dark
https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/31058/

Last edited: Jul 11, 2018 04:22:22

Thumbs Up goes to the Princeton

Personally I think the '68 Custom series of amps sound very good.
Comparing apples to apples (and I've owned a Blues Jr as well), I would recommend the '68 Custom Princeton in a millisecond over the BJr. Don't disregard the on-board reverb. It is a typical wonderful Fender reverb, useful for many things when recording (like blending with a bit of echo), and is a different deal from your Surfy Bear reverb (which sounds terrific). Good uses for both.

The Princeton's cabinet is less boxy sounding, mostly because of the way the BJr's cabinet is made (which needs some stiffening to get the best out of any speaker that goes in it). This particular model Princeton is now my go-to amp in the local store (Dave's) when I want to test something.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

I was also offered 68 Vibrolux... Confused
image

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Samurai wrote:

I was also offered 68 Vibrolux... Confused

I have one 6-feet away. Really like it. The CVR is something you could gig with, although I'm past that time now & a Princeton would meet my needs. Things I like about it I've mentioned before here. The tone stacks are slightly different between the 2 channels. The "Vintage" side is a bit more scooped in the mid-range; and is like having a 35W BF Princeton Reverb with 2 10's. The Custom side is more like a Bassman thing, with a bit more "meat" to it (and is what I play 95% of surf on). It's a very versatile amp if you want the power & weight; but the CVR is into the "amp you could gig with" territory.

Some like the sound of the stock Celestion speakers; this is a very "personal" thing. I didn't & changed them before I even walked out of the shop for a pair of Jensen Falcons which are not expensive at all, they just have a different frequency response and are more "surf" to me. If a person wanted to they could just change one of them and, when recording, could close-mic the one they like the best for the sound they need.

I have had this amp up to 5, but can't be in the same room with it in the house past about 3; I can have it on 4 if I play with a long cord from the hallway outside the room. Laughing Now that I'm of a certain 'vintage' and not going to be gigging I have thought of trading it back for a little '68 Custom Princeton, but can't seem to do it because it gives me the 2 different sounds and those 2 10's sound so nice when pushed by a reverb tank - nice clean BF Princeton on one side, more grit & mid-range on the other. Might still do it because if the grand-daughter is home from college I'd rather toss a Princeton into the back seat of the car to go jam than carry a CVR.

The 2 amps you've mentioned are a bit of apples/oranges, in that one is plenty for sitting around jamming in the house or recording; the other is an amp you could legitimately gig with in most situations. Any questions you can PM, but the CVR has been a good amp for me.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Badger wrote:

Samurai wrote:

I was also offered 68 Vibrolux... Confused

I have one 6-feet away. Really like it. The CVR is something you could gig with, although I'm past that time now & a Princeton would meet my needs. Things I like about it I've mentioned before here. The tone stacks are slightly different between the 2 channels. The "Vintage" side is a bit more scooped in the mid-range; and is like having a 35W BF Princeton Reverb with 2 10's. The Custom side is more like a Bassman thing, with a bit more "meat" to it (and is what I play 95% of surf on). It's a very versatile amp if you want the power & weight; but the CVR is into the "amp you could gig with" territory.

Some like the sound of the stock Celestion speakers; this is a very "personal" thing. I didn't & changed them before I even walked out of the shop for a pair of Jensen Falcons which are not expensive at all, they just have a different frequency response and are more "surf" to me. If a person wanted to they could just change one of them and, when recording, could close-mic the one they like the best for the sound they need.

I have had this amp up to 5, but can't be in the same room with it in the house past about 3; I can have it on 4 if I play with a long cord from the hallway outside the room. Laughing Now that I'm of a certain 'vintage' and not going to be gigging I have thought of trading it back for a little '68 Custom Princeton, but can't seem to do it because it gives me the 2 different sounds and those 2 10's sound so nice when pushed by a reverb tank - nice clean BF Princeton on one side, more grit & mid-range on the other. Might still do it because if the grand-daughter is home from college I'd rather toss a Princeton into the back seat of the car to go jam than carry a CVR.

The 2 amps you've mentioned are a bit of apples/oranges, in that one is plenty for sitting around jamming in the house or recording; the other is an amp you could legitimately gig with in most situations. Any questions you can PM, but the CVR has been a good amp for me.

Thanks, man! I use amp only on reheasals, too lazy to take it to gigs and got Yamaha THR that totally closes all the home needs (we live in apartment, neighbors behind the wall all around)
So its like a amp for rehearsals, studio practicing and probably recording.

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

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