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1965 Princeton Reverb

torren61

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
228
I bought this one a couple of years ago. I was working to put up the electric power lines after some wildfires had come through and I had a pretty fat overtime check and this was a reward for those weeks away from home.

It's a 1965 Fender Princeton Reverb. It was in decent shape but I wanted it just a bit better. It had an Italian made Jensen speaker and some crappy resto work done so I decided to do a sympathetic restoration. I sent it out to Skip Simmons (The Truth About Vintage Amps podcast) for the electronics. He only replaced the parts that were broken or out of tolerances.

I found a vintage correct 1965 Jensen C10N speaker and a vintage two button Vib/Rev foot switch. I'd say it's about 95% restored. Some '65 Fender Princeton Reverbs didn't have the "Fender" badge on the front top left grill. This one didn't.

The BlackFace Princeton Reverbs are on the list of classic amps you should at least play if you can't own one. They have a kind of three dimensional sound that's really hard to impart unless you hear one. They sport a GZ34 (or 5U4GB) rectifier, two 6V6GT power tubes, 1/2 of a 12AX7 for the Vibrato and 1/2 for phase inverter, 1/2 of a 12AX7 for Reverb recovery and ½ for Reverb mix, one 12AT7 for Reverb send and one 12AX7 (7025) for preamp. If I have one complaint, it's that the Vibrato is too fast even on the slowest setting. I may swap out the capacitor to slow it down. This is one of my "keepers".

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Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
Great amp, for sure.

Princeton Rverb is my go to amp, though mine is ‘72 with an AlNiCo 12”. Luckily the Princeton had very few changes during its run. Cab is the only real difference.

Btw, my ‘64 Deluxe Reberb has no logo.
 

torren61

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
228
The "SilverFace" Princeton Reverbs, up to 1978, are nearly identical to the "BlackFace" circuit but they can be had for much less money. BlackFace PRs are averaging around $4000 and SilverFace PRs are averaging around $3000. I would expect prices to eventually drop. In 1978, Fender introduced a push/pull volume boost. That's when they departed from the BlackFace circuit.
 

Wally

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
Nice amp, torren61. Fwiw, I have a piece of black and silver cloth that is much closer to the original than what is on that grille.
I know that the cloth on your amp there is marketed as ‘aged’ BF era cloth, but it unlike anything that Fender ever used. I got suckered into buying some from a cabinet builder some years back to re-grille a January, 1967 Bassman cab. From about 15 feet away and with crossed eyes, one can almost believe that it is somewhat similar to original cloth that has yellowed.
I used it under protest….and hey, it doesn’t matter on that Bassman cab because no one wants to buy it anyway!!!!! Lol…
 

torren61

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
228
Nice amp, torren61. Fwiw, I have a piece of black and silver cloth that is much closer to the original than what is on that grille.
I know that the cloth on your amp there is marketed as ‘aged’ BF era cloth, but it unlike anything that Fender ever used. I got suckered into buying some from a cabinet builder some years back to re-grille a January, 1967 Bassman cab. From about 15 feet away and with crossed eyes, one can almost believe that it is somewhat similar to original cloth that has yellowed.
I used it under protest….and hey, it doesn’t matter on that Bassman cab because no one wants to buy it anyway!!!!! Lol…
Yeah, the guy who had the amp before lived in Kansas City and swapped out the original grill cloth for one that had the KC Chiefs on it and then he lost the original. Let me know if you want to sell a piece of yours. :D
 

Wally

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
Yeah, the guy who had the amp before lived in Kansas City and swapped out the original grill cloth for one that had the KC Chiefs on it and then he lost the original. Let me know if you want to sell a piece of yours. :D

torren61, I think I have a piece that fits that amp. Let me measure, and I’ll get back to you.
It is a pity that that fellow lost the original cloth. Football mania, eh???
 

Wally

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
@torren61, I have a piece that may be just enough for that. It is 20 1/2” wide and 21 1/2” in height. The width is
perhaps on the borderline, but I think it will do the job. The Mojo site specs the Prin Rev baffleboard at 18 5/16” wide.
Check your measurements and get back to me if Mojo’s measurement agrees with that BF you have there.
 

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,020
Thanks. You just made me cry a little bit...
Bro...my revolving door of gear has been spinning for 35 years.
You wouldn't believe the ones that got away.
It's OK...my "collection" is quite small, but very cool.
I have some amps I would never trade for a BF PR.
 
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