'76 Princeton Reverb

Ron Davis · From: Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)

I just got this lil' Princeton Reverb, & I just love the sounds comin' outta this little tone dawg...! It's a bit "rag tag", i.e. needs new grill cloth & various odds & ends.

I pulled all the tubes, cleaned the chassis & pots, removed the poor little Fender 10" speaker & replaced it with an Eminence 10" 50 watt I scored on ($19 + shipping - eBay). MAJOR difference. I was gonna put a 12" in it, but the '76's have the dadoed in baffle, so I opted to go simpler route.

Someone had used white paint for some names/band names (?) on the top of the amp, & also spray painted the grill cloth blue! Mad

Of course there was overspray on tolex, knobs, faceplate, jacks, etc. The metal Fender logo plate was completely painted solid blue. But, with some alcohol, acetone & determination & got the amp all clean, except for the grill cloth. I sprayed that black, but also ordered some new "aged" grill cloth for a re-do. Also had to re-glue some loose tolex. There's still some torn up tolex, etc., but for now I'll just consider it "character". Wink

I'll likely wind up putting it in another cabinet. This one is actually broken in a couple places, however it's still pretty solid.

But... the TONE!!! Mr. Green

Just superb.
I have lots of great amps, big & small, Supro, Vox, Fender, etc., but I think this just may be my fav. I have only played 2 Teles & a Strat through it, so far.

I've heard from many folks attesting to the awesome tone from these, but now that I own one I'm a true believer.

And, oh yeah...
I got it for $250.
Can't beat that, huh?

Cool

rd
_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy. Wink

www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Princetons actually sound fatter, fuller, and bassier with the 10" speaker than a 12". It all has to do with the cabinet size/geometry and how it was tuned and designed for a 10". Just because a 12" is bigger doesn't mean that the cabinet will work with it to deliver the balanced low end. I stick with 10" speakers in my Princeton.

Nice score. I'm jealous.

Brad

Ron Davis · From: Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)

Wel, Brad...
Between the SFPR for my Teles & the Revelation for my Emmons... I'm in tone Heaven.
Smile

_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy. Wink

www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Hear's my experience with the re-issue Princeton Reverb:

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Princeton%20Reverb/Princeton%20Reverb.html

The stock speaker is not much to brag about but I didn't keep it long enough to swap it out. I see the Marty Stuart show uses a pair of them to good effect.

Greg

Olli Haavisto · From: Jarvenpaa,Finland

Probably the best tone/price/weight ratio on the vintage market today. For me anyway Smile

I have a -76, too. A friend of mine has a RI and everytime we play a gig together he wants me to bring mine for him to play because it "sounds SO much better than the RI". Same speaker in both amps, a Jensen Neo 10, the best 10" I`ve found.
_________________
Olli Haavisto
Finland

Ron Davis · From: Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)

Jonathan Lam · From: Brooklyn, NY

Amazing score.
My 75 princeton reverb w a JBL d110 is my go to studio amp and gig amp for venues with decent sound....
Love it.

Ron Davis · From: Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)

Jonathan, I thought hard about a JBL, & still may try one at some point.

I'm taking the SFPR in to a tech to check caps, etc...
It sounds awesome, but I would like a little more clean headroom.
I know a JBL would likely help in that department. But, the 50 watt Emi I put in it should suffice also. Since this thing only puts out 12-15 watts, the 50 watt Emi shouldn't be breaking up too much.

I really love this thing.
Gonna have a stand-by switch put on it, cuz I never wanna turn it off. Laughing

rd
_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy. Wink

www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I have a '74 and '71. The '74 has a 10" JBL MI-series speaker, it's killer. The '71 has a heavy-duty Weber 10" speaker - also killer.

I agree with Brad about leaving a 10" speaker in it. I've had PR's with 12" speakers over the years, the box is indeed designed for a 10" speaker, I prefer that. Nothing wrong with the right 10" speaker.

These are fantastic for electric guitar, and even just fine for low stage volume PSG gigs. Ya' know - coffeehouse folk gigs with acoustic instruments, low-volume electric gigs w/ no serious drums, and I've used mine for recording from time to time. Nothing sweeter than a good Princeton Reverb.

Ron Davis · From: Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)

I remember friends having Princetons when I was a kid. Surf bands, etc...
I was talking with Greg Leisz about some guitar stuff he played (in addition to his awesome steel playing) on the Ray LaMontagne records. I was telling him how much I liked the guitar tones on those recordings, & then I proceeded to pick his brain for what I could get. Wink

(very cool guy)
He told me he used an old Princeton. That made me want one real bad. Wink

This one I just got really just fell in my lap. (Guess we all get lucky sometime.)
Laughing

I'll take it when I can get it.

Cool

rd
_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy. Wink

www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com

Gerry Simon · From: Ohio, USA

I've been using a Princeton Reverb 2 for many years, mostly for recording : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRGDAoWdzPY (studio recorded w/ live footage)
and love the tone. I think some of the circuit was redesigned for these 1980's units...I had a friend put in a better quality spring unit as I think they used cheaper ones in later models. It doesn't cut it for band use but may be ok for a coffee house volume gig. It also makes a cool sound for the harmonica when pushed into distortion levels...

Ron Davis · From: Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)

Hi, Gerry...
From what I know (which ain't too much) Wink

I've heard that the Princeton II's are a whole different animal.

I just checked out the video link you posted. Were you playin' steel there? If so, it sounded pretty nice.

I have a close friend doing a Garth trib thing, too. Looks a lot like Garth & sounds pretty close. He just moved to Branson. I guess he has the "Legends" folks gettin' behind him, now. Hope he gets more gigs than I've had lately. lol

Cool

rd
_________________
Emmons 12 p/p, Revelation, Black Widows, (& way too many assorted goodies...)
Drummer with a pedal steel fantasy. Wink

www.LA-Zep.com
www.Desperado1.com
www.CMWChicagoTribute.com

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

" but I would like a little more clean headroom. "

The Stokes Mod, I think that's what it's called, is a simple, cheap mod that will bump you up to around 20 watts. Lots more headroom.

Gerry Simon · From: Ohio, USA

Hi Ron, Yeah, we recorded that in a guys basement studio and then I gathered what I could find of pix and vids and stuck it together best I could. I think you are right about that being a different design from the older Princetons, Paul Riveiera (sp?) who might have been part of Mesa Boogie later?
I like doing the Garth Tribute thing since he borrowed from so many places there is a big variety to the styles we can play. We had just started getting into the casinos for good money when the scammers from wall street and the bankers dropped the bomb on the country. Gerry

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