silverface princeton vs RI?

[12AX7]

70's silverface princeton or the blackface reissue ? Which do you think is going to sound better, assuming the 70's model is one from the best years for them. And what IS the best year for them, and do most, all, or any of them have reverb ?

[LooseChange]

I'd take the SF Princeton over the RI any day!

[HotBluePlates]

... do most, all, or any of them have reverb ?

If the model name is Princeton Reverb, then it will have reverb. If just "Princeton," then no.

70's silverface princeton or the blackface reissue? Which do you think is going to sound better ...

Haven't played the reissue yet, and I'd guess sound quality will probably come down to the speaker used.

You could look at it as the vintage model will never be worth less money than you paid (as long as you don't get ripped off), assuming you make no silly mods.

... assuming the 70's model is one from the best years for them. And what IS the best year for them ...

I don't know that there is a difference.

The silverface Princetoms follow the same schematic as the blackface Princetons. There may be slight voltage differences. And in the silverface era wiring switched to PVC insulation and coupling/electrolytic cap types changed. But again, it often comes down to how nice the speaker sounds on a given example as to whether one is better/worse than another.

[stratele52]

I'd take the SF Princeton over the RI any day!

+1000

Sure reissue don't use point to point wiring =low quality parts , like import capacitor..=   +10000 for the original SF

1970 is same as Blackface , newer 1974 ,75 (? ) not the same IMO

[tubeswell]

Yep I've tried the RIPR, and apart from the lower price, they're shite. YMMV

[LooseChange]

Hey, whatever you get in that Silverface, you can always fix it up. A ton easier than that mass produced pc board.

[12AX7]

Thanks all. Seems silverface it is. I was going to build one but i started looking at the cost and time and figured i'd rather just buy one. I;'ve seen some going pretty reasonably. But since stratele52 said the later mid 70's ones are not good, is there any resource online with detailed instructions on what needs changing? or is it too much like transformers that would make it better to even go with a RI?

[stratele52]

Silver face with master volume are the worst .  Better to buy one than build one if you want the real thing .Unless you are a pro amp builder and can have parts ( cabinet , chassis   transformer ) at low cost . It will cost " lots" of money and it will be just a clone . And not sure it will work fine a the first power ON

More information ; there some expert about Fender Amp

 forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?t=16890

[12AX7]

Thats what i needed, thanks !

[stratele52]

You are welcome

[HotBluePlates]

Silver face with master volume are the worst.

There was no master volume Princeton; instead, they had a pull-boost by some point that bypassed the reverb tank to get extra gain to boost the dry signal.

As long as the pull-boost is not engaged, this amp looks the same schematic-wise as the earlier amps (from what I saw in a quick look).

[stratele52]

Silver face with master volume are the worst.

There was no master volume Princeton; instead, they had a pull-boost by some point that bypassed the reverb tank to get extra gain to boost the dry signal.

As long as the pull-boost is not engaged, this amp looks the same schematic-wise as the earlier amps (from what I saw in a quick look).

You are wright about Master volume on Princeton . MV is use on more powerfull amp on late 70 CBS line. About schematic I can not find the 1970 area schematic . The latest I see is 1164 wich is not the mid 70 Princeton IMO.

Wich shematic do yo use ? Any adress I can download ?.

About amps with Pull Boost volume  , sorry but those amp don't have the real blackface sound .

 

[super&plexi]

played in band where singer played blackface princeton (rhythm) , I played my silverface, (lead, rhythm). his tone, vol., everything, SMOKED MINE!! blackface white/cream knobs-----holy cow! 2 different worlds.

  On a semi related note, the best, or one of my best remembered tone, playing, fun, sounds insane, "oh man, I wish I could play/sound like this forever'' days came from playing through 4princetons-daisy chained-

.....1 blackface cream knob, 2 brownface, ending in 70's reverb model. all stock, one tubescreamer, (just for Tabasco), move this way, note blooms, move that way, another comes out, higher....fiddle w/vol., tone, changes, now mellower, chords, sweet.....slam vol, bend, sCreeaMM..........,I personally think you can play any gig w/a princeton, w/1 caveat...The Soundman. as long as Soundman is good, think about it, Singer only has voice, lungs. In a Auditorium, he/she, LOUDEST. Roy Buchanan used to play/tour  w/tele and small Fender, (champ?) on a chair, I think a chair was in his waiver, along w/M&M's, no purple or pink one's, (I think).

 BOTTOM LINE; if  you want a tone that workers are still trying to figure out how to scrape it of the walls from last time you played there, you better play your tail off, no matter what you play through, and/ or have equipment that sounds good/great, and stands the test of time/rigors of road....new circuit board (mass produced) stuff is not usually up to even minimal re-soldering, just replace whole board mentality. Pfrrft.

 Quite often  older IS better. and what better place to find ''your answer'' to your own question than here,  building both, new and old versions, and A/B comparing them.....then building 2Brownface ones! By the way, Rhythm Player played Tele through BF Princeton. 60's  70's, can't remember yr. of guitar,  but remember that sound, and remember being blown away by vol. & tone of that little setup. It carried bass & drums well. My silverface  needed PA help to ride above for solos

side note; have Carvin V16 that I re-did, w/RAW cntrl., (bypass tone stack), and changed some things to Princeton values. Flat out Smokes, and come to think of it, impresses me w/vol. tone reminiscent of that Blackface. I just don't trust it because it's pc board, warping, too small cabinet, ...but get great comments about it's sound since 'princetoning' it.