Silverface Princeton Reverb

[Guest HRB853370]

I was called about a silverface Princeton Reverb at a used music store here, for $700. I have photos coming, but its supposed to be a 6.5/10. Is that a decent price?

[Gitfiddler]

Ummmm...maybe. If it has all or most of the original parts, has been upgraded with a three prong cord, the caps aren't leaking, and most of all, it sounds killer. Some of them need another $300-$400 in repairs, so ask questions.

 

They run from $700 and up depending on condition. One in 99.9 condition recently sold for just under $800 on Ebay. Check the sold listings.

 

I'd just save up for one of the many boutique hand wired versions...including KBP810's take on Princetons.

[DetroitBlues]

Not really... Sliver face models should be much less.

[Guest HRB853370]

MGR is typically high on everything I find.

[Hfan]

Many early Silver Faces are actually black face circuits, especially the smaller ones. The silver faces got the bad rap IMHO mostly from the addition of the Master vol with push pull distortion like on the Twins. Many Silver Faces are killer when running right.

 

Will, what year?

[Guest HRB853370]

Many early Silver Faces are actually black face circuits, especially the smaller ones. The silver faces got the bad rap IMHO mostly from the addition of the Master vol with push pull distortion like on the Twins. Many Silver Faces are killer when running right.

 

Will, what year?

 

Dont know, how do I tell?

[Gitfiddler]

Will, here's some quick study-up notes on Silverface Princetons for ya. Some folks turn their noses up on the Boost/Pull Volume added in '78, but they are still very good, point-to-point amps. Even the Rivera era Princeton II's are great little ptp amps and respond very well to mods.

 

http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-silverface-princeton/

[Hfan]

 

Dont know, how do I tell?

serial #

[DetroitBlues]

Aren't the old Princetons made from a card board like circuit board as they were considered budget or student amps?

[Guest HRB853370]

Will, here's some quick study-up notes on Silverface Princetons for ya. Some folks turn their noses up on the Boost/Pull Volume added in '78, but they are still very good, point-to-point amps. Even the Rivera era Princeton II's are great little ptp amps and respond very well to mods.

 

http://ampwares.com/...face-princeton/

 

Thanks Tim.

[DetroitBlues]

Looks like you know the value a little more now...

[kbp810]

Hmm, hard to base on what they are calling a 6.5 out of 10 condition; pics would be helpful, especially if they will let you take the back panel off and take some inside shots -if you can, get some good ones, especially of the big filter caps. Keep an eye out for caps that look like they are leaking or that look bloated, as well as any components that are burnt/toasted/abonormally discolored;

 

Gitfiddler already said it best - if it's not in good shape in the inside and doesn't sound killer... it could take a fair chunk of change to bring it up to par; new tubes, cap job, speaker, some cleanup, pots clean or replace, and an update to a three prong cord (if it hasn't been changed already) are all plausible items.

 

Otherwise, the SF Princeton Reverbs are great sounding amps, and they can always be modded and/or changed over to the AA1164 style BF circuit.

[kbp810]

...and they can always be modded and/or changed over to the AA1164 style BF circuit.

Actually, scratch that last part; they were really the same amp up until they added the pull-boost to it, which I believe came in 1977.

[DavesNotHere]

Don't mean to threadjack....who am I kidding, I mean to threadjack .

Will If you somehow make it to Huntsvegas, I'll go $500 on an eary Silverface Twin.

http://huntsville.cr...3257329896.html

[Hfan]

Don't mean to threadjack....who am I kidding, I mean to threadjack .

Will If you somehow make it to Huntsvegas, I'll go $500 on an eary Silverface Twin.

http://huntsville.cr...3257329896.html

That is a killer deal on a killer amp. Lifting it will build character as well.