So, I played through a Princeton Reverb tonight...

[Katastrophe]

Went to go jam this evening, and the bass player brought over a Princeton Reverb for me to use. It was my first time since I started playing to use an all tube amph.

It was a Silverface. The tubes were old. Way old. Plugged in, and cranked it to full blast. Holy...wow....just wow. Dat TONE. Spanky cleans, just into breakup, and a nice, smooth crunch, all by turning the volume knob on my '06 Standard Strat. Reverb set to about 4. No outboard effects needed! Then, the singer got out his Thinline Tele and let me play that through the Princeton.

I tell ya, fellows, I had a big, stupid grin on my face the entire time.


Anyone else ever have a similar experience?

[Jimi75]

There's many guys that swear by them! Tremendous amphs!

[piebaldpython]

Supposedly, the Princetons without the Reverb are tone-to-the-bone. Glad you finally were baptized by TUBES.

[duhvoodooman]

Nice!! I can relate--my Allen Sweet Spot is based upon the Blackface Princeton Reverb circuit, and the tone is TO DIE FOR!

[Robert]

I haven't played one that I really liked. Perhaps the older ones are way better sounding than the newer ones.

[helliott]

I am with Robert. Haven't found one I liked. But my co-guitarist swears by old Fenders including his 65 twin, and he sounds great

[Katastrophe]

The one I played on never got below 5-6 on the volume dial, and stayed cranked most of the time. I just used my guitar's volume knob for overall volume and a little extra crunch if I needed it. PLENTY of volume to keep up with a moderately loud drummer, and then some.

What amazed me was the touch sensitivity. Want a little more grit? Just dig in a little harder! My Mustang amph can emulate that to a degree, but it just felt different with a tube amph. I might get a chance to try a vintage Deluxe at the next jam. Woo Hoo!