#1
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Fender Princeton 68 Custom vs Fender 57 Deluxe
Thinking about buying a new amp soon and these are the two I'm considering. My closest big store say they could get them both in for me to try if I put down a deposit.
Anyone got any experience with these two models, and how would they compare to one another (the deluxe is almost twice the price)? |
#2
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two completely different animals. i have not tried either but i've heard great things about both. the princeton will have less wattage than the deluxe so if you are gigging that may be a factor. that will also apply if you are using it at home as the deluxe will be louder.
there are a lot of deluxe clones much cheaper than that but if you are wanting a fender only, that is a factor. take your guitar and try them both. note that black friday is coming so if you can try them somehow beforehand, you may find a great deal soon. get on all of the various dealers' newsletters so that you get their ads around black friday. sweetwater, gc, musician's friend, etc. note that i do have a 66 deluxe reverb as well as a 59 princeton and two 58 deluxe clones that i've built. but, none specifically compares with the two you are looking at. play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics Last edited by muscmp; 11-05-2018 at 11:45 AM. Reason: add |
#3
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I happen to have both a 68 Custom Princeton Reverb and Tweed Deluxe clone and have reviewed both on my webpage. They are very different amps. Firstly, the Deluxe has no effects at all. It has a very classic sound with limited high-end balanced off with a glassy upper midrange and features a unique, interactive three knob control section. It has both cathode biasing of the power tubes and no negative feedback, who both contribute to more a gentle, smooth transition into distortion as you turn it up. Between the zero negative feedback and the tube rectifier, you get some nice compression out of the circuit as well. More in my review, HERE. By the way, you can get a custom maker to make you one of these for quite a bit less than Fender will.
The 68 Custom Princeton Reverb takes the basic '65 Princeton Reverb and adds a handful of mods that power users have been making for the fifty years since it debuted to tame some of the brightness and hardness of the little amp. First off, Fender reduced the negative feedback to more Brownface specs to get a smooth entry into distortion and more compression, somewhat like the Deluxe. Then, they changed a couple of resistors in the EQ section to make the Princeton's tone stack sound more like the slightly darker Blackface Bassman's circuit. The result is a great amp for the blues that features both reverb and a really sweet tremolo section. More HERE. Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#4
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...two great amps that Bob explained very well...i’ll only add that from a playing/gigging perspective the Princeton is likely gonna cover more playing styles especially if you use pedals...and if you switch out the baffle and install a 12 inch speaker it becomes even more versatile...if otoh you desire that pure guitar/cable/amp rock and roll vibe a tweed deluxe gets you there like no other amp I know of....or you could do what tonemeister Mike Campbell does and run a Princeton and a tweed Deluxe....although I think he uses a non reverb blackface Princeton which is my personal favorite Princeton on account of its increased headroom and extra sweet tone....
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#5
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The rhythm guitar is a Strat through a non-reverb Blackface Princeton. I always loved that song. In a conversation I guessed it was a a Princeton Reverb and Ed King said, "Nope, I used a non-reverb Princeton." Close but no cigar. But the '68 PR gets me there and the changes to the negative feedback on the '68 Custom really enhance the depth of the Trem. Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#6
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Thanks to Bob’s review and research on the internet, I bought a 68 Custom Princeton Reverb last week to use for harmonica (with a Shure SM 57 mic). Sounds classic and amazing for harp, and is great for my guitars, too. My music major son, an amazingly proficient guitarist and I bought a used G&L ASAT USA Classic Butterscotch Blonde guitar last weekend. It sounds incredible through the amp, no pedals needed. Am planning to do a NAD and NGD post with pictures soon. It really did happen
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1950 Martin 00-18 RainSong Concert Hybrid Orchestra Model 12 Fret Eastman E20OOSS. Strandberg Boden Original 6 Eastman T185MX G&L ASAT Classic USA Butterscotch Blonde Rickenbacher Lap Steel Voyage-Air VAD-2 Martin SW00-DB Machiche 1968 Guild F-112 Taylor 322e 12 Fret V Class |
#7
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try a 58 ala junior wells/rod piazza/paul butterfield and you may not go back. play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
#8
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Thanks, George
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Go for the Tone, George |
#9
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Acoustic: Taylor 314ce Taylor Mini-e Koa Plus Maton EBG808 Alvarez AP66SB Yamaha LL16R A.R.E. Fishman Loudbox Mini Electric: 1966 Fender Super Reverb 2016 Fender Champion 40 1969 Fender Thinline Tele 2015 Epiphone ES-339 Pro 2016 Fender MIA American Standard Strat 2019 Fender MIM Roadhouse Strat |
#10
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Actually, the two amps discussed here are both 12 watts. |
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Yes I do, thank you. I should have mentioned it with an RIP. I did mention it on my site. After his heart transplant in 2011 he knew he was living on borrowed time, and his life became far happier and more peaceful than it had been before. Charles Daughtry, one of the owners of the Les Paul Forum, wrote his eulogy at his request. You can find it HERE.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#12
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Thanks for all the opinions so far.
I forgot to say that I already own a 65 Princeton Reverb Reissue, but have been impressed by the Youtube vids of the 68 model. Would it be overkill to have both Princeton's, would I be able to get the 68's tone by simply using a little bit of pedal overdrive? Or is it worth considering it over the Deluxe? Also, is there much difference volume wise between these two amps. I notice my local store already have an Edge Deluxe model in stock. Not sure I really want his sig model though.
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"I used to try to play fast, and it’s fun for a minute, but I always liked saxophone players. They speak on their instrument, and I always wanted to do that on the guitar, to communicate emotionally. When you write, you wouldn’t just throw words into a bowl. There has to be a beginning, middle and end. Same thing with phrasing on the guitar" Jimmie Vaughan |
#13
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1990 Martin D16-M Gibson J45 Eastman E8D-TC Pono 0000-30DC Yamaha FSX5, LS16, FG830, FSX700SC Epiphone EF500-RAN 2001 Gibson '58 Reissue LP 2005, 2007 Gibson '60 Reissue LP Special (Red&TV Yel) 1972 Yamaha SG1500, 1978 LP500 Tele's and Strats 1969,1978 Princeton Reverb 1972 Deluxe Reverb Epiphone Sheraton, Riviera DeArmond T400 Ibanez AS73 Quilter Superblock US[/I] |
#14
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clintj will probably chime in again as his ears are all burnt up! play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
#15
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since we still don't know if it is bedroom or gigging, i'd say go for the deluxe to have more of a different sound. if you do get the second pr, you may want to swap out the baffle and put in a 12" speaker. of course, that is even more $. play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |