Dang it...new amp

[Tracerbullet]

Went to GC to play with new amps to see what it would like to pair with my Strat.
$400 budget
Never should have played anything outside my budget.......
Now I own a 65 Princeton Reverb.

[gwlee7]

Originally Posted by Tracerbullet

Went to GC to play with new amps to see what it would like to pair with my Strat.
$400 budget
Never should have played anything outside my budget.......
Now I own a 65 Princeton Reverb.

LOL. Just like guitars, never play an amp you aren’t willing to buy.

ETA: I have a Princeton.

[tinnitus]

Totally ambivalent about most solid state amps, I've always preferred to play tubes onstage.

In just about half a century of performing with various rock cover bands, I've played through many combos, vintage and otherwise - Fender, Mesa, Carvin, Orange, Vox, Peavey... and a 50W Marshall combo I returned to Guitar Center because it sounded muddy on the "distortion channel" no matter which guitar I used. Every one of those amps sounded "almost okay," but I often had knobs turned fully one way or the other, wishing I could get just a little bit more, or less, of whatever they controlled.

I finally discovered the Crate Vintage Club combo amp series (all tube amps), with very pleasing tone, volume and adjustable growl. More than a few self-labeled "brand-nazis" have approached me between sets to rave about the sounds of my Crate VC2110, VC3112, and VC5310 combos (I always took off the name plates so people would wonder - fun).

Most pleasing given how little I paid for the amps, my satisfaction with how they performed, and lots of extremely positive feedback.

YMMV

[gwlee7]

Originally Posted by tinnitus

Totally ambivalent about most solid state amps, I've always preferred to play tubes onstage.

In just about half a century of performing with various rock cover bands, I've played through many combos, vintage and otherwise - Fender, Mesa, Carvin, Orange, Vox, Peavey... and a 50W Marshall combo I returned to Guitar Center because it sounded muddy on the "distortion channel" no matter which guitar I used. Every one of those amps sounded "almost okay," but I often had knobs turned fully one way or the other, wishing I could get just a little bit more, or less, of whatever they controlled.

I finally discovered the Crate Vintage Club combo amp series (all tube amps), with very pleasing tone, volume and adjustable growl. More than a few self-labeled "brand-nazis" have approached me between sets to rave about the sounds of my Crate VC2110, VC3112, and VC5310 combos (I always took off the name plates so people would wonder - fun).

Most pleasing given how little I paid for the amps, my satisfaction with how they performed, and lots of extremely positive feedback.

YMMV

I also have a Crate Vintage Club 20. It is a great little amp.

[Dru Edwards]

Those dang New Amp Days . At least you didn't try a Friedman - they sound fantastic and are very $$$.

Congrats and enjoy!

[Livingston]

Great amp! Great choice! Congratulations!

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by tinnitus

...I finally discovered the Crate Vintage Club combo amp series (all tube amps), with very pleasing tone, volume and adjustable growl. More than a few self-labeled "brand-nazis" have approached me between sets to rave about the sounds of my Crate VC2110, VC3112, and VC5310 combos (I always took off the name plates so people would wonder - fun).

Most pleasing given how little I paid for the amps, my satisfaction with how they performed, and lots of extremely positive feedback...

Pun intended...?

All kidding aside, I remember the Crate Vintage Club amps well and I'm sorry I didn't scoop up the NOS 5310 hiding in plain sight on MandoBros selling floor for years. That said, I don't know if you've ever sat down and given any of the Bugera V-Series combos a good workout; I have two (V5 and V22) that I use as my regular band practice/gigging amps, and IMO they're the modern equivalent of the Crates in spirit and practice - loads of sweet tubey goodness, clean as you need or dirty as you want, at a price that'll open the ears (and furrow the brows) of many an owner of more-rarefied gear (FYI I proudly display the logos on mine). Along with a substantial number of your fellow AGF'ers who are now happy owners, I think you'll find a lot to like in terms of both tone and price: $199 for the 1x8" single-ended V5 (my band-practice/coffeehouse gig amp), $399 for the 1x12"/2xEL84 22W/15W V22 (my workhorse medium-hall/large-club go-to), and $449 for the 1x12" 55W/22W V55 (a 2x6L6 tone/volume monster for the big gigs, or loads of clean headroom for your jazzbox), all street prices and highly negotiable IME; check them out first chance you get, and let us know when (not if) you finally decide to take the plunge...

[harpspitfire]

good choice and a great amp

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by Tracerbullet

Went to GC to play with new amps to see what it would like to pair with my Strat.

$400 budget

Never should have played anything outside my budget.......

Now I own a 65 Princeton Reverb.

Congrats on the new amp; it might be more than you were thinking of spending but you’ll probably never want to part with it!

I was work-damaged early on in my search for the best amp! When researching what back line we should have for visiting artists at the theatre where I work I figured we should have one Fender tube and one Marshall tube combos. Everything I read and heard said Deluxe Reverb for the Fender, so I bought in Fender 65 DRRI (and a Marshall JVM combo). The Marshall rarely gets asked for so eventually I ordered in a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for when our guests ask for two amps (not everyone has their own overdrive or distortion pedals, especially when it’s music students. The Hot Rod gives us all the basics in one package without going to modelling amps, which frankly most novices and some professionals can’t handle in the time available to them).

Because of this my dream amp was the Deluxe Reverb and nothing I could afford for a while came up to it - though I like the Princeton very much and would have been happy with one of those too! We’ve had artists on our small stage with those and they are worth their weight in gold for tone at real-world levels!

I eventually managed to get my own DRRI just over a year ago so I’ve stopped borrowing the one at work...!

[M Sarad]

I find the use of “ brand nazi” highly inappropriate. A close friend’s parents were Holocaust survivors.

[dhodgeh]

Congrats on the amp.

Been there, done that.

Was shopping for a BF Deluxe Reverb, but walked out with a boutique clone (Vintage Sound) that literally blew away every DR that the shop had. Killer amp, even though it's way too much for my bedroom playing (even with an attenuator).

Would still love to have a Princeton Reverb (just cause....)

D

[Tracerbullet]

Originally Posted by tinnitus

Totally ambivalent about most solid state amps, I've always preferred to play tubes onstage.

In just about half a century of performing with various rock cover bands, I've played through many combos, vintage and otherwise - Fender, Mesa, Carvin, Orange, Vox, Peavey... and a 50W Marshall combo I returned to Guitar Center because it sounded muddy on the "distortion channel" no matter which guitar I used. Every one of those amps sounded "almost okay," but I often had knobs turned fully one way or the other, wishing I could get just a little bit more, or less, of whatever they controlled.

I finally discovered the Crate Vintage Club combo amp series (all tube amps), with very pleasing tone, volume and adjustable growl. More than a few self-labeled "brand-nazis" have approached me between sets to rave about the sounds of my Crate VC2110, VC3112, and VC5310 combos (I always took off the name plates so people would wonder - fun).

Most pleasing given how little I paid for the amps, my satisfaction with how they performed, and lots of extremely positive feedback.

YMMV

I’m not quite sure about your lead in statement. The 65 Princeton is an all tube amp

[OneThing]

You made a wise choice in selecting a Princeton Reverb. It’s such a fantastic amp. I bought the version with the 12” speaker and tweed cabinet from SW a couple of years ago. One of the best musical equipment decisions I’ve made. Congrats and enjoy!

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Those dang New Amp Days . At least you didn't try a Friedman - they sound fantastic and are very $$$.

Congrats and enjoy!

Ha ! we need anew acronym

Accidental Over Budget Amp

[Tracerbullet]

Originally Posted by OneThing

You made a wise choice in selecting a Princeton Reverb. It’s such a fantastic amp. I bought the version with the 12” speaker and tweed cabinet from SW a couple of years ago. One of the best musical equipment decisions I’ve made. Congrats and enjoy!

That’s the one I picked up. I really like the tweed brown