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Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:12 pm
by bighonky
I'm considering picking up one of these amps and just wanted to hear what your opinions are of the two. It's been awhile since I had the opportunity to play either.Thanks ;D Now changed to DRRI vs. Princeton Reverb RI !

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb vs. Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:58 pm
by glimmertwin
Ha! Totally missed the post where you announced that you were moving to Austin. Welcome! This summer has been a bitch though - can't remember it being this bad in a long while. It's been so dry one of my good friend's house burnt down in that Oak Hill fire so I'm like fuck the drought but then it rained one night about a month ago and the thunder scared my dog while I had the fence open while doing yardwork and he ran away so I'm like fuck the rain. I can't win this summer....

....back to topic, I can't say I have a lot of experience with the Custom Vibrolux (I have a silverface Vibrolux though) but I do play through a bandmate's stock 65 Deluxe RI in one of the bands I play in and it's a pretty good amp and has a decent amount of volume on tap. I was surprised that I like it as much as I do given how much I haven't been impressed with most newer fender amps at places like Guitar center. My Vibrolux is maybe 10% louder than the DR but I think I could still gig with the Deluxe Reverb as long as I had a decent clean boost. That being said, I don't generally play with a real clean tone - I always liked that grindy/gritty sound and this amp spends it's gigging volume there. Anyway, don't know how much that helps but it's something.

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb vs. Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:59 am
by Johnny V
I assume you're talking reissues? I quite like DRRI though it doesn't quite measure up to a vintage Blackface DR. They can be modded to be sonically indistinguishable with an original but it's a $500 mod. Either way it's a nice sounding amp.

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:45 am
by bighonky
Would appreciate opinions on these 2 Fender Reissues. Thanks!

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:34 am
by Maggieo
You live in Austin, just go get a Silverface Princeton Reverb.

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:36 am
by glimmertwin
...saw on craigslist recently that someone was selling a silverface deluxe reverb locally for $1200. If you keep checking in to craigslist, you'll eventually find a silverface amp that probably costs less than what the reissues cost. Lots of Twin reverbs, but princetons and DRs pop up there too from time to time.

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:04 pm
by bighonky
Thanks for the welcome! Anyway, I'm trading in a guitar to Dave's and I have too many guitars, so....why not get a Fender amp? I have a handwired AC15, an AC4, already. I probably won't be doing a lot of gigging, but hey, I can dream, right? Anyway, I'm leaning towards the PRRI or maybe even the 57 Tweed Champ RI. ;D

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:30 pm
by OffYourFace
you do a lot of trading with Daves... don't you lose a lot of money doing that? ??? If you're going to get a RI amp, get the Deluxe. The Princeton is way over priced IMO.

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:36 pm
by StevenO
As is the Tweed Champ, me thinks.

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:13 pm
by bighonky
OffYourFace wrote:you do a lot of trading with Daves... don't you lose a lot of money doing that? ??? If you're going to get a RI amp, get the Deluxe. The Princeton is way over priced IMO.
You lose money on trades, but Dave is much better than the douchebags at GC. I might be able to get more via CL or ebay, but sometimes it isn't worth the hassle for the amount of money.
So, why is the Princeton overpriced in your opinion? Just curious...

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:51 pm
by OffYourFace
$900 for a new princeton is too much imo. you can get a real vintage handwired one for that. the PR RI is just a cheap PCB model with a crappy resale value. I think the DR is only $100 more and they do sound good.. and you can find used ones for $500. You can find vintage-spec PR clones for $800 as well.

mid '70s Silverface Deluxe Reverbs (w/ 5U4GB rectifiers) have come down in price... $1200 seems to be the norm lately. I got lucky and found one for $800 recently.. but I saw the ad two days after it was placed. 8)

To me, an amp is very important and I want one that'll last forever... and the ability to easily work on it myself. I know that not everyone likes to work on electronics though...
I have zero issues playing Reissues provided as a backline at a show (the Twins sound good) but i don't want to deal with them when they break down.

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:55 pm
by Stratelejazzuar
last i checked you can get a 70s PR for less than a PRRI.

I got a slightly modded 68/69 drip edge PR for a few hundred less than a RI about 2 yrs ago.

I had tried a PRRI and liked it, but after hearing my drip edge, i never looked back! :?

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:12 pm
by StevenO
Stratelejazzuar wrote:last i checked you can get a 70s PR for less than a PRRI.

I got a slightly modded 68/69 drip edge PR for a few hundred less than a RI about 2 yrs ago.

I had tried a PRRI and liked it, but after hearing my drip edge, i never looked back! :?
I haven't come across a 70s PR for less than 1200, and are usually around 1400-1500. The reissues I've found around $1000, or close to $700 used.

I'd love a PR...

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:01 pm
by wproffitt
I agree that the DRRI sounds nicer than the PRRI. However, in general, I prefer Princetons. Now I'll be annoying and say that I got a SF PR last year for about 2/3 of what GC wants for the reissue. It took some looking around and some time, but deals can be had out there on the old hand-wired models. Happy hunting!

Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb RI vs. Fender 65 Princeton RI

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:59 pm
by Stratelejazzuar
StevenO wrote:
Stratelejazzuar wrote:last i checked you can get a 70s PR for less than a PRRI.

I got a slightly modded 68/69 drip edge PR for a few hundred less than a RI about 2 yrs ago.

I had tried a PRRI and liked it, but after hearing my drip edge, i never looked back! :?
I haven't come across a 70s PR for less than 1200, and are usually around 1400-1500. The reissues I've found around $1000, or close to $700 used.

I'd love a PR...
i remember going into a local shop and comparing the price after tax of a PRRI and what i paid (shipping and customs included) for my mod'ed drip edge PR - approx $2-300 cheaper.

I do think i got lucky on the auction (bought the PR off ebay). The mods were a replaced/larger transformer and a couple different tubes, to make it sound a little more tweed-ish. And i think a cap or two were changed. nothing crazy, tho.

I :-* PRs