If you’re wondering if Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb is a good amp or not, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to take a very close look on that high-end tube combo. Undoubtedly, it’s a really expensive amp, but is it actually worth the money?
The truth is that Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb is one of the best tube amps manufactured by Fender. It sounds really big, it’s perfect for gigs and it sits very nicely in the mix. Surely, all passionate guitarists will notice the uniqueness of that combo!
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes the ’64 Prinecton Reverb so good and so popular all around the world. Firstly, we’ll have a look at the specifications of that combo. Additionally, we’ll investigate the major pros and cons of that model and we’ll compare it with a few other fantastic high-end Fender amps.
Specs & Pricing
*If you’re from Europe, you can also check current pricing on Thomann*
Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb is a high quality tube combo designed for the most demanding guitarists out there. This is a handwired reissue of the legendary ’64 Princeton Reverb model – one of the most iconic Fender amps of all time!
What makes it so special? Well, the amp features 12 Watts of power, a high quality 10″ Jensen P10R Alnico speaker, a single channel with two inputs and a built-in reverb and tremolo effects. This is a simple amp, but it has absolutely everything that you need – it’s perfect in its simplicity.
The amp features a few high quality tubes as well:
- preamp tubes: 1 x 12AT7, 3 x 12AX7
- power tubes: 2 x 6V6 (power), 1 x 5AR4 (rectifier)
The sound of ’64 Princeton Reverb can be described as extremely versatile. It gives you access to an inimitable clean tone but it also has a beautiful vintage-style tube tone when you crank it up. It’s really tough to compare that tone to anything else – it’s flawless!
It is also worth mentioning that this combo looks beautiful from the outside too. It’s made with a thorough precision and an attention to detail. The combo has a solid pine cabinet and an extra-heavy-duty lack textured vinyl covering which looks awesome.
When it comes to pricing, just like all the other handwired reissues of the most iconic tube combos, this is not a cheap amp. But although it’s expensive, it’s definitely worth the money. That kind of sound is really tough to find, so I’m sure that a lot my readers will agree with me that it’s not overpriced at all.
Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out below.
Who Is It For?
Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb is suitable for all level guitarists. You don’t need to be a professional guitar player to notice and appreciate the undeniably high quality of that tube combo!
However, since it’s a high-end amp, it’s mostly used by passionate, intermediate and often professional guitarists.
As you’re already aware, this is a very versatile combo, so it can be efficiently used for a lot of different styles of music. Whether you’re into blues, rock, country, indie or grunge, you can be sure that the ’64 Princeton Reverb will deliver an absolutely amazing tone.
Additionally, this is a particularly good amp for live performances and studio sessions. If you’re searching for a high-end tube combo to record with, this is most likely one of the best possible tube amps that you can get. It’s perfect for any music studio!
Since it’s an expensive piece of gear, it is mostly designed for people who know what they’re searching for. If you don’t want to spend too much and you’re just searching for the most affordable option out there – this combo is not for you.
Overall, I’m positive that the vast majority of guitar players will benefit from adding this piece of gear to their collections. It’s amazing in every aspect and it’s extremely versatile. And that’s why I love it!
Here’s an another demo.
Pros & Cons
Just like any other tube combo available on the market, Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, you don’t have to worry too much about the potential flaws of that amp – it seems pretty clear that it has way more pros rather than cons!
Pros
- Amazing Tone
- High Versatility
- Reverb & Tremolo
- Hand-Wired
- Lightweight
Cons
- High Price
As you can see, there are a lot of things that can be considered as major advantages of that combo: it sounds great, it’s versatile, it has a built-in reverb and tremolo and of course, it’s handwired.
The main disadvantage of the ’64 Princeton Reverb combo is the high price. I think that it’s the biggest obstacle that may stop you from getting this amp for yourself. Undoubtedly, not everyone will be able to get it straight away without a few months (or even years!) of saving up.
Still, considering the fact that this is one of the best Fender amps out there, I wouldn’t consider this amp as overpriced. Many guitarists consider this combo as the holy grail of guitar amps, so the fact that it’s not cheap is totally understandable.
Cheaper Alternatives
If you don’t like the sound of Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb or you simply can’t afford it right now, that’s not a problem! There’s still quite a lot of fantastic tube amps of that size that would work well as cheaper alternatives.
Of course, choosing your next tube amp should be based on your own personal preferences and most importantly, on the size of your budget. Here’s a few more amps that you can also consider.
1. Best High-End Alternative
Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb is a really good alternative for those who can’t afford getting the handwired ’64 Princeton Reverb. It may not be as good as the high-end model reviewed in today’s article, but it still offers a fantastic tone and it’s really versatile.
When it comes to appearance, this combo looks pretty much the same. However, when you directly compare the sound of these two amps, it’s pretty clear which one of them is handwired.
Nevertheless, in my opinion this is one of the best alternatives that you can potentially get if you can’t afford getting the high-end Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb. There’s a high chance that you’ll fall in love with that model as well!
2. Best Mid-Range Alternative
Fender Blues Junior IV is an another excellent tube combo that can work well as an alternative option for those who can’t afford getting the handwired Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb.
This particular model is significantly more affordable and it’s a very popular choice among the beginner and intermediate musicians. It’s a very versatile piece of gear – it can be used for practice, rehearsals, small gigs and studio sessions.
Overall, I have no hesitation in recommending this tube combo to all guitarists who are searching for a compact, reliable and great sounding tube amp available at a relatively low price. I’m not surprised that it’s so popular!
3. Best Cheap Alternative
Bugera V5 Infinium is one of the most popular small tube combos available on the market right now. Despite of the fact that this is a compact amp, it manages to deliver an excellent sound quality and it’s actually really versatile.
This particular model features 5 Watts of power, a great sounding 8″ speaker, a single channel and a built-in reverb. It may seem basic, but it does what it’s supposed to do – and it does it in a great way! Also, it’s surprisingly loud, so you don’t have to be worried that it won’t be loud enough.
If you’re searching for an affordable and great sounding amp suitable for home practice, you should definitely spend some time to check out this amp. Honestly, it will be difficult to find anything better at this price level.
FAQ
Where is Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb made?
Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb is handcrafted in the United States.
How much does this amp weigh?
This combo weighs 32lbs.
Where can I find the manual to the ’64 Princeton Reverb combo?
The manual to ’64 Princeton Reverb can be found here.
Where can I learn more about Fender amps?
If you want to learn more about this legendary manufacturer of guitars and amps, check out the official website of Fender.
Summary
As you can see, Fender ’64 Princeton Reverb is a truly exceptional tube amplifier. This is the top of the league – it will be really difficult to find a better and more versatile high-end tube combo. I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all musicians who are looking for a reliable and great sounding amp of this type.
What do you think of that tube amp? Would you get it for yourself or do you think that it’s a bit overpriced? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were looking for! If you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:
