The 1960s Fender Princeton is sometimes overlooked next to the more common Princeton Reverb, but the non-reverb model bridges the gap between earlier tweed/brown circuits and the refined Black Panel designs. With the Princeton Amp, simple purity lends transparent tone, dynamic responsiveness, and vintage charm.
The black panel non-reverb Princeton is a simple, hand-wired circuit with a 7025 and a 12AX7 in the preamp, two 6V6GT power tubes, and a GZ34 rectifier. The circuit delivers about 12 watts through a single 10″ speaker, and there are controls for volume, treble, bass, Tremolo intensity, and Tremolo speed. Unlike the Reverb counterpart, the Princeton circuit omits the extra gain stage and spring reverb tank, yielding exceptionally clear, focused tone with slightly lower output.
The tube chart on this Princeton Amp is lost, so it's hard to pinpoint the exact date of manufacture. The chassis code—4964—indicates late 1964, and the pots date to the 34th and 35th week of '64. Its original Oxford speaker also dates to 1964, and the Output Transformer dates to the 45th week of '64. Interestingly, the power transformer dates to later in 1965. It's possible that it's original, but it could also be a period-correct replacement. Because most of the parts are from later in the year, it's possible that this amp wasn't shipped until '65. Nevertheless, it still retains the 1964 look without the plastic Fender logo on the grille cloth.
This 1964/65 Princeton Amp has been properly serviced, and it sounds fantastic. It has a safe three-prong power cable, and the cap can has been updated with a modern CE Manufacturing electrolytic can capacitor, built to original Mallory spec on original Mallory equipment. Three filter caps have been replaced with Mod Electrolytic caps, and one power section capacitor has also been replaced.
There's an immediacy to the dynamic response that stands out relative to other Fender black panel models. It captures a smoother, warmer sound, too. The tolex shows some scuffs, tears, and signs of use, and many of the screws and metal parts show corrosion (see photos). It includes a custom-made leather cover.