Equipment I find useful

Sweet amp AND SG.
The guitar does puzzle me some though, what year is it?
Did you just remove the wiggle stick and leave everything else?


It's a '68 or '69. Pots and serial number say '68. Kris Ford kept telling me it was a '69. Probably late in the year build.

I made that tailpiece at work one day when I couldn't deal with it going out of tune all the time. I based it loosely on an ES-1275 tailpiece, but so that it would use all the original mounting screws, the Lyre cover, and be able to swap back in less than a couple of minutes during a string change. Right now the tremolo is on it, but I'll be switching back again when I change the strings.



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Is that about a 1962? Pretty sweet amp. I've owned one Fender amp and it was a mid '80s Stage Lead II. 100 watt solid state with 2 12 inch drivers. Cleans were fantastic and it was great with pedals. Unfortunately, it really didn't have any appreciable character.


Thanks. It's either November '63 or November '64. I forget. Blonde vinyl with blackface panel and witch hat knobs were '63-'64. If it had the oxblood cloth, white barrel knobs, and brown panel it would be '61-'62. It's still a great sounding amp. Even the bass player loves the sound of that amp, and he's not a Fender fan.
 
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It's a '68 or '69. Pots and serial number say '68. Kris Ford kept telling me it was a '69. Probably late in the year build.

I made that tailpiece at work one day when I couldn't deal with it going out of tune all the time. I based it loosely on an ES-1275 tailpiece, but so that it would use all the original mounting screws, the Lyre cover, and be able to swap back in less than a couple of minutes during a string change. Right now the tremolo is on it, but I'll be switching back again when I change the strings.



View attachment 35509
Thanks, the picture cleared up my question. I was wondering how you had the strings anchored with out the extension for the wiggle stick showing.
Very nice work indeed.
 
Thanks, the picture cleared up my question. I was wondering how you had the strings anchored with out the extension for the wiggle stick showing.
Very nice work indeed.


Thanks Chas. Yeah, sometimes being a machinist really has its benefits. At the time, I had keys to the shop, so I went in on a Sunday with guitar, a six pack of Harpoon IPA, and a pizza. Went at a couple of pieces of scrap stainless steel until they looked like what I wanted.
 
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It's a '68 or '69. Pots and serial number say '68. Kris Ford kept telling me it was a '69. Probably late in the year build.

I made that tailpiece at work one day when I couldn't deal with it going out of tune all the time. I based it loosely on an ES-1275 tailpiece, but so that it would use all the original mounting screws, the Lyre cover, and be able to swap back in less than a couple of minutes during a string change. Right now the tremolo is on it, but I'll be switching back again when I change the strings.



View attachment 35509

Dude, that is so badass you could open a Reverb store selling the things and make some extra dough.
 
Been really digging this amp. So much that I just ordered a Celestion G-10 Alnico Gold for it; the tone is good enough to justify the expense. Will report back after I get it loaded and somewhat broken in.

I saw a video with a Fender product rep who said the tone stack in your amp is modeled after the Bassman tone stack.
That explains your love for the amp. The rep talked about how they designed it for the modern player who uses pedals.
 
I saw a video with a Fender product rep who said the tone stack in your amp is modeled after the Bassman tone stack.
That explains your love for the amp. The rep talked about how they designed it for the modern player who uses pedals.

That helps explain why I like the '68 so much more than the '65 - the '65 sounds too thin and strident in comparison.

This amp takes pedals better than probably any amp I have ever owned, and that's a lot of amps. It's got me looking at all kinds of pedals now. It's also one of the most touch-sensitive amps I have ever played...definitely have never encountered anything like it's response at anywhere near this price.
 
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This is the page with the video with the Fender Rep talking about the '68 Princeton Reverb.
But Damn it , now you have me gassing for one.
Will go to local GC for a test run, then probably order from Sweetwater.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ceton-reverb-12-watt-1x10-inch-tube-combo-amp

Interesting video. Kind of makes sense, and definitely reinforces what I am hearing. As I said, that amp sounds so great it's worth dropping a $175 replacement speaker into! Go check it out and definitely A/B against the '65, I think you will hear how much more rich and detailed the '68 is.
 
OK, I drove over to GC in Phoenix to check out the '68 Custom Princeton Reverb. Gball is correct in his evaluation I believe.
This is a lil monster. So I have taken the plunge. I did not want to buy the display model. They would not offer a discount, and it was their only one.
So Amazon will have one here Saturday. I am making room for the gem as I type . . . well figuratively at least.

Merry Christmas to ME !
 
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