player opinions

Fender Princeton 65

Fender Princeton 65 (Solid State)

  1. Name: Dave Crane

  2. Band: -----

  3. Model Year: 90's

  4. Price Paid: $850.00 new

  5. Performance

  6. Loud and light weight. Good speaker. Weight/size/looks/volume are outstanding, all things considered. Used and at a price that reflects their low profile these are a sleeper. But check to see the condition and if it is what you really want. The used prices are very low. I still got mine among others and it's great for blues.

  7. Performance Rating: 8

  8. Sound Quality

  9. For a solid state - excellent. The clean channel is very clean and if anything could be too bright. The overdrive can be extreme. Used with a Les Paul Studio with p90's and conservative settings the Clapton/Mick Taylor sound of the 60's was immediate. Could hardly believe it. Go Fender. Very underrated.

  10. Sound Quality Rating: 8

  11. Construction

  12. This is a well designed for the price amp, but it is basically designed and built to a price. The quality is an issue. Mine has been OK but no amp is bullet proof and anything with a circuit board with direct connect parts needs reasonable care in handling. Highish noise floor for recording but live - no problem.

  13. Construction Rating: 6

  1. Name: Dave Tabern

  2. Band: -----

  3. Model Year: 2001

  4. Price Paid: $295

  5. Performance

  6. The Princeton 65 is a great little amp. It has good tone and is powerful enough to be heard above drums and other instruments in the band. In fact, most of the time, I keep my volume on 3 because I would be too loud for the rest of the band if I played at a higher volume. The type of music we play is mostly R&B, but, we do play some rock where we do get a little bit loud. I have no trouble being heard when I need to be heard. I am quite satisfied with my Princeton 65.

  7. Performance Rating: 10

  8. Sound Quality

  9. The tone is great for such a small amplifier.

  10. Sound Quality Rating: 10

  11. Construction

  12. I have had no problems with this amp so far.

  13. Construction Rating: 10

  1. Name: John Doe

  2. Band: -----

  3. Model Year: -----

  4. Price Paid: -----

  5. Performance

  6. The Fender Princeton 65 is great if you want to jam with another guitar or bass because you don’t have to play that loud. But from my experience in my band, I could not jam with a drummer. The level I had to play at so I can hear myself was 8 and the amp couldn’t handle the distortion. For someone starting out and wants some power this the perfect amp.

  7. Performance Rating: 8

  8. Sound Quality

  9. The tone is great on this amp. The effects are also great this amp. This is only true, though, if the volume is kept around 5. Once it goes over 5 the sound quality goes right down the tubes.

  10. Sound Quality Rating: 8

  11. Construction

  12. I did have one problem with the amp when I first bought it. It kept peaking when I played, but I had that fixed and now it's fine. It is a reliable little amp, but again, if you wanna jam with a band I would recommend something bigger.

  13. Construction Rating: 7

  1. Name: Scott Meli

  2. Band: Intrigue

  3. Model Year: 2007

  4. Price Paid: $300

  5. Performance

  6. The Fender Princeton is a simple to use amp that feels right as soon as you plug into it. 65 watts, one 12" speaker, two channels and effects loop — it doesn’t get any easier! Despite its small size and light weight this amp lives up to Fender’s great reputation. It nails the tones you need for rock, blues and country! The reverb could be a little deeper — but I can handle it.

  7. Performance Rating: 9

  8. Sound Quality

  9. The Princeton 65 has a clean vintage tone on channel 1. With only controls for treble and bass you can dial in the right amount of brightness and mids — amazing when you consider there is no midrange control! The overdrive channel is hot! I have no trouble making my Strat sing with endless sustain — it’s just incredible! Fender’s solid state technology REALLY sounds like tubes! I don’t know how they did it, but they did! Using the mid control on channel 2 seems to be the secret weapon of the Princeton 65. With the mids rolled off you get a modern “metal” sound, at 5 you begin to get into a more balanced “blues tone” that really sings! This amp is capable of those sweet tones Clapton and Hendrix were famous for. I can achieve that endless sustain when I give the Strat a little more volume. When the volume is backed off on the guitar it will clean up like a tube amp without losing the treble/brightness. My only complaint is it could have used a little more “bite” on the overdrive channel.

  10. Sound Quality Rating: 9

  11. Construction

  12. As with all Fender amps this little warrior is rock solid! No problems to report since I bought it. This is my fourth Fender amp that I’ve owned, it’s also the smallest one of the bunch! Fender has made a fair priced, reliable amp that won’t break your back or your wallet! My hat’s off to Fender (again)!

  13. Construction Rating: 9

  1. Name: Neil

  2. Band: -----

  3. Model Year: -----

  4. Price Paid: $295

  5. Performance

  6. The Princeton 65 is a perfect amp for just about anyone. It’s small enough to put in your room and jam by yourself, but also packs plenty of punch to play in a band. My only disappointment is the lack of a headphone jack.

  7. Performance Rating: 10

  8. Sound Quality

  9. The amp has a great sound, maybe not as good as a tube but very close. The distortion is excellent, and the reverb is great too. Unlike tube amps, you can play the distortion high with the volume low.

  10. Sound Quality Rating: 9

  11. Construction

  12. For reliability nothing beats Fender amps, for their 5 year warranty.

  13. Construction Rating: 10

stats

  1. Average Ratings
  2. Performance: 9
  3. Sound Quality: 8.8
  4. Construction: 8.4
  5. Ratings Key
  6. 10: Excellent
  7. 0: Useless
  8. Company
  9. Fender

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