There is really no difference between the BF's and SF's, until you get to the era of the one you have with the pull boost switch. Until then, the circuits are identical. No technical reason for the price difference - The BF's just have the cool factor I guess. Many even convert their SF's to BF's with after market face plates.
I run a Tele, Gretsch 6120 and my Ric 370/12 through mine. I love the 15", and I was able to do it without destroying a vintage amp (someone else had already done that). I've always been a Fender amp fan. I looked at the Carr Mercury and Victoria amps before buying this one - then just figured if I was spending that kind of money, I may as well get a vintage piece. It hasn't let me down yet.
Silverface Princeton Reverb
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Just after this thread ran it's end, I got myself a SFPR as well from the same period. I got mine for $391 of ebay(yay!). It is also a "pull boost" model, and was described as being modded for high gain, with input two converted to a footswitch jack. I suppose I took a small risk...but thought for the price, what's the worst??
Turns out the "mods" were limited to footswitching the pull boost, and installing the basic insert/out on the rear panel (which you can't see from the front...the spot where I normally stand!). Tone is incredible. Pull boost is not so good...so may mod at some point. Have a weber 10" as speaker currently...
Turns out the "mods" were limited to footswitching the pull boost, and installing the basic insert/out on the rear panel (which you can't see from the front...the spot where I normally stand!). Tone is incredible. Pull boost is not so good...so may mod at some point. Have a weber 10" as speaker currently...
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soundmasterg
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Those pull boost era amps by and large were not as good as the silverface ones, and they weren't as good in most cases as the blackface ones. You can mod the pull-boost amps to blackface specs, and you'll get just as close as a Silverface modded to blackface specs. It sounds much better than stock if you do this, although in the case of your amp, if you mod it back to blackface specs, it will be the same as silverface pre-boost circuit Fenders.
I've got a Weber 10" in there, and am pretty happy. Ran it through my cream '64 bassman cab for a while...sounded mighty. This amp may have undergone blackfacing - it starts to gently break up about 5-6, and sings when dimed. As for circuits, I thought these were pretty similar to the pre-pull boost (or "poo boost" IMO) - discounting the boost circuitry, of course.
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steve_hershberger
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Yeah, there's nothing wrong with those pull-boost PRs (as long as you don't pull it, that "feature" is out of the circuit). The circuitry is pretty much the same as earlier SF models and you can have that pull-boost disconnected if you want. But if you don't pull it, the result will be the same. The purists don't like that era so that's why they cost less than earlier SF amps.
Mine is a '74 (pre-boost) that I got for $450 around 5-6 years ago. It was completely stock except the speaker was replaced in '76. Lots of people don't like those Oxfords, but it sounded pretty good to me. I put in a Reverend Alltone 1030 and it sounds great.
I suggest you have a tech look at it to see if any mods were done by a previous owner, also to get a complete cap job, tube bias, etc., done.
And keep it as a 10" too - that's part of the charm and sound of PRs. What model Weber do you have now? Your speaker baffle isn't removeable, so don't hack the original one. If you want to use a 12" just make/buy an extension cab and speaker of your choice.
I've owned quite a few Fender amps in the last 30 years and the PR is definitely one of the best ever.
Mine is a '74 (pre-boost) that I got for $450 around 5-6 years ago. It was completely stock except the speaker was replaced in '76. Lots of people don't like those Oxfords, but it sounded pretty good to me. I put in a Reverend Alltone 1030 and it sounds great.
I suggest you have a tech look at it to see if any mods were done by a previous owner, also to get a complete cap job, tube bias, etc., done.
And keep it as a 10" too - that's part of the charm and sound of PRs. What model Weber do you have now? Your speaker baffle isn't removeable, so don't hack the original one. If you want to use a 12" just make/buy an extension cab and speaker of your choice.
I've owned quite a few Fender amps in the last 30 years and the PR is definitely one of the best ever.
No, no, no, no! These pull boost amps are ****! You other guys...don't buy them! They're worthless! (rubs hands together) Let me take them off your hands! I'm only to happy to rid the world of all your princeton reverbs! 
All jokes aside, I will say this, however: Deluxe Reverbs seemed to fare worse in the pull-boost stakes - I've played a couple that didn't sound as sweet as non-pull ones, and were a lot cleaner (some people might like that?)
The speaker I stuffed into mine is a 10F50 from memory. Whatever the case, the eminence that was in there sounded great, the weber just went a big step further. I'm grateful to have an amp that will hang with a drummer, and still can easily transport in one hand.
Steve: Agree on the Oxfords. I had a magnatone with 2 X 12" oxfords that sounded great with everything I played through the cab (it was a 260 converted to head/cab). It sounded particularly lush with vibrochamps. I also had a vibrolux with oxfords that sounded worse with other speakers in it.
I've got a celestion 12" that I will make a cabinet for to try the 12" tone out.
As for bias, I checked it when I was re-wiring it for 240V, and it was fine. The tubes (blackplate RCA's) were OK, but the amp came to life with some NOS JAN 6V6's I had kicking around. Also stuck a NOS mullard 12AX7 into the 1st preamp stage to test.
All jokes aside, I will say this, however: Deluxe Reverbs seemed to fare worse in the pull-boost stakes - I've played a couple that didn't sound as sweet as non-pull ones, and were a lot cleaner (some people might like that?)
The speaker I stuffed into mine is a 10F50 from memory. Whatever the case, the eminence that was in there sounded great, the weber just went a big step further. I'm grateful to have an amp that will hang with a drummer, and still can easily transport in one hand.
Steve: Agree on the Oxfords. I had a magnatone with 2 X 12" oxfords that sounded great with everything I played through the cab (it was a 260 converted to head/cab). It sounded particularly lush with vibrochamps. I also had a vibrolux with oxfords that sounded worse with other speakers in it.
I've got a celestion 12" that I will make a cabinet for to try the 12" tone out.
As for bias, I checked it when I was re-wiring it for 240V, and it was fine. The tubes (blackplate RCA's) were OK, but the amp came to life with some NOS JAN 6V6's I had kicking around. Also stuck a NOS mullard 12AX7 into the 1st preamp stage to test.
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soundmasterg
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I hate those G12M-70 Celestions! I have a pair in a 2x12 and I want to get rid of them....I just haven't gotten around to it yet. The only place I like those speakers is with a loud JCM 800 as they really crunch, but I don't play that way anymore so no need for them. Glad you like it in your PR though.
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john_dahms
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An interesting point. Many old Princeton Reverbs had their speakers replaced for no reason. The layout design of the amp is such that a parasitic oscillation is produced at times that mimics a speaker that is failing. These amps were designed for different use than today's players give them. Still a must have model.