Fender Princeton 5B2 Tube Amplifier (1954)
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Item # 10252
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Fender Princeton 5B2 Model Tube Amplifier (1954), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 4039, tweed fabric covering finish.
This is a nicely preserved, original and great sounding example of a wide-panel tweed Princeton model 5D2, the "upper level" of Fender's early 1950s student amps. Sporting one more knob than the classic younger sibling, the single-volume knob Champ, the Princeton features a nearly identical circuit with the added tone control allowing for a brighter or mellower sound at the twist of the knob (on a student amp! Such a luxury!). The tube chart is stamped DK, indicating assembly in November, 1954. Fender had only made around 800 or so Princetons that year, barely half as many as their ever-popular Champ model! This is a very nice example of this small-but-potent tweed gem.
Height is 12 3/8 in. (31.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide, and 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically, this amp is very nicely preserved. The tweed-covered exterior shows light scuffing and wear mostly around the lower corners and edges, but overall remains well-intact with a very attractive amber patina. The faceplate is clean overall showing only minimal amounts of wear; some of the stenciled graphics have worn off as well, mostly those surrounding the volume and tone controls. The handle appears original and is in fantastic shape.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original: the tube chart date stamp reads DF, indicating assembly in April of 1954. Curiously, the chassis bears three different factory stamped serial numbers, two of which are overlapping: 4039, 4011 and 4015, where the error of the overlapping latter two are likely the reason for the third! The assembler used the latest of the three to hand-mark on the tube chart.
The original 8" Jensen 8J11 speaker bears the code 220-310, dating it to the 10th week of 1953. It still bears the original or older cone and still sounds fantastic (the cone is showing minor signs of deterioration but has plenty life left in it). Both the power and output transformers are original, made by Triad and marked 7787 and 50265, respectively. The visible pot date is coded 304-406, dating it to the 6th week of 1954. The amp has received our routine maintenance, including standard replacement of electrolytic caps, as well as a grounded 3-prong power cord and cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks as well as biased to spec.
The masking tape marker in the chassis reads Julia's signature, one of the ladies at the Fender factory responsible for the impeccable electrical assembly! We salute them every time we plug into one of their creations and are rewarded even nearly seven decades later with the fantastic sound they still put forth. Excellent Condition.
This is a nicely preserved, original and great sounding example of a wide-panel tweed Princeton model 5D2, the "upper level" of Fender's early 1950s student amps. Sporting one more knob than the classic younger sibling, the single-volume knob Champ, the Princeton features a nearly identical circuit with the added tone control allowing for a brighter or mellower sound at the twist of the knob (on a student amp! Such a luxury!). The tube chart is stamped DK, indicating assembly in November, 1954. Fender had only made around 800 or so Princetons that year, barely half as many as their ever-popular Champ model! This is a very nice example of this small-but-potent tweed gem.
Height is 12 3/8 in. (31.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide, and 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically, this amp is very nicely preserved. The tweed-covered exterior shows light scuffing and wear mostly around the lower corners and edges, but overall remains well-intact with a very attractive amber patina. The faceplate is clean overall showing only minimal amounts of wear; some of the stenciled graphics have worn off as well, mostly those surrounding the volume and tone controls. The handle appears original and is in fantastic shape.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original: the tube chart date stamp reads DF, indicating assembly in April of 1954. Curiously, the chassis bears three different factory stamped serial numbers, two of which are overlapping: 4039, 4011 and 4015, where the error of the overlapping latter two are likely the reason for the third! The assembler used the latest of the three to hand-mark on the tube chart.
The original 8" Jensen 8J11 speaker bears the code 220-310, dating it to the 10th week of 1953. It still bears the original or older cone and still sounds fantastic (the cone is showing minor signs of deterioration but has plenty life left in it). Both the power and output transformers are original, made by Triad and marked 7787 and 50265, respectively. The visible pot date is coded 304-406, dating it to the 6th week of 1954. The amp has received our routine maintenance, including standard replacement of electrolytic caps, as well as a grounded 3-prong power cord and cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks as well as biased to spec.
The masking tape marker in the chassis reads Julia's signature, one of the ladies at the Fender factory responsible for the impeccable electrical assembly! We salute them every time we plug into one of their creations and are rewarded even nearly seven decades later with the fantastic sound they still put forth. Excellent Condition.