Fender Princeton 5B2 Tube Amplifier (1953)
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Item # 9658
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Fender Princeton 5B2 Model Tube Amplifier (1953), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 3077, tweed fabric covering finish.
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.
This is a very clean, original and great sounding example of an early wide-panel tweed Princeton model, 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.
The tweed-covered exterior is very clean and beautifully intact with a nice amber patina, with some minimal scuffing and wear mostly on the corners and edges. The faceplate shows virtually no corrosion with nearly all of the stenciled graphics still intact. The handle appears to be an newer replacement, along with the chrome handle mounting hardware.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original: the original Jensen P8T speaker is intact and sounds fantastic. Both the power and output transformers are original, made by Triad (power transformer is marked 6500). The visible pot date is coded 304-232, signifying fabrication in mid-1952. The amp has received 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 has sadly deteriorated beyond legibility, so we cannot say which of the ladies in the Fender amp department was responsible for the superb clean chassis wiring. The amp sports a great sounding vintage tube set, an RCA 5Y3GT rectifier, a Sylvania 6V6GT power tube and an RCA 6SC7 preamp tube. Overall this is a very clean and fantastic sounding old Fender tweed with a lot of vibe. Excellent Condition.
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.
This is a very clean, original and great sounding example of an early wide-panel tweed Princeton model, 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.
The tweed-covered exterior is very clean and beautifully intact with a nice amber patina, with some minimal scuffing and wear mostly on the corners and edges. The faceplate shows virtually no corrosion with nearly all of the stenciled graphics still intact. The handle appears to be an newer replacement, along with the chrome handle mounting hardware.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original: the original Jensen P8T speaker is intact and sounds fantastic. Both the power and output transformers are original, made by Triad (power transformer is marked 6500). The visible pot date is coded 304-232, signifying fabrication in mid-1952. The amp has received 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 has sadly deteriorated beyond legibility, so we cannot say which of the ladies in the Fender amp department was responsible for the superb clean chassis wiring. The amp sports a great sounding vintage tube set, an RCA 5Y3GT rectifier, a Sylvania 6V6GT power tube and an RCA 6SC7 preamp tube. Overall this is a very clean and fantastic sounding old Fender tweed with a lot of vibe. Excellent Condition.