1983 Fender Princeton Reverb II

1983 Rivera Era Fender Princeton Reverb II with optional Fender 12F speaker sourced from EV. Super clean example of the rarest of the rare Princetons. I have seen the 12F speakers on Reverb as high as $700 due to their rarity. $1795

The 1983 Fender Princeton Reverb II is a standout amplifier from Fender's esteemed Rivera era, offering a harmonious blend of classic Fender clean tones and modern high-gain capabilities. Designed under the guidance of renowned amp designer Paul Rivera, this 22-watt, all-tube combo amplifier is celebrated for its versatility and robust performance.

Key Features:

Power Output: 22 watts RMS

Speaker: 12-inch Fender 12F 200w (8 ohms)

Tubes: Three 7025 (preamp), one 12AT7, two 6V6GT (power)

Rectifier: Solid-state

Controls:

Volume (pull for lead)

Treble (pull for boost)

Middle (pull for boost)

Bass

Reverb

Lead Volume

Master Volume

Presence

Dimensions: 20 5/8” x 16 7/8” x 10 7/8”

Weight: Approximately 43 lbs

Additional Features:

Spring reverb

Channel switching

Optional footswitch for lead and reverb control

This amplifier is particularly noted for its hand-wired construction, a hallmark of quality during the early 1980s. Its design allows musicians to achieve the signature Fender clean sound while also accessing a more saturated, high-gain tone reminiscent of Mesa Boogie amplifiers. This duality makes the Princeton Reverb II a versatile choice for various musical genres and playing styles.

I found this in an interview with Rivera:

Loudspeakers are the ultimate mechanical filter. For guys who were going out on the road and needed the ultimate in reliability, we often used the Electro-Voice EVM12L, because if you have a 25-watt amp running into a 200-watt loudspeaker you know you aren't going to have a problem.

"The issue there was more about getting the cone moving. Those EVMs have very stiff cones and spiders. At low level, they were the coldest, least inspiring loudspeaker you ever heard, but turn them up and they were magical."