Fender 1x12 Combo Shootout - Blues Jr IV vs Princeton 65 Princeton Reverb Reissue

Blues Jr IV - Pair of EL84s, Eminence Canabis Rex 12" Speaker
65 PRRI - Pair of 6V6's, Jupiter 12LC 12" Speaker in Knotty Pine Cabinet
Demo Guitar - Fender Custom Shop 63 Telecaster w/Voodoo TE60 pickups and Callaham Bridge w/Brass compensated saddles

[@CycloneJack]

This is how all comparison videos should be made. Tasty playing. Both of those amps sounded good. Thank you.

[@gair1944]

Thanks! I’m so glad it was helpful

[@guyinpei]

The Junior IV sounds surprisingly great. Sound of bass strings is excellent here.

[@gair1944]

I agree. The Blues JR is surprisingly worthy!! I could be very happy with this amp. Gig worthy

[@Florida_Boi_321]

That cannabis Rex speaker is the secret weapon. I’ve owned two of those juniors and liked them a lot! Great video! I recently parted with them for a Chris Stapleton 62 Princeton though.

[@gair1944]

The C Rex us a great speaker! I agree. The Stapleton 62 Princeton is a cool amp. Especially if you push it. Cool!

[@steveschenker1380]

Thanks man, lovely playing!

[@gair1944]

My pleasure

[@michaelogden5093]

The Jr. floats my boat.

[@gair1944]

The Blues Jr is a very capable amp.

[@theguitarprofessionals8584]

GREAT VIDEO.... thanks for the straight forward playing, cowboy chords ect...scooped mids are the best!

[@gair1944]

Thank you very much/ Glad it was helpful.

[@davidwalker41]

I'm upgrading from my first amp, an inexpensive little modeler. I've been considering the various models of the Princeton and more recently the BJr. Been leaning to towards the Princeton but I like the idea of a Master Volume. Have to see how well I can get to that overdriven tone on the Princeton with a pedal. Anyway, this video makes me more conflicted than ever. When you were solo-ing over the looper I think I preferred the Jr. actually. To my ear, there was a bit of a raspy quality to the Princeton. Anyway, I obviously need to go try these in person before buying. I absolutely loved your playing over the loop. Great vibe.

[@gair1944]

Hi David, I don't think you can go wrong with a Princeton Reverb. Overdrive pedals are all different and some make and model OD pedals mate better with certain guitars and amps. I don't remember which OD pedal I was using on this one. Ultimately, I am more consistently happy with the clean tone of the Princeton Reverb.

[@jimbergson]

Nice video Gary ! It was fun and interesting to watch as I just got out of a store playing on a blues Junior ! The Princeton seems to have a "fuller" tone, more meat in the low mid range / mid range in general. It also seems to be sweeter in the high end. Had both of them at different times (and now a Deluxe), love them all :)

[@gair1944]

I also have a 64 deluxe reverb handwired custom. But that’s not a fair comparison. Lol

[@jimbergson]

@@gair1944 Haha ! Do you have any favorite between these 3 ? I always remember having a "love/hate" feeling with these amps for various reasons at the time. At the moment I'm a bit struggling with my 65 Reissue Deluxe and its spikiness... So I guess it is a good idea to have different amps to switch back and forth when you are getting tired of one :D

[@johnnysneed4173]

My only complaint with this video is that I cannot hear you when you are talking. The amps and how you are playing them still leaves me not knowing which amp to choose. Best sound comparison I have heard.

[@gair1944]

I need to work on my production regarding dialogue. Point well taken.

[@AlexEsplin]

If the Princeton had a master volume I'd be _very_ conflicted. But this actually shows that the Blues Junior can punch a little above it's weight (or price) class. Thanks for posting.

[@gair1944]

In this video the Blues JR sounded great (especially with a Fender Tele or Strat) I have since used the Blues JR with other guitars and I didn't care for it. (Collings I-35LCV Humbuckers)

[@gargantuangooners]

@@gair1944 to be clear, you've made some pretty significant upgrades to the Blues Jr, right? Mesa tubes and Eminence speakers are not stock

[@pipotherium]

Very nice video! The Blues Jr IV is really good - I don't care what cork sniffers say :)

[@gair1944]

Thank you!

[@keithclark486]

I have both amps , For live gigs without having to mic up I choose the BJ I usually run them in stero.

[@gair1944]

I’ll bet that works out great!

[@ivansucha1]

In my opinoin, Princetone has more dynamics. But the Blues Junior has also sweet and lovely tone. Thanks for comparison and sharing the viedo. Cheers!

[@gair1944]

Thank you for listening and for your thoughts. Great points

[@YanYeiDei]

Just picked up the jr. Love it. Would have liked to hear you drive both amps and compare. With amp drive.

[@gair1944]

I am primarily a clean player and try to showcase what I do best.

[@RJ_HTx]

Princeton all the way! I owned a BJR that I modded to 6V6 and it sounded great. I sold it right after I got my Deluxe Reverb.

[@gair1944]

I didn’t know a Blues Jr could be modded for 6v6’s. Cool idea. Probably easier to buy a Princeton or Deluxe Reverb. Lol

[@RJ_HTx]

Yes , it is better to buy a second hand Princeton. I modded mine for learning purposes.

[@sergethiriet3740]

Blues Junior is very good with no reference vu I definitely prefer the princeton

[@gair1944]

I completely agree. The frame of reference showcases the difference between a good low wattage 6V6 amp versus similar EL84 amp

[@scottlassiter4244]

Funny I have the same 3 amps (only my DR is a tone master), I ran a test after watching this. Jr just sounds boxy and doesn’t compete when it’s in the room with the other 2, I give the 1-12 Princeton the most because it is great with a good pedal in front. The Jr I love at the house using only the amp

[@gair1944]

Hi Scott, Thanks for stopping by. I agree the Blues Jr can sound boxy. I always prefer the Princeton.

[@smokepeddler]

I own both amps. I hardly gig with my 67pro reverb since I mostly play in bars. The b jr for saturation and my princeton for semi clean with an ABY box. A delay, ge 7, and tuner for my pedal board, gets me thru the night.

[@gair1944]

Sounds like a great setup you have.

[@azcharlie2009]

I swear I've commented on this once before? Maybe there was another one similar. Both amps are outstanding. The Princeton has a little more presence. The Blues Jr. just a bit more grit... I wish I could afford either one.... Wish I could play like that...

[@gair1944]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@jeffmariajenson9751]

I really enjoyed the scooped sound of the junior solo, but I have to wonder if the Princeton would be better with a band.

[@gair1944]

I think both the Blues JR and Princeton are worthy in a band. I play bass in a band and my guitarist has a Princeton Reverb with Canabix Rex 12". He uses the amp a lot but we often mic it for a little fullness. Works great.

[@stratjed]

Love a shootout of same wattage amps better. Kinda like comparing which is a better Putter a 7iron or a 3 wood.

[@gair1944]

Blues JR is about 15W's. Fender 65 Princeton Reverb Reissue is about 14W's. What about that isn't similar power?

[@thewarmantrio]

Just got the Princeton with a can Rex speaker from SW, I was looking at maybe the blue jr lv. Kinda wish I would have gotten the jr I really liked the sounds also its almost half the price

[@DesignInNature]

Wow. Your comment gives me pause. I'm trying to make that exact decision right now. Blues Jr IV with cannabis rex sweetwater exclusive vs Princeton '65 reverb with the same speaker from sweetwater. It's driving me nuts. I can't try the Princeton from sweetwater anywhere around me. But in videos at least, it sounds like the highs are very ice-pickey and harsh on the Princeton. The price difference sure is attractive toward the Jr.

[@rodolpheponthus2948]

The Princeton is way overpriced for what it is. The Blues Jr IV is a much better deal overall for what you get. The Princeton would be priced towards 1000 bucks it would be the amp to choose. Not with the actual prices they fetch for

[@Guitdolin]

It would be cool to see a comparison between the 2 amps with the same speaker in both. Hard to tell how much difference is attributable to the amps/tubes vs. speakers.

[@smokepeddler]

I own both amps. I swapped the 10" speaker in the Princeton with a 60's 12" Fender labeled 30watt Oxford. The by jr also swapped with the same speaker. The b jr has a ton of mids and the Princeton is mid scooped like most blackface amps. Definitely different.

[@gair1944]

@@smokepeddler I agree, They are different amps. But by comparing with the same speaker, you do hear the distinct differences the amps make independent of the speaker.

[@paulcavaliere213]

Enjoyed this very much. I have a Blues Jr IV Celestian A Type Speaker. Was thinking of selling for a 65 Princeton RI. I closed my eyes and couldn't tell which amp was plugged in. I think I'll keep the BJr. may get a 65 Princeton for ABY. I started forgetting I was listening to a shootout and started really enjoying your playing. I'm also in love with your Tele. I have an Ash body, maple neck Tele and now really want to swap the pickups to the Voodoo TE60. Can you tell me if yours are wound hotter? From the website: This is that true ‘60s sound, at 7.5k to 8k. HandWound hotter 8.5k to 9.5k this is a great rock pickup for classic english tele tones.

[@gair1944]

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately Peter Florance, the owner and Voodoo PU solo builder passed away a few years ago. You can't buy a new set of TE60 PU's unless you find a used that as far as I know. I was lucky to get this set 7 years ago. This bridge PU is wound to 8.3K. I also just did a video of a Fender Ultra Luxe Telecaster that I upgraded with a Voodoo TE59 bridge pu (8.5K) and a Fralin Blues Special neck PU. That guitar is killer now! Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXjFiaVjfdCeZsU

[@paulcavaliere213]

@@gair1944 Sorry to hear of Peter's passing. I will check out the other video and channel.

[@tonya4157]

I expected more of a difference. Jr sounded pretty good though. But too much reverb all around.

[@gair1944]

Sorry about the reverb.

[@shivaskrivs2612]

I think a 65 custom hand-wired Princeton is in your future ; ) just sayin…

[@gair1944]

Lol

[@scottverni8333]

When you get it ( and you know you want to lol) Shoot it out with the Deluxe!!. I have the 64 Princeton and I love it.

[@gair1944]

@@scottverni8333 I would love to. But everyone I know who has both the 64 Deluxe and 64 Princeton say they tend to play the deluxe more. I get it. But man, I really want to try a 64 Princeton. The cost has however gone through the roof. $2799? Yikes! That is a very pricey experiment. That said, I'm betting I would love and prefer it over this '65 Knotty Pine in some ways, but not all. I'm torn. If I had more discretionary cash I'd probably grab a 64 Princeton custom Handwired to check out.

[@SophisticatedBob]

Princeton. But the Blues Jr is good too.

[@gair1944]

Thanks For listening. I agree

[@markgum2636]

Just use them both together.

[@gair1944]

With the amount of gear I bring to a gig, I will always prefer one amp versus carrying two. In this event, I am gigging a Tone King Imperial MKII, or Louis Electric Columbia Reverb or Fender Deluxe Reverb.

[@tjnugent62]

Is that a stock 10" or a 12" in the Princeton?