Fender Tweed Princeton 5E2 1955 Narrow Panel Amp

No Sales Tax For Customers Outside Of California.

This 1955 Fender Tweed Princeton 5E2 is a remarkable example of early narrow panel craftsmanship and one of the most musical small amps Fender ever produced.  I've been wondering lately why the tweed Champ seems to be a bit more top-of-mind than the Princeton, with its bigger cab and voice.

With its lacquered tweed covering, original 8-inch speaker, and classic hand-wired circuit, the 5E2 delivers warm cleans, rich midrange, and smooth breakup at studio-friendly volumes. Powered by a single 6V6 tube with 5Y3 rectifier and 12AX7 preamp tube, it produces around 4–5 watts of pure vintage tube tone—ideal for recording, home use, or mic’d stage work.

This example retains its original handle, tweed covering, grille, and transformers, showing far less than average wear.  The coveted piece of masking tape with the name Lily still lives inside the very-clean chassis.

The amp came to us as a 100% original example.  It was apparent immediately that a cap job was necessary, so I did the work here in the shop.  The original electrolytic caps were retained and I installed the new caps inside their original sleeves. 

I also swapped out the power cable with a grounded one - a gray cable that looks a little more authentic than a more modern looking, black cable. 

The amp remains true to spec, offering the dynamic sag and harmonic response players associate with early Princeton models. Collectors value the 5E2 not only for its tone but also for its limited production run before the 5F2-A revision.

The original speaker had a couple small rips in it, but it still works well so I did a rudimentary patch with rubber cement and some commercial paper towel pieces.  It doesn't look all that great on the cone, but it works.  I am assuming that the next owner will install a modern speaker, so this made the most sense.

At Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, every vintage amp undergoes careful inspection, testing, and detailed photography. We buy vintage instruments and welcome trades. For related gear, check our Fender Amplifiers Collection, Vintage Fender Guitars, or visit the Sell or Trade Your Gear page.

• Case/Cover?: No
• Color: Tweed
• Dimensions:  H17"x W18" x D9"
• Weight: 18lbs 9.5oz
• Watts: 4 Watts
• Date: 1955
• Where is Date Noted?: Serial#, Codes
• Speaker 1 Brand: Jensen 8J11
• Speaker 1 Size: 8"
• Speaker Code: See Pics
• Speaker 1 Cone: Original, repair see pics
• Power Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics
• Choke Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics
• Output Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics 
• Extension Speaker Out? No
  
• Reverb or other effects?: No
• Rectifier Tube: 5Y3 GT
• Rectifier Tube Brand: GE
• Power Tubes: 6V6
• Power Tube Brand: GE
• Preamp Tubes: 12AX7
• Preamp Tube Brand: Sylvania
• Filter Caps: Replaced, Originals included
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Tolex/Tweed: Original
• Grille: Original
• Knobs: Original
• Handle: Original
• Power Cord: Grounded upgrade, Original included
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

When you purchase this item you are hereby agreeing to this shipping policy. We remove tubes from amps that could be damaged in shipping.  These cases require the buyer to re-install them on delivery - it is very easy with this amp, and we label them so you know exactly where to put them.  We do this because we have experienced shipping issues in the past, and this is our prevention measure.  Vintage amps are sold as-is because they can need service intermittently.  Everything is tested here in our shop on the way into our inventory, and again before shipping.  We will cover shipping damage, but we cannot be responsible for the failure of vintage components in 20-to-50-plus year old amps. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.