Fender has revamped its “Dyna-Touch” Standard Series solid-state amps by adding DSP technology - 32 studio quality digital effects. The styling has also been altered to more closely resemble one of the all-time classic Fender designs: the “blackface” look. From this new look, there's no denying the heritage of these amps - the silver grille cloth, the black tolex and the black control panel with its red jewel pilot light are just as much icons of Rock ‘n Roll history as the Stratocaster electric guitar itself.

All the electronics on the Dyna Touch Plus Series amps are held on one PCB. Fender has chosen the current feedback route with the Dyna-Touch Plus Series. For those wondering what current feedback has to do with your solid state amp, it is simply a method used by manufacturers to get solid-state circuitry to behave a little more like valves, with the benefits of a wider dynamic range and a faster transient response. The bottom line is that the internal circuitry of the Dyna-Touch Plus Series amps are pure solid state - not a glowing bottle in sight, no tubes, none, nada.

The Princeton Stereo Chorus DSP combo with its choice of 16 digital effects is no longer available. It was perhaps the first generation DSP model and has been discontinued in favor of the following new models:

1. The Stage 160 DSP, 160 watts into 4 ohms, 2 X 12" Celestion G12T-100 speakers, three selectable channels - Normal, Drive, More Drive, 53 lbs.;

2. The Stage 100 DSP or the Stage 100 DSP Head, 100 watts into 8 ohms or 160 watts into 4 ohms, equipped with one 8 ohm 12" Celestion G12T-100 speaker (4 ohms when using an extension speaker), three selectable channels - Normal, Drive and More Drive, 42 lbs.;

3. The Deluxe 90 DSP, 90 watts into 4 ohms, one 4 ohm 12" Celestion G12T-100 speaker, three selectable channels - Normal, Drive and More Drive, 37 lbs.;

4. The Ultimate Chorus DSP, stereo chorus 2 X 65 watts into 8 ohms, 2 X 12" Fender special design 75 watt 8 ohm speakers, dual selectable channels, 47 lbs.;

5. The Princeton 65 DSP, 65 watts into 8 ohms, one 8 ohm 12" 75 watt Special Design Eminence speaker, dual selectable channels, 28 lbs.;

6. The Champion 30 DSP, 30 watts into 8 ohms, one 10" Fender Special design 8 ohm speaker, dual selectable channels, 25 lbs.;

7. The Bullet 15 DSP, 15 watts into 8 ohms, one 8" Fender Special design 8 ohm speaker, dual selectable channels, 15 lbs.

Features of the Princeton Stereo Chorus DSP combo:

The 2001 model stereo chorus 2 X 25 watt amp is equipped with 2 X 10" Fender Special Design 25 watt speakers. This amp is mainly for bedroom practice. You could probably get by in a small setting such as a restaurant, if your providing a little entertainment music or doing a solo performance. If you’re jamming with friends, it would be preferable if they all had practice amps with less than 60 watts of power. Otherwise you might find yourself completely drowned out...

The two channels run through one EQ, which works fine when you set tone controls for room acoustics. The Overdrive channel has gain and volume controls along with mid-boost and presence. The 3 button foot-switch allows you to switch channels, as well as toggle between reverb/delay defeat and chorus/flange defeat.

The DSP includes 16 digital reverbs and delays with separate level and bypass operation - normal and drive, 16 digital modulation EFX with separate level and bypass, 16 selectable modulation rate options.

There is a low and a high impedance input jack for guitars.

How does the Princeton Stereo Chorus DSP sound?

There is some very, very low level hiss that you can hear when the amp is completely idle. Crank it up a little and the hiss increases as well, somewhat annoying for a bedroom practice amp!

Nevertheless, the 2001 Fender Princeton Chorus DSP model I played with gave a variety of wonderful clean tones, easy to set for smooth jazz and crunchy blues.

The DSP impressed me. The digital reverb is very good, better than the reverb on previous Dyna-Touch models. The Reverb lets you pick Room/Hall/Plate. The delay is good and very usable as you can control the delay time and the mix. The Chorus is thick and wide and you get to set the Mix, Speed (Rate), and Depth. The digital chorus is very good, I love the many varieties available. The Flanger sounds like a tricky chorus to me. When used with the overdrive channel, the flanger allows you to get glamour-rock tones! Interesting!

The Clean channel is very clean, jangly and expressive. This channel is fine for jazz and clean rock or blues. Of course, with only 2x25 watts at your disposal, cranking the clean channel will only take you so far, so don't buy this amp hoping to play it in front of a big crowd. As previously stated, this is better for bedroom practice and small garage jamming sessions with friends.

The overdrive channel is OK, especially with a touch of reverb and chorus. Without the effects, the OD is one-dimensional, just like a tube amp. Activating the mid boost on the drive channel gives it more of a Marshall feel. Vary the gain and add in the effects and most any tone is possible! OK, maybe not heavy metal, but add a suitable stomp box and you could be in metal heaven...well maybe and maybe not? Anyway...

Compared to my DG60-112, the stereo chorus has a better clean stereo tone. My DG60 is not equipped with chorus and delay so the Princeton wins again in this department. So the question is would I trade in my DG60 for the Princeton Stereo Chorus DSP? The answer is NO! The DG60 is a modeling amp and has two foot-switchable channels with 9 independent tone controls for each channel. The DG60's multifarious overdrive tones simply kills the distortion channel of the Fender Princeton Stereo Chorus DSP.

Further, if stereo chorus was my thing, I would opt for the new Ultimate Stereo Chorus DSP with its 130 watts of power, as I’m sure this amp would sound great at bedroom levels.

Final comments:

The Stage 160 DSP, the Stage 100 DSP and the Deluxe 90 DSP all come equipped with three selectable channels: Normal, Drive and More Drive, complete with a 4-Button Foot-switch for Channel Select, Drive Select and "More Drive" Select, Reverb On/Off, Effects On/Off. There is also a balanced XLR line out and exterior speaker jack not to mention they are loaded with Celestion G12T-100 speakers. For less than 100$ more than the price of the Princeton Sereo Chorus DSP, you can get so much more!

I’m pragmatic when it comes to guitar amplification and tone. It doesn’t matter to me if valves or digital algorithms or other electronic tricks such as current feedback created the sound, if what comes out of the speaker sounds good, that’s all that counts.

The Princeton Stereo Chorus DSP does sound good, however this particular model is just not for me.

Recommended: No