Princeton but a bit louder

shaunm

Simple question, is there a version of the Princeton out there that is 20 watts or above. Basically a Princeton that is
gigable.

It's that lovely break up and clean that make me love it.

Just to say I am not as well healed as some around these parts so I am not looking at spending a fortune.

Col_Decker

Can you mic it up? I'm gassing for a 68 Princeton in the new year so I'm interested to see how this thread goes!

shaunm

I do love the 68, I had a good go on one recently but I just don't think I will get away with it in my band. It sounds wonderful but it isn't loud enough.

What I want it for is that clean but just breaking up tone. The problem is that the amp isn't really very loud at that point.

richardhomer

The obvious answer is a Deluxe Reverb - 22 watts, bigger speaker, bigger cab but still very portable.

shaunm

richardhomer said:

The obvious answer is a Deluxe Reverb - 22 watts, bigger speaker, bigger cab but still very portable.

I played one today also but I didn't think that it sounded like the Princeton. It didn't have that lovely break up. It was not as warm either. I liked it but i didn't like it nearly as much as the 68

JohnPerry

Carr Sportsman is a 19w Princeton-type. Pricey though

shaunm

JohnPerry said:

Carr Sportsman is a 19w Princeton-type. Pricey though

I had a look at those but I don't think my budget would stretch to one of those. They look lovely though

Sassafras

You do have to crank up a Deluxe Reverb. It's a loud 22 watts.

RiftAmps

My stock Princeton is 18w and I also do a 35w version....that one is ruddy loud though.

BGG

Sassafras said:

You do have to crank up a Deluxe Reverb. It's a loud 22 watts.

Yip !! VERY loud IMO, get it to 5-6 upwards and you'll get that break up.

p90fool

I have a 68 Custom Princeton. It's loud enough for a lot of gigs on its own but when it isn't I stick a 30 quid Superlux mic in front of it and bung it through a cheap monitor.

The whole rig is obviously slightly less portable but means I basically have a fantastic sounding 150w Princeton.

No need to compromise, buy the amp you like best and make it louder.

EricTheWeary

Headstrong Lil King. Pretty much designed to be a louder Princeton, used live by Richard Thompson who records with a Princeton.

ICBM

Get an extension cab with a 100dB 12" speaker. That will make as much difference to the volume as at least doubling the power of the amp.

simonk

^ This. Or swap the stock speaker for a massively efficient Ragin Cajun or similar.

crunchman

ICBM said:

Get an extension cab with a 100dB 12" speaker. That will make as much difference to the volume as at least doubling the power of the amp.

Isn't the 10" speaker part of the Princeton sound though?  A 10" does sound different to a 12" to me.

The ideal would probably be something with a Princeton preamp, and a 4 x 6V6 power amp with a 2 x 10" cab.  You might find a UK builder who would do that for you.  Riftamps posted above, and MJW amps are on here as well.

The other option would be something with 6L6s and 2 x 10" like a Vibrolux Reverb.  The only problem is that the 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb has Celestion Speakers in it - ideally you would want a vintage style Jensen.  Fender do one with 2 x 10" Alnico Jensens but it's more money though:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/guitar-amps/12734-fender-custom-vibrolux-reverb/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=base&gclid=Cj0KEQiA496zBRDoi5OY3p2xmaUBEiQArLNnK99XsypQhgClYi1eNwx9SgEKt8lr2YaoMxloxIwZVhwaAtNN8P8HAQ

MattFGBI

ICBM said:

Get an extension cab with a 100dB 12" speaker. That will make as much difference to the volume as at least doubling the power of the amp.

This. 

You can just use the amp on it's own, or take the cab too if you need it. 

ICBM

crunchman said:

Isn't the 10" speaker part of the Princeton sound though?  A 10" does sound different to a 12" to me.

To a point - but you can get efficient 12"s that sound more like 10s too - not everything has to be a V30 . If you run both together you still have the sound of the 10 in the amp on top, anyway.

The important part of the Princeton sound and why it sounds so different to the Deluxe Reverb is actually the phase inverter in the power amp - it's a cathodyne rather than long-tailed-pair type. That gives it quite a different breakup characteristic.

crunchman

ICBM said:

crunchman said:

Isn't the 10" speaker part of the Princeton sound though?  A 10" does sound different to a 12" to me.

To a point - but you can get efficient 12"s that sound more like 10s too - not everything has to be a V30 . If you run both together you still have the sound of the 10 in the amp on top, anyway.

The important part of the Princeton sound and why it sounds so different to the Deluxe Reverb is actually the phase inverter in the power amp - it's a cathodyne rather than long-tailed-pair type. That gives it quite a different breakup characteristic.

I didn't know that about the phase inverter.  There is something I like about 10" speakers though.  The Deville in the 4 x 10 configuration is a great amp as well - though not very portable.

If you are going to for the extension cab with a 12" speaker I'd love to hear it with a Celestion Blue.

BluesyDave

simonk said:

^ This. Or swap the stock speaker for a massively efficient Ragin Cajun or similar.

I want to do this to my Princeton.....soon as I can find a used one  

Jalapeno

BluesyDave said:

simonk said:

^ This. Or swap the stock speaker for a massively efficient Ragin Cajun or similar.

I want to do this to my Princeton.....soon as I can find a used one  

They aren't THAT expensive new, why bother

p90fool

BluesyDave;906236" said:

simonk said:

^ This. Or swap the stock speaker for a massively efficient Ragin Cajun or similar.





I want to do this to my Princeton.....soon as I can find a used one  

I put a new one in mine and it's the main reason I can usually gig unmiked. It's not dissimilar in overall tone to the stock Celestion in the 68, but it hangs together much better at volume and is seriously loud.