Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

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akpasta
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Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by akpasta » Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:09 pm

Hey all,

I play a lot of clean jangly stuff, particularly 12 string guitar, and always seek an amp with as little breakup as possible (yes I do have a JC-120). I bought a Fender 65' PRRI last year and it immediately became my favorite amp. It obviously doesn't have a ton of headroom, but you know you can always mic it. I then stumbled upon stuff online about "modding" them. I read about the "stokes" mod and I definitely don't want anything that makes it "growl" of "beef." I also read about the "Paul C" mod and maybe it would help me, but it doesn't sound like the best bang for the buck, results seem mixed, and I bought this amp NEW as a treat to myself, so I dunno if I wanna f** with it that much.

From what I've read it seems the most consequential mod for my playing style, is a different speaker, and the Weber 10F150T 50w is the speaker of choice for bright clean tones. It's not particularly expensive, and easily reversible, so that's a plus. I suppose my question is, is it worth it?

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by Larsongs » Sat Mar 20, 2021 8:27 am

If you want Jangly you might want one of these...

https://tedweber.com/blue10f/

https://tedweber.com/blue10a/

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by marqueemoon » Sat Mar 20, 2021 9:13 am

I’m using a WGS G12C/S with my At Mars Specialist head which is dual 6V6. Definitely not a Princeton (it’s a modded Filmosound), but has some things in common.

I like the formula of bright guitar/effects and darker amp, and to me this speaker does a good job of taming the shrill frequencies so the guitar can be bright without being fatiguing. If I ever get a PRRI I’d probably get the 10” version (G10C/S).

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by øøøøøøø » Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:02 pm

Which PRRI?

The black one with the Jensen or the silver one with the Celestion?

If the latter, I’d say do it. If the former, it’s less clear to me.

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by hexes » Sat Mar 27, 2021 9:36 am

stokes mod could be useful if you want the clipping/breakup a little later. it raises the clipping point of the phase inverter offering a little more headroom over all. some people say this mod ADDS gain, but it really adds headroom.

paul c. if you want to slightly change the character of that distortion when it happens.

they're both extremely easy to do. the complaint is on the paul c mod the voltage can tiptoe above 100v on the PI cathode, and supposedly on a 12ax7 you want to be BELOW 100v.

if you don't want to mess around inside a new amp, by all means try a more efficient speaker. get one with a higher decibel sensitivity rating with a little bit more power handling. it costs a LOT more than time with a soldering iron, but it's easier and more reversible.

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by akpasta » Sat Mar 27, 2021 12:57 pm

Hey all,

I spent some more time with the Princeton and also comparing to a very nice 70s Vibro Champ with an eminence speaker and I have to say my problem with the Princeton not it’s cleanliness or breakup point at all. The Princeton is just very sharp sounding in general (my treble knob is at 1 basically) and the lows and highs sound separated somehow more like a solid state amp, they don’t seem to blend together like the “fried egg” on a tube amp should. Y’know??

Hoping a speaker swap helps that.

Also I’ve put easily enough time on the amp to break in the stock speaker!

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by Larsongs » Sun Mar 28, 2021 5:29 am

I know many people including my self that have 65 PRRI’s that don’t have that problem.

Is your Amp completely Stock to begin with? Have you checked the Tubes? Have they ever been swapped out? You might want to take a look. A good set of Tubes might be all you need..

How about all the Electronics? Could there be a problem somewhere with that?

If all is good & you don’t like the Speaker do that..

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by akpasta » Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:37 am

Larsongs wrote:
Sun Mar 28, 2021 5:29 am
I know many people including my self that have 65 PRRI’s that don’t have that problem.

Is your Amp completely Stock to begin with? Have you checked the Tubes? Have they ever been swapped out? You might want to take a look. A good set of Tubes might be all you need..

How about all the Electronics? Could there be a problem somewhere with that?

If all is good & you don’t like the Speaker do that..
The amp was purchased in September 20’. Basically brand new. There’s nothing defective or wrong with the amp. I play a 12 string through a janglebox with treble booster which typically requires turning the bass knob up and the treble knob down, but nothing like this amp where bass is at 10, treble at 1 and it’s still too sharp!

I’ve seen folks complain about this on other forums as well. I ordered a Weber last week so we’ll see how it goes!

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by Larsongs » Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:01 pm

What kinds of 12 string Guitars are you playing thru your Amp?

I play a Ric 360 12 string, Phantom RI 1964 12 String & a Martin 12 string thru my 65 PRRI. I use a Byrds Anniv. Janglebox & a TS-808 Tube Screamer for FX.

My Amp Settings are usually, Volume 5-6, Reverb 3-4, Bass 5 & Treble 3-4. Trem varies. All other Tone adjustments are made on my Guitars... That seems to work pretty well..

These are small Amps & break up pretty easy when pushed.... Cleans & Jangly are usually at low to medium volumes...

Which Weber are you getting? Look forward to your review.

Good luck..

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by akpasta » Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:17 pm

Larsongs wrote:
Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:01 pm
What kinds of 12 string Guitars are you playing thru your Amp?

I play a Ric 360 12 string, Phantom RI 1964 12 String & a Martin 12 string thru my 65 PRRI. I use a Byrds Anniv. Janglebox & a TS-808 Tube Screamer for FX.

My Amp Settings are usually, Volume 5-6, Reverb 3-4, Bass 5 & Treble 3-4. Trem varies. All other Tone adjustments are made on my Guitars... That seems to work pretty well..

These are small Amps & break up pretty easy when pushed.... Cleans & Jangly are usually at low to medium volumes...

Which Weber are you getting? Look forward to your review.

Good luck..
Thanks for sharing! I’m playing a 360/12 with toasters through a jangle box nano with the treble booster on. I run both pickups on the Rick and use the blend knob for tone adjustment, usually very close to the neck pickup only. On the PRRI I have to keep treble at 1 and bass at 10- no other amp requires so radical an amp setting.

I will say when I play a Fender Electric XII through the same setup I don’t have to adjust the amp so radically, but it’s still quite bright.

Many reviews I’ve read of the PRRI also say that it’s very sharp and bright so I’m hoping the speaker helps. I should get it in another week or two.

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by andy_tchp » Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:09 pm

10F150T is a wonderful match for a Princeton Reverb. Give it a few hours to break in and it gets even better.
"I don't know why we asked him to join the band 'cause the rest of us don't like country music all that much; we just like Graham Lee."
David McComb, 1987.

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by akpasta » Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:19 pm

andy_tchp wrote:
Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:09 pm
10F150T is a wonderful match for a Princeton Reverb. Give it a few hours to break in and it gets even better.
I asked em' to break it in for me ahead of time, they said that'll get it most of the way there, but it will still take 5-10 hours of playing to fully break in, which is pretty fast.

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by øøøøøøø » Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:15 pm

akpasta wrote:
Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:37 am

The amp was purchased in September 20’. Basically brand new. There’s nothing defective or wrong with the amp. I play a 12 string through a janglebox with treble booster which typically requires turning the bass knob up and the treble knob down, but nothing like this amp where bass is at 10, treble at 1 and it’s still too sharp!
...maybe try it without the treble booster?

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by akpasta » Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:33 pm

øøøøøøø wrote:
Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:15 pm
akpasta wrote:
Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:37 am

The amp was purchased in September 20’. Basically brand new. There’s nothing defective or wrong with the amp. I play a 12 string through a janglebox with treble booster which typically requires turning the bass knob up and the treble knob down, but nothing like this amp where bass is at 10, treble at 1 and it’s still too sharp!
...maybe try it without the treble booster?
Haha.... it’s kinda part of the sound. My point is every other amp takes it normally and this one is super shrill.

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Re: Princeton 65’ Reverb Reissue Speakers and Mods

Post by øøøøøøø » Wed Mar 31, 2021 4:15 am

Hopefully the speaker swap does what you want.

The Super Reverb reissues I was touring with (until COVID stopped all touring) had that same speaker, and they were a bit bright, especially at first.

A year's worth of shows got them loosened up a touch (to the point where I could tell if the second, otherwise-identical backup amp had been swapped in)

If the speaker swap doesn't do what you want, though, it's probably at least worth considering that while the treble booster is "part of the sound," it's also currently part of the sound you don't happen to like all that much.

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