marqueemoon wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 11:26 pm
It's not based on a specific circuit, though to my ears there is a Fender-ish flavor to the sound but with more midrange. With the boost switch in the neutral position it's a bit more sparkly/more towards "scooped", and in the treble boost position it gets more snarly which is what I like.
The big deviation from the Fender sound is in the reverb. It's more plate-like and less "clanky" which I prefer. I don't generally use big drippy reverb sounds. The tremolo sounds great too.
I'd say definitely enough for family jamz. My son is learning drums. I'm looking forward to getting to that point with him.
Interesting. It definitely would be something I'd like to try, if I can find one locally. I've got a really nice shop near me, but their amp selection is mostly new, and mostly non-boutique, except a couple used amps sold here and there.
Maggieo wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:18 pm
What it’s worth, I got rid of my Swart Atomic Space Tone after I got Ty’s Secret Agent.
I hate to rub it in, but, the Secret Agent is so much better. It’s all about the Reverb circuit. It’s that fender outboard reverb put into a combo it makes it such a special amplifier. Especially since the rest of the amp is a brown face Princeton.
You know me, Maggie. I've always lusted for the Secret Agent. In that spirit, I think a DIY would be awesome. I could try to get it similar. I was actually considering making an amp with a standalone spring reverb like an old Fender reverb unit, but built into the amp.
Unicorn Warrior wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 10:31 pm
With the used market in mind and with a budget of up to $1500, have you thought about Swart amps? Aren't those Fender-ish? They've always sounded delicious to me and are super compact and pretty sexy to top it off.
Maybe Tone King amps make a princeton-ish? Not sure their prices.
FWIW, the Stapleton Princeton can be had for cheaper on the used market. My thing is that it differs a lot from a typical Princeton. You can easily find a silverface Princeton for $1500 or under, and maybe even a blackface. But, I'm with you in regards of not wanting to wait years for it. Life is short, get an amp and play.
Also, the modern reissue Princeton are pretty solid and are gigged by the pros every day. Lots of options beyond what has been mentioned in this thread honestly. I had a 69' non-reverb sliver face Princeton which was much different characteristically than the modern reissues. Still a good/clean fender amp..but not as sparkly.
I hadn't actually thought about them until marqueemoon brought them up. I remember loving the aesthetics when they first came out, and thinking that the sounded pretty good. Tone King is another that makes killer stuff. I've seen a few Reverb and Chicago Music Exchange videos that used one. I do remember thinking that the Tone King stuff was pricey, and possibly still out of my price range, but it's worth a look.
Completely agree that I'd rather get something and just play it, instead of hunting forever. I have some things that I've been hunting long-term, but it's a fun hunt (antiques, old books, etc.), but amps are something I'd rather just have. I've always figured that there was some mojo in the old Fender amps that was missing in the reissues, based on some of the players around here who are more experienced with that stuff than I am. I would definitely consider a reissue though, if I liked it.