Just for fun: amp recommendations?
I'm interested in getting a tube amp (using a Mustang now) and, naturally enough for someone on this forum, I'm mostly considering some sort of Princeton. Let me give you a little context and then ask for the recommendation. I play at home for the most part, but occasionally will jam with friends. I'm mostly an acoustic player (I've been playing for 45+ years), but I've been playing more electric over the last few years. I've got an American Special Tele, a Strat knock-off (with Lollars), and a recent Ibanez AS153 semi-hollow body. Stylistically I (try to) play a range of stuff: some of Jim's material and styles that he's associated with (would that I were young again and maybe I could really learn some of this stuff), some straight ahead jazz, some blues, and some more distorted jazz-ish stuff (Frisell, Monder, etc). But, fundamentally I'm a complete novice when it comes to equipment, and especially amps. The array of choices is somewhat bewildering. I think that what I'd like is an amp that has warm clean (Fender-ish?) tones at low volumes and breaks up a bit at slightly higher volumes. From reading and listening on the web, this leads me to lean toward the '68 Custom Reverb. But there's also the '65 reissue, and I have the opportunity to get a 1970 Princeton (no reverb), but that's over twice as expensive as the other two. So, if anyone wants to weigh in with any observations, opinions, or recommendations, I'd be most grateful. -Paul
Comments
If you want any kind of amp breakup at all, stay away from the non-reverb princeton. It's clean all the way up to 10. And it's loud.
As far as online retailers, I buy from many, and usually from whoever has the best price or has a sale going on, but I seem to use Sweetwater more these days than Musicians Friend. Also, eBay sellers sometimes sell NEW gear for prices a little lower than the big online retailers.
I decided to go with the '65 PRRI. I did as much listening and research as I could do at a distance (not optimal, I know), and just resonated (no pun) better to the '65 than either the '68 custom or the briefly considered Deluxe reissue. If anyone has suggestions about tubes, speakers, etc. I'm all ears! I'm really inexperienced and I would value others insights. Thanks - Paul
If I got another one (which I do plan to do in the future), the first (and maybe only) thing I would do is change the speaker. The stock speaker sounds good but does not handle volume and bass frequencies very well. Personally, I will probably put a Celestion G10 Gold Alnico in mine, but they are expensive... you would do well with the Celestion G10 Vintage, which is in several of Jim's amps.
Keep in mine, the way Jim generally runs his (I don't want to speak for him, but I'm a huge fan and gear head), he basically puts the volume on 10, then controls the clean/dirty blend from his guitar's volume knob. But it can get very loud very fast doing it that way, the Princeton is much louder than it gets credit for, and THAT is the area where a better speaker can really make a difference.
I still say a PR/PRRI on 4-5 with the reverb on 3-4 is the most beautiful clean sound I've ever heard. (Tele neck or middle position)
65 PRRI = American
68 CPR = British
That sounds like a good buy! Where did you get it? Eventually I did get PRRI 65 reissue and was planning on modding it, but before I got around to it, I ended up buying a Carr Skylark, which is just heaven. Occasionally I play through both at the same time: the Skylark has a built in attenuator which means you can set it to very low wattage, run the volume to an overdriven range and play the PRRI on a clean volume and get some great tones.
Vintage Sound 20 watt
Louis Electric Columbia
Traynor 20 watt
Goodsell 17 Mk iii and iv
Swart AMT Tremolo
Jazzkat Tomkat -- had a tube preamp
Fender Princeton 68 reissue
Fender Princeton 65 reissue
Mesa Boogie Mark V 25
Bolt 50 Watt Combo
Vox AC10
Supro Termoverb
I am sure there are more that I am forgetting,
But I now own only one tube amp -- The Fender Princeton 65 reissue. That would be my recommendation. The only downside, in my opinion and for my style of playing, is the lack of a mid control which I like. But if you use a preamp it's not problem.
If you want a really great solid state amp, I recommend the Quilter Steelaire.
BTW. The Bolt 50 watt was an awesome amp. One of the best I ever owned, but it was too heavy for me as I got older -- neck problems -- but if you come across one, I would recommend trying it. They are no longer made.
Joe
Amped J12T - Reverb and tremolo. Would put this next after the Princeton 65 Reissue. Is less expensive. Sounds great. Excellent tube amp for the $$ that is light weight and loud. No longer made but can fine good ones used. Only draw back is that it has only a single tone control. Can be a little noisy.
it has changed a little over the years. speaker is now anlico instead of ceramic. there have been some other tweaks. AKA: Blues Jr Tweed, Limited, NOS, Hot Rod/III.
a while back they made a "relic" version (literally called the "relic" blues jr) with stained/ripped/relic'd tweed, but it had different specs and did not sound as good as the "NOS/Limited" tweed jr- so id steer clear of the "relic."
i also like siverface vibro champs, that one has vibrato, and the jr has reverb. i can run them stereo, passively thru my pedal rig (Boss DD-6). I have not done that yet but need to, likely the easiest way for me to have it all, at a *somewhat reasonable volume. all the bigger Fender amps are just too loud for what I want to do with them.
the pro jr is also excellent.
I also like super clean amps but just need to find a nice small, lower wattage one. i want to try a Fender Champ 12 from the early 80s with 1 6L6, a 12 inch speaker, and some increased wattage. sounds like something id be looking for. but i read it still sounds like a Fender, and the overdrive channel sounds really bad, without some mods...might not really be what i'm looking for.
ive had some vitange Guild amps (still have a couple), the tones are super clean and the prices were right, but they are big loud beasts.
I went to college in a small town that didn't get a lot of live music. John Scofield did a show in our little auditorium. This was about 1979. Steve Swallow on bass. They were touring with no gear, just using whatever amps were supplied at the gigs. Steve Swallow used my bass amp, which was a crappy solid state Peavey (to my embarrassment). Nevertheless, I thought they sounded great! I talked with them after their set and they said they were happy with everything. I came away from that experience thinking that amplification isn't the most crucial factor in tone production. It starts from the hands.
1. fingers
2. strings
3. pickups
4. pedals (or pre-amp)
5. amp
I still don't fuss too much with my amps, but I love hearing from people who do. Of course on this forum, we know that a Princeton is a great amp, with certain modifications. I think people might get more tonal results by asking for "string recommendations" - D'Addario 10s, right?