Princeton Non-Reverb 12-Watt Amp

[search4sound]

Just got an unmodded '73 or '74 Princeton non-reverb combo amp. Anyone have experience with one of these? Mods? Can't find a complete schematic for non reverb silverface model. Has vibrato, would love to use the extra vibrato stage without vibrato.

[Smolder]

Nice amps... I've heard them referred to as a "small twin". I don't believe you can remove or turn off the term for added game like most fenders. The term is tied into the bias portion of the circuit. The paulc mod is nice... I personally do not like a 12" speaker or using 6L6's in princetons. If you want that get a bigger amp. I did shift the tone stack to a very Jerry like dual .022 caps. I also picked up a K110 for it. On 10, it's the same volume and similar break up as my princeton reverb on 7.

[search4sound]

Thanks, I see what you mean about the bias being tied to the trem. I presume one could remove the trem where the bias connects to the intensity pot (essentially remove this pot so the bias voltage goes from the diode directly to the 220k resistors connected to the power tube input grids). At any rate, I do like the idea of adding a bias trimpot.

I read somewhere that one reason why tremolo (aka vibrato) is removed from Twin Reverb and other amps with similar trem circuit is that this circuit can load down the circuit creating suboptimal tone. Any truth to this?

In the case of Jerry's TR mods, I assumed the reason for removing the trem was to free up the tube to be used for an extra stage. Maybe it was both? Related to this, I wonder if anyone has the vibrato mod and has A/B'd the normal channel (stock) and the vibrato channel (extra stage, no vibrato). How do they compare?

In the case of the Princeton, I read that the way the trem is connected does not load down the circuit. So I presume that I can turn down the intensity to 0 and the vibrato should sound the same as the normal channel?

+1 on the tonestack mod. I'll do the cathode bypass caps on the triode stages as well. I suppose I should consider replacing all the electrolytic caps, that amp is almost 40 years old.

Thanks for you recommendation not to upgrade the speaker to 12" or increase the gain - I've long wanted a push pull amp that sounds good at lower volumes. So do you still get shimmering Garcia clean with a 10" speaker?

What about preamp tapping the Princeton? Anything keeping me from doing that? Is it done the same way as with a TR?

[Smolder]

I read somewhere that one reason why tremolo (aka vibrato) is removed from Twin Reverb and other amps with similar trem circuit is that this circuit can load down the circuit creating suboptimal tone. Any truth to this?

In the case of Jerry's TR mods, I assumed the reason for removing the trem was to free up the tube to be used for an extra stage. Maybe it was both? Related to this, I wonder if anyone has the vibrato mod and has A/B'd the normal channel (stock) and the vibrato channel (extra stage, no vibrato). How do they compare?

In the case of the Princeton, I read that the way the trem is connected does not load down the circuit. So I presume that I can turn down the intensity to 0 and the vibrato should sound the same as the normal channel?

+1 on the tonestack mod. I'll do the cathode bypass caps on the triode stages as well. I suppose I should consider replacing all the electrolytic caps, that amp is almost 40 years old.

Thanks for you recommendation not to upgrade the speaker to 12" or increase the gain - I've long wanted a push pull amp that sounds good at lower volumes. So do you still get shimmering Garcia clean with a 10" speaker?

What about preamp tapping the Princeton? Anything keeping me from doing that? Is it done the same way as with a TR?

I don't recall reading that Jerry disconnected the trem stage. I'll have to check Waldo's age and see. In any event, I've put a pull pot on the intensity of the trem on a few bigger fenders and it is an effective and simple way to increase gain (and volume). On the princeton, you can turn intensity all the way down... simpler and sometimes more effective method would be to use a shorted rca jack in the footswitch slot. By default on that amp the trem is on. The shorting jack will turn it off. Not the same as removing it though.

The jbl d110 (or K/E) is a three inch voice coil... slightly different tone from the 12 or 15", but close enough for what I need.

The electrolytics in the cap can are said to last longer than others, but if it were my amp, I would not leave the originals in. The other electrolytics that are on the board will effect tone... the tantalum capacitors that alembic used will sound different, and that's an important part of Jerry's tone.

I have not looked at the princeton for a preamp tap... but can't immediately think of any reason it would not work... just in a mono version.

best of luck!

[search4sound]

Yes, Waldo's site shows how when the TR is used as a preamp with McIntosh for amp, the vibrato channel is used but the vibrato itself is removed from the circuit.

http://www.wald-electronics.com/preampmods.html

I'm not sure if this frees up the vibrato triode to be used as an extra gain stage, or if it is completely out of the circuit and the exctra stage I've heard referred to is actually the triode associated with the reverb that gets used in the vibrato channel. Now would thet be a 12AX7 or a 12AT7? And does the dry signal before the reverb get amplified before the signal splits off to the reverb, or does the signal split off and then only the reverb signal is amplified before being mixed back into the dry signal?

+1 on the tantalum cap, I'm doing that first. Just interested in gain stage from a circuit design standpoint - I have a Trio that I've modded and experimented a lot with - sounds awesome with audio quality 22uF cathode bypass cap, cathode follower bypassed,s and a clean boost pedal, and a MosValve. The Princeton is a fun opportunity to explore another circuit and consider possibilities for mods, plus is more practical as a practice amp.

[Smolder]

Yes, Waldo's site shows how when the TR is used as a preamp with McIntosh for amp, the vibrato channel is used but the vibrato itself is removed from the circuit.

http://www.wald-electronics.com/preampmods.html

I'm not sure if this frees up the vibrato triode to be used as an extra gain stage, or if it is completely out of the circuit and the exctra stage I've heard referred to is actually the triode associated with the reverb that gets used in the vibrato channel. Now would thet be a 12AX7 or a 12AT7? And does the dry signal before the reverb get amplified before the signal splits off to the reverb, or does the signal split off and then only the reverb signal is amplified before being mixed back into the dry signal?

oh right, the pre tap excludes that portion of the circuit. that makes sense... i was thinking you meant disconnecting it in full pre+power amp mode.

[search4sound]

Though the Alembic version of the preamp tap keeps the vibrato in the circui, so taking the vibrato out is optional. Finally looked at the AB763 schem (Twin Reverb) and see the vibrato connects to the audio path before the phase inverters, so it can optionally be kept as part of the tapped preamp. As for using the amp in combo (preamp+amp) mode, I think it is possible to keep the vibrato out of the circuit (i.e. leave the post-intensity pot lead removed), but I think you are right that in the post-alembic version the vibroto gets added back in combo mode (though I don't know if Jerry's TRs were ever used in combo mode).

As for the gain stages, the third gain stage is after the reverb is mixed in, and it is not part of the reverb or the vibrato.