Princeton Reverb Kit for an absolute Newbie?

[hendrixclaps]

Hi Guys

I'm new to the forum. Joined it to learn more about building amps.

I would like to know if building a BF princeton reverb would be too much for a beginner. The only experience i have is soldering. I found that the tweed champ looks simpler to build and everyone says its a good start. Though i like its tone, i would prefer the Princeton Reverb Tone. and i simply dont have the money to buy a tweed champ kit to work on and then a princeton reverb kit. I would prefer get the right amp the first time.

I was thinking of the marsh kit princeton reverb. I'd probably want to work on it towards the end of this year while i slowly do my reading up and research to gear up for it. and i heard marsh has clear instructions.

What do you guys think?? The princeton is too much?

[M Fowler]

I have seen people build a Ceriatone Dumble as their first build so my answer is yes you can and should build the BF Princeton Reverb simply because that is the amp you want and like you said money is a factor.

You do need to post all questions you may have and read some of the amp building information links posted in a sticky

Mark

[azatplayer]

Yep i agree. buddy of mine built an Express first and only (sofar) build. The damn thing sounds amazing, and is everything he wanted.
Princeton, cool amp, wanna get to that at some point, good luck, and welcome!

[M Fowler]

I sought advice from BillyZ a member here he knows his way around the Princeton amp, perhaps he will stop by for a chat.

Mark

[hendrixclaps]

Haha good to see some green light. Hopefully BillyZ would give his views on this.

Well i'm from Singapore and our dealer for fender is the ONLY dealer. Hence sometimes(actually more than sometimes) they charge crazy prices. $1.2k for a blues junior. Approx $2k+ for a Deluxe Reverb RI? -_- and they have no PRRIs even if they had i think i could get a kit from Marsh with upgrades(speaker, transformer) and probably better parts for the same price including shipping.

Or maybe thats just an excuse for wanting to build an amp. Haha

[M Fowler]

Don't forget http://www.mojotone.com/ for kits and the recent thread about sources in EU you could save on shipping or duty tax maybe.

Mark

[Colossal]

Good advice above and BillyZ knows Princetons. This is just my opinion, but I would be hard pressed to pay $2k for a vintage Deluxe reverb let alone a reissue. You will get a far better sounding amp (and the satisfaction of building it) sourcing the parts yourself and for about half the cost. You'll also know the amp inside and out and what role each part plays. Transformers are very important so spend your money on good ones, you won't regret it.

Good luck and enjoy the road ahead.

[Bob-I]

IF you read and examine pics of other Princeton builds, and understand the lead dress and grounding issues, the Princeton is do-able. I'd take the approach to post pics here at each stage and ask how you did. Weber has a layout which shows everything expect heater wiring so you can follow that for lead dress and grounding.

I built a Princeton reverb from scratch using a Mojotone cabinet with a WGS Lead 12" speaker. I much prefer a 12 to a 10. The amp is amazing. It starts to break up at around #3 on the volume and it's plenty loud to compete with the drummer. I use it for gigs and jams. Larger rooms, I simply mike it.

[telentubes]

My first amp build, about a year and a half ago, was a BF Princeton Reverb from a Weber kit. It was WAY over my head at the time, but I took my time, researched points along the way that were confusing, and triple checked everything. It fired up without a hitch. So...it can be done. I agree with the others in that you should go for what you want, and get a kit with decent instructions as well as decent components. Hopefully you wont have to get a second job so you can afford all the other amps you will want to build after the first one.

[dcribbs1412]

Also check out Allen amps for parts and or kits..the Sweet Spot amp is the Princeton based tone
top notch stuff and some tech help if needed
http://www.allenamps.com/index.php

[hendrixclaps]

Hm..i was interested in allen, but they dont ship to where i live.

so would you guys recommend Marsh or Mojo? Cause I heard Marsh has good instructions... Does it?What about Mojo's instructions? Their both about the same price and both look like they have good parts. The thing that would catch my eye is a good instruction.

Glad to hear from you telentubes!anymore tips?

LOL on the second job. Haha hopefully i wouldnt get the bug...

@Bob-I yea our dealer is kinda working like a monopoly...mexican fender strats are over a thousand dollars. Luckily they dont have such a monopoly when it comes to fender guitars.

[billyz]

While I am flattered that some think I know something about a princeton. I know nothing about the kits available and would have to defer to someone who has actual experience with the various kits.

A few thoughts that come to mind.

1. Solid pine ,finger jointed cabinet.
2. even though the originals had a particle board baffle I would use a 1/2" baltic birch ply baffle.
3. Transformers- get the very best you can. The output is the most important. You might like a Deluxe reverb OT for better bottom end. Maybe Heyboer or Mercury, I don't care for the Magnetic Component ones I have tried.
4. If you are going to use a 12" speaker, check out the Eminence Wizard. I just heard one and it was very nice. Celestions work but don't sound very Fendery.
5. use a 9 series, Medium decay reverb pan. However, I don't like the sound of any of the new pans.
6. a good tweak is to raise the value of the middle resistor from 6.8K to 10K.
7. Use Carbon Comp Resistors, even the 470 ohm screen resistors, use screen resistors even if the schematic does not show them, I use 1.5K grid resistors too. While neither are necessary , they smooth things out and cause no sonic problems. I find the 1W 470 ohm screens can protect the OT if a tube fails. So use 1W not 5W. It is much easier to replace a burned resistor than the OT or speaker.
8. Use Polyester film and foil caps, not Polypropylene. Maybe the new Sozo Blue ones.
9. for a squishy tone try a 5y3 instead of the gz34, in between use a 5u4 rectifier.
10. If you are going to use a longtailed pair phase invertor then just build a Deluxe reverb, because that is what you are building. personally I like the sound of the Cathodyne PI.

If you can build an express I think you can build a Princeton reverb, The layout is different. A bit more complex due to the Reverb and Vibrato circuits.

Good luck and happy soldering.

[hendrixclaps]

Wow, Better bookmark this page.

[azatplayer]

Just bought a guitar from Singapore! Great guy too!
You can contact Heyboer directly if you choose to get a kit sans trannies, im sure they will have no issue posting to Singapore.
Good luck!

[David Root]

+1 on the 12" speaker. A Celestion alnico blue is a great choice, but in S'pore probably $600 or so, no? Try the Eminence Wizard instead.