Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

[Gunny47]

Bear with me, folks....

Okay, so I've been gassing for a "new" Fender amp for quite some time. I was going to sell my Tweed Twin and get a Vibrolux Reverb (clone or vintage). Decided I liked my Tweed too much. Then thought about saving up for a Tweed Super or Vibrolux Reverb (clone or vintage), did tons of research and just decided that it is wayyy to big of a money bullet to bite. Wouldn't be able to do it for years. Forget that.

The most logical decision would be to get another Princeton Reverb clone from my friend Rick at Vintage Sound Amps. I can pull this off probably within the year of work. I'm gonna sell my Henriksen Jazz Amp 110. Man, after a year, I really couldn't get along with it - solid state, too papery sounding. Tube Fenders all the way!

I would like to go with a stereo setup with this second Princeton Reverb (if I decide to go that way). The one I have now has a 12" 20 watt, lightly doped, 12A125A Alnico Weber in it and has the standard knob layout (volume, treble, bass, reverb, speed, intensity). It's an awesome amp.

This is where I need your advice... I was wondering what kinda specs I should get for the 2nd Princeton Reverb that would compliment the PR I already have. I definitely want a 10" speaker this time to tighten things up. I'll be using this rig for jazz and I think the 10 will be a better option. What is your favorite Weber vintage-series speaker for a Princeton Reverb? I'm leaning towards alnico too. Probably go slightly higher wattage than vintage to keep it a little cleaner. I also will probably add a bright switch (been using it a lot lately with Fender amps that I play through) and a midrange control for more tweaking.

On a stereo setup with 2 Blackface Princeton Reverbs, how would the tremolo work? Keep the trem off of one amp and on for another? Keep the trem on both? Would the trem clash? I do have a stereo trem pedal that sounds awesome, but I would like to know how it would behave with the stock trem in the amps together. Also, what's the deal with running the reverb in stereo? Again, I have a stereo reverb pedal, but I would just like to know with the stock reverb in the amps.

One option is to get the amp with dwell/presence controls (like the 3-knob Fender tank unit) in place of the tremolo with speed/intensity controls. More flexibility on the verb, no tremolo. Let me know what you guys think! Fender amp knowledge/experience welcomed! Much appreciated as always!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

Just use the trem one at a time. It gives a nice spacial effect cos one is plusating and the other gives you the clean attack and dynamics.
Sorry cant help with Weber 10s...ive only used 12s.
IM a big fan of lorantz speakers in 10s but i think they are very expensive to get to the USA.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

Getting 2 different amps with trem to sync up can be done but it is a HUGE pain in the back side...

Either just use trem on one amp or the stereo trem pedal is a great idea...thats actually what I do!

On the speaker front I have only one suggestion 10F125, 30 watt, light dope.

All this said why not get a slightly different amp??

2 of the same amps in stereo is cool but 2 different amps in stereo is even cooler IMO!

Depending on your budget there might be several cool under the radar amps to look into.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

Just use the trem one at a time. It gives a nice spacial effect cos one is plusating and the other gives you the clean attack and dynamics.
Sorry cant help with Weber 10s...ive only used 12s.
IM a big fan of lorantz speakers in 10s but i think they are very expensive to get to the USA.

Ah thanks Cam! That makes the most sense... I'll look up lorantz just for my own information.

Getting 2 different amps with trem to sync up can be done but it is a HUGE pain in the back side...

Either just use trem on one amp or the stereo trem pedal is a great idea...thats actually what I do!

On the speaker front I have only one suggestion 10F125, 30 watt, light dope.

All this said why not get a slightly different amp??

2 of the same amps in stereo is cool but 2 different amps in stereo is even cooler IMO!

Depending on your budget there might be several cool under the radar amps to look into.

Thanks Christian. Will definitely look into that speaker!

Thought of getting the same sorta amp because it's what I know and love but just more of it! I hate the idea of A/Bing amps and switching between them all night for different sounds. Just would like to keep both on at the same time for added fatness.

A local guitarist in my area ran two 12" loaded Princeton Reverbs in stereo (one with a Celestion Blue and one with a Celestion Greenback). Got to play through his rig a few times and that sound never left my ears. Beautiful! It seriously was the epitome of the Fender blackface clean tone in my mind! I didn't remember how he set up the verb and trem though! Plus, they'll match onstage and satisfy my OCD-ness :eyecrazy:

I thought the differences in speaker selection and certain specs would do the job of having the amps contrast in an interesting way.

However, I'm open to other options. Disregarding budget for now, what other "under the radar" amps did you have in mind? I'd love to hear some suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Stratman]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

Keep the trem on one amp only.

Those old school Fender amps have a nice sound and the Princeton has a tone all of it’s own.

Back in the 90’s, I used to use two Mesa Boogies DC5 for the same reason that you want to use them. While I had to experiment to get the tone working, once I figured it out - it was heaven.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

Princeton Reverbs are my favorite Fender amps. I run one in parallel (via a jump cable; yes, I know, I am a bad boy for not using an ABY box) with my Ampeg (15W 12") as my live rig 90 percent of the time. Mine is not a blackface; it's a stock '68.

I agree with your plan to go with the more stock 10" setup and to leave the tremolo off on one amp. Not sure about speakers. I have never replaced the stock one, just reconed it a few times.

Another suggestion I would add based on my experiences running two amps would be to set them up differently in terms of tone, so each amp is doing what it does best. I use my Ampeg for the tighter bottom and crunchy midrange, with the effects at a minimum (tremolo off and reverb at 1.5 -2). And I use the PR to provide the bright but smooth high end, creamy overdrive, and a subtle and slow tremolo at all times...and that distant and deep Fender reverb as each song requires. (The Ampeg has a more "present" reverb, though just as strong as the PR's.)

Good luck. It sounds like a killer setup.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

This is not really "blackface" cos it was built in 1982. But its a cracker amp. PTP wired, finger jointed pine cab. Tube reverb. Tricked up circuit designed by Paul Rivera. PRIIs came stock with 12's. This one has a Lorantz 75 in there but its had a jensen and celestion in there in the past. I call it my 'mini twin'. Big yet warm.
So its really just a gratuitous shot of my fave little workhorse cos its a "blackface princeton" thread. lol

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

Thanks Christian. Will definitely look into that speaker!

Thought of getting the same sorta amp because it's what I know and love but just more of it! I hate the idea of A/Bing amps and switching between them all night for different sounds. Just would like to keep both on at the same time for added fatness.

A local guitarist in my area ran two 12" loaded Princeton Reverbs in stereo (one with a Celestion Blue and one with a Celestion Greenback). Got to play through his rig a few times and that sound never left my ears. Beautiful! It seriously was the epitome of the Fender blackface clean tone in my mind! I didn't remember how he set up the verb and trem though! Plus, they'll match onstage and satisfy my OCD-ness :eyecrazy:

I thought the differences in speaker selection and certain specs would do the job of having the amps contrast in an interesting way.

However, I'm open to other options. Disregarding budget for now, what other "under the radar" amps did you have in mind? I'd love to hear some suggestions. Thanks!

I like running 2 different amps together for one big sound...I know they will look different but it's about the tone brother!

I run a tweed Super and a brown Deluxe together...they are great on their own but together...huge 3D depth and lows a cool tone.

It's the fact that the amps are different and playing off of each other that makes it so nice.

If you are interested in different amps for real drop me a PM and I help you out!

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

Thanks for the replies!! Figuring it out now. So many wonderful options I need to explore. Definitely would like to check out different vintage amps, and clones within my budget.

ItsaBass: What kind of Ampeg combo do you have?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Blackface Princeton Reverbs in Stereo

My Ampeg combo is a Jet II from 1995. Just recently replaced the stock speaker with an Eminence Legend GB-128 50W Greenback-based speaker. Good speaker so far. Had to carve a small clearance notch in the chassis to fit it, though.