NAD times 2

[mojosman]

So I had the urge to buy a little 5 watt tube amp and I came across this guy originally from where I live, but who’s now out in Colorado, and making killer amps. He uses all top quality components, hand makes the cabinets himself, and even does the tweed, or tolex covering. It’s a one man company. He had this simple 5 watt hand wired amp based on an early Champ circuit, but tweaked a bit. It has a 10” Weber speaker, and is totally simple. One knob tone control, no reverb, or Trem, and he added a negative feedback loop. The price was right so I grabbed it. Killer little practice amp that you can get to clip without rattling the windows. If you’re looking for an amp his site McClostone Amps. He makes bigger amps for the most part, this one was a new model.

So I told my wife I was done with amps for a while. Then Sweetwater got me. They have this 65 Princeton Reverb reissue with a 12” Cannibas Rex speaker for just over a grand. It’s the opposite of the other amp. This one has Reverb and Tremolo plus comes with the foot switch and a cover. My dilemma was I own an original 1968 Princeton Reverb, that still plays great. I had it recapped a couple years back and replaced the reverb tank. It’s in great playing condition now, but this tweed one got me thinking. Then over Memorial Day weekend they offered zero percent interest, no early payoff penalty, and of course free shipping. I said screw it, and bought it. They give you three years to pay it off with no interest, I’ll pay it off much faster than that.

The amp itself is incredible. I’m sure once I get the speaker broken in, it will only get better. I’ve played both Princetons with my Tele, a Strat, and a Les Paul, and I think the new amp sounds better all the way around. Fender really knocked it out of the park with this one. Now I’m really done buying amps.


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[Mincer]

Wow! So I have to ask...can you compare the new Princeton to your 68?

 

[Artie]

I've never heard of McClostone before, but that sure looks sweet. And, I love the look of the new Princeton vs the old.

 

[mojosman]

Wow! So I have to ask...can you compare the new Princeton to your 68?

They don’t sound like the same amp at all. The new one sounds much richer and fuller. The older amp of course has the 10” speaker, and this Cannibas Rex (12”) gets good reviews, so I’m guessing that’s part of the reason. This new amp really sounds great. My buddy who’s an amp tech says Fender tweaked the circuit a bit on the newer amp. This was one of those impulsive purchases that happens to work out.


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[mojosman]

I've never heard of McClostone before, but that sure looks sweet. And, I love the look of the new Princeton vs the old.

Aaron the guy that makes these McClostone amps is a player, and has a working band in Colorado. He literally does everything from making the wood cabinets, to hand soldering everything, and is super responsive to your input. We talked about some mods that he could do to the amp, and he’s willing to make the amp how you want it. For instance I didn’t love the grill cloth over the speaker, he fixed that. We also talked about a half power switch because my son works overnights now, and I thought that would be cool. He was willing to do that for me. I ended up just taking it as is. A great guy to work with though. He’s got a website and a Facebook if you want to see his other work.

The other amp got me because it’s tweed. I’m a sucker for tweed amps, and the 12” Rex speaker had me thinking too. My buddy just put a pair of these in his Super Reverb, and he said they were a huge improvement.


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[Artie]

He's got a website and a Facebook if you want to see his other work.

I'll look him up.

 

[Mincer]

They don’t sound like the same amp at all. The new one sounds much richer and fuller. The older amp of course has the 10” speaker, and this Cannibas Rex (12”) gets good reviews, so I’m guessing that’s part of the reason. This new amp really sounds great. My buddy who’s an amp tech says Fender tweaked the circuit a bit on the newer amp. This was one of those impulsive purchases that happens to work out.


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Hmm, I may have to seriously consider this.