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Post subject: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 6:01 am
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Hi Everyone, I just bought a vintage Princeton Reverb - haven't looked at all the guts yet, but it appears to be a 1972 (although advertised as a 1973)

I was wondering where I can get a good schematic (readable!) - I'm also not sure which circuit it has - how do I determine that?

I was wondering if I should do a cap job. I haven't really looked inside, so I don't know if any have been replaced, but in case they are all original - which caps should I definitely replace ?

Also, want to ad a bias adjustment...

Cheers!


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 8:05 am
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Prolly one of these this circuit:

http://www.prowessamplifiers.com/schema ... matic.html

http://www.kbapps.com/audio/schematics/ ... b1270.html

Does the amp have pull-volume? Retro "black face" motif? Or silverface?

I'd definitely do a cap can job. I like the 30/20/20/20 at 525VDC FT can available from AES. No failures, so far. Can't say the same about their 20/20/20/20 at 475 cans.

The 525 VD can has quitre a bit more electrolyte fluid usually = longer life.

Bias adjustment = easy. For another post?


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 8:37 am
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Another useful mod for these amps is to add a "standby" function using the back-panel's polarity switch (which is unnecessary if the amp is equipped with a grounded 3-conductor power cable). About fifteen minutes on the bench is all that it requires.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 11:24 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Prolly one of these this circuit:

http://www.prowessamplifiers.com/schema ... matic.html

http://www.kbapps.com/audio/schematics/ ... b1270.html

Does the amp have pull-volume? Retro "black face" motif? Or silverface?

I'd definitely do a cap can job. I like the 30/20/20/20 at 525VDC FT can available from AES. No failures, so far. Can't say the same about their 20/20/20/20 at 475 cans.

The 525 VD can has quitre a bit more electrolyte fluid usually = longer life.

Bias adjustment = easy. For another post?



Thanks. It does not have pull-volume. It's a Silverface. From what I can tell, it's a 1972. I have a lot of trouble reading those schematics - I blow them up but the writing is grainy and I can't read the values. I'll take a look at it today and see if I can match it up to one of those schematics.

What about other caps, resistors, etc.? Anything I should absolutely do?


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 4:39 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Another useful mod for these amps is to add a "standby" function using the back-panel's polarity switch (which is unnecessary if the amp is equipped with a grounded 3-conductor power cable). About fifteen minutes on the bench is all that it requires.

Arjay


Actually, I would like to do this. The amp has a three prong grounded plug.

I have one little quirk with the amp...I don't always get sound when I turn it on. If I tap the top, the sound comes on. I assume something is loose or I have a bad solder joint somewhere...not sure where to start on this one.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 5:47 pm
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That could be something as simple as worn contacts on the on/off switch. I'd recommend a thorough servicing as soon as possible. Budget some money for routine maintenance plus the normal safety upgrades to keep the amp happy.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 5:58 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
That could be something as simple as worn contacts on the on/off switch. I'd recommend a thorough servicing as soon as possible. Budget some money for routine maintenance plus the normal safety upgrades to keep the amp happy.

Arjay


I opened it up today, it's pretty clean inside. Only thing that I can see that was done was the grounded cord and the line out jack that was put in. Otherwise it's stock.

I was actually thinking of sending it off to David Allen and having him upgrade the transformer, cap job, etc...He does great work.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 10:21 pm
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"upgrade the transformer"

What's wrong with it?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 2:28 am
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daacrusher2001 wrote:
Hi Everyone, I just bought a vintage Princeton Reverb - haven't looked at all the guts yet, but it appears to be a 1972 (although advertised as a 1973)Cheers!


Hi! I wonder why you cannot figure the year of the PR?
What about transformer dates, choke date codes, speaker date codes,
chassis stamp codes, chassis serial numbers, Pot date codes, etc.?

What do those numbers/date codes say?
Toppscore :)

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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 7:23 am
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...I don't always get sound when I turn it on

Does the pilot light also not light when amp isn't working? Could be a loose or funky fuse. New one is worth a try.

My opinion. If the amp sounds good, no fuses popping, as is, forgo the tranny change. Fender used good iron. And a new "boutique" one of even a Hammond is $$$$.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 7:27 am
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Transformers are one thing I never change unless there's a problem,forget the hype about all the new ones making the amp sound better,it might sound different but maybe not better,like BMW said Fender used good iron.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 7:40 am
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Rebelsoul wrote:
forget the hype about all the new ones making the amp sound better.


+1

It don't get no better than original vintage Fender!

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 9:25 am
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AMEN Bro. Arjay!! :D


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 4:05 pm
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Toppscore wrote:
daacrusher2001 wrote:
Hi Everyone, I just bought a vintage Princeton Reverb - haven't looked at all the guts yet, but it appears to be a 1972 (although advertised as a 1973)Cheers!


Hi! I wonder why you cannot figure the year of the PR?
What about transformer dates, choke date codes, speaker date codes,
chassis stamp codes, chassis serial numbers, Pot date codes, etc.?

What do those numbers/date codes say?
Toppscore :)


Well, once I opened it up it became easy. It's dated on the inside (February 23, 1972) and signed by the person who built it I guess. Also, transformer codes, etc. support 1972 as the year.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 (or 73) Silverface Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 4:09 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
...I don't always get sound when I turn it on

Does the pilot light also not light when amp isn't working? Could be a loose or funky fuse. New one is worth a try.

My opinion. If the amp sounds good, no fuses popping, as is, forgo the tranny change. Fender used good iron. And a new "boutique" one of even a Hammond is $$$$.


I checked all that stuff...seems related to the volume pot. I noticed that if I leave the volume pot on 3 or 4 when I shut it off, when I turn it on it works. I'll try swapping it when I get some time.

Other than that, the amp sounds really really good. Just what I was looking for.


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