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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:31 pm
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aclempoppi wrote:
Tanks for that info, Arjay!!! Since Zeo, mentioned the Alessandro clone, I thought it would warrant consideration. Art


Well it does. He's known for some very professional, very conscientious work. But when the "law of diminishing return" is factored into the equation, the re-wired re-issue amp still loses money at trade-in time in comparision with a well cared-for vintage piece. Not an issue for well-heeled rock stars perhaps but for working stiffs it's a whole 'nother story.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:26 pm
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So I ended up buying both amps and returning them both. The 66 princeton was ok, nothing great but I thought I could do better.

As for the allesandro princeton reverb ri, well that was a disappointment, I'm no expert at all, but it didn't sound that much better ( if at at all) than a regular princeton reissue. Just my opinion. I was not saying to myself " wow I can totally hear he difference." If anything I thought it was more bassy and a little more muddy. When I had a regular reissue I kept the treble and bass at 5. With the allesandro model I felt compelled to put the treble on 8 and while I left the bass at 5 still, it felt more bassy.


As I said I'm no expert and just like what I like, but the allesandro model ( at best) just didn't sound or fell that much different.

I might just eventually get a used princeton reissue and maybe later a blackface champ.


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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:41 pm
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Zeo828,

I've noticed from EBay ads that Allesandro made circuits tend to use a lot (if not all) Orange Drop coupling caps. My experience with the newly made SBE variety --- they take a long time to break-in. And tend to give the amp a kinda compressed, cold tone. I would not use OD's for all coupling positions. Not for a vintage tone.


http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDg0WDg2NA==/ ... ~60_57.JPG


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-1965-Del ... 35d0e3562a


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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 1:12 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
I've noticed from EBay ads that Allesandro made circuits tend to use a lot (if not all) Orange Drop coupling caps. My experience with the newly made SBE variety --- they take a long time to break-in. And tend to give the amp a kinda compressed, cold tone. I would not use OD's for all coupling positions. Not for a vintage tone.


+1

For a new-build clone or for replacement of a vintage coupling cap, I prefer the Zoso's.

I cringe every time I see those orange blobs.

:(

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 9:46 am
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Arjay, he's is charging pretty healthy $$$ for his work. Which is uniformly very good. Why he chooses SBE OD, when so many good coupling caps are currently on the market, is beyond me. The PIO available now are excellent for these "vintage" remakes. And there are many good Mylar caps on the market. For pretty good prices.


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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:17 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Arjay, he's is charging pretty healthy $$$ for his work. Which is uniformly very good. Why he chooses SBE OD, when so many good coupling caps are currently on the market, is beyond me.


+1

I normally recommend to anyone contemplating one of these "mod job" re-issues that they *seriously* consider a clone from Allen Amplification, Victoria, etc. That is, if they lack the resolve to just buy an original vintage amp and have the necessary servicing performed.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:28 am
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The Angela PIO tone, coupling, and CE lytic caps are performing very well in my PR clone. Have the Alessandro proprietary PIO's in my B'Master and Bassman. Can't fault them!!! JMO Art

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:05 am
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Art,

The latest polyester (Mylar) SBE Orange Drops are nearly intolerable, unless you have a very dark, muddy amp that needs a lot of "brightning." I don't used them in input and EFX stages anymore. Sometimes, I'll use them in PI, for their toughness and good voltage specs.

The Russian mil spec PIO (K40Y-9) are so much better in the PI stage. esp for vintage Fender amps. And 1000 Volt rated K40Y-9 are still available at a good price.

I've been using Jupiter vintage caps and Dynami-caps in the critical input and second gain stages. Not only for nice tone, but the steady, quiet service.

Check the coupling lineup I put into Jerry's Super Reverb. The sole OD is a US made NOS Sprague.


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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:15 am
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NOS Sprague Orange Drops & Black Beauties:

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:36 pm
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Yeah Buddy, I used the Russian PIO(K40-9) caps in my '55 Valco rebuild. Very good results in that bad boy!! Used to get Orange drops from Mark Baier(Victoria). Only have a few in the amps. But still have a decent stash of those guys, and a few black beauties. Tried an Aura Cap in the Bassman's PI feed cap. Also a good cap. Use Vitamin Q Caps in the Strat and Tele(SD Antiquity humbucker-neck PUP). Tried the Russian PIO's in an Epiphone--component, wiring, and PUP upgrade for a friend. That whole deal was an amazing change! I'll try the Jupiter caps when the next need arises!! JMO, Art

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:43 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
BMW2002Ti wrote:
Arjay, he's is charging pretty healthy $$$ for his work. Which is uniformly very good. Why he chooses SBE OD, when so many good coupling caps are currently on the market, is beyond me.


+1

I normally recommend to anyone contemplating one of these "mod job" re-issues that they *seriously* consider a clone from Allen Amplification, Victoria, etc. That is, if they lack the resolve to just buy an original vintage amp and have the necessary servicing performed.

Arjay



This is some what off topic but since you mentioned Victoria I talked to Mark twice this week. He used a good term regarding some "modern amps" we were talking about my fender amp.

Some amps are consumer products and some are instruments.

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:14 pm
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Yeah Blues Plexi, Treating amps as instruments is way up my alley. Component and tube selection is really interesting. The cabinets and baffles(especially on smaller amps) can almost be as important as acoustic guitar wood-resonance and their construction. Although, PUP's and speakers are higher on the amp-electric guitar totem, I can really dig taking all of the pieces into consideration!!! Art

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:50 pm
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Interesting...

I always remember the Sprague orange drops to be both the original and replacement caps of choice back in the 70's...

Allot of very expensive and very reliable gear sported them...

Is it that they have not stood the test of time?


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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:50 pm
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I would, just suggest that the older Spragues were great caps. The tone zone kind of dictates what a person might want to use, in their amp. Never found reliability to be an issue with orange drops. Too many PIO caps can veil the signal. So mixing caps, like tubes, is good with me. JMHO, Art..... Oh Yeah, Welcome to the forum Rich !!

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Post subject: Re: 1966 Fender Princeton Amp or Modded PTP Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:06 pm
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Thank you for the welcome!

You know, I would not be surprised if some of those old orange drops are up there on the moon...

That being said, if they have gone bad then thats all she wrote.

Which brings up another point...

I have a bunch of old Fender amps still cooking along with the old Mallory paper caps...

My amp tech says as long as I have the correct fuse and they still look good, they probably won't take out a transformer if and when they blow...

I suppose they may test out of spec if you were to measure them, but thats kind of the vintage amp thing isn't it? Little bit risky but sounds so good...


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