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Post subject: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:06 am
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I recently purchased this amp, and m really liking it. Having had a stock, original 74 PR Silver face and a 65 PRRI, I had a very good idea wha I'd be getting into with the 64'. I find the tone overall much richer and not as bright as the 65 PRRI, and the speaker holds in together much, much better. A notorious issue with the 65 PRRI (that I laboured to try to remedy, to no avail) was that the speaker flubs out at higher volumes. My 74 PR silver face did the same thing. That is not an issue with the 64'. I've been thinking of changing the tubes, as with Groove Tube, you just don't really know what you've got. Current accessible, and reasonable options are Tung Sol which I believe makes all the tubes for this amp (6V6, 12AX7, 12AT7 AND 5AR4). Electro Harmonix, is another option as is Mullard, Gold Lion, or JJ (which I'm less inclined towards). And then of course there's making a custom mix. The Tube Store in Hamilton, Ontario offers a variety of packages from budget to premium. Any thoughts?


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Post subject: Re: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:11 am
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If you're "really liking it", why change anything?

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: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:34 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
If you're "really liking it", why change anything?

Arjay


Such is the nature of this hobby. :lol: Seriously though, because I suspect that spec'ed tubes for this amp would deliver even greater results. I'm going to give The Tube Store a call tomorrow. I've ordered many tubes from them over the years. They're very knowledgable, but it's always good to hear from people who use the amp, and what tubes they've experimented with.


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Post subject: Re: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:50 am
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If you want to spend some *serious* money, try the tube mix I've got in my '65 Princeton Reverb (date-stamped "OK" on the tube chart):

Amperex GZ34
Motorola-branded (nee Matsushita) 6V6GTA x 2
RCA 7025
RCA 12AX7 x 2
Raytheon 12AT7

The non-standard speaker is a Fender-marked alnico CTS ten from a '71 Super Reverb and the amp sounds heavenly. The only other mod is the addition of a standby switch to minimize tube fatigue.

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: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:56 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
If you want to spend some *serious* money, try the tube mix I've got in my '65 Princeton Reverb (date-stamped "OK" on the tube chart):

Amperex GZ34
Motorola-branded (nee Matsushita) 6V6GTA x 2
RCA 7025
RCA 12AX7 x 2
Raytheon 12AT7

The non-standard speaker is a Fender-marked alnico CTS ten from a '71 Super Reverb and the amp sounds heavenly. The only other mod is the addition of a standby switch to minimize tube fatigue.

Arjay


Ya, those are some pricey tubes. I use to have a Raytheon 12AT7. The RCA tubes are not easy to come by, and I'm very suspicious of tubes labelled as "NOS". I bought a set of Raytheon tubes for a Swart that I use to have and I'd say that it wasn't worth what I spent on them. I'm likely going to go with current production tubes, which ones, I'm not so sure.


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Post subject: Re: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:07 am
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I've never been a fan of JJ's but the other brands you mentioned in your initial post are quality bottles, many of them I've used successfully. They're not black-plate RCA quality but they're durable and adequate to the task.

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: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 11:25 am
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Arjay and BMW2002Ti probably have the best advice here about tubes.

But I've always found this site interesting for NOS tubes.

http://vintagetubeservices.com

Maybe he's really good at marketing through a website, but I'd be more inclined to trust him when purchasing NOS tubes, than most other sites. At least he gives the impression that he really cares about what he's doing.

Cheers,


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Post subject: Re: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:16 pm
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vinyl wrote:
Arjay and BMW2002Ti probably have the best advice here about tubes.

But I've always found this site interesting for NOS tubes.

http://vintagetubeservices.com

Maybe he's really good at marketing through a website, but I'd be more inclined to trust him when purchasing NOS tubes, than most other sites. At least he gives the impression that he really cares about what he's doing.

Cheers,


Thanks, and I'll check that site out.


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Post subject: Re: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 2:19 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
I've never been a fan of JJ's but the other brands you mentioned in your initial post are quality bottles, many of them I've used successfully. They're not black-plate RCA quality but they're durable and adequate to the task.

Arjay


Thanks Arjay. I too am not a fan if JJ's. I have a pile of them that I've taken out of other amps that I've bought. I have a new, matching pair of Tung Sol 6V6 and a new matching pair of Electro Harmonix 6V6. The Tube Store in Hamilton gets their premium brand tubes made to spec at a factory in China. The plates are apparently made in Germany, and they're made to early 1960's RCA spec. Pricey, but I may just try them.


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Post subject: Re: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 6:56 am
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Arjay pretty much nailed the NOS tubes to hunt after, for this amp. I've been using black plate, Canadian-GE mil spec 6V6GTY in my Princeton Reverb. The GTY (brown phenolic base) are very good tubes. Raytheon, RCA, Hytron, and Sylvania make them, too. Good tone, last a long time. --- with proper biasing.

Image


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Post subject: Re: Tube options for 64' Princeton Reverb Hand Wired
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:38 am
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I’ve no experience with a Princeton Reverb but I do have a 65 Deluxe Reverb “Fudge Brownie”. It came with JJs in all positions except V5 (vibrato) and they are ok. Not the best but not the worst. I have tried a lot of new production and a some NOS tubes and I have settled on an all Russian line-up which to my ears is delivering great tones. I have all new production tubes and they are Tung Sol 12AX7 in V1 and V2, Tung Sol 12AT7W/6201 in V3 and V6, Sovtek 12AX7LPS in V4 and a Sovtek 12AX7A in V5. V7 and V8 are Tung Sol 6V6GT and V9 is a Tung Sol 5AR4.

I have also had some good results from TAD tubes in V1, V2, V4, V7 and V8 but overall not as good as the Tung Sol/Sovtek mix.


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