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Post subject: Possible problem with new 65 Princeton RI
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:08 pm
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Just got a Princeton RI and I think there might be something wrong. Clean it sounds amazing, but when I use an overdrive box the distortion is buzzy and cheap sounding - almost like the "more drive" channel on a HRDX. The 2 OD's I'm using is an Xotic BB Preamp and a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive. Now through the DRRI these pedals sound great. Is it the just how the Princeton RI reacts with pedals? Is it the speaker? BTW, I'm playing an American Standard Tele (I know Tele's have a tendency of being bright).


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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:36 pm
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Anyone?


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:09 pm
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I'd say you have a bad tube. When I first got my DRRI, the clean tones were just awesome, but my TS-9 sounded like turds. So, I went out and got a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet. Still sounded like warm turds. The guitarist in my band comes to my house one day while we're loading gear up for a gig (shh - don't tell anyone, I'm actually a drummer! :) ) He has an original Deluxe Reverb and wants to check out my re-issue. He turns it on and plays and says "Whoa! You have a microphonic tube." So I replace the bad one and holy shizitzu my amp was the bees knees!! It didn't change the clean tones much, but the overdrives were a totally different animal! Night and Day difference...and mine was brand new too!! Since then I've replaced all the tubes except for 2 of the 12AX7's and the 5U4. Almost every one of the originals failed within a couple of months. The 6V6's died and was causing it to blow fuses like a mad beotch. She's runnin' good now though and man she's sweet! I hope your problem is only a tube.

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PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:14 pm
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So tonight I took the amp back to have it checked out (hoping they'd let me exchange it). The tech changed out the preamp tubes and we didnt notice a difference. The tech didnt think the amp sounded good either, and he offered to send it back to Fender to have it checked out but I dont really want to be without an amp. To add to the discouragement he says "it could take weeks before you get a replacement and Fender might send it back if they cant find anything wrong with it". I usually shop at my local GC because of the liberal return policy but they arent carrying the PRRI. The store I bought from has a "no return" policy, so I'm stuck. I just want the amp that I heard in the demos.


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Post subject: I use a PRRI and a Box of Rock
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:11 pm
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I use my PRRI with a Box of Rock - you MUST turn the bass down when using an OD pedal or else it will sound like mush. Bad mush. Tweak the knobs, also if you are using it at higher volume, above 5-6 with the OD, it can get messy quick. If I want a smooth distorted marshall sound, I have my amp on 3-4, my BOR volume anywhere between 9-12, drive cranked and tone at about noon-1. It did take about 10 days for my speaker to loosen up though and that was with daily playing of 3-4 hours a day. At 1st it sounded BAD when I cranked the amp, now its pretty smooth. I use a GE Smith Tele.

Only issue is now I have the dreaded baffle "rattle". I may swap mine for a DRRI even though I LOVE the low volume tones of this amp.

Here is a link to a vid I made for a Gibson contest. Used the tele and PRRI with a VOX Satchurator pedal. Worked out great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C8Hn2lm ... annel_page

Even though I get nice smooth OD with my PRRI, its not the same as OD pumping through a higher wattage amp with a 12" - The PRRI is meant for cleans, bluesy sounds IMO. Plus, the tele is not really known for its heavy OD sounds.


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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:02 pm
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Thanks for the reply! I've read that most people are changing out the speaker in these amps. Any suggestions as to what kind of speaker I should try?


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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:41 pm
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So, did you play through a DRRI using the same pedals? Did you get the tones you want through the DRRI? I know that it's a higher wattage amp and has a 12" speaker, but I would think that the two amps would sound very similar, especially at lower volumes. Does the music store you're going to have another PRRI you could try? If so, bring your guitar and pedals and see if it sounds the same as yours. Also, like another poster mentioned, it does take a little while for the speaker to break in. I think the '65 reissue amps come stock with great speakers. I don't think it would be a big improvement to change the speaker. That's just my opinion though. Do whatever YOU think sounds best.

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI


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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:44 pm
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Do you have an extension cab with a 12" speaker you could use? I personally prefer a 12" speaker. That's one of the reasons I went with the DRRI.

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI


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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:36 pm
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I used the same pedals on the DRI and on the PRRI. The Deluxe sounded great and I figured the Princeton would be about the same, just not as loud. I tried the Princeton without OD pedals, just guitar > cord > amp, and I get the same buzzy overdrive sound when I crank it. BTW, the salesguy told me he won't get more Princetons because they "aren't popular" Oh well, live and learn.


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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 4:22 pm
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Hmm. Could you trade your PRRI in on a DRRI? How long have you had you amp? I know you said the store has a "no return" policy. Is that legal? Can they do that? That just doesn't seem right. That's one of the reasons people now to places like Guitar Center instead of the small mom and pop shops. It's really a shame.
Can you borrow a 12" extension cab from someone and see if it's just the size of the speaker?

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI


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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:31 pm
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I've had the amp less than a week - I'd take too much of a hit if I traded. I always go to GC because of their return policy, the only reason I didn't is because they don't stock the PRRI and I didn't want to order one because I hate waiting. Anyway, I think the problem is the speaker. I hooked up my Zinky amp to the speaker and it still has that harsh overdrive. I'm going to retube with JJ's, so hopefully it'll smooth out the OD.


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