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Post subject: Buying Vintage on the 'Bay
Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:33 pm
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Hello again,

So I got my PRRI in the mail yesterday and, while I like it, I don't love it. I'm starting to think that if I'm going to spend $900 on an amp, I might as well look into the vintage market and spend just a little more. My question is have any of you ever purchased a vintage amp on eBay and, if so, how was the experience? My wife is very concerned about me spending all that money on an amp sight unseen, and I don't blame her. That's why I'm coming to the experts. Thanks in advance.

- Jeff

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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:58 pm
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I've bought several vintage pieces on the bay -- had a couple with broken tubes but the sellers both provided replacements.

What's wrong with your new PRRI?

Arjay

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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:37 pm
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Oh nothing's wrong with it, per se, I'm just not sure I love it. For the money I spent (I'm not a wealthy man) I want to love it. I'm sure with a new speaker and tubes I will love it much more, I just want to be sure I'm making the right decision. I played it for a while through my HRD cab (with the stock speaker back in it) and it sounds great, light years ahead of my HRD. Again, I just want to be sure. Everyone always tells me vintage is better so if I can go that route for not too much more money, maybe that's the better move for me.

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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:44 pm
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Well a real '65 Princeton Reverb might set you back two grand.

Wait for your new speakers and tubes to arrive then play them for awhile. You may change your mind about the re-issue. I've played them in stores and while they don't sound quite like my '65, they're still a respectable piece of gear.

HTH

Arjay

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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 6:49 pm
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Thanks, Arjay. I appreciate all your help and advice. While I don't want to turn a brand new amp into a "money pit," it does sound like the way to go, no pun intended. I will most likely do that and save the vintage stuff for another day... like when I no longer have to buy diapers!

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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 6:55 pm
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jprzech wrote:
... like when I no longer have to buy diapers!


LOLOL

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:38 pm
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Question for ya, what made you buy the PRRI? You mentioned the HRD, did you want a smaller amp? Can you take it back? Maybe you can replace it with a DRRI instead... I've played the PRRI at low volumes and didn't like it as much as the DRRI, but it does sound sweet turned all the way up. If you decide to keep it and want to change speakers then consider upgrading to a 12" speaker.


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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:38 pm
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What made me choose the Princeton? Honestly? Ryan Adams. I've always been a huge fan of his tone, especially live, and he plays through 2 Princetons with 2 2x12 cabs. I thought long and hard about the DRRI too, still am actually.

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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:56 pm
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Hi, jprzech. I wanted a used DRRI and after constant vigil on craigslist and ebay, I started to feel like you mention. Uncertain.

I started to lurk on Guitar Center's site for Used Gear (they have a Vintage Gear section too, but I'm thinking those prices might cause the need for the Heimlich).

Now, I live in Southern California, so there are almost as many GCs as McDs. I'm not certain where you are and how many locations you can scam. But it only took about 2 weeks, and a very fair priced unit was 50 miles from me. Plus GC offers a 1 year warranty (that you pay for of course) if you desire. You won't get that from craigslist, and ebay is hit or miss, I would presume. Downside to GC, I had to pay Sales Tax (which you don't pay on craigs or ebay).

And not to get too long winded (I know, too late), if you go the DRRI route; make sure you test the Vibrato/Tremolo channel for a faint pulsing/ticking noise when not playing. It is inherent to the DRRI, both vintage and reissue. I did not hear it in the store, and didn't know to look for it, but my amp does it. Apparently not all of them do. Do a search in here for more info. Many posters in here say the Vibrato/Tremolo is better on you PRRI than the DRRI.


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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:27 pm
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The tremolo circuits in the DRRI and PRRI bear no resemblance whatsoever to one another.

The DRRI's operates via a photo-coupled opto-isolator module which gates the incoming pre-amp signal to ground at regulated intervals determined by the speed control. This circuit is common to most blackface and silverface amps.

The PRRI's circuit operates directly upon the power amp tubes, modulating their duty cycle via a variable oscillator between the phase inverter and the output stage. This circuit seldom exhibits the "trem tick" of the opto-isolator type.

Arjay

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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:51 am
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Problem with buying on the net is not being sure what's inside and what's been changed.The brown Super I recently bought was on Craigslist in a nearby town and he had pictures of the inside of the chassis and was upfront with a couple of mods that had been done.
I went to his house and listened to it for awhile before I bought it.
So many things can be changed on a vintage amp and people like Arjay can fix it,but most people will have to take it to an amp tech once they get it and find problems.
Buyer beware.


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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:07 am
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Rebelsoul wrote:
Buyer beware.


ALWAYS!

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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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:08 am
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Well now I've got a line on a Bandmaster Reverb head for $200. I'm thinking I should pounce on this one.

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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:17 am
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Worth a look-see, I'd say.

Arjay

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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:15 am
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jprzech wrote:
What made me choose the Princeton? Honestly? Ryan Adams. I've always been a huge fan of his tone, especially live, and he plays through 2 Princetons with 2 2x12 cabs. I thought long and hard about the DRRI too, still am actually.

His setup is just a little different than yours :) maybe if you have access to a 2x12 cab you can plug your PRRI into it and see how you like it. For me bigger is better when it comes to speakers, my ears just love the sound of a 15 over a 12, a 12 over a 10... 2x12 is also a great setup.

If this amp is still new you might want to give the speaker some time to break in, new speakers tend to sound harsh and lack that sweetness a broken-in speaker gives.

Vintage amps are always an option and the tone you get is something else! I picked up a Bandmaster recently, my first vintage amp, plugged into a 1x15 cab you get some amazing tone! 8)


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