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Post subject: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:01 pm
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Just got this amp, brand new. It's bone stock, and here are its problems...

When it's running at its best it still gives off a pronounced hum at any volume, and there are metalllic sounding buzzy ghost notes that ring the exact same duration every time before abruptly stopping. This only occurs with certain notes on the low strings. Also, there is a seriously obnoxious buzz that comes from the chassis itself when the amp is turned up to 4 and certain low notes are struck.

A far worse issue is an intermittent cutting out, whereby the amp either fades all the way in and out or it gives off a horrifically loud static-y whooshing sound. Giving the amp a good smack on the top can make the whooshing problem go away, but it returns fairly quickly. Conversely, when the amp is working as well as it can, giving it a good smack can make that horrible static-y swooshing sound come right back. Simply bringing the amp to a music store today was enough to induce the loud static sound. It's very unstable. Again, though, even when it's working at its best it still gives off the chassis buzzing and the metallic-sounding ghost notes.

Playing my amp alongside an identical new one in the store, their amp was dead silent. Turning it up to 10 allowed for a normal amount of white noise hissing, but there was zero humming. It was a commendably quiet amp. Mine gave off a noticeable hum, in addition to the chassis buzzing.

I just tried swapping out each tube, one by one. First the pre's, then the rectifier, then the power tubes. No change. Same hum, no matter what. Same chassis buzzing. More importantly, smacking the center of the top of the amp still causes it to fall apart and, conversely, return to its normal, slightly flawed state.

So, it's not the tubes. In the meantime, yes, of course it's under warranty, but it's my only amp at the moment. Until my other new amp arrives, I don't want to turn this one over to a repair facility that will keep it for a few weeks. If I pull the chassis and have a peek inside, what might I look for that I could actually fix without a soldering iron and much greater electrical knowledge than I possess.

Any ideas?


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:38 pm
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A brand-new amp with that many aggravating issues deserves to be returned to the store immediately for exchange or refund.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 12:08 am
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Well, of course, but I just went through four faulty '68 Custom Vibrolux Reverbs before I finally threw in the towel and ordered up a Victoria. I don't want to go through the same buy-and-return process over and over again with this little guy. In fact, I actually feel sorry for Sweetwater for having to take back so many amps. It's not their fault, yet they keep getting stuck holding the bag.

It's crazy, too. I never had these problems with any of my other Fenders, or with any other amps at all, really. With these '68 Customs, though, I just can't seem to get a good one. Either the screws are crossthreaded and the cosmetics are jacked up straight out of the box, or the tubes, fuse and lights fail one right after another, or there are endless buzzes and hisses, or the amp intermittently craps out completely. This has to be some sort of record. No way this is par for the course. Not even Crate or Behringer could get away with this many failures. It's happened so many times in a row now, my buddies think I'm jinxed.

Such a shame, too, because it's a really nice-sounding amp, as are the CVR and CDR. The first CDR's reverb didn't work. Its replacement worked just fine, but man, the hissing, and the obnoxious popping of the Standby and Off switches. The CVRs all had cosmetic issues, or they kept blowing tubes and fuses. Definitely some inconsistent build tolerances, as well, since the same Weber speaker that would barely fit in one CVR simply wouldn't fit in another, due to the metal cage for the power tubes sticking out too far.

The thing is, like I said, they really do sound great, so I keep trying. This Princeton with the Bassman tone stack sounds fantastic, so I don't want to give up. I want to get it healthy, and be able to depend on it. This intermittent crapping out issue is so frustrating. Nothing is worse than an intermittent problem. Every time you think you have it fixed, the static or buzzing or fading in an out or whatever soon returns. You just can't sit back and relax, knowing the problems are well and truly over.

Maddening.


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:19 am
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The reports for the whole '68 Custom line have, so far, not been consistently favorable.

If you want to try and fix it yourself, you might start by checking for faulty tubes, and maybe even re-tensioning the tube sockets. If you are careful, you can try this without voiding your warranty.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:42 am
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Already replaced each tube with a brand new one, one by one. Started with the pre's, then the rectifier, then the power tubes. No change. Same problems persist. It's not a bad tube/tubes.

Stupid question, but how does one re-tension a tube socket?


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:54 am
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I'd seriously steer clear of the Custom 68 series entirely. There have been way too many issues with the entire series. The only way they'll fix the issues is if people start returning them. If you return it, keep your new tubes. This stuff is really sad and Personally, I won't buy ANY new production Fender amp because of the cheap parts, shortcuts and sloppy workmanship. The hum could be anything from a power supply problem, bad solder joints or just moving some wires around. But most of the wiring is think now is done using shielded cable, ribbon and spade connectors. I know it's frustrating, but I would look around for a vintage Silverface Princeton.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:00 am
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63supro wrote:
I'd seriously steer clear of the Custom 68 series entirely. There have been way too many issues with the entire series. The only way they'll fix the issues is if people start returning them. If you return it, keep your new tubes. This stuff is really sad and Personally, I won't buy ANY new production Fender amp because of the cheap parts, shortcuts and sloppy workmanship. The hum could be anything from a power supply problem, bad solder joints or just moving some wires around. But most of the wiring is think now is done using shielded cable, ribbon and spade connectors. I know it's frustrating, but I would look around for a vintage Silverface Princeton.


+1

If I wanted a turkey I'd wait until Safeway put Butterballs on sale right before Thanksgiving.

:lol:

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:14 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
63supro wrote:
I'd seriously steer clear of the Custom 68 series entirely. There have been way too many issues with the entire series. The only way they'll fix the issues is if people start returning them. If you return it, keep your new tubes. This stuff is really sad and Personally, I won't buy ANY new production Fender amp because of the cheap parts, shortcuts and sloppy workmanship. The hum could be anything from a power supply problem, bad solder joints or just moving some wires around. But most of the wiring is think now is done using shielded cable, ribbon and spade connectors. I know it's frustrating, but I would look around for a vintage Silverface Princeton.



:lol: The thing is if it's problematic right out of the box, what's going to happen further down the line. That's why I roll my own now. :wink: My HRDlx convinced me to do that. Especially after I took a look under the hood and saw how poorly it was designed and manufactured, I figured even I could do better than that!

+1

If I wanted a turkey I'd wait until Safeway put Butterballs on sale right before Thanksgiving.

:lol:

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:34 am
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that's a lot of headache for a $900+ amp. :?

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:48 am
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63 Supro, a vintage Princeton won't have the '68 CPR's Bassman tone stack, which is the main reason I prefer it to the '65 PRRI or any other Princeton. I like this '68 CPR's thicker, darker, warmer tone. Also, the tremolo is much stronger on these new '68 Custom Princetons.

I just need the thing to work, and keep working. Bare minimum, being able to count on consistent trouble-free performance should never be an issue with a brand new amp.


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 11:00 am
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stevieraygovan wrote:
being able to count on consistent trouble-free performance

Is that job #1? If so, you're barking up the wrong tree IMO (tube amps).

Any time glass is part of the construction, you can count on a few issues in the worst case scenario.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:47 pm
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strings10927, the tubes aren't the problem here. It's something in the chassis. Besides, about all I've ever owned are tube amps, 99% of which were as reliable as the few SS amps I've had. None of my other Fenders, Mesas, Marshalls, Carvins, Traynors or Victorias ever gave me a lick of trouble. My Bogner crapped out on me, but the issue wasn't tube-related.

I expect to be able to count on my tube amps. Will tubes ever fail? Sure, and they're easily replaced. I don't expect the rest of the amp to consistently malfunction, though, tube amp or otherwise. In my experience, the problems I'm having with these '68s right out of the box are a decided anomaly, not the rule.


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:01 pm
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stevieraygovan wrote:
...how does one re-tension a tube socket?


http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=171

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:14 pm
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stevieraygovan wrote:
Playing my amp alongside an identical new one in the store, their amp was dead silent. Turning it up to 10 allowed for a normal amount of white noise hissing, but there was zero humming. It was a commendably quiet amp. Mine gave off a noticeable hum, in addition to the chassis buzzing.


Any ideas?


Is it possible to return the bad one and go buy the one at the store?

stevieraygovan wrote:
63 Supro, a vintage Princeton won't have the '68 CPR's Bassman tone stack, which is the main reason I prefer it to the '65 PRRI or any other Princeton. I like this '68 CPR's thicker, darker, warmer tone. Also, the tremolo is much stronger on these new '68 Custom Princetons.

I just need the thing to work, and keep working. Bare minimum, being able to count on consistent trouble-free performance should never be an issue with a brand new amp.


If the Bassman tone stack is what your after, why not return it and try to track down the real deal. Vintage Bassmans can be had for less than a reissue, and after the proper tune up will provide you with the trouble free performance you desire.

I'm not trying to sound facetious just trying to maybe come up with different options. Hope this helps.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:54 pm
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socal, Bassmans are very loud, large, and powerful. I love them to death, but I have a Victoria Golden Melody on the way to cover those things. Because of where I live, I also need a relatively quiet lower wattage amp. That's where the little Princeton comes in: Bassman tones, plus reverb and tremolo, in a much smaller package.


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