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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 11:23 am
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Tim, I love it when you talk the tech stuff. Thank the music gods that there are still a few people on the forum that understand. I'm not some product fanboy who thinks just because it says Fender on it that it's the greatest thing that ever graced the planet. I need reliable gear so much that I resorted to building my own.

If a hack like me can build reliable great sounding gear, so can Fender. I just heard a recording of my 18 watt Marshall clone that was recorded at a local place with a POS portable recording thing and it still was the mutts nuts. Very cool. Cut the mix to a point where it was almost overpowering. I let a few other people use the amp and they were floored that I had a boutique looking and sounding amp that I built myself for around eight hundred bucks.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:52 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
TimsAudio wrote:
So let these kids play around with their toys. Sooner or later, they will hear good tone and start their journey back to tubes. Then they'll understand why tubes amps are still alive and kickin'


+1000

And that's the name of that tune!

Arjay

Sigh. :roll: Guys, tone is one thing, glass components are another. They each have their upsides. Keep lugging around your tube amps, more power to ya! There are other options out there that do not involve glass, that's all I'm saying.

If you absolutely must have that magical sound you're hearing from your tube amps, go for it! I'm sure you're aware of everything that comes with that territory as much as I am (having played through hundreds of tube amps over the years).

I don't know if you can relate the the upsides of using non-tube equipment - it sounds like you have no experience in that area (other than maybe plugging into some Line 6 combo amp in 1999, twirling the preset dial and making a funny face). Since I've played and owned both, I guess you could say I have a more informed opinion on the subject.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 7:27 am
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I don't have as much experience with today's new solid-state amps. What would you recommend as a good mid-powered, everyday-use ss amp. Say, in the 30-40 watt range. $750-1000, MSRP. An amp that needs no modifications and is pedal friendly. Consistent tone and reliability being the most important characters.


Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 7:49 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
a good mid-powered, everyday-use ss amp. Say, in the 30-40 watt range. $750-1000, MSRP.

Do you mean the SS equivalent of a 40 watt tube amp (volume-wise)? Or a 40 watt SS amp?

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:02 am
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Strings, any good mid-powered solid-state amp. I get this question, a lot. "What solid-state amp to buy?"

As been stated, entry-to-mid level modern tube amps have been getting a bad rep for poor reliability. Also, inconsistency in tone. Esp using onboard EFX.

What ss amp would you recommend to a friend, that has no everyday amp? One he can depend on. Consistent tone. Good with pedals. Reasonably priced.


Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:23 am
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Buying new only? For that kind of rig (not my cup of tea anymore, but I had this kind of setup for years) I would personally recommend the Fender Champion series, although there are many other options out there.

http://www.fender.com/amplifier-series/champion/

But O.P. has already stated, this is not the way he would like to go.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 9:44 am
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strings10927 wrote:
BMW2002Ti wrote:
a good mid-powered, everyday-use ss amp. Say, in the 30-40 watt range. $750-1000, MSRP.

Do you mean the SS equivalent of a 40 watt tube amp (volume-wise)? Or a 40 watt SS amp?


The only modern solid state amp I got along with is a Quilter. No cheesy effects no modeling garbage, just great sound that you can build on with a multi effect pedal or stomp boxes from other manufacturers who actually know what they're doing. The big question is, if tube amps are so bad, why are they imitated digitally.
http://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/pr ... iatorgold/

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 9:57 am
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63supro wrote:
The big question is, if tube amps are so bad, why are they imitated digitally.
I guess someone came in here at some point and said tube amps are bad? It sure wasn't me. I only referred to the undeniable fact that there is glass in them thar tubes. And glass breaks sometimes.

I love the sounds that come out of tube amps. And if given the choice, I wouldn't use anything else in the studio. But for an everyday drag-it-with-you-everywhere-you-go amp, I prefer SS. Again, it has nothing to do with tone.

A reference was made to the use of vacuum tubes in military equipment. Do they still use them today in modern military equipment? Why?

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:12 am
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AFAIK, no vacuum tubes (except maybe CRT monitors) are used in current US military equipment. But, in the 1980-90s, US used them because, compared to silicon based devices, tubes were less susceptible to strong radiation pulses. China and Russian still make mil spec tubes, as many of their military electronics still utilize tube technology.


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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:16 am
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You keep saying how fragile tubes are. Have you ever even used or owned or gigged with a tube amp? I've been using tube amps since 1966 and never broke a tube. I've had a couple fail, but not because any glass broke usually it was just old age. I still use them and gig and rehearse with them.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:32 am
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63supro wrote:
Have you ever even used or owned or gigged with a tube amp?

No, I've only read about them in books. Tell me more about the 'olden days'. :D

strings10927 wrote:
I'm sure you're aware of everything that comes with that territory as much as I am (having played through hundreds of tube amps over the years).
strings10927 wrote:
Since I've played and owned both

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:56 am
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Oh I forgot, you're the guy that plays stadiums. :roll: I'm done with this nonsense.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:59 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
I don't have as much experience with today's new solid-state amps. What would you recommend as a good mid-powered, everyday-use ss amp. Say, in the 30-40 watt range. $750-1000, MSRP. An amp that needs no modifications and is pedal friendly. Consistent tone and reliability being the most important characters.


Thanks!


Strings only knows about the SS amps in the $200-400 price range.

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 11:10 am
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63supro wrote:
Strings only knows about the SS amps in the $200-400 price range.

How many 30-40w SS amps can you name that are in the $750-1000 range (that aren't custom/boutique)? :|

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Post subject: Re: Help with troubleshooting a '68 Custom Princeton Reverb
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:40 pm
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strings10927 wrote:
63supro wrote:
Strings only knows about the SS amps in the $200-400 price range.

How many 30-40w SS amps can you name that are in the $750-1000 range (that aren't custom/boutique)? :|


Roland and Quilter have plenty. They're not what I would consider boutique amps, but they are professional amps built for the long haul. The Roland Jazz Chorus 120 has been around for ages. Quilter and Roland both have great amps in the $600 on up range.

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