Just rebuilt a Silverface Princeton!

Darcy Hoover · May 7th, 2008, 06:19 AM

I really wanted a hand-wired vintage Fender, but being short on cash and know-how kind of limited my options. Managed to pickup a 1970 Princeton farely cheap, but playing it it became obvious why I got it cheap. It was about half the volume one would expect, lots of intermittent weird and strange noises, the speaker was obviousy shot, with various mods and rough wear. I didn't know where to start so got a complete overhaul kit (high end parts across the board) from Torres, and set about replacing the complete circuit board (all caps and resistors, and new board, old one was badly warped) and one of the transformers (lots of rust coming out of it, and the other one was brand new so had been changed). I thought I'd be in for a summer project but when I got going it barely took me four hours. New Weber Vintage alnico speaker in the home-made baffle (I figure someone tried a 12" in there then went back to the 10", but had already destroyed the original) and had my daughter stand-by with the fire-extinguisher, plugged in my Tele and turned it on....woohoo!!

It sounds gorgeous!

Figuring the faceplate is in very rough shape, and it's far easier to locate Princeton Reverb replacements, and considering there isn't much original to worry about vintage value, and considering this stuff is fun, I'm thinking 2 more tubes and a tank and I'll have a hand-built Princeton Reverb to play with!

jaydawg · May 7th, 2008, 07:55 AM

Thats great. The PR is a wicked cool little amp. Sounds like you've got a killer now AND you did it your self. Right on!!!!

giogolf · May 7th, 2008, 09:55 AM

The Princeton is the best 12-15 watt amp for me. Awesome cleans....

Double · May 7th, 2008, 03:46 PM

I've got one of those puppies and of all the amps I have or have ever owned my SFPR is still my number one. I also replaced the 10" speaker but with a 12" Vintage 30 Celestion and I also replaced the 6V6's with 6L6 power tubes it just gives them a little more head room before they break up.

mr_hankey · May 7th, 2008, 03:57 PM

You can't just post something like this without pictures, you know.

Dennis68 · May 7th, 2008, 06:00 PM

Sounds great. Nice going too on doing it yourself. It will alway mean more to you that way. And yes, show off your handy work with some pics or a vid!

Darcy Hoover · May 7th, 2008, 08:05 PM

Seeing some of the wiring shots here, mine's a dog's breakfast, and it's in rough shape (the grill cloth and faceplate) so if you don't mind, I'll wait till I'm REALLY done before posting pics. I've ordered a spring reverb unit, 2 more tube sockets, and the odds and ends to turn this baby into a Blackface Princeton Reverb. Found a nice Blackface faceplate (but no dice on a replacement Princeton non-reverb faceplate) too, so that was the deciding factor. May still be a summer project yet! I know some of you frown on modding a vintage amp, but it hasn't much original going for it anyway, and I just want to play the thing, not "collect" it, and this circuitry stuff is far easier than I thought it would be. The only thing non-reversable is drillng the holes in the chassis, but I have the kit and know-how at work to do a pro-job.

Scott S · May 7th, 2008, 08:29 PM

I wouldn't let that stop you -- we like progress pics!

- Scott

May 7th, 2008, 06:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Darcy Hoover Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 418	Just rebuilt a Silverface Princeton! I really wanted a hand-wired vintage Fender, but being short on cash and know-how kind of limited my options. Managed to pickup a 1970 Princeton farely cheap, but playing it it became obvious why I got it cheap. It was about half the volume one would expect, lots of intermittent weird and strange noises, the speaker was obviousy shot, with various mods and rough wear. I didn't know where to start so got a complete overhaul kit (high end parts across the board) from Torres, and set about replacing the complete circuit board (all caps and resistors, and new board, old one was badly warped) and one of the transformers (lots of rust coming out of it, and the other one was brand new so had been changed). I thought I'd be in for a summer project but when I got going it barely took me four hours. New Weber Vintage alnico speaker in the home-made baffle (I figure someone tried a 12" in there then went back to the 10", but had already destroyed the original) and had my daughter stand-by with the fire-extinguisher, plugged in my Tele and turned it on....woohoo!! It sounds gorgeous! Figuring the faceplate is in very rough shape, and it's far easier to locate Princeton Reverb replacements, and considering there isn't much original to worry about vintage value, and considering this stuff is fun, I'm thinking 2 more tubes and a tank and I'll have a hand-built Princeton Reverb to play with! __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/darcyhoover

May 7th, 2008, 07:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
jaydawg Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: York, ME Age: 32 Posts: 504	Thats great. The PR is a wicked cool little amp. Sounds like you've got a killer now AND you did it your self. Right on!!!! __________________ WWLD (What would Leo Do?)

May 7th, 2008, 06:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	Sounds great. Nice going too on doing it yourself. It will alway mean more to you that way. And yes, show off your handy work with some pics or a vid! __________________ -Dennis

May 7th, 2008, 08:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Darcy Hoover Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 418	Seeing some of the wiring shots here, mine's a dog's breakfast, and it's in rough shape (the grill cloth and faceplate) so if you don't mind, I'll wait till I'm REALLY done before posting pics. I've ordered a spring reverb unit, 2 more tube sockets, and the odds and ends to turn this baby into a Blackface Princeton Reverb. Found a nice Blackface faceplate (but no dice on a replacement Princeton non-reverb faceplate) too, so that was the deciding factor. May still be a summer project yet! I know some of you frown on modding a vintage amp, but it hasn't much original going for it anyway, and I just want to play the thing, not "collect" it, and this circuitry stuff is far easier than I thought it would be. The only thing non-reversable is drillng the holes in the chassis, but I have the kit and know-how at work to do a pro-job. __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/darcyhoover

May 7th, 2008, 09:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
giogolf Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 197	The Princeton is the best 12-15 watt amp for me. Awesome cleans....

May 7th, 2008, 03:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Double TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 16	I've got one of those puppies and of all the amps I have or have ever owned my SFPR is still my number one. I also replaced the 10" speaker but with a 12" Vintage 30 Celestion and I also replaced the 6V6's with 6L6 power tubes it just gives them a little more head room before they break up.

May 7th, 2008, 03:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
mr_hankey Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Netherlands Age: 19 Posts: 237	You can't just post something like this without pictures, you know.

May 7th, 2008, 08:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Scott S Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 28 Posts: 1,576	I wouldn't let that stop you -- we like progress pics! - Scott