Princeton 65 Solid-State Help Needed

Billy-Bob · November 15th, 2004, 12:41 AM

Well, I may be the unfortunate new owner of one of these, but what the heck--at least it looks nice! The problem I am experiencing is a little too much background hiss from the number one channel, which increases with the volume. It isn't terrible, but I think it could be better. The background hiss on the second channel is terrible if any Drive is used--at least past 3, anyway. The hiss is not apparent if the Drive is turned all the way down, even if the volume is turned up pretty loud.

Any suggestions or ideas of what I might look for (OK, other than tossing it--this should be something simple, perhaps)?

Thanks!

Billy-Bob

Joe-Bob · November 15th, 2004, 11:39 PM

Is it the model with DSP? If so, then there will always be some hiss. The question you have to ask yourself is: Are you going to listen to the amp while you play, or while you're stopped?

Billy-Bob · November 15th, 2004, 11:55 PM

Joe-Bob, my long lost almost kinsman (Scottish is pretty good, but Irish is just a skinch better), thank you so much for the reply! That is a good point, but it is really annoying, so much so that I'm not sure I can use the "Drive" at all on the second channel. There must be something simple that I could do to fix this, one would think. Anyway, I am such a poor player I have a lot of dead air time, so I hear the hiss a lot more than you would.... Any ideas? Thanks! B-B

Billy-Bob · November 15th, 2004, 11:58 PM

My apologies, Joe-Bob, I forgot to mention my amp does not have DSP, it is just a bottom-of-the-line Princeton 65 (but it does look cool....).

B-Bob

Joe-Bob · November 16th, 2004, 12:22 PM

Well, then maybe there is something wrong with it. Is it still under warranty?

Billy-Bob · November 16th, 2004, 05:21 PM

Hey Joe-Bob,
I bought this used, so I am not sure if any warranty will roll over to me or not. Any thoughts about a potential cure--maybe a bad "Drive" pot, perhaps? I noticed last nite I get a real loud buzz through the amp if I bumped the amp cord (coming out of the guitar) on my chair. Maybe I have a ground problem? Thanks.

Joe-Bob · November 16th, 2004, 08:25 PM

Just for grins, try a different guitar cord and a different guitar, one with humbuckers.

Billy-Bob · November 16th, 2004, 09:56 PM

My Scottish cousin,
I see your idea (at least some of it)--that particular cable is not good. I used my best cable and I can bend it around all day, no unwanted noises. Thanks for that. The "Drive" hiss was no different between singles or hum-B's. I did notice if I have the Drive turned up, as soon as I use any initial volume from the guitar, I get a good pop and crackle. Doesn't happen on CH 1 or CH 2 w/ no Drive dialed in. I'm thinking the Drive pot is no bueno. If you agree it would be worth replacing, where is a good source for these? Thanks.
B-Bob

Joe-Bob · November 16th, 2004, 11:12 PM

You can buy the pots at www.tubesandmore.com, click on the Amp parts on the left menu. I'm still not convinced that the pot is the problem, though. I think you need some hands-on help from someone who knows more about it.

Billy-Bob · November 16th, 2004, 11:47 PM

Thanks Joe-Bob, I was hoping somone on this site might have had a similar experience. I just might have to bite the bullet and take er in to the olde shop.

And, I apologize for getting so close your name when I signed up. No worries about changing to something else if that is a concern. Send me an e-mail direct if you like.

Billy-Bob for now.

Muttcaster · November 17th, 2004, 01:05 AM

I have one of these amps. I'll crank it up tomorrow (kids are in bed now) and see if mine hisses, too. Will report back.

Muttcaster · November 17th, 2004, 07:26 PM

Okay, I checked at with no cord or guitar, everything on 10, it's almost dead silent. I can hear just a very faint hiss, but I have to put my ear up against the grill. If I were to hit a chord......

Let's plug a cable in....OOOHHHH....BAD hiss. Terrible. Turned "drive" down to 4 and the hiss is tolerable. Let's try a different cord....not much difference. Whenever the "drive" is turned past 4, I get an awful hiss.

I never turn it up past 2-3 anyway, so I've never really noticed.

Billy-Bob · November 17th, 2004, 09:15 PM

Thanks for the detective work, Muttcaster, I appreciate it. Mine does exactly the same thing. A Fender rep (a pretty cool guy) called me today and said they might cover this (if the tech thinks it really is a problem), if I take it to one of their boys. So, I guess I will--and we will see what the "experts" think is going on. I'll keep you posted.

Billy-Bob

Billy-Bob · January 8th, 2005, 12:45 AM

Hey Muttcaster,

I promised I'd get back to you on this.... Was in the shop for 5 weeks. Tech finally calls me (or did I call him...) and says there is nothing wrong--they all hiss like that. I call back the Fender rep (who told me to take it in to the shop in the first place), and ask him what the deal is. He says--"well, I'm really a bass guy--let me check with my guitar guy". Guitar guy says all Princeton 65's have a hissy-fit when the Drive is turned up--use an overdrive pedal instead! Only cost me 32 bucks for this sage advice!

Oh well, is still sounds like a Fender, so I guess I'll keep it, anyway (and just use the clean channel---or a pedal on #2)!

Billy-Bob

rmielech · January 8th, 2005, 01:33 AM

I've got a Stage 100 non-DSP that hisses a bit, but the idea is to hook up a guitar to it and play louder than the hisses. As long as you don't stop everything's cool. Actually, with the Stage 100, I found I had to turn the treble and mids down to get it to mellow out. Try 5 5 7 on the clean channel and on the other 1 2 4 ,more drive at 5. Try treble at 3 and a half, no mids, and bass at 8 and a half if you're in a metal frame of mind. The reverb can add more noise than you'd want. I play a few teles through this amp using those same settings and I get some seriously nasty aural stuff out of those chicken-pickin' guitars. On the bridge pickup that amp and a tele are perfect for punk when I'm in the mood. Most guys in here are probably a bit more conservative with their musical tastes, but playing Ramones songs on a tele is FUN! Can't beat teles for their versatility. And there really IS no stopping the cretins from hopping. You can find a bunch of good sounds in your Princeton if you work with it a bit.

Billy-Bob · January 8th, 2005, 01:46 PM

Thanks for your tips--I'll try them out. I especially like the "play louder than the hiss" idea! That sounds like something straight outta the Fender repair shop!

Rock on!

Billy-Bob

November 15th, 2004, 12:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	Princeton 65 Solid-State Help Needed Well, I may be the unfortunate new owner of one of these, but what the heck--at least it looks nice! The problem I am experiencing is a little too much background hiss from the number one channel, which increases with the volume. It isn't terrible, but I think it could be better. The background hiss on the second channel is terrible if any Drive is used--at least past 3, anyway. The hiss is not apparent if the Drive is turned all the way down, even if the volume is turned up pretty loud. Any suggestions or ideas of what I might look for (OK, other than tossing it--this should be something simple, perhaps)? Thanks! Billy-Bob

November 15th, 2004, 11:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 4,017	Is it the model with DSP? If so, then there will always be some hiss. The question you have to ask yourself is: Are you going to listen to the amp while you play, or while you're stopped? __________________ "German is the language God uses when He really means business." --FZ

November 15th, 2004, 11:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	Princeton 65 Joe-Bob, my long lost almost kinsman (Scottish is pretty good, but Irish is just a skinch better), thank you so much for the reply! That is a good point, but it is really annoying, so much so that I'm not sure I can use the "Drive" at all on the second channel. There must be something simple that I could do to fix this, one would think. Anyway, I am such a poor player I have a lot of dead air time, so I hear the hiss a lot more than you would.... Any ideas? Thanks! B-B

November 16th, 2004, 12:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 4,017	Well, then maybe there is something wrong with it. Is it still under warranty? __________________ "German is the language God uses when He really means business." --FZ

November 16th, 2004, 05:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	Hey Joe-Bob, I bought this used, so I am not sure if any warranty will roll over to me or not. Any thoughts about a potential cure--maybe a bad "Drive" pot, perhaps? I noticed last nite I get a real loud buzz through the amp if I bumped the amp cord (coming out of the guitar) on my chair. Maybe I have a ground problem? Thanks. __________________ Maybe if I buy enough guitars, I will play better.....

November 15th, 2004, 11:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	My apologies, Joe-Bob, I forgot to mention my amp does not have DSP, it is just a bottom-of-the-line Princeton 65 (but it does look cool....). B-Bob

November 16th, 2004, 08:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 4,017	Just for grins, try a different guitar cord and a different guitar, one with humbuckers. __________________ "German is the language God uses when He really means business." --FZ

November 16th, 2004, 09:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	I see your idea... My Scottish cousin, I see your idea (at least some of it)--that particular cable is not good. I used my best cable and I can bend it around all day, no unwanted noises. Thanks for that. The "Drive" hiss was no different between singles or hum-B's. I did notice if I have the Drive turned up, as soon as I use any initial volume from the guitar, I get a good pop and crackle. Doesn't happen on CH 1 or CH 2 w/ no Drive dialed in. I'm thinking the Drive pot is no bueno. If you agree it would be worth replacing, where is a good source for these? Thanks. B-Bob __________________ Maybe if I buy enough guitars, I will play better.....

November 16th, 2004, 11:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 4,017	You can buy the pots at www.tubesandmore.com, click on the Amp parts on the left menu. I'm still not convinced that the pot is the problem, though. I think you need some hands-on help from someone who knows more about it. __________________ "German is the language God uses when He really means business." --FZ

November 16th, 2004, 11:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	Thanks Joe-Bob, I was hoping somone on this site might have had a similar experience. I just might have to bite the bullet and take er in to the olde shop. And, I apologize for getting so close your name when I signed up. No worries about changing to something else if that is a concern. Send me an e-mail direct if you like. Billy-Bob for now. __________________ Maybe if I buy enough guitars, I will play better.....

November 17th, 2004, 01:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
Muttcaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 217	I have one of these amps. I'll crank it up tomorrow (kids are in bed now) and see if mine hisses, too. Will report back.

November 17th, 2004, 07:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
Muttcaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 217	Okay, I checked at with no cord or guitar, everything on 10, it's almost dead silent. I can hear just a very faint hiss, but I have to put my ear up against the grill. If I were to hit a chord...... Let's plug a cable in....OOOHHHH....BAD hiss. Terrible. Turned "drive" down to 4 and the hiss is tolerable. Let's try a different cord....not much difference. Whenever the "drive" is turned past 4, I get an awful hiss. I never turn it up past 2-3 anyway, so I've never really noticed.

November 17th, 2004, 09:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	Just Like Mine... Thanks for the detective work, Muttcaster, I appreciate it. Mine does exactly the same thing. A Fender rep (a pretty cool guy) called me today and said they might cover this (if the tech thinks it really is a problem), if I take it to one of their boys. So, I guess I will--and we will see what the "experts" think is going on. I'll keep you posted. Billy-Bob __________________ Maybe if I buy enough guitars, I will play better.....

January 8th, 2005, 12:45 AM	#14 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	Sure took a long time for nuthin.. Hey Muttcaster, I promised I'd get back to you on this.... Was in the shop for 5 weeks. Tech finally calls me (or did I call him...) and says there is nothing wrong--they all hiss like that. I call back the Fender rep (who told me to take it in to the shop in the first place), and ask him what the deal is. He says--"well, I'm really a bass guy--let me check with my guitar guy". Guitar guy says all Princeton 65's have a hissy-fit when the Drive is turned up--use an overdrive pedal instead! Only cost me 32 bucks for this sage advice! Oh well, is still sounds like a Fender, so I guess I'll keep it, anyway (and just use the clean channel---or a pedal on #2)! Billy-Bob __________________ Maybe if I buy enough guitars, I will play better.....

January 8th, 2005, 01:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
rmielech TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Middletown, NJ Posts: 64	Re: Princeton 65 Solid-State Help Needed I've got a Stage 100 non-DSP that hisses a bit, but the idea is to hook up a guitar to it and play louder than the hisses. As long as you don't stop everything's cool. Actually, with the Stage 100, I found I had to turn the treble and mids down to get it to mellow out. Try 5 5 7 on the clean channel and on the other 1 2 4 ,more drive at 5. Try treble at 3 and a half, no mids, and bass at 8 and a half if you're in a metal frame of mind. The reverb can add more noise than you'd want. I play a few teles through this amp using those same settings and I get some seriously nasty aural stuff out of those chicken-pickin' guitars. On the bridge pickup that amp and a tele are perfect for punk when I'm in the mood. Most guys in here are probably a bit more conservative with their musical tastes, but playing Ramones songs on a tele is FUN! Can't beat teles for their versatility. And there really IS no stopping the cretins from hopping. You can find a bunch of good sounds in your Princeton if you work with it a bit.

January 8th, 2005, 01:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
Billy-Bob TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 27	Will give it a go.. Thanks for your tips--I'll try them out. I especially like the "play louder than the hiss" idea! That sounds like something straight outta the Fender repair shop! Rock on! Billy-Bob __________________ Maybe if I buy enough guitars, I will play better.....