Princeton + Emi Copperhead = TONE

[supersam]

Got a chance to put the new speaker to test over the weekend with some shows in Chicago, and WOW! The non-verb Princeton held its own with the band, and we were playing loud! The Deluxe Reverb my friend was playing would still be able to leave me in the dust if we got any louder though. I had the Princeton on 10, with my Tube Screamer's output 3/4 of the way up and gain at 1/4 the way up and it was screaming. Of course the Deluxe was on 4 and our stage volume was matched, but it was fun to hear the amp up that loud. The speaker held up nicely with tight bass response and no farting out. The highs were crisp without the ice pick thing. I was having some shrill notes happening when I first got the speaker, but it's seems to be smoothing out now that it's starting to break in. I'm very impressed!

[RubyRae]

That is great, I have used my Princeton with a pretty loud 5 piece band and it sounded great. I use a weber 10f150 in mine. What guitar were you using? I always amazes me the difference good pickups can make, especially with humbuckers.

[supersam]

Originally I was going to go with the 10f150t, but decided to try the Eminence and so far I'm impressed. I'm playing a 50's style Telecaster with the Fender Custom Shop Nocaster pickups, which sounds killer!!

[RubyRae]

I love my Princeton and will always stand by them as one of the best amps. However I do plan on one day buying a beater to mod. Basically taking the same circuit, and beefing it up to closer to 18-22 watts. I think that clean foundation is what makes these amps better than most, and for me it is essential part of my tone, playing, and approach. I add the dirt and everything else with effects. To have the same tone, with a 12" speaker, single channel combo, and a few additional watts is the dream amp for me. It's there already, but for some gigs it would be great to not have to worry about more volume. Nobody out there is making this clone, and is the golden ticket IMO.

[TNO]

WeberVST has a high-powered PR kit that comes with any speaker setup you want.

[supersam]

I'm hoping to get a Deluxe Reverb or bigger at some point for the bigger and louder gigs, and use the Princeton for the smaller to mid-sized gigs, but for now it's nice to see that it's able to handle a beating. I did however play a benefit last night at a blues club, and it was crazy loud in there, and they had the sound system cranked! They had my Princeton mic'd up so it was going through the mains, but even with the amp cranked and boosted with the tube screamer, and a little extra boost with an eq pedal, I was still struggling to hear myself, and what I was hearing was sounding kind of shrill and breaking up in an unpleasing way. I think I may have found the amps limits. Haha

Can it hurt the amp at all to hit the front end with that much boost, other than sounding muddy and shrill?

Honestly, we should be trying to tame the stage volume. It was stupid loud last night, but lots of fun. I did however order some hifi style earplugs today.

[3 Chord]

Originally Posted by RubyRae

I love my Princeton and will always stand by them as one of the best amps. However I do plan on one day buying a beater to mod. Basically taking the same circuit, and beefing it up to closer to 18-22 watts. I think that clean foundation is what makes these amps better than most, and for me it is essential part of my tone, playing, and approach. I add the dirt and everything else with effects. To have the same tone, with a 12" speaker, single channel combo, and a few additional watts is the dream amp for me. It's there already, but for some gigs it would be great to not have to worry about more volume. Nobody out there is making this clone, and is the golden ticket IMO.

isn't this how the first Boogies came about?

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by 3 Chord

isn't this how the first Boogies came about?

Yes it is actually. Funny thing is I always thought the first boogie was a modded Princeton Reverb, but I was in a used bookstore the other day looking through a Mesa book, and it showed an actual Princeton (non reverb) as a prototype for the "boogie" amp.

I am sure they did both, but I always assumed Mesa as more of a gain type amp, so I figured they would go with the PR for the extra gain stage and reverb...

Not sure of the details, but what I was referring to was still the clean machine of the traditional Princeton. I'm sure a slightly larger cab, and an upgraded Allen transformer would get me there...

[chamberpop]

A Princeton or Princeton Reverb and an Eminence Copperhead speaker is a hell of a combo; they are just a perfect match. It's a warm, full, loud, balanced and rich tone. Love it.

Now, my '77 PR is gonna be louder than a non-verb model. But, if a group is playing at a louder level than my PR with the Copperhead can compete, that's too loud for anyone. Honestly. I mean, just my opinion but if I find myself in that situation and people are blowing each other's and the audience's heads off with that much volume, I'm out of there.

[mandocaster]

My '70 non verb Princeton had its baffle modified to take a 12" speaker before I bought it. I put a Weber signature ceramic in it. It is loud enough for the bands I am in now. I love how it stays clean through most of its volume range. Is it hard to mod to use 6L6's?

[Deep South]

Hmm I have a copperhead in my old Pro Jr. I will have to pop it in my new prinston and see what it sounds like. I also have a 10f150t coming in te mail.

Good times ahead...

[supersam]

I have a friend with a Princeton Reverb with the 10F150T. I haven't gotten a chance to hear it yet, but I'm looking forward to comparing that speaker with my copperhead.

[supersam]

Any thoughts on if I can damage the amp in any way by hitting the front end with that much boost? I'm sure it's fine, but I'd hate to fry it if not.

[skeksis]

I've got both speakers... nothing against the Copperhead - it was pretty good. BUT I'll voice a preference for the 10F150T. I've tried a whole bunch of speakers in a couple different PR's, and the only one I liked better tone-wise was a good-condition C10N that was stock in a '66 model.

But hey, whatever works for you :-)

(moved the Copperhead over to a 2x10 tweed combo with pretty good results)

Also, I don't think you'll do any harm by hitting the front end hard. I mean, sooner or later you'd blow a lower wattage speaker if you cranked the amp and clobbered it with a boosted signal.... but I bet that Copperhead can take a beating.

I find my Tele (lower output pickups) sounds best through my PR if boosted to a pretty beefy signal using my Timmy overdrive...

[tele salivas]

I have an Emi Red Fang in my PR and hit it pretty hard with a clean boost. No problems the last 6 months. I keep the amp volume on 10 with the bass up high and the highs down around mid range, boost is up about 75% and I have my tele volume and tone knobs at about halfway to get a good cleanish sound.

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Love the Copperhead! Very underated speaker.