Princeton Reverb Owners - What O.D.'s Are You Using?

Currently using a Barber LTD ( which is a gem ) and thinking about adding another box for a different sound. So, what are the BF, SF and PRRI owners out there using?

I've put two OD's in front of my PRRI, a Fulltone OCD (v4) and a Wampler Black '65 that I just scored off eBay last week.

For the Blackface sounds that I love to hear, the Wampler really gets it done. I use it as a drive channel in front of my PRRI, so I can get some overdrive when I'm playing with the amp at low volume (like volume on 2). It also gets into tweed sounds with the gain switch up.

The OCD is awesome but to me sounds much more Vox / Marshall. Sounds great for heavier overdrive, but the Black '65 wins for 'edge of clean' overdrive.

Both are great. If I had to choose one, and I may because I'm not sure I need both, I'd keep the Black '65. Not because it's "better" but because it has the sounds I prefer more.

Boss BD2

MHP 72 Degrees for light to mid-gain. I read that this OD was voiced with blackface amps in mind, and I believe it-- my PRRI at low volume with the 72 Degrees sounds remarkably like the amp by itself cranked.

For leads I use a ZenDrive-- very smooth overdrive with nice sustain, and it really allows my guitar to cut through the mix.

BB Preamp
Analog Man modified TS9 reissue to TS808 specs
Jetter GS3

All sound wonderful with any guitar I use with them.

......my PRRI at low volume with the 72 Degrees sounds remarkably like the amp by itself cranked......I feel the same about the BD-2 (with a comp).

Currently, a Paisley drive with a PRRI. Warm, lo-gain fun!

Maxon OD9 (Analogman Silver mod)
Analogman KoT
Klon Centaur.

Jim Campilongo has said that once he got a Princeton, he stopped using his O/D (Klon), and now just plugs straight in. If you're not familiar with his music, do yourself a favor - he's also on this forum, btw.

I'm pretty happy with a cord and the volume up around 8. It's a great plug and play amp.

I use a cheap Danelectro Fish and Chips Graphic EQ---just ride the level control for a little extra gain---tweak the lows and high mids depending on what guitar I'm using......works great for kicking the front end of the amp in the pants.

Try a Boss OD-3. It's a really good match for the PR.

Jim Campilongo has said that once he got a Princeton, he stopped using his O/D (Klon), and now just plugs straight in. If you're not familiar with his music, do yourself a favor - he's also on this forum, btw.

I feel that way too with a Princeton. It's not an amp that would beneficiate too much of a mid boost, and since it's an amp you can crank to the max the only drive pedals I find complementary are low gain transparent ones.

I also use the MHP 72 Degrees, and an Exotic AC Boost. Love them both.

I use the Barber LTD with my PRRI, and also a Caroline Wave Cannon. Like most fender amps, all my pedals sound good with the Princeton. I wanted more of a fuzz sound and the wave cannon is excels at that and many other shades of fuzz/OD, check it out.

There's a pattern evolving here.....

I use a Barber Half Gainer (2 LDT Drives in one box) or a MHP 72 or a TS808.

Low gain pedals like the PRRI.

Klon, but yeah, it's rarely necessary.

Jim Campilongo has said that once he got a Princeton, he stopped using his O/D (Klon), and now just plugs straight in. If you're not familiar with his music, do yourself a favor - he's also on this forum, btw.

Jim is one of my all time faves, but it might be good to keep in mind that he cranks the bass WAY UP on his PR, and does all sorts of detuning tricks. Bottom line is that it's really hard on the speaker, and he regularly needs to get his 10's rebuilt/re-coned, especially the Jensens that give the classic cranked PR sound. He's said that the Celestions that are his "plan b speaker" (not his exact word) tend to be a little more robust and don't require the break-in period, but they are a little more polite or something to that affect.

IDK what model Celestion he uses, and used my own wording on JC and how he uses the PR.

Also - correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought he only used the KC primarily in the studio when Loose was being recorded, and not much beyond that. IIRC, he said (here, in this forum, years ago) that the producer set up the KC so that "it didn't sound like it was on," or something to that affect. IOW, it wasn't anything that Jim came up with on his own, or ever intended to have in his rig for gigging. So the KC appears to just be a processing tool for sweetening things in the studio, and nothing more (in JC's case).

IMO, the BF/SF Fenders are peculiar beasts with OD pedals, and as the wattage drops, it gets trickier finding a pedal that doesn't compromise the beautiful clean BF/SF tone. I have no on the record comment as far as which ones might do that, but IMO, that should always be the core objective with those amps.

I use it on its own. The reissues will go into OD past 6 on the volume dial. I haven't heard any OD that sounds natural with the Princeton yet. Maybe the RC Booster comes close but still...

If you want to go the next step on from you LTD, try the MHP 72 Degrees. LTD makes my small Fenders (Deluxe & Deluxe Reverb) sound like the volume is on 5 when it's on 3. The 72 makes it sound like it's on 7/8, with a slight mid-boost.

For a contrasting British sound, I loved the Direct Drive with my PRRI.