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Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:07 pm
by Mini Forklift
Mike Clayton wrote:Hi all and thanks for the feedback. Yes, many many hours to build but it's so much fun for certain types! For what is worth I was very careful and both this and #1 operated on first power up. Interestingly, this one was quieter than #1 which could be as a result of the experience gained from the first build. And to my ear, there are no perceivable tonal differences between the two. For Conway, I think the main advantages of careful building with eyelet boards, hand wiring and chassis mounted valves are reliability and ease of modification or repair. IMO this is as close as you'll get to a vintage BFPR at a reasonable cost (my aim), but with the advantages of all new components and some circuit improvements. P.S. The Fender AA1164 circuit schematic is easily obtained via the interweb but I will provide the purchaser a copy and details of the improvements done.
Welcome to the forum Mike :thumbup:

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:10 pm
by Bg
Mini Forklift Ⓥ wrote:
Mike Clayton wrote:Hi all and thanks for the feedback. Yes, many many hours to build but it's so much fun for certain types! For what is worth I was very careful and both this and #1 operated on first power up. Interestingly, this one was quieter than #1 which could be as a result of the experience gained from the first build. And to my ear, there are no perceivable tonal differences between the two. For Conway, I think the main advantages of careful building with eyelet boards, hand wiring and chassis mounted valves are reliability and ease of modification or repair. IMO this is as close as you'll get to a vintage BFPR at a reasonable cost (my aim), but with the advantages of all new components and some circuit improvements. P.S. The Fender AA1164 circuit schematic is easily obtained via the interweb but I will provide the purchaser a copy and details of the improvements done.
Welcome to the forum Mike :thumbup:
Welcome back ;) Mikes been a member since 2003...

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:12 pm
by Mini Forklift
Bg wrote:Welcome back ;) Mikes been a member since 2003...
Haha, I didn't notice that. Just saw that it was his first post.

Guess that's why Bg gets paid the big $$ :crazy:

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:35 pm
by Conway
Mike Clayton wrote:Hi all and thanks for the feedback. Yes, many many hours to build but it's so much fun for certain types! For what is worth I was very careful and both this and #1 operated on first power up. Interestingly, this one was quieter than #1 which could be as a result of the experience gained from the first build. And to my ear, there are no perceivable tonal differences between the two. For Conway, I think the main advantages of careful building with eyelet boards, hand wiring and chassis mounted valves are reliability and ease of modification or repair. IMO this is as close as you'll get to a vintage BFPR at a reasonable cost (my aim), but with the advantages of all new components and some circuit improvements. P.S. The Fender AA1164 circuit schematic is easily obtained via the interweb but I will provide the purchaser a copy and details of the improvements done.
Thanks Mike, I've sent you a private message.

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 3:07 pm
by Molly
Conway wrote:
Mike Clayton wrote:Hi all and thanks for the feedback. Yes, many many hours to build but it's so much fun for certain types! For what is worth I was very careful and both this and #1 operated on first power up. Interestingly, this one was quieter than #1 which could be as a result of the experience gained from the first build. And to my ear, there are no perceivable tonal differences between the two. For Conway, I think the main advantages of careful building with eyelet boards, hand wiring and chassis mounted valves are reliability and ease of modification or repair. IMO this is as close as you'll get to a vintage BFPR at a reasonable cost (my aim), but with the advantages of all new components and some circuit improvements. P.S. The Fender AA1164 circuit schematic is easily obtained via the interweb but I will provide the purchaser a copy and details of the improvements done.
Thanks Mike, I've sent you a private message.
Sounds like a result, Conway. :thumbup:

Hi Mike. Building anything else?

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:23 pm
by MikeC
I've already built a 5E3 head (a Trinity kit, really nice - my first build), a BF Princeton (non reverb), 2 x by BFPRs and a Marshall Plexi 50 head. But amp parts are now so expensive with the high US$ (not to mention freight) that I'm not looking at building anything at present, although a hand-wired Vox AC15 Reverb is something I'd like to build! Or if I can get my hands on a faulty valve amp (at the right price) then I'd be interested in repairing it.

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:28 pm
by MikeC
BTW I've got my eye out for a 12" Fender/Eminence "Special Design" yellow label speaker in good order. My other BFPR is in a pine combo cab and I want to replace the WGS G12Q 12" 20W speaker that's currently loaded.

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 5:05 pm
by Dharmajester
Mike Clayton wrote:I've already built a Marshall Plexi 50 head.
Yes and I have it. :thumbup:

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 10:10 am
by Anvil Amps Alan
Mike Clayton wrote:I've already built a 5E3 head (a Trinity kit, really nice - my first build), a BF Princeton (non reverb), 2 x by BFPRs and a Marshall Plexi 50 head. But amp parts are now so expensive with the high US$ (not to mention freight) that I'm not looking at building anything at present, although a hand-wired Vox AC15 Reverb is something I'd like to build! Or if I can get my hands on a faulty valve amp (at the right price) then I'd be interested in repairing it.
You are right about the Freight from USA.
I am trying to find other sources of Valves and components without too much luck.
I have virtually run out of stock but the shipping fees are so outrageous from CE Distribution and New Sensor that I cannot
price valves for repairs at a reasonable price.
The buggers will not ship via NZ Post Youshop either.
Then there is the NZ$400 limit before your stuff gets nabbed at the airport and attracts more charges and requires a trip to the airport to pay
and collect.

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 10:15 am
by Cdog
Anvil Amps Alan wrote:
Mike Clayton wrote:I've already built a 5E3 head (a Trinity kit, really nice - my first build), a BF Princeton (non reverb), 2 x by BFPRs and a Marshall Plexi 50 head. But amp parts are now so expensive with the high US$ (not to mention freight) that I'm not looking at building anything at present, although a hand-wired Vox AC15 Reverb is something I'd like to build! Or if I can get my hands on a faulty valve amp (at the right price) then I'd be interested in repairing it.
You are right about the Freight from USA.
I am trying to find other sources of Valves and components without too much luck.
I have virtually run out of stock but the shipping fees are so outrageous from CE Distribution and New Sensor that I cannot
price valves for repairs at a reasonable price.
The buggers will not ship via NZ Post Youshop either.
Then there is the NZ$400 limit before your stuff gets nabbed at the airport and attracts more charges and requires a trip to the airport to pay
and collect.
This. To build a clone tube amp in NZ costs more in parts than a 2nd hand real one. Total lamesauce :grump:

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 10:41 am
by MikeC
"Real" BFPRs start at around $NZ 3500.00 + shipping + GST. Re-issues start at about $NZ 1200.00 + shipping + GST. More importantly, the re-issues use printed circuit boards and people commonly "gut" them, sell the circuit boards on Ebay and build a hand wired version inside! And GST will soon be charged on ALL imported items (no $limit) - this is going to be introduced in 2019. Alas it getting harder!!!

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 11:17 am
by Cdog
Bah .. don't get me started. Nice build Mike, hope you manage to keep at it, you have a real talent :)

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 12:30 pm
by Bg
Was cheaper when basil was winding transformers :(

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 12:32 pm
by KNNZ
Congrats Conway!!!

Re: Home built Princeton head on trademe...

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 1:02 pm
by Molly
You bought it then? Took your time... ;-)