MikeC Princeton Deluxe

[MikeC]

For a change I'm building a hybrid - a Princeton Reverb mated with a Deluxe Reverb - a "Princeton Deluxe".
The preamp including the phase inverter is entirely PR but the power section is a DR's including the PT, OT & Choke.
It has a 4/8/16 ohm output impedance selector to correctly match with an extension cabinet.
So it will be a more powerful PR with no additional tubes and should be good for 20+ watts RMS.
It's all built into a PR chassis and will fit into a PR combo cab.
Progress pic below.

P.S. To those that are upset, apologies re the font!

[jeremyb]

Oh man I was watching the TPS video yesterday on the greatest amp in the world, the Deluxe Reverb... will be interested to hear how this goes!

[StrummersOfThunder]

Very cool
So this will have bias trem vs the optical trem on the DR?
What bias set up will you use? Fixed adjustable?

[GrantB]

Oh man I was watching the TPS video yesterday on the greatest amp in the world, the Deluxe Reverb... will be interested to hear how this goes!

They are of course wrong - the Princeton Reverb holds that honour

[jeremyb]

Oh man I was watching the TPS video yesterday on the greatest amp in the world, the Deluxe Reverb... will be interested to hear how this goes!

They are of course wrong - the Princeton Reverb holds that honour

100% for my circumstances but if I was gigging I think I'd go Deluxe

[MikeC]

Very cool
So this will have bias trem vs the optical trem on the DR?
What bias set up will you use? Fixed adjustable?

Yes, bias wiggle trem (as in PR) and a bias adjust pot too.

[MikeC]

Oh man I was watching the TPS video yesterday on the greatest amp in the world, the Deluxe Reverb... will be interested to hear how this goes!

The "greatest amp" or the "most recorded" amp?

[MikeC]

Oh man I was watching the TPS video yesterday on the greatest amp in the world, the Deluxe Reverb... will be interested to hear how this goes!

They are of course wrong - the Princeton Reverb holds that honour

I think the PR sounds sweeter than the DR but I've never played either in a band mix. I prefer the PR's smaller footprint coupled with a vintage style 10" speaker. Slowy unwittingly gave me the idea to build a PR Deluxe - i.e. to get a higher wattage PR that is louder than a usual PR, retaining the PR sweetness through the same vintage style 10" speaker. We'll see...

[StrummersOfThunder]

Oh man I was watching the TPS video yesterday on the greatest amp in the world, the Deluxe Reverb... will be interested to hear how this goes!

They are of course wrong - the Princeton Reverb holds that honour

I think the PR sounds sweeter than the DR but I've never played either in a band mix. I prefer the PR's smaller footprint coupled with a vintage style 10" speaker. Slowy unwittingly gave me the idea to build a PR Deluxe - i.e. to get a higher wattage PR that is louder than a usual PR but retains the PR sweetness through the same vintage style 10" speaker. We'll see...

Are you leaving the filtering stock? Or changing that along with the higher power ?

[jeremyb]

Oh man I was watching the TPS video yesterday on the greatest amp in the world, the Deluxe Reverb... will be interested to hear how this goes!

The "greatest amp" or the "most recorded" amp?

Very much focused on it being the greatest amp, heres the video if you wanna check it out:

[MikeC]

They are of course wrong - the Princeton Reverb holds that honour

I think the PR sounds sweeter than the DR but I've never played either in a band mix. I prefer the PR's smaller footprint coupled with a vintage style 10" speaker. Slowy unwittingly gave me the idea to build a PR Deluxe - i.e. to get a higher wattage PR that is louder than a usual PR but retains the PR sweetness through the same vintage style 10" speaker. We'll see...

Are you leaving the filtering stock? Or changing that along with the higher power ?

I've retained a cancap but it is a 40/20/20/20. I've included a standby switch. When PD mains power is switched on, the 5AR4 warms up and sees the 40uF cap. Then when Standby is switched on, the choke, node resistors and the 3 x 20uF caps are seen by the rectifier. That's the theory anyway, proof will be in the eating!

[StrummersOfThunder]

I think the PR sounds sweeter than the DR but I've never played either in a band mix. I prefer the PR's smaller footprint coupled with a vintage style 10" speaker. Slowy unwittingly gave me the idea to build a PR Deluxe - i.e. to get a higher wattage PR that is louder than a usual PR but retains the PR sweetness through the same vintage style 10" speaker. We'll see...

Are you leaving the filtering stock? Or changing that along with the higher power ?

I've retained a cancap but it is a 40/20/20/20. I've included a standby switch. When PRD mains power is switched on, the 5AR4 warms up and sees the 40uF cap. Then when Standby is switched on, the choke, node resistors and the 3 x 20uF caps are seen by the rectifier. That's the theory anyway, proof will be in the eating!

Smart !

[MikeC]

I've also added a couple of "protective" diodes to the 5AR4 in case it dies. And will use JJ 6V6S power tubes with their higher plate/screen voltage specs and 14W max plate dissipation.

[StrummersOfThunder]

I've also added a couple of "protective" diodes to the 5AR4 in case it dies. And will use JJ 6V6S power tubes with their higher plate/screen voltage specs and 14W max plate dissipation.

Yep I think the safety diodes should be a standard on rectifier tubes from what I’ve seen.

Should be cool !

[null_pointer]

Sounds interesting! PR has always been my favourite Fender amp, but the 12w has always meant it was not a great option live (3 on the dial and you've already hit max volume, just the breakup to come). I know we had this discussion when I went with the DR instead (which I've been very happy with), but if you pull it off (PR gloriousness at band volumes), colour me intrigued...!