Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: 12AX7 on November 04, 2011, 02:06:34 pm

Title: Which princeton schematic & tranny set ?
Post by: 12AX7 on November 04, 2011, 02:06:34 pm

A friend has a new Princeton reverb RI and i love the thing. But at around $800 street + tax i'm thinking i can build a Princeton just as good sounding for less than 1/2 of that. What schematic should i use to insure it's going to sound as sweet and pure as these new RI's? (and is there a layout for it as well?) Also, are magnetic component trannys going to do the trick? Used em for marshall style builds and they matched anything else i've used, but then a clean fender i think the trannys will matter even more.

Title: Re: Which princeton schematic & tranny set ?
Post by: Fresh_Start on November 04, 2011, 03:13:49 pm

I only know that Hoffman's iron for a P.R. works very well - at least as nice as Mercury Magnetics.  (I built two Princeton Reverbs.)

By the time you buy transformers, speaker, reverb tank, tubes, chassis & components, I have a hard time imagining the cost coming in under $400 - even if you can build the cab yourself for "free".

Search here and in the Archives.  bnwitt & others did a Hoffman-style layout for this circuit.  You can use the vintage Fender AA1164 schematic if you want "pure", but screen grid resistors, grid stoppers on the power tubes, and a few other improvements are all worth considering.  You can get the Reissue schematic at Fender.com IIRC.

Cheers,

Chip

Title: Re: Which princeton schematic & tranny set ?
Post by: stratele52 on November 05, 2011, 03:57:41 am

I agree with Fresh_ Start.

If you like this specific amp, without any compomise you are better to BUY THIS AMP.
If you built it you don't save a lot and you are not sure your amp will have the same tone .
To be sure you have the same tone , you should buy ALL the same components from Fender.
Another name brand transformer, capacitor, speaker , small different power transformer voltage make an another tone.

Traynor have a YGM 3 Guitar Mate Reverb reissu. I have the original one '76 area and a friend have a '74 area. All 3 of them have the same schematic, and a have very different sound.

I  had build many amps , not kit. I built metal chassis and cab too and electronic of course.

Title: Re: Which princeton schematic & tranny set ?
Post by: 12AX7 on November 05, 2011, 03:29:46 pm

I think you're right. I'll see if i can find a used one. A lot less toruble too. Thanks