Princeton Reverb+JCM 800...is it possible??

[aabbs20]

I've built a number of Princeton Reverbs and I'd like to try something a little different with the next one. Basically, I'm looking for a high gain amp with Fender style reverb and tremolo with 6V6 power tubes.

There are lots of great ideas in the thread below. The gain stage before V1 is interesting, I would want to add that and the Hoffman "Hot switch". Adding a switchable cold clipper gain stage after the reverb also sounds like a cool idea. I'm actually pondering adding BOTH. At that point it would be kind of like a PR with JCM 800 style gain options. I know it's a ton of gain, but I'm hoping to induce some cool sounding feedback.

https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=10796.0

https://el34world.com/projects/hotswitch.htm

Questions:

1) Are there other amps I should be looking at to base this on?

2) Would it be better to change the PI to a LTP or leave it as it?

3) Have any of you tried something like this?

4) Are there other/better ways to get an amp to feed back in a musical way?

Cheers!

[vampwizzard]

check out the Hoffman plexi.. https://el34world.com/Hoffman/files/Hoffman_Plexi_6V6-V2.pdf

https://el34world.com/projects/Plexi6V6.htm

[aabbs20]

The 6V6 plexi looks very cool as well. It doesn't have the cold clipper so I imagine the overdrive is pretty different from the JCM 800.

[jordan86]

Not to be a dream killer but I’d think slamming a Fender reverb circuit with a bunch of gain would be a hot mess. That’s been my experience. Would also explain why lots of guys like their wet fix in a loop, after preamp gain. Although there may be mods that’s would make a Fender reverb more gain friendly.

I think that dropping that 3.3m reverb mix resistor would help in both adding more preamp gain, and dialing back the amount of signal slamming the reverb tank. My understanding is that’s how the first Mesa boogies came about. That might get you close enough.

Or... Maybe you could lift the reverb section from a Princeton with a smaller value mixing resistor and place that after third preamp stage in say Rob robinette’s JCM Micro??

Hypothetically the Princeton chassis could work. Rob only uses 3 preamp tubes so you’d have one free socket for a tube driven reverb. And the reverb transformer mounting already drilled. You’d definitely need a custom turret board though.

[aabbs20]

Yeah...it might be a pipe dream. Judging by the lack of responses it seems like that could be the case. Either way I'm curious to try it. I'm thinking more along the lines of a PR with a couple switchable gain stages, so if that makes the reverb freak out I could always turn it off before flipping on the gain.

I often drill my own chassis and make my own boards so that won't be a problem. If I have to add a 5th tube that's fine too.