Port City 12 or other Princeton style amps

**Klatu** · 02-06-2015, 10:36 AM

I've been hankering for a Princeton style amp for some time now, as I usually play through high enough wattage tube amps that I don't regularly experience full tube saturation, and was hoping that fellow board members would have recommendations in the 12-22 watt range that would be adequate for jazz applications.

What I'm looking for in an amp of this style for jazz is one that will break up without farting out while keeping chords from getting muddy.

**ESCC** · 02-06-2015, 10:47 AM

I recommend test driving a VHT 12/20. I have the Special 6, and it definitely has the pre-CBS Fender Princeton tone, very pleased with the amp.

**Hammertone** · 02-06-2015, 10:49 AM

I recommend that you go to this site and look around:

Allen Amplification - Quality Tube Guitar Amps, Kit, Parts, and Repairs

David has been building amps and selling kits for longer than most of the bootique boyz and offers several amps based on the Princeton, with a variety of features and options. He does not charge a lot for what he does, IMO. He signs the amps he builds himself to differentiate them from the DIY kits he sells. My own experience with Allen amps has been excellent.

Another builder who has gotten good reviews here for his interpretations of Fender-style amps is:

Headstrong Amps Boutique hand wired Fender style tube amps

**bmw2002** · 02-06-2015, 10:51 AM

I have been very happy with my Allen Sweet Spot, 18 - 22 watts, depending on whether you use 6V6 or 6L6 tubes. In fact, I've recently sold every other amp I owned, including my 1970 Fender Princeton.

**dmorash** · 02-06-2015, 10:55 AM

Port City 12 is great - no verb though. Vintage Sound 15 gets most of my play time. Both clean enough to play jazz on for me.

**Klatu** · 02-06-2015, 11:38 AM

Thank you everyone for your contributions.

**Longways to Go** · 02-06-2015, 05:27 PM

Vintage Sound JZ-15 is tempting, but my PRRI with Celestion Gold is plenty great already. I'm also interested in the Rivera Jazz Suprema 25 with the 10" speaker. . . not sure if those are into production or not -- I kinda quit paying attention . . .

**monkmiles** · 02-07-2015, 12:21 AM

A Princeton Reverb with an efficient 12" speaker will go a long way in great jazz tones...blackface, silverface, and reissue. I've gigged my PRRI with its Eminence Lil Texas speaker many times.

If you can swing either an Allen Sweet Spot or a Vintage Sounds 15, those are what I'd go after for current production.

A Frenzel amp head can give similar tone with more control.

**marcwhy** · 02-07-2015, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by Klatu

I've been hankering for a Princeton style amp for some time now, as I usually play through high enough wattage tube amps that I don't regularly experience full tube saturation, and was hoping that fellow board members would have recommendations in the 12-22 watt range that would be adequate for jazz applications.

What I'm looking for in an amp of this style for jazz is one that will break up without farting out while keeping chords from getting muddy.

Budget??

**Klatu** · 02-07-2015, 09:22 AM

I wouldn't want to spend more than a grand being that it would be a small under-powered amp.

**Jim Soloway** · 02-07-2015, 12:44 PM

I owned the Port City Twelve and loved it. I added a reverb pedal and though that rig sounded better that any Princeton type amp I had ever owned.

**Klatu** · 02-07-2015, 12:52 PM

How come you gave it up?

**jorgemg1984** · 02-07-2015, 01:12 PM

Gries amps have a lot of reputation and the 12 is only 1.3K.

**Jim Soloway** · 02-07-2015, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

How come you gave it up?

It's a story much more abut the process that I was going through than the amp I was using. I wanted both reverb and trem so I got a Line 6 M9. I like the M9 so much that I got my first Pod HD. The Pod HD was so much easier to record than any amp that I got out of amps entirely for several years. If I could have back just one of those amps, it would be the PC 12.

**Top of the Arch!** · 02-07-2015, 02:32 PM

Test drive a Rivera Clubster, great amp, great tone! Close to a Fender Deluxe but has a wonderful big tone of its own! 20 watts one 12 or 10" speaker depending on what you like. Used ones go for about $600 on Ebay. Bob

**Klatu** · 02-07-2015, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

It's a story much more abut the process that I was going through than the amp I was using. I wanted both reverb and trem so I got a Line 6 M9. I like the M9 so much that I got my first Pod HD. The Pod HD was so much easier to record than any amp that I got out of amps entirely for several years. If I could have back just one of those amps, it would be the PC 12.

How much clean headroom would you say the Pearl City 12 has? What other amp's headroom would you compare it to?

**Klatu** · 02-09-2015, 10:08 AM

Which if any jazz guitar players that you know of regularly gig with sub 20 watt amps? The only one I've found online is Bill Frisell, who I wouldn't necessarily classify as a jazz guitar player.