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I had a birthday earlier this year which I celebrated by ordering an amp kit.
This kit is called "Master Reverb" and is from a supplier in Sweden called Nordström Audio. It is a one channel Deluxe Reverb clone, without a tremolo but with a master volume and a mid control. It is in a princeton reverb chassis and cabinet size (12inch speaker version).
I saw that Nordström did a special run of "aged" pine cabinets that I really liked the look of. So that's what I ordered but with a grillcloth of my choice.
(I neither have the space, tools, nor skills/knowledge to build something this nice myself)
The only mod I've done so far is that I added a reverb dwell control. I was able to use the chassis hole intended for the tremolo pedal.
I also upgraded the tube sockets to Belton and used vintage cloth pull back wire (because I like working with it and how it looks) and put in a Jensen Blackbird speaker.
Impressions and thoughts:
It is crazy loud! So the master volume is very useful. When the master volume is fully open the regular volume knob on "2" (where "1" marking is closed/no sound) is too loud for practise at home.
I also think the middle knob is a very useful addition (far more useful than tremolo for me). It is a 25k pot so you can get quite tweedy sound with it fully open.
I am really happy with the Jensen Blackbird speaker. I also have a Jensen P12q (both are 12 inch alnico, rated 40W) in different cabinet, and they sound very different. I like the Blackbird far more but I haven't tried them in the same cabinet.
Both of these two speakers actually weigh about the same as neodynium speakers (which are becoming popular partially because of their light weight).
The total weight of the amp with everything is about 13kg according to my not so precise bathroom scale, and you feel much of the weight is on the power transformer side.
Overall I am really happy with the result. The amp sounds amazing, looks amazing and I really enoyed building it.
Here are some pictures:
before starting:
I forgot to take a photo of the inside when it was finished but at that point it had gotten quite far (filament supply is in progress)
Finished:
Here are two rough sound samples with a tele and a 175. I just dialed in the amp to sound good in the room and put the mic on it (when I play it back I don't like the EQ as much as I liked it from the amp in the room, and I could probably tweak it with post processing, but I'll just leave it as is)
I used a no reverb on the tele test but a tad on the 175.
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05-28-2021 11:30 AM
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Orri: What a great looking and sounding amp! How many watts is it rated at?
I love the concept, and so did Paul Rivera back when he designed amps for Fender back in the '80's.
Back then Fender's take on the Princeton-meets-Deluxe Reverb hybrid was called the Princeton Reverb II, a 20 watt fire breather of an amp.
It seems to be very similar to your amp with the added Master Volume and Midrange control, and no Tremelo.
Here's my mighty PRII:
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I didn't measure how many watts it is, but it should be around 22W like the Deluxe Reverb which it is based on
It has an LTP phase inverter and 2x 6V6s like the DR, but I think also depends on how hot you bias the power tubes.
I looked up the schematic for Princeton reverb 2 and it too has an LTP phase inverter ("regular" PR has a cathodyne phase inverter which doesn't add any gain), so that's how they got it to ~20W.
I also see the Princeton reverb 2 has a presence control and I was actually thinking I could use the reverb pedal output on the back panel for a presence control, since I don't think I will ever use a reverb pedal for this amp.
They do offer a transformer upgrade option for this kit to take 2x 6L6s (like pro reverb and vibrolux), which approximately doubles the output power.
I saw a similar kit from a different supplier, Uraltone in Finland, which is also a one channel deluxe reverb in a princeton chassis/cabinet, with a mid knob but instead of a master volume they have a "tweed" control, and no tremolo.
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Orri
Nice work on your build!
I see it’s running 6V6s, did the designer up the specs to get more out of the 6V6, or is it running in normal Princeton specs?
dave
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Really cool amp! Well done! Congratulations, and play it in good health!
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It's running "normal Deluxe Reverb specs".
Originally Posted by jazzkritter
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Congratulations Orri, that’s a beautiful and rare amp! Thanks for the sound samples, they sound fabulous!
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Congrats for the birthday and the amp! Looks and sounds great! Originally Posted by orri
I have assembled two pieces of that Uraltone TV Reverb kit. (TV means Teemu Viinikainen, a talented contemporary Finnish jazz guitarist who has skills for designing and assembling amps too.) First for myself a year ago and second for a friend just some weeks ago.
The Mid pot in this TV Reverb is a ’real’ Mid pot. The Tweed pot acts like a Mid pot mod of Princetone Reverbs. I once did it to my ’79 Silverface PR. Increases a lot of volume.
But I am still amazed of the lively, dynamic, sensitive sound of the amp. Can’t get a bad sound from it! I believe You have the same!
I have a Celestion Alnico Cream in the combo now, great speaker. In a pine cab with tweed suit on it is about 14 kg. Not bad!
Last edited by Herbie; 05-29-2021 at 02:50 PM.
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The bias doesn’t affect the power output. It does affect the crossover point between the two power tubes. It also sets how hot you are running the tubes.
A single-channel DR is a no-brainer from my point of view. I built one about ten years ago, based on the Hoffman schematic (with power tube bias vary tremolo) and built a cab about the same size as yours, but deeper, and loaded it with a D120F. My second-favorite amp, after my Vibro Champ Reverb with 2 8”
Steven
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Bravo! Great pick, great build, great result. There is no feeling in the world like switching on a new build with music out the front and no smoke out the back! Originally Posted by orri
It's a pretty detailed single-channel build. It's not a Kendrick New Joyzee but it's far from a no-brainer. There's plenty to get 'almost correct' in a cramped workspace. IMO Orri deserves a long low bow. Originally Posted by stevo58
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Nice work! Thanks for sharing !
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Well done, Orri! Looks and sounds great.
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I meant by that: it’s such a good idea, i don’t understand why it isn’t common. Not that it is a simple build. Originally Posted by Sam Sherry
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I had the same thought, while reading Orri's description. My Princeton Reverb II also has a wooden cabinet with no covering material. It is one of a hundred Paul Rivera ordered to be made, with oak cabinets built by the Gulbransen organ company. Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
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Hey there, Litterick. PRII amp owners around the globe are lusting after your amp...or at least having one like it. Those limited edition oak cabinet amps are the top of the heap. Play it in good health! Originally Posted by Litterick
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Thank you, Gitfiddler. I will look after it, and myself.
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Thanks everyone for a lot of kind words
I have assembled two pieces of that Uraltone TV Reverb kit. (TV means Teemu Viinikainen, a talented contemporary Finnish jazz guitarist who has skills for designing and assembling amps too.)
I seriously considered buying this kit. The choice was between that kit and the one I ended up buying. (I think you've been in some thread where I've mentioned I built the Uraltone 5E3 kit).
It's really cool to see that you built it and liked it. The Celestion Cream was also a speaker I seriously considered.
I also checked out some of Teemu's playing and really like is style of playing and musicality.
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That combination has inspired many an amp designer/builder. Early Boogie. Princeton II. You've hit upon the magic combo. Wishing you many hours, and years with that baby. I bought a Princeton II the year they came out and everybody wants to buy it off me!
Your new amp is a stunning beauty!
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