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Been years since I did this. Not been using the amp in some months because the power amp tubes are both fried, so I figured I’d do all the tubes in one shot. The tubes should be arriving next week.
I don’t know whether I’ll keep the amp, or eventually sell it and get something lighter. I have tested some modern modeling amps, and many are capable of very good jazz tone. Katana 50 II, a couple of Fenders, all with 12” speakers and work quite well. If I sell the PRII, I could get two such amps AND pocket some hundreds of dollars! But of course the amp needs to function well in order to sell. Or I might just use it, as it’s a great amp! So re-tubing works in any event.
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05-16-2023 06:53 PM
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PRII's are cool rigs, thanks to Ed Jahns and Paul Rivera. They're basically a 20 watt Deluxe Reverb with a solid state rectifier, an overdrive channel and no vibrato. New tubes will likely have it sounding too good to sell.
There are a number of solid state alternatives these days that sound great and weigh much less than your Princeton II. As you may know, these Fenders are increasing in value due to Rivera-era collectors looking for a hand-wired point-to-point tube amp. Just another reason to maybe hold onto it for a while.
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What tubes did you choose? I am all ears, because I must find some for my PRII.
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PM me when you're ready to sell, or what's your price in its current condition? They are some of the best amps, in my book. Some people like them, some people like yourself, not so much. I'll gladly deal with the heft and take it off your hands.
Yeah, let me know what you're selling it for. I'll retube and bias it myself.
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Pre amp tubes can last much longer than power tubes so power tubes ending their life cycle doesn't mean you need to replace your pre amp tubes too.
But if you've already ordered them you can try to swap them and listen if you can hear any difference in case that interests you (it's a rabbit hole some people like to fall into).
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Last time I did the power amp tubes I did not do the preamp tubes, so I figured a wholesale change is in order. Maybe I’ll do some of that swapping, just for kicks.
Originally Posted by orri
PM sent, though I’m not sure I’m ready to sell quite yet lol. Who knows? It might sound excellent with my new Eastman AR610ce. Will find out soon! Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
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Preamp tubes do tend to last longer, but the driver tube works hard and generally could use a change when you change the power tubes
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Well, I done went and did it. Added a pot for biasing. Sounds great, except… it revealed that the tubes were only part of the issue. There’s ferocious 60 cycle hum, and everything I’ve seen about this says the amp, built around 1982 or thereabouts, is due for a change of its capacitors.
So I picked up a Katana MkII 50 to hold me over while I take the amp apart and do that job. Great amp; my Eastman sounds wonderful thru it when set correctly. My current footswitch strategy for jazz on this amp:
BANK1, CH1: chord sound
BANK1, CH2: single line (lead?) sound
BANK2, CH1 & CH2: zero volume, no sound
So one switch serves as a mute, while the other switches between two optimized sounds. Btw, any latching switch (such as the one from my Marshall combo) works.Last edited by coyote-1; 05-22-2023 at 09:29 PM.
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Update on the Katana. I now have the tone controls essentially flat on the amp. I have a hint of reverb in my two sound channels. The chord sound is built on the acoustic amp type; the single line sound on the Clean amp type. Single line has the Booster on at its lowest possible setting.
I have the Volume and Master controls almost full up. This makes for a nice fat sound even at low volume. (When those controls are low, the amp sounds thin and nasal.) I’m using the Gain control as my volume control.
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I sold my 1960's Deluxe years ago and bought a Fishman LoudBox Mini with lots of money left over.
Not a slight bit sorry.
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I realize this is a long past due update… I did get the work done on the PRII. It worked for awhile. Still works, but now there’s 120 cycle hum!
Obviously a different section of the amp has failed. I did some research and think I know the issue. So I’m going to (perhaps foolishly) bring it in for more service. Got references for a guy closer to my home. So I’ll bring it to him and see what he has to say.
It’s not easy to spend $150 or likely more on a repair when an entire new amp can be had for not much more.
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That's twice as bad as it was before. Originally Posted by coyote-1
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I'm Bias, but I'd first try swapping the Preamp tubes. (Simple)
Then, I'd check that the Power Tubes are Bias properly, but I've got the tools.
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The tubes were new when serviced. Are you saying simply ‘rotate’ them to each others’ socket? Originally Posted by GuyBoden
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Yes, the preamp Tubes. Originally Posted by coyote-1
Edit: For your info:
Troubleshooting for Princeton Reverb II
"Princeton Reverb II Tube/Valve Set
If all you came here for was to find this out... the normal set is;
12AX7 = ECC83 = 7025 etc.... 3 tubes, v1,v3,v4
12AT7 = ECC81.... 1 tube, v2
6V6GTA.... 2 tubes, v5 and v6
there is no rectifier tube - this amp has a solid-state rectifier"
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Did it. No help.
Originally Posted by GuyBoden
Yes, the preamp Tubes.
Edit: For your info:
Troubleshooting for Princeton Reverb II
"Princeton Reverb II Tube/Valve Set
If all you came here for was to find this out... the normal set is;
12AX7 = ECC83 = 7025 etc.... 3 tubes, v1,v3,v4
12AT7 = ECC81.... 1 tube, v2
6V6GTA.... 2 tubes, v5 and v6
there is no rectifier tube - this amp has a solid-state rectifier"
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Such a great amp! Every time I turn mine on, I am greeted with great tone and presence.
You gotta get that amp fixed and working.
Once that happens, we can discuss speaker choices, to get it singing.
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The hum in my PRII disappeared when I turned the reverb control to zero.
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Wish that were the case. Originally Posted by Litterick
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Originally Posted by coyote-1
Ever watch the Psionic Audio videos on You Tube. He has posted quite a few videos for the Fender Princeton Reverb and Deluxe Reverb reissue amps.
Here's a link to one, but there are plenty more there if you want to search. I find his videos to be well done.
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Good luck with your Princeton Reverb II issue. I had one in 1989/1990. I got rid of mine due to it needing a new set of 6V6s, and them being kind of hard to find at the time (the only final/power tubes that seemed to be readily available at the time were 6L6s and 6CA7/EL34s), and there were indications that like the RCA-type tubes used in Ampeg guitar amps, and sweep tubes (used in TVs and some ham radios - I had a FUN TIME finding a decent set of 6KD6s for a vintage Yaesu ham radio I restored). Well, that turned out to not be the case. IMO to this day, the Rivera era Fenders are sleeper amps, but they are getting pricey (hence the reason for me not getting another one).
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Two videos about fixing noise in a PRII:
The Facebook group is often helpful:
Facebook
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Brought it to a nearby service joint. They briefly tested it before charging me anything…. MUCH quieter than at my home, or at the two other places I had it recently. Not in need of service!
So I’ve got ‘dirty’ power. I’d kind of imagined so, and this confirms it. Next week I’m calling the utility company to have them check the incoming line.
Meanwhile I picked up a power conditioner. It’s making a difference. The amp sounds great.
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Mine has the 12F. It sings… what is your fave speaker? Originally Posted by Jimmy Mack
I’m also considering purchasing two 12AT7 tubes. Because I tried swapping V2 and V3, and the noise floor did drop as a result. I’ll leave the 12AX7 in V1, and see what happens swapping the other three positions around. It might allow me to have a Lead channel that’s more usable too.
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If you can find one, try a NOS 7025 in V1. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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