Princeton build

[fred.violleau]

Hey guys,

It's been a while since my last amp.
I have started a Princeton reverb build.
I had a chassis laying around with transformers and have always been curious to hear the reverb and tremolo of the A1164.

Decided to build my own board which is more rigid and more reliable than the traditional fender waxed board.

Did not want to use a big cap can that limits the grounding scheme and gets quite pricey these days. I ended up drawing my own layout (as usual).

Here is the board in the chassis.

PXL_20241022_152133768.RAW-01.COVER.jpg

I have a question regarding the heaters: the twisted wires are very close to the fuse.

PXL_20241031_145328647.RAW-01.COVER.jpg

PXL_20241031_145406035.RAW-01.COVER.jpg

Is it an issue in terms of security or AC buzz getting into the heaters?

I could try and lay these against the chassis for the power tube, but I would rather have them fly over for the whole build.

Thanks for your input!

Fred.

[xtian]

I have a question regarding the heaters: the twisted wires are very close to the fuse. Is it an issue in terms of security or AC buzz getting into the heaters?

Not an issue.

Looks good, Fred!

Be careful about OVER twisting wire pairs. In extreme cases, they can break. Also, you're adding more wire to the runs, and more resistance.

[fred.violleau]

Thanks Xtian for the tips!
Should be able to do a smoke test Saturday if everything goes well!

Fred.

[fred.violleau]

Today's progress:

17304073053887018468119496800271.jpg

[angelodp]

Great looking build Fred, any thoughts to implementing a PPIMV on this build?

Ange

[fred.violleau]

Hey Ange,

Not on this build, although if I feel like I need it, I will add a Lar-Mar type II (same as what I did on my 5E3 builds).

This one is quite busy with a passive FX loop, Dwell and variable negative Feedback pots.

Let's hear it first and then decide if I need anything else.

Cheers;

Fred.

[fred.violleau]

Almost done!

PXL_20241103_230230424.RAW-01.COVER.jpg

Tomorrow I do the heaters wiring, finish the mid boost, and then tests shall begin!

Fred

[Guy77]

Almost done!

PXL_20241103_230230424.RAW-01.COVER.jpg

Tomorrow I do the heaters wiring, finish the mid boost, and then tests shall begin!

Fred

Looks great Fred congrats!
I also like having the Variable negative feedback pot on my builds.
It lets me dial in the sound I like.

Cheers
Guy

[fred.violleau]

Hey Guy,

Thanks, much appreciated!
Soldering is done for now, testing should begin after lunch.

PXL_20241104_171342094.RAW-01.COVER.jpg

Still have to decide if the bus grounds at input jack ground or with B+1 and B+2.

Unloaded voltages with a GZ34S seemed a bit high (~500 VDC)

Let's grab a bite first!

Cheers;

Fred.

[fred.violleau]

Had to work on the reverb (forgot the connexion back to V3).
So far, I have sound, reverb level and decay work fine with a small accutronics reverb tank. N

No issue with volume bass and treble controls nor the NFB level. It sounds very balanced on a single celestion rocket speaker, can't wait to try it with different configurations. plenty of bass with humbuckers !

The tremolo works, but it seems long to ramp up in wiggling.
If I ground the signal, and then enable it (like I would with TRS pedal), it may take a minute to be audible. I am guessing this has to do with tube bias which I have not checked yet.

Great clean sound, the mid switch allows to get a bigger/fuller sound, and a lot more gain as well.

Quite happy so far!

Fred.

[angelodp]

Looking forward to clips. I built my own version of the Allen Encore (read VibroVerb), which also has the dwell control, and a reverb tone and a RAW (PAB) type control, and I added a PPIMV, as well as Trem. That amp is quite versatile and has a nice breakup. So the Encore has a number of similarities.

Looking good Fred.

Ange

[fred.violleau]

Hey Ange, thanks for the kind words!
Looks quite similar to your build indeed!
Will try to post a clip of the amp soon, still trying to figure out the cab

Also, I realized that when I max out the tremolo speed, it fades away (not audible anymore) Has anyone experienced this?

Cheers!

Fred

[sluckey]

I realized that when I max out the tremolo speed, it fades away (not audible anymore) Has anyone experienced this?

Replacing the trem tube with a stronger tube will usually fix this. I prefer to replace the 3300Ω/25µF cathode R/C of the oscillator with a 5mm red LED. Doing so will increase the tremolo signal considerably and will prevent drop out on the fast and slow speed. I do this to all my tremolo circuits.

[dragonbat13]

I realized that when I max out the tremolo speed, it fades away (not audible anymore) Has anyone experienced this?

Replacing the trem tube with a stronger tube will usually fix this. I prefer to replace the 3300Ω/25µF cathode R/C of the oscillator with a 5mm red LED. Doing so will increase the tremolo signal considerably and will prevent drop out on the fast and slow speed. I do this to all my tremolo circuits.

Not to highjack the thread but I'm hijacking the thread.

Will this cure an issue where the oscillator has to have a guitar signal to start working correctly?

[sluckey]

Will this cure an issue where the oscillator has to have a guitar signal to start working correctly?

Say what??? The oscillator operates totally independent of the guitar input in a Fender Princeton circuit.