Blackface tones circa 12-15 watts preferably with a 12" speaker

Dodge

In my mind, I'm thinking of a Princetron Reverb with a 12" speaker.  Any recommendations / experiences?

Stuff like:

Morgan PR12

Rift

Louis Electric

Headstrong

Anything else I should be looking at?

Cheers all.

PhilKing

You can fit a 12" speaker into a Princeton.  I know because I have one with it.  You just have to watch out that the magnet isn't too big and also that it has a cross construction, not a wheel (4 spokes to the back rather than many).

I made a new baffle, so I can go back to the 10 when I sell it (or offer it as an alternative).  It's pretty easy to make one from plywood and it is easier to cut a new hole than to enlarge the existing one.   Fender sell the speaker bolts, they have a reverse screw thread to fit them into the baffle.  I went with 4 rather than 8, as I wanted more choice of speakers.  I'm actually using an old Goodman's Axiom in mine, but it is heavily modified to old Deluxe specs with 5881 valves and different transformers.  It was a build on an old Silverface donor that was totally wrecked and Jonh McIntyre did the rebuild to his "Prince O'Wails" spec.

Dodge

PhilKing said:

You can fit a 12" speaker into a Princeton.

Thanks.  That's probably within my skillset.  I'll add the Fender handwired reissue to my list of potentials and keep my eyes out for a SF original.

ICBM

There's a limited edition FSR Princeton Reverb that comes with a Celestion Blue... which is the wrong speaker for a Princeton in my opinion! But does make it very easy to swap in something more appropriate.

Dodge

ICBM said:

There's a limited edition FSR Princeton Reverb that comes with a Celestion Blue... which is the wrong speaker for a Princeton in my opinion! But does make it very easy to swap in something more appropriate.

Cheers.  I've read there was one with a Cannabis Rex too.  But they're the PCB version, I'd rather have something handwired.

fretfinder

I’ve had a modded 70s silverface with a 12” driver, a Morgan PR12 and a Rift PR18. The first two I’ve sold but I still have the Rift and it’s a great sounding amp although bloody loud! Mine has a Dwell control on the reverb (the Morgan does too) which I think is a really good and very useful feature. 

Dodge

fretfinder said:

I’ve had a modded 70s silverface with a 12” driver, a Morgan PR12 and a Rift PR18.

Thanks.  How did they compare?

I suspect there's something from Carr and Tone King that may also fit the bill....

RickLucas

Gartone Jewel

Dominic

or Headstrong Little King is as close as you will get
At that level they are all top quality
I suspect that the Gartone is outstanding ..........that guy can build an awesome amp

Wazmeister

Carr all the way for me - Sportsman is a great Princeton.

munckee

Only 8 watts but tone king gremlin is a brilliant amp and 13 inch speaker. Plus attenuator. They also do the falcon grande which might suit you better. 

wellsyboy

munckee said:

Only 8 watts but tone king gremlin is a brilliant amp and 13 inch speaker. Plus attenuator. They also do the falcon grande which might suit you better. 

+1 for the Gremlin brilliant amp - but I have had both the Headstrong and the Louis Electric and they too are spectacular! My Gremlin only has a 12 inch speaker though 

Dodge

munckee said:

Only 8 watts but tone king gremlin is a brilliant amp

wellsyboy said:

munckee said:

Only 8 watts but tone king gremlin is a brilliant amp

+1 for the Gremlin brilliant amp 

The Gremlin looks fun, but only 5 watts.

Dr Z Cure is an option I'm currently Googling.....

4on6

I have a Headstrong Lil King S. ...superb amp. (I fact I have 2 of them at the moment!)  I’m sure the Lil King is just as good (the S is 25w 6L6). 

They’re are all very well executed, slight variations on a theme. So, which one suits you is going to be very personal. 

I’ve found the Headstrong records very nicely with an e906 in front of it. 

Live it sounds really good but maybe just a little polite. I’m sure speaker changes will have fairly drastic results. A Rajin Cajun, for example, sounds a lot bigger than many other 10s. 

Having said all this.. if it’s really a Princeton you want, maybe that’s what you need. There is a hand wired 64 custom in the for sale section.
 (In the name of transparency. The seller is likely to buy one of my Headstrongs back if he sells this). 

fretfinder

Dodge said:

fretfinder said:

I’ve had a modded 70s silverface with a 12” driver, a Morgan PR12 and a Rift PR18.

Thanks.  How did they compare?

The 70s silverface was loud and ballsy, somehow not quite like a Princeton. The Morgan was ok and had very nice reverb but overall sounded a bit constricted to my ears, like someone had thrown a blanket over the baffle. The Rift is loud, clean, takes pedals very well, and is very lightweight. It’s quite a bright sounding amp and I’m thinking of trying a different speaker to the WGS G12C that came with it. 

Greatape

Carr Rambler in half-power mode

Josh_Cosku

I was in a similar search, have recently acquired a Carr Super Bee and really happy with it. The cleans, edge of break up tones are super nice at also  bedroom levels. It is only 10Watts, might be tricky with a loud drummer but can be mic'ed for gigging. 

allen

I had a PRRI and sold it, flubs out on low notes with the 10 inch speaker. 

Try a Carr Skylark 12w, lovely cleans and amazing overdrive does Hendrix meets SRV easily. 

My other amp is a tone king imperial so I know what a good blackface sounds like. 

randella

Dodge said:

PhilKing said:

You can fit a 12" speaker into a Princeton.

Thanks.  That's probably within my skillset.  I'll add the Fender handwired reissue to my list of potentials and keep my eyes out for a SF original.

Slightly OT, but wasn't that how Randall Smith accidentally prototyped the original Boogie? 12" speaker and the output transformer from a Bassman, fitted to a friend's Princeton as a practical joke?

ICBM

randella said:

Slightly OT, but wasn't that how Randall Smith accidentally prototyped the original Boogie? 12" speaker and the output transformer from a Bassman, fitted to a friend's Princeton as a practical joke?

Kind of, yes - it was actually the whole circuit from a 5F6-A Bassman I think, plus a JBL speaker.