How to improve the Fender 68 Custom Princeton Reverb's Sound

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

The Fender 68 Custom Princeton Reverb is wonderful amp and comes close to an actually good reissue of the infamous blackface Princeton Reverb, soundwise. Yet the preamp-distortion coming from this thing isn't completely pleasant so to say and since V1 is critical for how the amps signal chain is hit, we can do something about it. V1 needs to be good. And it can also be tamed a little to make behave better, also for pedal use. To my ears it also just sounds a bit warmer and sustains better harmonically with this AT7 in V1.

[@bobbystereo936]

Mr.Snuggles at the end!

[@romanp.4319]

So you swapped out one valve right? I might give it a try! Btw: that P90 loaded Les Paul is awesome! 😊

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

@@romanp.4319 Yes, this is just V1 swapped with an AT7. It's one of the easy mods you can do on a reissue and you can always go back and it never happened ;)

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

@@bobbystereo936 This cat prefers vintage only...she costs me..

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

@@romanp.4319 Yes, it's just V1 to AT7 and back if need to.

[@kevinjones4513]

This was great and very informative. I'm going to have to give this a try on my 68 PR.

[@danielranc8963]

superb intro + outro tunes :-)

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Thanks so much, mr D :)

[@stevefisher6503]

Am eagerly awaiting my new to me 68 custom shop. Had an original silverface it slipped out my hands. I traded it for a Washburn with a floyd and emgs. It was the 90's what can I say. Your demo made me so happy to hear those golden tones!! Good info thanks. Fyi am a P 90 guy as well.

[@greentrumpet]

Thank you. I'd love the Princeton but my SuperChamp X2 will have to do for now. I replaced the original speaker with a Jensen alnico blue some while ago and have now replaced the pre-amp tube per your vid. It'll never be a Princeton but it sounds pretty good.

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Those are great!

[@elpeludito1655]

Great video man, thank you! It solves the sound issues I had with the princeton. It always sounded so muddy when using the amps distortion! I will defintately try that out :)

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Cheers! Tx

[@CustomTele52RI]

READ ME FIRST: Despite the nomenclature, the 5751 is inherently a more suitable, compatible lower-gain replacement than a 12AT7 for a lower-gain variant of a 9-pin 12AX7 tube. The 5751 is a lot more likely to sound good and musical in a circuit designed for 12AX7. And you can believe me because I've been building and modifying tube HiFi and guitar amps for over 20 years. And I have a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. And I never lie. Oh, and I'm always right :o)🤣

[@dgeekay1494]

Great tunes and playing mate. At 7 the volume is nice to have option. I play my 68 reissue at home mostly at 2. This test would be very interested for people they use it in apartments with strict neighbours

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Yep, these inside 4 walls it's still loud AF in any config..

[@Phillip-y6d]

Thanks dude , lots of work you did . All benchmark now👍

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Thanks buddy!

[@sagebrushcoyote]

I switched the V1 and V2 so the AT7 is in V1 and the AX7 is in V2. Improvement to my ear, better clarity and louder. I am keeping it that way.

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Nice one!

[@lh3984]

Great video thanks I'd like to see a demo with the au7 tube for more clean head room on this Amp thanks,

[@ThomasUs-cl5jv]

Thank you for sound

[@Sonneydk]

We love it ❤

[@DanteDeFeo]

Thank you for this!!!❤😊

[@Mk__gamerz__4589]

Bahut badhiya khela hai 😊😊😊

[@macintune]

I really enjoyed your Princeton silver face video!I have a 1974 model. Love your telecaster tones!! Can you tell me about it? Year, pickup’s etc.

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

That Tele is a 52' spec replica by Alleycat in NL. It's not the highest grade guitar but a very pleasant workhorse. The bridge pickup is a Van Zandt true vintage. That pickup does a lot of good stuff.

[@mapletree2009]

Will this modification hurt the amp in any way over time? Is it fine to simply swap from 12ax7 to 12at7 at will without messing up the bias? Sorry for the noob questions.

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Thanks for your question and don't worry, the AT7 won't hurt anything. Kind Regards,

[@jhue73]

wouldnt it be the same thing if i just plug in to the low input side?

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

Good question, maybe it also helps lowering gain somewhat but not to the extend of the ax vs. at in V1 perhaps. Cheers,

[@rickyoldtree]

Why is your fringe constantly switching sides.? Is it a mod?

[@AldoSpadaroOfficial]

It's my face, my face flips around every now and then. Can't help it...