Amp for bedroom use?

Firetiger93

Joined: Aug 31, 2016
Posts: 11

Posted on Dec 11 2016 10:40 AM

I'm in a market for a new amp and I was pretty set on a 68 Silverface Princeton. I read though that it breaks up way too early so it's not that good for surf. Would the 65 RI be better? I'm open for other recommendations as well. Thanks.

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Las_Barracudas

Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:12 AM

Well, at bedroom volume I don't see it breaking up too early, but if you intend on cranking it up at some point then yes seek an alternative.

If just for around the house play I'd suggest a Roland Cube 40. They have a decent on-board reverb are powerful enough for rehearsing with a full band. Awesome bang for the buck imho.

—

METEOR IV on reverbnation

Last edited: Dec 11, 2016 11:12:49

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Firetiger93

Joined: Aug 31, 2016
Posts: 11

Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:30 AM

Thanks for the suggestion! I already have a solid state amp (Fender Mustang I) though and I wanted a tube amp instead. That's why I had my eyes on the princeton.

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montereyjack66

Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 646
LA -ish
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:40 AM

Buguera makes a pretty nifty little five watt tube which can be adjusted to 1 watt and 1/10th watt. It's very straight forward and it's not super Fendery, but it's pretty nifty in it's own right and has a much better than ok digital reverb.Closer to Link Wray territory than Mr. Dale's. I upgraded the 8 inch speaker and am quite pleased. Also good for recording.
Cheers!

—

mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/

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DonKiyote

Joined: Aug 26, 2014
Posts: 138
Kent
United Kingdom

Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:54 AM

I use a 65 RI Princeton Reverb - lovely amp. Fine at low volume for a bedroom amp with plenty of scope for cranking it up. Reverb and vibrato are good - but I do use a RI Fender reverb unit which gives me the sound I have been looking for.

—

Wherever you go, there you are

http://rogerfowles.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKUsTNis44w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKauwombaC8

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Tqi

Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
2 Security Pins

Posted on Dec 11 2016 12:36 PM

-

Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:21:08

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Vince_Ray

Joined: Aug 26, 2015
Posts: 252

Posted on Dec 11 2016 01:07 PM

Vibro champ xd is a great little amp. No longer in production but easily bought second hand at a great price. great reverb, effects and choice of clean and dirty sounds

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Tqi

Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
2 Security Pins

Posted on Dec 11 2016 01:48 PM

-

Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:25:06

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GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on Dec 11 2016 02:14 PM

65 PRRI.

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 05:37 PM

Blues Jr?

—

Happy Sunsets!

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ColtsSurf

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 05:37 PM

This Milkman Half Pint 5W 1x12 Combo in Blonde is expensive, but really cool. Sounds like a blend between a Princeton Reverb and a Tweed Champ. Great reverb and tremolo, plus power scaling. Hand made by Tim Marcus of Milkman Sound in SF, CA. Everything except the tubes is made in the USA.

—

Paul

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JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Dec 11 2016 05:52 PM

He builds amps in SF? There's gotta be a cheaper way...

—

Squink Out!

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ColtsSurf

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 06:02 PM

Maybe so, but I don't know if he's from there. His family were all milkmen, hence the name. Here's the website:

http://milkmansound.com/

A good demo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfUtnBJ-BYw

—

Paul

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 06:17 PM

Price? Kind of expensive?

—

Happy Sunsets!

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ColtsSurf

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 06:27 PM

Yes, $2299. He's a perfectionist and he builds everything himself, so the production runs are limited (less volume to absorb the fixed costs). But the quality is very high.

—

Paul

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taijiguy

Joined: Mar 27, 2006
Posts: 213
Newington, CT USA
United States

Posted on Dec 11 2016 07:32 PM

tahitijack wrote:

Blues Jr?

I traded my Blues Junior Tweed for a Deluxe Reverb reissue. It's a great "bedroom" amp, although mine is in my den. I compared it to a Princeton Reverb with 1x12 before I bought it, but the Deluxe blew it away. The Blues Junior is a nice amp, but it distorts at too low a volume for my taste.

Last edited: Dec 11, 2016 19:36:14

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Dec 11 2016 08:20 PM

'68RI Princeton Reverb kills the '65RI.

However, whenever a question like this comes up I have to ask, why do you need an amp for your bedroom? Do you mean a low wattage amp for home so you won't be too loud?

Most people I know rarely plug in at home. Practicing not plugged in helps me a lot more than plugging in.

Vox AC4 is inexpensive and the 4W is one of the only tube amps that can truly be considered 'bedroom'. A Princeton/Deluxe/AC15 won't get you to bedroom volumes.

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Firetiger93

Joined: Aug 31, 2016
Posts: 11

Posted on Dec 11 2016 09:13 PM

Thanks for all the info, I wanted an amp to be able to play at home and in the future eventually jam out with a band. I guess the 68 RI will do.

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DonKiyote

Joined: Aug 26, 2014
Posts: 138
Kent
United Kingdom

Posted on Dec 12 2016 03:18 AM

JakeDobner wrote:

Most people I know rarely plug in at home.

Really? Most people I know do plug in. I almost always do

—

Wherever you go, there you are

http://rogerfowles.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKUsTNis44w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKauwombaC8

Top

stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Dec 12 2016 05:14 AM

I will concur with Jake about spending more time practicing unplugged. Especially for the precision picking techniques used in surf music. There is a greater reliance of purity for both notation runs and picking accuracy. It also decentralizes the formality of practice and I have found I do a lot more practicing when I can lay on the couch and watch tv while committing new material to memory and fine tuning other music. I just practice more unplugged and become a better musician this way.

As far as a practice (bedroom) amp goes I like an amp that needs no pedals because my practice amp is in another area of the house away from my surf rigs and all the auxiliary items. I keep that amp in my office/mixing room where I can use it to learn new material while sitting at the computer on youtube etc. The amp of choice for me is the original Vox Valvetronix amp. I have a great Twin model built with plenty of drip programmed in with the onboard effects. I have used this for impromptu practices and such at locations when I didn't want to haul a bunch of gear and it is painfully loud.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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Firetiger93 Joined: Aug 31, 2016 Posts: 11	Posted on Dec 11 2016 10:40 AM I'm in a market for a new amp and I was pretty set on a 68 Silverface Princeton. I read though that it breaks up way too early so it's not that good for surf. Would the 65 RI be better? I'm open for other recommendations as well. Thanks. Top
Las_Barracudas Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC	Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:12 AM Well, at bedroom volume I don't see it breaking up too early, but if you intend on cranking it up at some point then yes seek an alternative. If just for around the house play I'd suggest a Roland Cube 40. They have a decent on-board reverb are powerful enough for rehearsing with a full band. Awesome bang for the buck imho. — METEOR IV on reverbnation Last edited: Dec 11, 2016 11:12:49 Top
Firetiger93 Joined: Aug 31, 2016 Posts: 11	Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:30 AM Thanks for the suggestion! I already have a solid state amp (Fender Mustang I) though and I wanted a tube amp instead. That's why I had my eyes on the princeton. Top
montereyjack66 Joined: Jul 23, 2014 Posts: 646 LA -ish	Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:40 AM Buguera makes a pretty nifty little five watt tube which can be adjusted to 1 watt and 1/10th watt. It's very straight forward and it's not super Fendery, but it's pretty nifty in it's own right and has a much better than ok digital reverb.Closer to Link Wray territory than Mr. Dale's. I upgraded the 8 inch speaker and am quite pleased. Also good for recording. Cheers! — mj bent playing for benter results Do not attempt to adjust your TV set. https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/ https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/ Top
DonKiyote Joined: Aug 26, 2014 Posts: 138 Kent	Posted on Dec 11 2016 11:54 AM I use a 65 RI Princeton Reverb - lovely amp. Fine at low volume for a bedroom amp with plenty of scope for cranking it up. Reverb and vibrato are good - but I do use a RI Fender reverb unit which gives me the sound I have been looking for. — Wherever you go, there you are http://rogerfowles.co.uk/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKUsTNis44w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKauwombaC8 Top
Tqi Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222	Posted on Dec 11 2016 12:36 PM - Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:21:08 Top
Vince_Ray Joined: Aug 26, 2015 Posts: 252	Posted on Dec 11 2016 01:07 PM Vibro champ xd is a great little amp. No longer in production but easily bought second hand at a great price. great reverb, effects and choice of clean and dirty sounds Top
Tqi Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222	Posted on Dec 11 2016 01:48 PM - Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:25:06 Top
GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on Dec 11 2016 02:14 PM 65 PRRI. Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Dec 11 2016 05:37 PM Blues Jr? — Happy Sunsets! Top
ColtsSurf Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 477	Posted on Dec 11 2016 05:37 PM This Milkman Half Pint 5W 1x12 Combo in Blonde is expensive, but really cool. Sounds like a blend between a Princeton Reverb and a Tweed Champ. Great reverb and tremolo, plus power scaling. Hand made by Tim Marcus of Milkman Sound in SF, CA. Everything except the tubes is made in the USA. — Paul Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Dec 11 2016 05:52 PM He builds amps in SF? There's gotta be a cheaper way... — Squink Out! Top
ColtsSurf Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 477	Posted on Dec 11 2016 06:02 PM Maybe so, but I don't know if he's from there. His family were all milkmen, hence the name. Here's the website: http://milkmansound.com/ A good demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfUtnBJ-BYw — Paul Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Dec 11 2016 06:17 PM Price? Kind of expensive? — Happy Sunsets! Top
ColtsSurf Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 477	Posted on Dec 11 2016 06:27 PM Yes, $2299. He's a perfectionist and he builds everything himself, so the production runs are limited (less volume to absorb the fixed costs). But the quality is very high. — Paul Top
taijiguy Joined: Mar 27, 2006 Posts: 213 Newington, CT USA	Posted on Dec 11 2016 07:32 PM tahitijack wrote: Blues Jr? I traded my Blues Junior Tweed for a Deluxe Reverb reissue. It's a great "bedroom" amp, although mine is in my den. I compared it to a Princeton Reverb with 1x12 before I bought it, but the Deluxe blew it away. The Blues Junior is a nice amp, but it distorts at too low a volume for my taste. Last edited: Dec 11, 2016 19:36:14 Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 11 2016 08:20 PM '68RI Princeton Reverb kills the '65RI. However, whenever a question like this comes up I have to ask, why do you need an amp for your bedroom? Do you mean a low wattage amp for home so you won't be too loud? Most people I know rarely plug in at home. Practicing not plugged in helps me a lot more than plugging in. Vox AC4 is inexpensive and the 4W is one of the only tube amps that can truly be considered 'bedroom'. A Princeton/Deluxe/AC15 won't get you to bedroom volumes. Top
Firetiger93 Joined: Aug 31, 2016 Posts: 11	Posted on Dec 11 2016 09:13 PM Thanks for all the info, I wanted an amp to be able to play at home and in the future eventually jam out with a band. I guess the 68 RI will do. Top
DonKiyote Joined: Aug 26, 2014 Posts: 138 Kent	Posted on Dec 12 2016 03:18 AM JakeDobner wrote: Most people I know rarely plug in at home. Really? Most people I know do plug in. I almost always do — Wherever you go, there you are http://rogerfowles.co.uk/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKUsTNis44w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKauwombaC8 Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Dec 12 2016 05:14 AM I will concur with Jake about spending more time practicing unplugged. Especially for the precision picking techniques used in surf music. There is a greater reliance of purity for both notation runs and picking accuracy. It also decentralizes the formality of practice and I have found I do a lot more practicing when I can lay on the couch and watch tv while committing new material to memory and fine tuning other music. I just practice more unplugged and become a better musician this way. As far as a practice (bedroom) amp goes I like an amp that needs no pedals because my practice amp is in another area of the house away from my surf rigs and all the auxiliary items. I keep that amp in my office/mixing room where I can use it to learn new material while sitting at the computer on youtube etc. The amp of choice for me is the original Vox Valvetronix amp. I have a great Twin model built with plenty of drip programmed in with the onboard effects. I have used this for impromptu practices and such at locations when I didn't want to haul a bunch of gear and it is painfully loud. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top

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Amp for bedroom use?