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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ต.ค. 2024
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I have bought and sold at least 10 Princeton Reverb-style amps over the last 30 years. I want to love them, but I hate the way most of them sound really small when dialed in clean with a Telecaster's bridge pickup. And as much as I love my old 1965 Deluxe Reverb amp, there are many times when I wish I had an amp that would hit the sweet spot at a lower volume, and be a bit easier to tote around.
Earlier this year, I was at JD Simo's studio, and he encouraged me to play through his Headstrong Lil' King. I was blown away and ordered one the next day. It arrived a couple of weeks later, handbuilt by Wayne, and it was no less stellar than Simo's amp. I took the amp on a gig 2-days later, and I kept looking back at it during the gig. I played at least half the time on the bridge pickup with a cleaner tone, and the Lil' King produced wonderfully fat tones. After many years of searching, I found my Princeton.
Gear used:
2023 Headstrong Lil' King with 12" Eminence GA-SC64 speaker
headstrongamps...
1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restoration and Aging on the Body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Refret by Nick at Glaser Instruments. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis. Pickguard design by Jay & Kristi Smith of Juicebox Designs.
Strings:
D'Addarion NYXL 95-44
Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35
#askzac #princetonreverb #headstrongamps
I love that you’re gigging this stuff Zac!
Zak please film some of your gigs we would love to see you play more,besides being a wealth of information, your an excellent musician,very sweet amp,the reverb sounded huge, headstrong got it right.
Yes, I second that! Would love to see you onstage, I'm sure it'd be a real treat!
I’ve had a Headstrong Santa Cruz for a few years now, I still can’t believe how much I love the amp
I just saw JD Simo in Springfield Illinois. He had that exact amp with three pedals and a Danocaster. He got every sound you could want. He got clean and glassy to a bit heavier than a ZZ Top Lagrange sound. He sounded amazing. He is JD Simo though. 🤷🏻♂️
What’s a danocaster?
Happy 50th (belated) youngster!
The best Tele sounds (to my taste) I've ever heard. Congrats on the new amp.
Those Allesandro SC 64 speakers sound awesome right out of the box.
I bought 2 of these from a Jazzer in Southern California about 8 years ago. One is a early model S, I believe from 2011 and the other is the 12 watter. Both are smoking great amps. Some of Wayne's component choices were different from his current models but both are wonderful sounding amps...and so well built. Zac, I'm glad that guys like you and JD are out touring with them and spreading the word about Wayne's great creations.
Which one do you like better, if you were only buying one, which one would you prefer
I suppose it would be based on the kind of sound you like and the type of gigs you do. I got really lucky in that the guitarist I bought these from was moving to a digital amplifier and didn't feel the tube saturation was important and didn't want to keep the amps. I use the 12 watter more often. The S is more akin to a Deluxe which stays cleaner at the volumes I normally play at.
@@DKentization thank you
I got a Verbrovibe head off Wayne & had it shipped to Scotland. Indeed the packaging was incredible. And of course the amp is stunning.
Me too with a Lil' King S and its all I have gigged with for the last 6 years. Brilliant amp for me.
Thanks for sharing Zac! There’s a lot to be said for, “it sounded just like my buddy’s”. Great component selection by Headstrong! 👍🏻👍🏻
Fantastic sounding amp! That trem is something else. Saw Marty and Fab Superlatives a few years back and both Marty and Kenny were using Princetons on stage and their tone was....superlative. They using some heavily modified models?
That amp sounds gorgeous!
What is it about NC? Top hat, Carr, Swart and Headstrong?
Love my Swart Atomic Jr.
Lol I already have a lil king and you are making me want another one.
Greetings Zac. So great to hear of your satisfaction with a new product.
It's a good one!
Love finding out about amp builders. Great video thanks Zac.
What about your ‘62 Princetone Chris Stapleton?
Is it the end of a love affair?
I have it to. Different flavors
I really want one of these.
The amp sounds simply excellent.
I’ve had one for four years now. Fenomenal amp. ❤
Good to hear!
@@AskZacnever try Fender 64 Custom deluxe reverb? If you can do a review will be great
I have a Lil King S that I think is the best amp I've ever had. I picked it up used in Stockholm. These are rare birds in Sweden!
A rare bird there indeed! Quite the catch
The only Lil' King I was ever aware of was cream ale.
This is a King of a channel. Loved Lil Kings. Drank way too many of them.
Yeah! Gave me the worst hangovers 🍻
Flashback to High school 😂
Wow, that amp sounds killer. I recently purchased a Tonemaster Princeton and I am also very happy with it after many years with a Silverface Princeton.
Fine sounding amp. Reverb and trem are great. I think the builder might consider adding a mid control.
I bought one of these second hand years ago and absolutely love it. Not sure if it was ordered this way or not, but mine has a Warehouse G12C/S in it that solved all of the issues I had with a lot of Fender amps. I'm a treble-loving guy, but there was always this painfuul high end that I had to dial out with the guitar tone knob, especially on the bridge with a tele. The G12C/S rounds off the top just a little bit - just the perfect little bit of warmth and mellowness I wanted. Can't recommend this amp enough, especially with that speaker.
One of my top Zac favorites...well done!
Things I bought after watching Zac: Raf Mirage, Deep blue delay, Mostortion, Boss Tremolo, Vibrochamp, Headstrong Lil king, Fender Harvard, and Ask Zac Mug.
Thanks for supporting me! Enjoy the mug!!!!
@@AskZac - I love how the takeaway from this was "enjoy the mug." Priceless.
Happy 50th birthday! I beat you to it by a couple weeks, LOL! Dig the amp.
Thanks!
Man, that's sweet! When I got my Stage IV, it was packed the same way- locked in with bagged foam. Almost 60 pounds, and solid as a rock! "That's not going anywhere!" 😄
headstrongs are killer…almost bought one after having a terrible experience with a vintage 60’princeton-money pit-seller was someone i knew and he was cool about giving me my money back. after trying the lil h and a whooly coats i went with a fender custom hand wired princeton reverb.
never looked back-love it. to be honest I went with the fender because it’s just easier to sell fender and Gibson gear and I move a lot of stuff around but in truth I’ll probably hang onto this for a really long time. It’s a killer little lamp it’s built great I like the fact that it’s hand wired maybe it doesn’t matter anymore but it matters to me!anyhow, headstrong sounds amazing dude thanks for sharing your story.
btw yeah the range on yr trem is better than on the pr’s which are kinda always too fast even at slowest setting…
You can have it modded: th-cam.com/video/idS6KeNyTE4/w-d-xo.html
Richard Thompson also used one to these amp.
You sold me on the tone only on the bridge pup. I'm going to attempt this week. Thanks for posting the info on how to it.
I seriously considered this amp but went with the Allen Sweet Spot. Best amp I've ever owned. Build quality as good as it gets. Very similar amps, but the Sweet Spot is more versatile. It has something Allen calls a Raw control. There is an additional tone knob for mids. This works just on the mids until about 3. From 4-10 is takes more and more of the tone stack out of the sound, feeding the preamp signal directly into the power tubes. With the Raw control cranked, the sound is in tweed territory. What sold me though was the lush clean tones, and the reverb and tremolo are just gorgeous. I will be selling my vintage Deluxe. It is just too much amp for me.
Thank you Zac for sharing your eq settings! My 3rd Power Wooly Coats Mk ii (also a Princeton style amp) with the bass on two or three now finally sounds like a Fender blackface. I didn't dare to set the bass under noon for some reason. I learned from you: Don't be afraid of extreme eq settings.
Another great show Zak! Thank you!!
My pleasure!
Hey Zac. Love your channel. I just watched this video and the one you did with Keith on 5 watt world on the deluxe vs princeton. Not including the headstrong, it seems you prefer a tonemaster for home use due to Princeton or deluxe sounding thin if not turned up loud or modded. If you threw the fender custom 68 Vibro champ in the mix, would you still go with a tonemaster for home use or did you like the new Vibro champ better?
You can do a lot with these old Fender circuits with better grounding and shielded leads in a couple places.
A 12” speaker does wonders too. Killer amp!
I have one question. I think maybe you can give me an answer. I live in Europe and that's a problem. I want to buy one of the FENDER 64 Deluxe Reverb or Headstrong Lil' King amps.
I can't decide without hearing Headstrong Lil' King live.
How much?
Is yours the regular model or the little King s. I have wanted to try one of these and his Verbovibe model for quite awhile but have not run onto either one
Reg model 12 watts, but with a 12" speaker
I have a 1976 Princeton Reverb that has a Peavy Scorpion in it. It’s been my core tone since I started playing in the 90’s. Sounds great for my Tele’s, Strat’s, and my Les Paul. But I understand. I tried to love my old AC-15. But I just couldn’t get down with it.
Hey Zac, awesome video! I might have missed it but what do you think about this amp used in combination with effect pedals? I have a fender hot rod deville and it gets the job done particularly when I’m having fun with my pedal board which is mainly built to play 60s /70s rock. Problem is that it’s a lot to move around and I’ve never been super in love with the clean tone I get out of it. What do you think?
I use pedals with mine
what do you think of the tweed blues jr?
can you revirw one?
Thanks
Long live the Princeton!
That sounds incredible to me. Just what I would want.
Hi @askzac when would you use a deluxe reverb vs the Princeton with a 12" gig wise? Any advice on that or do you now use the Headstrong exclusively? Thanks! Jimmy jams
I would use the Deluxe when I need to be louder. Larger band.
@@AskZac Thanks amn. Do you find that happens much these days? I play some small club/pub gigs and at church. most o fthe time i am mic'd.
That Lil King sounds great with your Esquire! I’ve seen the Headstrong ads in Vintage Guitar, but I’ve never heard one of the amps until now. I’ll certainly be checking out the website.
I briefly considered a Verbrovibe, but just couldn't swing the asking price. They seem like really great amps though.
Thanks for spreading Tele Aloha Zac! 🌴 the bass has to be off on the Princeton when it’s loud. The floor the amp is sitting on …is the bass (Campilongo). He’s right!
Zac, you always bring the best info. Would love your advice. I bought this amp a year ago and I can’t gel with it. It’s a little bassy and muddy. I’m beginning to think it’s the guitar more than the amp. I’m playing a hollow body with filtron humbuckers on the neck and p90s in the bridge. I’m a rhythm guy not much on the leads. Your professional opinion on settings for a rhythm guitarist and guitar suggestion?
turn the bass down, and get it off the floor
The amp sounds great. My favorite BF Princeton Reverb clone is the Louis Electric Columbia.
Really good sounding amp Zak.
I believe Marty Stuart and Kenny Vaughan use or used Princetons in their shows, at least on the show on RFD TV. Killer tone on this new rig!
Great sounding amp. Ever play Dr Z Maz 18? Mine’s a 2007 2x12. Great low volume…but heavy as a twin…
My vintage Fenders get a lot less play since I got a Maz Jr. Mine is the 1x12.
Zac, would it be safe to say a Black Face Princeton like this gets you in the same tonal ballpark as a Deluxe Reverb with more reasonable volume? I’m in the market for a Fender style combo for use at home and maybe small gigs. It sounds great btw, thanks for all the great encouraging videos.
Yes. Similar tone at a lower volume
Excellent episode Zac. Kudos.
All the best to you with your new amp. Happy Resurrection Day.
Very nice Zac. Great sounding amp
Hi Zac,
I was wondering if you found any benefit in running the lil’ king at 117v or 110v
Thanks!
I like it best at 117. 110 is too low.
always enjoy the show!
When does this amp start to break up? Also, which version do you have? The regular one or the "S" model with 6L6 tubes? Alesandero is pretty amazing. He's my go to amp guy. Thanks
Zac mentioned he had the regular 12watt version.
It starts to break up at 5
@@AskZac Hope all is well. Thanks for the reply. Has that been a problem playing with stage volume , no in ears just wedges to hear yourself? ? Just hate to buy this and it doesn't work for my 5 piece country rock band. I emailed Wayne and asked him about the head room. He said there is about a 12 week wait. Do you think the 6L6 would be a better option than the 6V6 to get more headroom? I would imagine JD plays fairly loud. I trust your judgement. How was the Don Kelly reunion? Would of loved to been there. Anyway, Thanks for your time. Jim
I’m thinking about getting that Alexandro speaker for my Deluxe Reverb ll.
What do you think? Thanks
Do it
I definitely want to try that speaker in my Fender amp. The Fender labeled Eminence in mine is fairly harsh in the treble.
I have a couple of friends that have those. Great amps. Enjoy.
Love that Princeton.
Guys please help. What do y'all suggest between a fender frontman, a Princeton, or a champion based on good TONE alone. Effects aren't really important for me. Thanks!
Play them all! Choose the one you like best that fits your budget
Great. Just great. Yet another quality piece of gear I have to sit here wanting and not having. :/
I add a 12 inch speaker and a solid state rectifier to my Princeton's and it really opens them up. They play gigs just fine after that.
What speaker did you add? Thanks
Neodynium Celestion- I forget the name- costs about $150 weighs 4 lbs.
Hi Zak-always a pleasure to hear you play and wow, was this episode special! That Headstrong Lil' King is so warm and radiant sounding! Then there's the tremolo----the first setting floored me, might be the best tremolo I've ever heard! Or close to it. It's perfect! The other settings were great too. Lovely reverb as well--wow. So nice to hear that after that long ten hour drive you could really enjoy the gig with the amp sounding great. MIght have to try a Headstrong someday, really impressive amps.
Sounds wonderful! been gas'ing over a vintage deluxe reverb for many years now, but still havent found a nice one where i live, maybe ill look into this instead =) or maybe the royal reverb? im afraid of a too small cabinet sounding too small, but it seems like with the Lil king that isnt an issue? =)
It sounds plenty big to me.
If I may ask for as advise please
lil king or tone king imperial
Which would you choose?
Lil King
Great to see this clip. I have two of Wayne's amps and love them; a Little King which he built with Brownface(think Vibrolux) tone controls and his Corduroy(similar to 6g3 Deluxe)..He's a great guy and his amps are the real deal.
Great video!
Thanks!
That sounded killer, nice amp. It had some meaty tones there..wow
How does it compare to the Chris Stapleton Princeton?
The CS is louder, and has a lot more midrange. Lil King has verb and less mids.
Awesome amp! Have you tried the Tone Master Princeton?
Yes. I did not love it. Very bright
@@AskZac agreed
Buying an amp you didn't need to service anything
Is the cabinet pine.
It is pine
Have to admit that sounds great. A tele should sound like a tele, unless you’re playing jazz.
Do you prefer lil king or the lil king S / trying to make my mind on what one to purchase
It really depends on how much headroom you want
@@AskZac thanks I’m new to amp side of things this will be my first and have always been a cry once kind of person / not a gigging musician just like nice things
Sounds great Zac, full disclosure nice saying you bought it and how many Prineceton amps you have had.... pointing out the differences. I get it! sounds Great!
Yes, exactly
Sounds great Zac.
I’ve got a Tyler JT14 which is that same beefed up black face Princeton vibe. I LOVE IT! And with a 1x12 I can’t think of a better amp to grab and go with to a gig and get incredible tones.
I just played out my JT14 head last night. Easily kept up with a drummer and sounded just killer!
Princetons seem odd. I owned a ‘78 that was mushy, even though I had it gone through and tried different speakers, plus I tried some others that sounded different from each other. One or two of them sounded amazing though
They all are going to be either slightly different or way different in tone and loudness. I had many 60-62 Brown ones a couple of them were huge a couple weren't.
When genders switched to plywood cabinet and presswood baffle boards you need reverb.pine cabs and plywood speaker board's you don't need or want reverb.depending on the room.
My amp never took the plywood pronoun, but if it did I would support it
But seriously folks, I actually put the ‘78 into a head cab for a while for that very reason, but it didn’t solve the mush problem. My buddy has a ‘78 that sounds much better than mine did, in fact so good, that I sold the brown Deluxe I had. Never figured it out and sold the amp. Right now I use an Ampeg Gemini 1s, or a Tone King Imperial for that stuff. I know, not the same, but some day I’ll find the right small black panel type amp
@@chrisquinn9104 Hey Chris I don't know what you mean by the plywood pronoun? Brian.
Killer video! Love your channel
Love the shirt!
I have a 2018 Princeton blackface and it sounds great especially with my Gibson Special with P90s (this is a very underrated guitar). It's awesome with my Telecasters, too. It sounds good with other guitars, too. I have a Strat and that guitar sounds the best with my Fender Blues, Jr III with a little bit of grit. The Headstrong amp does sound good. Nice review.
Good review. I know Headstrong makes great amps. I have the Fender Handwired Princeton reissue. Love it. I love my strat, LP custom, and my tiles through it. So... before I think I should have done something else, it would be helpful if you could post a comparison video showing the differences you are describing as you switch between the Fender Princeton and the Headstrong version. I wonder if we could hear it through TH-cam?
This is supposed to be an exact replica of a mid 60s Fender Princeton. The difference in tone has to be the speaker choice. That's great if it's the tone you want, but it no longer sounds exactly like a real Princeton.
Zac isn't it too loud for room/home use? 22 sqm
Depends on how loud you turn it up.
I bought the 64 hardwired deluxe reverb….it’s way to bright sounding with a tele. The previous owner put a Jenson c12n in it (replacing the c12q originally in it). Not sure if that affected the tone. Might try the celestion 30. Any suggestions Zac? Thnks
Get a Mesa Fillmore 50.
I have a 1967 Deluxe reverb. I ended cutting one leg of the bright capacitor on the volume pot of the bright channel. It cut the brightness down. It’s easy to do and can easily be reversed by soldering the leg back on. Zac speaks about this in his Deluxe Reverb video. Be sure to drain the voltage on the big capacitors before poking around the amp.
@@right2armbears685 the 64 handwired deluxe comes with the bright cap clipped on the normal channel.
The Emi GA12-SC64 is a fuller, more mid focused speaker. It’s great if you want to tame treble. I like it a lot.
My favorite speaker for a deluxe has to be the WGS G12C, but it’s really loud and brighter than the GA12.
I’m currently using a Jupiter 12LC-P as a compromise between the two. Fuller mids, tamer treble. Very similar to a broken in Oxford imo.
Can’t go wrong with either of these three I mentioned here. Some people really like the Weber 12F150, but I didn’t. I even tried multiple versions of it and I wasn’t impressed.
Use the nomal channel. If that is still too bright, you may need a darker speaker
Loud enough for a small club gig with a drummer? Ala volume of Roberts in Nashville? Maybe slightly lower volume
Get it on a chair
how can we buy this headstrong amp?
Link in description
Awesome amp looking for this 12 inch speaker for upcoming Princeton clone. How is the speaker with a LP
Great
Oh no! What about your ac10?!?
It has not seen much use recently
Sounds like music!
What's tube rattle?
When the parts inside the tube make noise
Give the 56-60 Base man with
4-10
nice sounding amp
Zac, now I'm looking to get one myself .😅
Love the videos but some more playing on this one would have been nice.
Yes, it sounds really good. Really :-)
For me the Princeton sound is a 10".
Let us all know how that speaker holds up,