Re: [Harp-L] Another amazing fender princeton mod done by Ron Holmes (True Genius)

[billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Well, your message in general is gonna really upset some of the boutique amp artisans that frequent (and provide valuable input to) this list, that's for sure. So buckle your seat belt. But your statement "For less money & a Holmes mod you can have perfect tone" really cost you any credibility because we all know where the tone comes from, right? (hint: it ain't the equipment). It's cool that you're happy with your mods, and Ron's a great engineer, but I just thought I'd correct that before the masses get ahold of you :-)

Bill Hines


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "nickdeem" <nickdeem@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Or Why spend close to 2 thousand for a "boutique" harp amp? For less money &
> a Holmes mod you can have perfect tone!!! Once again Ron proved that he
> really has that creative edge and as he told me on the phone the day I
> bought a harp commander from him about 4 years ago "musicians compose with
> music I like to compose with circuits)... About a year ago I purchased the
> amp section of an early "silverface" Princeton (about 1967, it still had the
> original fender 2 prong ac cord) The tubes were OK but it really sounded
> weak and lifeless...I emailed him one day with an idea I had to bring it
> back to life as a harp / guitar Amp.I asked him if he could use the first
> input as a guitar channel and then knock out the useless vibrato circuit and
> mod it as a second channel strictly for harp on the second  input. The
> results are truly amazing..the first input is for 
> 
> guitar and it utilizes the volume bass and treble controls along with the 2
> 12ax7 tubes in the original preamp section..the second input is for the
> harp.he made it very high impedance for a mike or a harp commander,  he
> knocked out the vibrato circuit completely.and made the speed and intensity
> pots volume and tone.since the 2 12ax7's were now being used for Guitar,,,he
> added another tube into the circuit he put an additional tube socket in the
> chassis and gave the harp channel a 12au7.he also rewired and recapped the
> chassis (its more like a deluxe now).and changed the tube biasing to cathode
> (he said it makes things more efficient and louder sounding even though
> technically theres a few less watts) He emailed me photographs of before and
> after.Getting it back from him I must have looked over his workmanship for
> almost an hour.he really does one of the neatest soldering jobs you've ever
> seen.Plugging it in and putting it through a Legend 12" alnico has been one
> of my best playing experiences ever.Soundwise I always thought my main harp
> amp a Premier T-12R was perfect in the past  But the harp side and the
> guitar side on the princeton really sound "fat and juicy"...jt30 ,
> controlled magnetic reluctance bullet, shure 545 all really "shine"
> amazingly with very little feedback...that guitar channel has such a full
> sound my Strat sings and my archtop sounds so warm and jazzy.. Before you
> spend  "the big bucks" Give Ron a call..
> 
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