Craig Amps - 2W Combo build. - GuitarTalk Community

Craig Amps - 2W Combo build.

racman

Craig Amps certainly seems to be growing in popularity and after noticing all the positive feedback and after much discussion with Benj Craig I decided to take the plunge as I felt he had both the knowledge and expertise to build something that met my current needs.

While I have been looking at various amps and received much advice on the forum in this regard, I still did not feel that I had found something suitable for my needs which is really for a great amp for apartment use. After reviewing and playing quite a few locally available amps I always came back to two issues namely the volume that I felt I needed to play at to really experience the "fullness" of tone from the amp and the Fender Princeton! My problem with the Princeton was the volume issue and having played one through two different attenuators (a DrZ and a THD I think) I was less than impressed with the dynamics of severely attenuated sound. Maybe subjective I know but we play with our hearts and not from looking at a spectrum analyser or an oscilloscope ?

Someone one said (or repeated) on this forum a while back that they were surprised at how much money guitarists were prepared to pay for electric guitars and yet were reluctant to spend much on a decent amp (or something to that effect). That struck me a making sense and so the process began.

So the discussions began: A 2watt clean valve combo amp modelled on the Princeton, simple controls (Bass, Mid, Treble and Volume) with valve reverb as well. Speaker would be 12". Predominantly clean with break up approaching max volume as I prefer to use my OD pedals and really enjoy the OD on the Ethos that I now use as the hub of my pedalboard.

We are still a little way off the build start but I thought I would start the thread so long. Most components have now been ordered and a few orders need to be completed before we start my build.

I need a little help with the name of the amp and could only really come up with two possibilities so please suggest any other appropriate names here:

My choices so far:

1) "The Prince" or just "Prince" (for obvious reasons as modelled on the Princeton)
2) I quite like a rather quirky sounding "2 Princes" referring to both the Spin Doctors song I suppose but more so to the 2Watts.

Ideas and suggestions?

Aesthetics will be Wine Red Tolex, Oxblood grill, White piping and white chicken head knobs.

ftcl

I like 2 Princes...

How about The Little Prince?

Or doing it in a different language, like Latin (although not strictly correct, since it translates to emperor): Duo Princeps?

Psean

RoyC wrote: Craig Amps certainly seems to be growing in popularity and after noticing all the positive feedback and after much discussion with Benj Craig I decided to take the plunge as I felt he had both the knowledge and expertise to build something that met my current needs.

While I have been looking at various amps and received much advice on the forum in this regard, I still did not feel that I had found something suitable for my needs which is really for a great amp for apartment use. After reviewing and playing quite a few locally available amps I always came back to two issues namely the volume that I felt I needed to play at to really experience the "fullness" of tone from the amp and the Fender Princeton! My problem with the Princeton was the volume issue and having played one through two different attenuators (a DrZ and a THD I think) I was less than impressed with the dynamics of severely attenuated sound. Maybe subjective I know but we play with our hearts and not from looking at a spectrum analyser or an oscilloscope ?

Someone one said (or repeated) on this forum a while back that they were surprised at how much money guitarists were prepared to pay for electric guitars and yet were reluctant to spend much on a decent amp (or something to that effect). That struck me a making sense and so the process began.

So the discussions began: A 2watt clean valve combo amp modelled on the Princeton, simple controls (Bass, Mid, Treble and Volume) with valve reverb as well. Speaker would be 12". Predominantly clean with break up approaching max volume as I prefer to use my OD pedals and really enjoy the OD on the Ethos that I now use as the hub of my pedalboard.

We are still a little way off the build start but I thought I would start the thread so long. Most components have now been ordered and a few orders need to be completed before we start my build.

I need a little help with the name of the amp and could only really come up with two possibilities so please suggest any other appropriate names here:

My choices so far:

1) "The Prince" or just "Prince" (for obvious reasons as modelled on the Princeton)
2) I quite like a rather quirky sounding "2 Princes" referring to both the Spin Doctors song I suppose but more so to the 2Watts.

Ideas and suggestions?

Aesthetics will be Wine Red Tolex, Oxblood grill, White piping and white chicken head knobs.

Besides sounding awesome, I reckon this is going to look bloody nice! Can't wait for your pics ?
No suugestions on a name though :-[

aja

Name ideas:

'the principle'
'the principal'
'nelsonton' (get it get it?)
'sultan'

Using the colour scheme, maybe a wine type name would work?
lots more princely ideas, including other languages:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_and_noble_ranks

Sean

RoyC wrote:
While I have been looking at various amps and received much advice on the forum in this regard, I still did not feel that I had found something suitable for my needs which is really for a great amp for apartment use.............

......Predominantly clean with break up approaching max volume as I prefer to use my OD pedals and really enjoy the OD on the Ethos that I now use as the hub of my pedalboard...........

My choices so far:

1) "The Prince" or just "Prince" (for obvious reasons as modelled on the Princeton)
2) I quite like a rather quirky sounding "2 Princes" referring to both the Spin Doctors song I suppose but more so to the 2Watts.

Ideas and suggestions?

Aesthetics will be Wine Red Tolex, Oxblood grill, White piping and white chicken head knobs.

Great stuff Roy! Just a question. You're not meaning "apartment use" literally are you? I'm assuming it's just the tone you're looking for when it's crancked at a "decent" volume? The reason I ask is that my little ac4 I had even at 1watt was not fit for late night use.

I must say, I kinda like the "2 Princes" ?

AlanRatcliffe

I like "The Little Prince". Or "The Prince of Pound" (there are many pounds in a ton :-[).

What's the valve compliment going to be?

Keira-WitherKay

Nice one roy , jp le roux also did a princeton circuit plus 12 but at 15w for me and we jokingly called it a "prince-tone" but never printed on the amp so throw that into the hat with the others as its unused,

sounds like a cool project , and benj is a true valve amp guru ,

racman

Thx for all the cool name suggestions - keep them coming please.

@ Sean - well technically yes "apartment" use... ? (for when the neighbours are getting rowdy ?)

I have since given my Ashton Audio Modified Champ600 to my son, but Matt installed a 2W switch which was just perfect for my situation so it should be fine and when I move our (soon hopefully) it won't be obsolete.

@Alan - The valves are: EZ81 Rectifier; ECC99 Output (push-pull); 2x ECC83 phase inverter and preamp; ECC81 or 832 Reverb. Fiberboard and eyelets. Orange drop, Silver mica caps. P12R speaker.

jaimen

Hi RoyC

Good choice! I have played on the 2W. Brilliant little amp. I also own 2 Craig amps and 2 Craig pedals. Benj is really doing some excellent work. Please check out this link and listen to a short demo of one of his amps. Recorded at home straight into the PC but you will get a good idea.
Later
Jaimen

jaimen

forgot topost the link.............

=

racman

Thanks Jaimen.

Of course this is going to be completely different from the 2W amp that Benj sells. Although I am sure this will eventually also be available alongside the other 2W model.

eric-vaxxine

I think you could call it

Royal Prince RoyII Prince
Prince Royce
Royce Prince II

Fever Prince

You are a lucky guy to be getting a Craig.
I would love him to make me a Blues Harp amp.

Keep us posted
Eric

eric-vaxxine

jaimen wrote: forgot topost the link.............

=

Jaimen
Thanks for the link. Big sound. You own HOW many Craig amps?
Wow.
Your Deluxe, it's pick-ups.....they are not mini humbuckers.
Can you please elaborate......

eric

Shibbibilybob

So I see CraigAmps punting this amp on Facebook ? and you decided on 2Princes?

racman

Progess on the Craig "2Princes" Amp... ?

Norman86

and about time too ?

Looking good Roy! I bet you cant wait to get it already hey ?

DDR4LYF

That looks great! Also, you should have called it rocket thunder juice! IMO anyway.

racman

Closer look at the wirning etc - looks great IMO!

Initial "sound test" reports sound very promising - can't wait.

Norman86

im really looking forward to this! hopefully i get to hear her before you move!

arjunmenon

RoyC wrote: Closer look at the wirning etc - looks great IMO!

Initial "sound test" reports sound very promising - can't wait.

Wow. That is some neat work.
Love the way the wires are sandwiched between the fibreboards and leaves nothing running over the top.