Blues tone from a Princeton Chorus

I currently have just one amp and overall the old Fender Princeton chorus doesn't sound bad, but I am looking to get more of a blues tone out of it than I currently getting. Does anyone have a resonably cheap suggestion or am I asking too much of this amp. I play several guitars through it including a Les Paul and a Strat. Are there certain amp settings that I should be using?

Originally Posted by: keckerI currently have just one amp and overall the old Fender Princeton chorus doesn't sound bad, but I am looking to get more of a blues tone out of it than I currently getting. Does anyone have a resonably cheap suggestion or am I asking too much of this amp. I play several guitars through it including a Les Paul and a Strat. Are there certain amp settings that I should be using?

Wanting a 'blues' tone is a broad category. How you get a SRV to a Buddy to a BB King to a David Gilmour or whomever dictates what amp meets your needs. What type of blues or what artists to you find you like their tone?

I do want to point out that the Princeton is a need little 2 input amp with lots of versatility.

It also depends on what guitar(s) you play as to whether you will able to achieve the sound.

Last, instead of pitching in on the amp, you may want to consider stomp boxes like a Tube Screamer.

Thanks for your reply and your points are well taken. I am not all that familiar with too many effects pedals although I do own a little 9v powered Rat distortion pedal. I guess by saying blues tone I am primarily thinking along the lines of Stevie Ray and other strat players. What can tell me about the tube screamer?

Originally Posted by: keckerThanks for your reply and your points are well taken. I am not all that familiar with too many effects pedals although I do own a little 9v powered Rat distortion pedal. I guess by saying blues tone I am primarily thinking along the lines of Stevie Ray and other strat players. What can tell me about the tube screamer?

Stevie was an avowed Tube Screamer user. While he mostly used the TS-808 (the original and is available as a reissue for about $170ish), he used the TS9 for $99.99 and is a great pedal. Has lots of versatility that gets you a range of classic rock sounds from Stevie to the Stones to Buddy Guy and others too.

Side note on tone for Stevie, most often you hear him playing, he is either in the neck pick up position or the number "2" position between the bridge and middle pick up.


Stevie's gear:
http://www.wolfmarshall.com/hl_srv2.htm

TS808 Demo on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK2oIJz-T-w

TS9 with samples (check out sample 3):
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-TS9-Tube-Screamer-Effects-Pedal-Original-Reissue?sku=150284&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26018270

Hey kecker,
I always saw Stevie Ray playing a strat, using the neck pick up, and the middle. The pedal will help some, and I would suggest cranking the lows on the amp. I prefer 212 cabs, and start out with a really beefy clean tone, then I'll add the pedals to the mix.

I was playing country licks through Forrest's amp, using the bridge pick up on a tele. That calls for a bit more twang than blues, but you should be able to get what you want from that amp. Try the lows at about 7.5, the mids at 5, and the treble at 3.5. Don't forget to use the neck pick up on the strat, or the # 2 position. When you get that beefy clean tone, the other effects are just icing on the cake.