Need some guidance... looking to do Two D-style builds

[ValveStorm]

Hi everybody!

Some of you might know me from the MetroAmp/Marshall world. For years I have been lurking about wanting to build a D-style amp. Years ago I started visiting the BrownNote site looking at some of the kits there. I finally pulled the trigger and bought a HRM chassis, some boards, and some trannies there. Took a little while to work thru actually getting those parts, but I did. In the meantime, I decided to get parts from some other places... CE Pedals (chassis), AGB Amps (boards), etal. So now I am looking too build two D-style builds.

I am thinking the CE/ABG stuff will work best with a 100w 183 style build with EL34s... please let me know if that makes sense. Here is what I have for this so far:
CE chassis
AGB boards
PT:MOJO763 and OT:CT 40-18026

Also looking for input on what do with the BN parts... while the BM chassis has (4) power tube locations, I was thinking it might be best to make some sort of 50wattish amp that could use (2) EL34s or (2) 6L6s or (4) 6V6s. This came with:
BN BM chassis
D-Lite Boards
PT: 40-18041 and OT: 40-18001

I am thinking I want to do the CE/AGB 100w 183 first... I am open to suggestions as far as moving in different directions for these builds; and... yes I have spent 100s of hours looking though the info on the forum... and.. no... you won't be seeing any D-style build checklists on valvestorm.com! I have enough trouble keeping Marshall related parts in rotation... while some of the parts are the same, the D-style BOMs are making my head hurt!

I do hope to come up with some BOMs, and perhaps a build guide, that might help some folks out here.

[martin manning]

Greetings! It all sounds good to me. The 100W PT and OT are a match for EL34's, and the BN transformers are a 50W set. Several 4x 6V6 amps have been done by members here with good results. Get on with it!

[Colossal]

Hi Robert,

Good to see you in these parts, welcome to the forum! Great people and information here. Good luck with your builds.

[Structo]

Welcome to the Amp Garage, Robert.

I recommend you build a 4x power tube amp.

Whether it is a 6L6GC or EL34 amp, the extra two power tubes provide more girth and much better tone overall.
Since the holes are already punched, the overall price increase is not that much, other than two more tubes, sockets, resistors.

I built a D'lite 44 (2x 6L6) and struggled trying to get it to sound Dumbly.

I got it to sound pretty good with help from this forum, but something was just lacking.
So I built a 100w ODS from scratch and I am very happy with it.

The 100w amp is not twice as loud as a 50.
Doubling power will only get you another 6db but the improvement in tone is worth it.

With the nice master volume control you can play at any volume you want and still have it sound good.

I also recommend the Dumbleator effects loop as part of the 'package' for good tone.

[Luthierwnc]

Welcome aboard!

Sounds like you are going about this the right way. There are a lot of eras of these amps and one of them won't do it all. If I had an HRM in the parts stage, I might look at something more primitive than the 183 -- maybe 2nd or third generation.

It also sounds like you have done your homework. These amps are fussy about components and layout. Spend special attention on the cheap parts; caps and resistors. Iron and glass are more straightforward.

Most of all, don't be bashful about asking for help. I've received more than I've given here and you'll find TAG members very generous.

Cheers, sh

[ValveStorm]

Thank you all for the welcome and feedback! I am moving slowly with these builds, so I am open to suggestions!

So... should I proceed with the following as a 183 style build:
CE chassis
AGB boards
PT:MOJO763 and OT:CT 40-18026

AND do some thing different with these parts?
BN BlueMonkey chassis & Boards
PT: 40-18041 and OT: 40-18001

If it would be best to make both 100w amps, I will need to get different trannies for the second one... recommendations?

Perhaps, I should change gears and do more of a 183 with the BN parts, and do something different with the CE/AGB parts?

Seems like the correct 250KA pots for these builds have higher values and different tapers than the commonly available varieties. Any sourcing suggestions in this regard?

Also, the bias test points for the CE chassis (0.3" dia) seem to require banana jacks? I can't seem to find any tip jacks that wide...

[dcribbs1412]

Hi ValveStorm
I agree with Luthierwnc, maybe the BN HRM along with
the earlier circuit like the 3rd Gen 100 watt(might be cool with EL34's)Both are a blast to play. You can always mod later
As far as pots I would go with whats on hand
either way you go I predict
some nice amps will happen

Darin

[dcribbs1412]

I think these bias test jacks work for CE chassis
https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/S-H260
https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/S-H261

[Salvovulcan]

hello everbody, looking for some opinions

I'm looking for a "robben ford "sound, so I asked to Moss (brown note) and he suggested a d'lite44. And so without other reference I'm going to buy the kit.

Please who have already tried Dumble stile amps could help me in orienting in a right sound compromise.

At the moment my ams are a blackface, rheinard, vox 50, different cab with jensen, celestion g12v30, g12h65, electro voice, just to experiment with sound.

Sorry for my english

best regards
Salvo

[Luthierwnc]

Welcome to TAG. Your English is fine.

Starting is doing. The lite will get you going. Even if you had the exact right parts for a 100-watt 102 clone, you'd still need the Dumbleator, lots of FX and sympathetic guitars. You'll learn more than can be explained. Trust your ears.

Have fun and reread all of the safety precautions. sh

[Structo]

Well I hope you get your kit.

Others have not been as fortunate.

[talbany]

The further you stray from the layouts in the files section (including component choice and lead dress) the further you move away from the personality of the ODS from that model/generation...From there on out any changes made are really a matter of personal taste (and application)..I recommend starting as close as you can to the original then tweak after you have played the amp a while since these amps take a bit of getting used too..
IMO Dumbles are more sensitive to small changes than the Marshall's are (since the Dumbles are dual channel and use cascading gain stages)
BTW If I were to do a 50w version of an Overdrive Special it would be an earlier 2nd generation 6L version..But that's just me..


Hope this helps!!

Tony

[Structo]

And don't change (tweak) more than one thing at a time!
It's easy to get lost when throwing parts at a amp, harder to figure out which one is good or not so good.

Also if you gig with the amp, be sure to play it at gig volumes if possible when testing changes.

Different things come into play when the volume is up.

Like Tony said if you like the Dumble tone, follow the layouts carefully paying close attention to the grounding scheme as well as how the wires are dressed.

However, If you just want the best rock n roll guitar amp for your style, tweak away.

Even with a stock (clone) amp, there are a lot of knobs to adjust to just about any taste you may have.

[ValveStorm]

I am still here. I have the CE chassis and the BrownNote BM chassis. I think the recommendations so far are to build the BN/BM out as a later HRM style and to do an earlier version with the CE chassis. I have started with the CE and am still looking for recommendations as to where to take it. I have been starting with the power supply elements so I can test them as I go along. Please let me know if you see any functional or stylistic issues.

Started with the 12v supply and LED:

[img2472]http://valvestorm.com/sites/default/files/D_CE_12V.JPG[/img]

Then the Rectifier and Bias supplies:

[img2472]http://valvestorm.com/sites/default/fil ... CTBIAS.JPG[/img]

Pretty sure I did the 1 ohm bias sense resistors and jacks the way they were designed for the CE chassis; however I did integrate the heater balance resistors with the bias ground. I don't think this is a problem, but let me know.

[img2472]http://valvestorm.com/sites/default/fil ... iasBal.JPG[/img]

[Structo]

Looking real good.

Nice work!