About three years ago i decided i was ready for a scratch Dumble build. After starting the early work i had a horrible accident and shattered my pelvis, it took me almost a year to relearn to walk ect so i was stuck in a chair, eventually i decided to build the Tweed Overdrive Special from the guys at the EL34world forum. The fact that i assumed that would be an easier build shows that i was not ready for the dumble. I used that amp as a learning tool, its no longer a TOS, keep an eye out for a post soon about the Tweed Super lead special. I digress.
I have never been so patient or careful with any of my projects as i am being with this build. So far only a few tiny errors. I created my own layout which ill post when i know its correct. I have developed a pretty fast way to make to scale layouts which can double as a drill guide for the chassis and boards. I really just blew up tonys layout to fit my chassis and placed everything in Affinity Design. I wanted the handful of changes i made to be on the layout and maybe someone else might find it useful.
I had started to collect some nos parts although the 5uf tvas are all I'm using. I was getting ready to buy 2 sets of resisters from jelle last week when i received the news that the owner of the business I've managed for 15 years hasn't been paying his taxes. Lets just say ill have some free time to sort my modern production equivalents.
i mostly have current Dale CMF60, Ohmite OM series CFs, and a few KOAs. Im using CDE filter caps because the Spragues are like 18$ a piece now!!!ODs are all the polyester variants and ceramics are all Vishays.
The first mistake i made was my first order, i somehow saw the relay as a 3PDT. Im using an “ice cube” style so i bought the socket, mounting plate, and metal strap. Im pretty sure its fine and will work but im scared to look deeper into it. Although Im at the point where i need to know
also I can’t think of a use for that third switch but if anyone else can let me know. The second mistake i made was with the foot switch jack. I bought a 5 pin nos neutrik xlr jack and plug awhile back. Cant find the data sheet for the mounting hole, it is a wonky shaped jack and so i just drilled a big hole and filed in the notches. Not much of a mistake but the ugly hole bothers me. Im aware its not necessary but i plan to keep the possibility for more relays open.
The only other thing so far has been when i had my face plate made, “front panel express” i ignorantly made all of my holes exactly the same size as the shafts ect. Luckily i was maniacally anal when machining my chassis so everything fit perfect.
I chose slide switches because i like them and i have a ton. I added the FX return because i have a d’lator. I plan to add an fx loop bypass relay and add a switch on the pedal once everything works. I bought the chassis on Reverb from Synaptic amplification, i asked him to make it as big and wide as possible, i ended up with a chassis that measures 21” x 10” x 2 3/4”. Lets just say for once i have a lot of room. I had him add the iec, power xformer cutout, and mounting nuts because he offered that service for not much more. Im very satisfied.
The head cab will be based on the typical Dumble style scaled up for my chassis. Im using solid pine, dovetailed, covering will be black suede and im using orange leather instead of grill clothe. My thought was to make it as close to an original ODS as possible at first but to make it look and sound like what I would have ordered from Dumble in the 70s if i had been able to. Although idk if he would've done a black and orange faceplate
. I want to do a SSS in the same fashion at some point. Its said often but cant be understated how incredible this forum is. I believe in the future it will probably be archived and used as a historical as well as an educational resource. I don’t know of anywhere else with people that are so gracious with their time and experience and i for one feel lucky to even be a tiny part of that.
Thanks for checking out my build guys!
so again THANK YOU!
