Robben Ford used redknob Fender + 2 x Tubescreamer RI

[hipbluescat]

You have missed the point.

What counts is what he records with in the studio.

Live is a difference world were money, logistics, risk of losing equipment, venue, contracts and plain common sense dictate what you play with.

Robben probably knows many set ups that can get near to his sound for a live gig. But that is why he is a professional musician because he knows his stuff!!

Therefore he uses a variety of set ups around the world.

I have heard him with a Dumble and tc 2290 and a super reverb and other fender amps. I think his quality of tone does suffer a bit when he uses second grade hire equipment but my attitude is that it is netter to see him play no what gear he uses.

At least he is alive and playing not dead like other artists.

[butwhatif]

What turns me on about Robben, is when he learns a new lick. God knows we've heard all his 'playing it safe' ones. The tone of the amp is a small piece of the pie compared to the material and the execution. Most good musicians on any instrument are aware of what it takes to get and have a good tone-you can't just buy it. Some amps won't give you a good tone even if you spin the knobs 'til they fall off. But you try. Most well made amps will give it up at some volume. But it's the human being on the end of the cord that is doing the delivering. The players that are continuously changing, and learning new stuff , and taking chances, that are the most exciting to listen to. Many established musicians will 'play it safe' at hi profile gigs, as, obviously you don't want your ass showing. In the studio it's easier to try new fresh ideas, gear, arrangements, because if it doesn't work, you can usually try it a different way. The players I like are the accomplished ones who will push it to the edge, and take chances at the live gigs, a musical tite rope act-if you will- my $ .025.

[Mondoslug]

You have missed the point.

What counts is what he records with in the studio.

Live is a difference world were money, logistics, risk of losing equipment, venue, contracts and plain common sense dictate what you play with.

The same could definitely be said about recording.

[pamaz67]

I'm lucky enough to have one of my d style amps played by Lello Panico in an unreleased ( to date at least) record played side by side with Robben and I tell you, both have an incredible sound , quite similar among them.
Most of it, it's in the hand, although just with Lello's guitar ( a 63 telecaster, the most incredible tele I have ever played ) I myself have been able through my amps to get really close to Robben Sounds.
Recently, always with the same 63 tele I've played through another fender inspired amp i built, and with my big surprise, Robben's tone was in the air with not even a stompbox, but just cranking the amp.
On the other side, with other tellies (vinetto, fender reissue, and suhr) and through that same amp, I was not able to get even close to that magical robben's tone.
After this experience, I'm thinking that is fundamental to get the right telecaster. Without it, you can have any hand, or any piece of gear you want, but you'll never get close to such sounds.
Unfortunately I cannot afford a good 63 tele! sigh!

[bluesfendermanblues]

do you have a schematic of the your amp??
and in particular of the OD circuit???

[pamaz67]

It's an almost stock ods 101 non hrm, with an output transformer, surprisingly good , savaged from a kmd amp from the 80.
It was a build I made for myself by using all the "garbage" I had lying around, and it turned out to be a monster tone amp.
When Lello Panico heard it, he told me, keep my fuchs, and leave me with you amp.
As a side note. The fuchs ( that I keep jealously) is not anymore stock.Now is very well tuned and is another monster tone thing .
Lucky me.
Paolo

[bluesfendermanblues]

My friend

You write almost stock, can you share the mods with us ?? or are they a commercial secret (I can see that you run an amp company)

You know we all just dumble geeks, who strive to mod our amps for great tone. ... your input would be appreciated

[pamaz67]

I can't remember exactly what the differences with a stock ods 101 are, and once again, being that amp a sort of frankenclone (???) I 've not written them. No secrets at all. Simply no documentation on it.
The only certain thing is that there was no choke ( 500 ohm instead) and that a series/ parallel loop is built in. Again, looking at i it ,was very far from being a neat realization. But once again, the less you take care of it, the bigger the final surprise. This time I've been lucky.
Next time that amp will be on my bench, I'll trace the values and post them.
The only certain thing is about the transformer , supposed to be a marshal style one that was made by this english company named TRANILAMP.
I tell you that it was so nice that I ended uop buying anither KMD amp just for having another transformer of that kind.
Bye

Paolo

[bluesfendermanblues]

Paolo,

Thanks for the info, I am looking forward to learning from your, once you get the amp on the bench.

By the way, I have been tuning my ceriatone with MM OT, tonight and used input from Heistl's recent 100k amp. The 100k/1.5k's on V1 really opened up the amp and made the overdrive attack excellent and the character of the overdrive much more fine grained. really amazing!!

I will try the 390 ohm instead of choke mod to get even closer to the Robben Ford sound. I'll keep y'all posted.

[bluesfendermanblues]

Paolo,

Thanks for the info, I am looking forward to learning from your, once you get the amp on the bench.

By the way, I have been tuning my ceriatone with MM OT, tonight and used input from Heistl's recent 100k amp. The 100k/1.5k's on V1 really opened up the amp and made the overdrive attack excellent and the character of the overdrive much more fine grained. really amazing!!

I will try the 390 ohm instead of choke mod to get even closer to the Robben Ford sound. I'll keep y'all posted.