Getting that Dumble or D Clone Tone?

[dave g]

Pretty much every pic of a TR I've ever seen has had the formica board.

They also have all looked like they were wired by an 8 year old (the same goes for Brunos).

[JamesO]

I haven't seen the guts of a Bruno, but the wiring here looks fine to me. Cleaner than mine, at least.

[Structo]

Heheheh, well we don't want to go down that road again....

I was playing through my amp tonight and I thought that doesn't sound half bad! I was playing at a fairly low volume. The room isn't that great to listen in, it's small and all kinds of things in there buzz, vibrate and rattle.

You ever do that?
At one point you are about ready to tear everything out and start over then you think, hey, it sounds pretty good right now?

Well I know it still needs a few tweaks here and there. I have a choke I'm going to try and a few other odds and ends.

I just don't have enough experience to know if I do this, it will result in that. Because it all seems like a trade off when you start changing values of things because of the way they interact.

Speakers. I do know they make a difference.

Well right now I have a pair of Tonkerlites after hearing some good things about them. I did want to try a Neo speaker so I bought them.
I'm thinking now that they sound pretty good at low to medium volume but seem to get flabby when turned up loud.
I can't really afford to buy speakers only to find I don't like them.

The 1265's and EV 12L's get a lot of nods. But the EV's are $280 each while the 1265's are around $180 each.

I only have the one extension cab and it's a 2x12 so I need to go in pairs.
What's the deal with the EV 12L's? All I see is the Black Label Sack Wylde ones now? There seems to be a 12L classic but don't see it for sale.

I also have a pair of V30's in another combo, a pair of Sheffield's in an old Vox cab, a Warehouse V30 and CL80 that I had in the 2x12 before the Tonkerlites. Those actually sounded pretty good so I may go back to those.

In the end it's all fun and I enjoy it a lot.

I need to get together with Greiswig and check out his speakers.

I really don't have any guitar playing friends anymore. Seems as if most of them drifted away in a fog of drugs and alcohol and I am so not into that anymore....

But it's fun to talk about this stuff and this forum has been a God send for me, because without it, I wouldn't have a clue about these valve amps.
I mean I got a degree back in the mid 70's but we didn't spend anytime at all in tube theory since everybody knew that solid state was sooo much better......

[JimiB]

did want to try a Neo speaker so I bought them.
I'm thinking now that they sound pretty good at low to medium volume but seem to get flabby when turned up loud.

I havent noticed that at all? Wierd - I really like the tornado's even better!

[JamesO]

I'm just like you, Tom. I can get so discouraged about it that I think about not just starting over, but just selling it all and just getting an AC15, Deluxe reissue, and a few pedals. But where's the journey in that?

[JimiB]

But where's the journey in that?

I think it would start in about a month when you started having thoughts like "I wonder how much a good OT would improve the low end of that DR? Lets just take a peek inside this AC15 to see what kind of coupling caps they used? hmmmmmmmm"

[Guitarman18]

In case anyone wants to hear direct comparisons between some of the amps mentioned in this discussion, I see that Woody has some new, cool clips presented really nicely. It's good to hear the different amps played with the same guitar, same cab (I believe) and mic.

http://www.woodys-guitar-world.co.uk/listen.htm


Cheers, Paul.

[butwhatif]

The 1265's and EV 12L's get a lot of nods. But the EV's are $280 each while the 1265's are around $180 each.

I only have the one extension cab and it's a 2x12 so I need to go in pairs.
What's the deal with the EV 12L's? All I see is the Black Label Sack Wylde ones now? There seems to be a 12L classic but don't see it for sale.

I also have a pair of V30's in another combo, a pair of Sheffield's in an old Vox cab, a Warehouse V30 and CL80 that I had in the 2x12 before the Tonkerlites. Those actually sounded pretty good so I may go back to those.

U can find a 12L on ebay for $150 or less, or buy a blown one and have it reconed. I have a 1x12 ported cab made by Al Hermida that sounds great at low vol , and would hold it's own up against a 4x12 . And great bottom end! Sheffields are good sounding speakers, and Jensen Mod 12-110s are nice inexpensive speakers.

[Structo]

In case anyone wants to hear direct comparisons between some of the amps mentioned in this discussion, I see that Woody has some new, cool clips presented really nicely. It's good to hear the different amps played with the same guitar, same cab (I believe) and mic.

http://www.woodys-guitar-world.co.uk/listen.htm


Cheers, Paul.

I've heard that D'Lite 44 clip before,(Say It Again) in fact I liked it so much I have that song on my computer.

I'd like to know what that amp has had done to it because my amp never sounded like that.
That is what I would like mine to sound like.

http://www.woodys-guitar-world.co.uk/wo ... wnnote.htm

It says the guitar was a Suhr chambered. 2 X 1265 cab used.
[img:275:206]http://www.woodys-guitar-world.co.uk/wo ... r_bott.gif[/img]

[Normster]

I'll have to wait for Moss to confirm, but I'm pretty sure that was a D44 ODE reverb amp. Most likely a Skyline tone stack, non-HRM, "standard" plate and cathode values. It sounds pretty aggressive so I suspect he has the OD trimmer set a little higher than usual and has a bright cap on the Master.

Considering the tone you're going for, you might want to take a look at the "Early 80's Grailtone" schematic posted by mdroberts.
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=4382

I've built a few of these and they're consistently great sounding amps. Very smooth and forgiving OD. Check out Mitch Farber playing on at the NY Amp Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBaeF61H ... re=related
(Chuck's playing a bluesmaster)

For a little contrast, check out Jeff playing Gil's HRM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKzPtBTa ... re=channel

[butwhatif]

Pretty much every pic of a TR I've ever seen has had the formica board.

They also have all looked like they were wired by an 8 year old (the same goes for Brunos).

I just worked on one of these, it sounded like any generic amp when it arrived. Also had leaky grounding scheme that made for hum and thin sound which circumvented the masters. An amp with no real voice. Was able to get a good non hrm sound after a fair bit of modification.

[Structo]

I'll have to wait for Moss to confirm, but I'm pretty sure that was a D44 ODE reverb amp. Most likely a Skyline tone stack, non-HRM, "standard" plate and cathode values. It sounds pretty aggressive so I suspect he has the OD trimmer set a little higher than usual and has a bright cap on the Master.

Considering the tone you're going for, you might want to take a look at the "Early 80's Grailtone" schematic posted by mdroberts.
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=4382

I've built a few of these and they're consistently great sounding amps. Very smooth and forgiving OD. Check out Mitch Farber playing on at the NY Amp Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBaeF61H ... re=related
(Chuck's playing a bluesmaster)

For a little contrast, check out Jeff playing Gil's HRM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKzPtBTa ... re=channel

Thanks Norm.
In looking at that schematic it's interesting the they have a 1uf bypass cap on CL2.
And 220K/250pf on the input of the .02uf PI cap.
Also a 30pf bright cap on the master.

Of course that is a 4 x 6L6 amp too, so not sure if that would improve my 2 x 6L6 amp.

I have most of what that amp has on it in my amp.
The high plates and bypass.
The 120K/110K on the PI, no balance trimmer though.

[lbradshaw]

I've built a few of these and they're consistently great sounding amps. Very smooth and forgiving OD. Check out Mitch Farber playing on at the NY Amp Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBaeF61H ... re=related
(Chuck's playing a bluesmaster)

Wow, I like that bluesmaster clip. which schematic is that? I am thinking of try my test build as an bluesmaster at some point. Planning on trying a bunch of things, to see what I really like.

[lbradshaw]

I've built a few of these and they're consistently great sounding amps. Very smooth and forgiving OD. Check out Mitch Farber playing on at the NY Amp Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBaeF61H ... re=related
(Chuck's playing a bluesmaster)

Wow, I like that bluesmaster clip. which schematic is that? I am thinking of try my test build as an bluesmaster at some point. Planning on trying a bunch of things, to see what I really like.

[dave g]

Wow, I like that bluesmaster clip. which schematic is that? I am thinking of try my test build as an bluesmaster at some point. Planning on trying a bunch of things, to see what I really like.

A whole topic on the BM:

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=3344