Compared my amp to a Fuchs bassman mod today

[Bob-I]

Wasserrockinbluesman stopped over with his new Fuchs bassman mod. Excellent amp, articulate and gutsy. It's also a thing of beauty to look at, chromed chassis and xformers, nice tweed job on the cab, knobs and faceplate look great.

So we compared my 3 channel HRM to the Fuchs, same guitar (Hamer 335 copy), same cab (2x12 Celestion G12H), same room (10x10 home office). The Fuchs is more articulate, more middy and generally a nicer overall OD tone. My amp has tons more bottom end, JaLo bottom end compared to the Fuchs. I also hit saturation earlier on the gain dials and it gets muddy in comparison.

I like the one tube reverb in my amp better. The Fuchs got harsh at higher settings, the Glassman ckt seems smoother to my ears, especally when used with OD.

I honestly found the Fuchs to not have enough bottom end. I like the bass boost on and bass knob up at about 80%. Overall both amps sounded great, but I can make mine BETTER!!!. I just need to lose some of the muddyness.

[Normster]

Nice to know that your amp sounds as good as the big guy's, eh?

I had a similar opportunity to compare a Fuchs/Dogears modded Bassman to my amps. Overall, the tone was similar, but the Fuchs had this eerie little sag/bloom thing goin' on that I couldn't get from my amps. It also had slightly better sustain and a bit smoother OD. Even though the differences were subtle, I was very impressed with the Fuchs.

Here's the clip I recorded when I had the amp. First 30 seconds is my Dumble clone, next 30 seconds is the Fuchs, last 30 seconds is my Bassman. The Fuchs and Bassman are both played through a 1 x 12 with an Alltone 1250, the Dumble is a combo with a Tonespotter.

http://bad-domain/MP3/Dumble_Fuchs_Bassman.mp3

I actually think my Bassman sounded closer to the Fuchs than my D-clone in this clip. Same iron? Same speaker?

[mat]

Nice to know that your amp sounds as good as the big guy's, eh?

I had a similar opportunity to compare a Fuchs/Dogears modded Bassman to my amps. Overall, the tone was similar, but the Fuchs had this eerie little sag/bloom thing goin' on that I couldn't get from my amps. It also had slightly better sustain and a bit smoother OD. Even though the differences were subtle, I was very impressed with the Fuchs.

Here's the clip I recorded when I had the amp. First 30 seconds is my Dumble clone, next 30 seconds is the Fuchs, last 30 seconds is my Bassman. The Fuchs and Bassman are both played through a 1 x 12 with an Alltone 1250, the Dumble is a combo with a Tonespotter.

http://bad-domain/MP3/Dumble_Fuchs_Bassman.mp3

I actually think my Bassman sounded closer to the Fuchs than my D-clone in this clip. Same iron? Same speaker?

Normser, Your amps sound superb to me Very slight difference to the Fuchs. All the amps has very nice overdrive. Its something my clone lacks. I mean, it gets too squashed when cranking the drive I really have to get back to the HRM-thingy after my recent build. Very VERY good sounding amps !!! Congrats !

cheers,

[tonelab2]

Congrats normster.
I listened a couple of times but my ears must be really dull as the diff between them for me is ever so slight. If you told me they were all the same amp I would believed it. There probably is a bigger difference live compared to mp3. Nice sounding amps.

[Bob-I]

I ripped into the 3 channel amp yesterday and I'm puzzled. All 3 channels are overly bassy so the problem must be in the output section. No idea what's wrong though, I reduced the caps, the PI input is the normal .022uF, reduced it all the way to .0033 and no change. Changed the .1uF PI couplers to .022uF no change.

Why would this amp be so bottom heavy? It's an HRM 90's style with an added 3rd channel using Fender Super values. The iron is Mojotone Fender Bassman replacements and it has a Glassman style one tube reverb.

[tonelab2]

I know this will sound like a dumb reply but have you tried the amp with a different OT, just to rule it out of the picture.
(hope that made sense)
I'm really impressed with the 3 channel idea (great for covers band situation) , it's on my list but there's too many amps and not enough time.

[Bob-I]

I know this will sound like a dumb reply but have you tried the amp with a different OT, just to rule it out of the picture.

No, but I've used this same OT on another amp. It's really a big job to change it out and I don't have another one.

I'm really impressed with the 3 channel idea (great for covers band situation) , it's on my list but there's too many amps and not enough time.

It's really a big project, about a year from inception to completed amp and I'm still tweaking.

[dogears]

Bob, immediately reduce OD1 from .01 to .0022. Unless of course the layout is mistaken. That will really really help the OD bass issue. I use .047 to feed the OD network, not .022 as well. Try doing both changes and see if at least the OD tone is improved.

I'd try a tranny change as the others suggested.

I ripped into the 3 channel amp yesterday and I'm puzzled. All 3 channels are overly bassy so the problem must be in the output section. No idea what's wrong though, I reduced the caps, the PI input is the normal .022uF, reduced it all the way to .0033 and no change. Changed the .1uF PI couplers to .022uF no change.

Why would this amp be so bottom heavy? It's an HRM 90's style with an added 3rd channel using Fender Super values. The iron is Mojotone Fender Bassman replacements and it has a Glassman style one tube reverb.

[jaysg]

I ripped into the 3 channel amp yesterday and I'm puzzled. All 3 channels are overly bassy so the problem must be in the output section.

Did it change or has it always been this way?

[Funkalicousgroove]

try that network from the #124 amp across your fx loop send/return. It's a 220K resistor with a 250pf across it, It seems to lessen the lower mid/bass boominess.

[Bob-I]

Scott, I do have a .047 feeding the OD but all 3 channels are showing this boomyness so changing OD caps won't resolve it, but thx.

Jay, this is the first time I compared to the Fuchs so I think yes, it's always been this way.

Funk, that's a good suggestion, I'll try that one.

Thx everyone.

[dogears]

But, do you have a .0022 on OD1?? Must be .0022

Scott, I do have a .047 feeding the OD but all 3 channels are showing this boomyness so changing OD caps won't resolve it, but thx.

Jay, this is the first time I compared to the Fuchs so I think yes, it's always been this way.

Funk, that's a good suggestion, I'll try that one.

Thx everyone.

[Bob-I]

But, do you have a .0022 on OD1?? Must be .0022

You are correct sir!!! It MUST by .0022 or you'll lose all articulation. For the Hybrid I just built I have .0047 but the HRM is a different animal.

[Bob-I]

try that network from the #124 amp across your fx loop send/return. It's a 220K resistor with a 250pf across it, It seems to lessen the lower mid/bass boominess.

I added it, seemed to help a little, but it's still very boomy. I pretty much have to run the bass knob almost off.

[Tdale]

where does the 0.0022 go?

Tommy