EL34s for a Dumble. What is the smoothest and sweetest NOS?

[blinddog]

Brandon,

For the Love of James Doohan!

Say what you will about amps lad, but I hope you’re not slamming Clan McGregor’s! AY it’s not a fine 16 year old single malt, but it gets the job done.

And it works well for de-gooping amp boards.

Lately I’m preferring the Highland Park 12 year old, which Craig Ferguson had recommended on his show to someone 6 months ago or so.

So what are you guy’s drinking these days?

Cheers All

[butwhatif]

Green Spot-- gotta get it from overseas- not avail in us.

[dartanion]

I think you need more verb

Either it's the recording or both of those amps sound muffled. Listening through the recording artifacts, the TR has more low end and sturdier mids, whereas your Dumble lacks low end but has more clarity in the upper mids and highs. Now if you could turn down the verb to where you can hear the rest of the amp better, it would be easier to judge.

Are these amps close enough to say they sound very similar to almost the same? Not to me. Maybe they would used dry?

If you want to learn about why your amp sounds good to you, you need to know the circuit. Sharing that knowledge is simple and the Dumble experts here can guide you to your tonal Nirvana. But this requires sharing information and being open to suggestions. If you need to recoup some cash, why not sell your collection of Two Rocks and keep your Dumble? It is your favorite amp and does what you want it to do, so why compromise? If you think it cannot be cloned, you'll believe that it cannot be cloned.

[Tag]

itarman18"]I really don't get this, why are we even discussing this?

Tag, I don't mean any disrespect but, you say that in your opinion, none of the other D'clone builders have got it right, and yet, I suspect Robben and Carlton would have to disagree. They have both gone with Bludo's and parked their Dumbles. These are two of the most eminent Dumble tone creators. At the end of this amp project (w/ TR?), the 'Tag seal of approval' is not really going to help an amp company to sell any more product.

I have no idea what tone those guys are going for anymore, but the last I saw Ford, he was using his Dumble, and it was harsh as hell. No dissing Brandon, but the amps I have heard of his did not have the smoothness or strain I like in some Dumbles. TwoRocks or even older Brunos are the closest for what "I" look for in a Dumble. (as you say, maybe its just the Dumbles he cloned. What serial #s were they, and did he degoop them, and post pics like guys want me to do?


I am not trying to help anyone sell amps. I am trying to get an amp that sounds as good as my Dumble. If it DOES, I will glady post clips for all to hear. If it does not, I will probably STILL post clips for all to hear.

I can't help thinking that to some extent you are being 'played'. As a real deal Dumble owner, you are financing their research for free. No wonder they are willing to spend some time with you, I would do the same!

It was me who reached out. I talked to several builders, (who will remain nameless) and went with who "I" felt was as fanatical as I was with nailing this thing once and for all.

You also say that your EL34 amp is the best of the Dumbles you have come across, which highlights the fact that no two HAD builds were the same. Could it be that the clones you have listened to, are identical to a HAD amp that just didn't quite do it for you?

Its possible, but all except for one shitty one had qualitys that I have not heard in any clone. Most clones capture this aspect or that, but not all of the things I dig about great Dumbles.

It is true, your amp does sound great, but I have heard real deal clips that sound quite ordinary. So I think it is unfair to say that HAD-260 points/cloners- nil.

Again, I can see your point, and its a possibilty, but play all the clones live that I have, and play many Dumbles live like I have, and then see what you think.

For example;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xox5eHFm56k&NR=1

Tone is such a subjective thing that I don't think any one of us has the credentials to say, this is right, that is wrong!

It is the way I hear it. If you think and specific cloner has nailed the Dumble sound, GOOD FOR YOU!! Just buy one of them, play and be happy! I wish I felt the same! I would not be wasting my time and money with this.

Anyway, I have a date with a new soldering iron, this could be a long night!

Cheers,

Post clips when you are done!!

[Tag]

I think you need more verb

Either it's the recording or both of those amps sound muffled. Listening through the recording artifacts, the TR has more low end and sturdier mids, whereas your Dumble lacks low end but has more clarity in the upper mids and highs. Now if you could turn down the verb to where you can hear the rest of the amp better, it would be easier to judge.

Are these amps close enough to say they sound very similar to almost the same? Not to me. Maybe they would used dry?

If you want to learn about why your amp sounds good to you, you need to know the circuit. Sharing that knowledge is simple and the Dumble experts here can guide you to your tonal Nirvana. But this requires sharing information and being open to suggestions. If you need to recoup some cash, why not sell your collection of Two Rocks and keep your Dumble? It is your favorite amp and does what you want it to do, so why compromise? If you think it cannot be cloned, you'll believe that it cannot be cloned.

All my amps have that muffled sound, thats what I like! Again, I have found someone who I think can do the job as well as anyone can. Getting started real soon.

[CHIP]

Here's a suggestion, Let Brandon and Henry have the same access to your Dumble as your builder and see who can "nail" the tone the best.
How can any one of these great builders clone something special and unique unless they know EVERYTHING about your amp? Then everyone could post clips and we all can decide.
I believe the great builders who contribute to this forum could clone that THING just as precise as your builder.
In other words "put your money where your mouth is"
By the way, hope your builder has some "aged" iron around.

[Structo]

So this mysterious amp builder is going to work with you to build the ultimate clone?

But if you cannot communicate what you want from it how is he supposed to build it?
Strain and muffle are not adjectives I would use when describing the tone of a guitar amp.

So the mysterious builder puts together a pile of parts and then you play through it.
If it doesn't nail the tone in your head, you said you will scrap it.
So is the builder out of the dough it took to build the piece of shit or are you going to pay for his time and materials?

I can't imagine building an amp for you.
It would be impossible to build it to your satisfaction!
If you can't tell the builder in technical terms what you need, is he supposed to read your mind and get lucky with the components?
It's just caps and resistors after all, there is no magic.

Do you honestly think that the ODS you bought is that great?
I can't tell the difference between that and any of the many amps you have posted clips of before.
The only difference is the $$$$$!
You must have more money than sense.
If you are going to throw money down the drain like that, at least throw it at a worth while charity where you actually help people rather than frustrate them.

If you are not here to learn, bugger off.
We don't need a fanboy fanning the flames, it's already hot enough here.....

Oh and say hi to Bill, he's got his work cut out for him!

[M Fowler]

Tom,

Could you send that heat my way thanks. Oh wait I am leaving for San Diego and then to see Henry in Phoenix soon, never mind. Redplate amps rule.

I have the ultimate ODS on my work bench right now so I need to get back to aging my parts. Its a slow process but worth it.

Mark

[dreric]

At least he's not calling it an "ampstrument" (sorry I just can't let that one go)

I think the name says it all: Tag, as in "you're it"

Eric

[Bob-I]

For example;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xox5eHFm56k&NR=1

That was just GOD aweful.... please give me my ears back.

[Allynmey]

For example;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xox5eHFm56k&NR=1

That was just GOD aweful.... please give me my ears back.

agreed...........horrible!

[redshark]

The express clone that I just built sounds so much better than that Dumble.....

[Guitarman18]

Allynmey wrote:

Bob-I wrote:
Guitarman18 wrote:
For example;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xox5eHFm56k&NR=1



That was just GOD aweful.... please give me my ears back.


agreed...........horrible!

It proves a point though!

[nickm57]

This goes to show how out of touch theses "clips" are with the real world players.
The Amps master is on about 1? The player is playing at a level around the same volume of the demonstrator speaking.

Yes..... I've always recorded and played at this level
this sort of demo is what a POD was made for.

An amp like this would need to run around the level of a mid to quiet drummer (2X6v6s') to sound right. Frequency response just not right at that sort of setting, you can get a pignose to sound better at that level.

[TheHandsomeOrk]

Hey ya wannabe's and backyard hacks. It's me agin.
If ya lucky ya scurvy ridden dogs ah toss a bone ya way. Ahs letcha listen ta me spanking ma new toy an murdering sum RF licks, tirty tree years behind a shovel will git ya hands like these. Dem softhanded pros don't know shite. Ya time wasten frigits should be grateful ahs even spicks ta ya. Anyhoos me new baby ain't as sweet wit bistortion and ahs reckons it's dem commie toobs.
Piont me in da direkshun of da good stuf wit cha little chubby hands b4 ahs takes a shovel ta ya ass. Dis baby cust me ma lifes treasures an ahs aint happy ya ingrates. Ahs gonna crack dis chest but it aint fer yer bloodshot scurvy ridden eyes ya mangy dogs. Mees ferst mate gits ta look cus he be da custard ya pus ridden poxes an ifn yas lucky ahs thros ya a nuder bone.