Comparison of Fender iron tone VS Music Man iron tone

[dogears]

Just for giggles, I just recorded these two clips to compare the tone of Fender iron to Music Man iron. Both amps were set to similar settings and gain levels. Same exact loop settings and 2290 settings. Same mic positions. Nothing changed except plugging between the amps. The amps were the Glaswerks Deluxe OD (with Ojai tweaks) and the Bludo Music Man 6L6 non HRM with the same Ojai tweaks. Similar measured JJ preamp tubes.

I did however sit closer to the cab on the Glaswerks clip. That is why there is more bloom and feedback. The amps are both equally repsonsive. Just my position changed relative to the cab between takes. Me bad....

The mixes should be similar. No EQ at all. Just a touch of verb added. Same exact verb and levels between the two.

Clip one: Bludo Music Man 6L6 Skyline (recorded first) http://scottlernermusic.com/Bludo/BludoRMEtest.mp3
Clip two: Glaswerks Deluxe OD Skyline http://scottlernermusic.com/SOD/GlaswerksRMETest.mp3

Better Bludo clip Clip three: Bludo Music Man 6L6 Skyline, me closer to cab to get more interaction http://www.scottlernermusic.com/Bludo/B ... ample1.mp3

Clip four: Remix of Glaswerks clip above http://www.scottlernermusic.com/SOD/Gla ... ample1.mp3

I got kind of burned on this backing so the ideas kind of got funky as time went on. Whoops....

I want to add that both amps are superb in person and this is not a black/white competition between them. They are both amazing. The clips are just for example purposes and not optimized for each amps characteristics.

[Structo]

That Glaswerks sounds amazing.
The bloom and harmonics sound very cool!

What are Ojai tweaks?

[hitchcaster]

tom good question, but the answer is only going to lead to another question. so don't waste a question that i bet you can figure out (ojai is where a famous dumble player lives thats not named Larry)... instead ask "so.... what are THE ojai tweaks?"
btw, both amps sound great. fender sounds more organic/woody and MM sounds more modern/hifi to my ears

[Structo]

Well I figured out there is a Ojai California.

If it's a secret why mention it?

[dogears]

Ojai is as you guys surmised. Skyline High Plate. Secret is in how you set the stack. I personally like using the 30% pots like the real deal. Also, OD trim is fairly low inside.

Here are my settings, using 30% taper where all audio pots go.

Input gain 50% - audio 30%
Treble 25-30% - linear
Mids 45-50% - audio 30%
Bass 50%-55% - audio 30%
OD Gain - 50% - linear
OD Level - 50% - linear
Master - 50% - audio 30%
Presence - 30% - linear



There are a few minor deviations from the norm that make a subtle difference, but a good 80s Skyline build will get you close.

You do need to have a big master bright cap and then use 150-250pf per cable hookup between your Dumbleator and amp..... This is crucial!

Thanks for listening guys!

[selloutrr]

I'm not sure I'm following this 30% can u explain?

[dogears]

Many grail Dumbles used 30% taper pots instead of the 15% taper commonly available now. So, if set at noon (50%), these pots would be twice as high as the newer ones. In my settings, I run the input at noon. I called this 50% up. Even though the pot electrically is only up 30%. This is much higher than a new pot at noon.

Sorry for the confusing rambling description! LOL

I'm not sure I'm following this 30% can u explain?

[selloutrr]

Awesome thank you for clarification

[hitchcaster]

so where do you get the 30% pots? the dumbleator needs the right pots IMHO too... i had PEC's in there but changed them out to the cheapo alpha pots which for some reason are simi magic in dumble circuits, but not always. thanks for the info. so robben has one HRM and one NON-hrm? and you've got the cloned circuit for the HRM? what ever you feel like sharing is cool.. thanks!

[selloutrr]

Were all pots 30% linear or just the audio taper in a dumble?

[Pete]

Unless I'm mistaken, no pot is "30% linear" that is contradictory. Linear would indicate not tapered so when the pot is at the half way point, it would measure 50% of it's total value, refering to the measurment between the middle and left lugs(viewing from the back in the mounting position usually used in these amps). hope that is a little less confusing.
also, I think 30% was phased out in general over time, in favor of 15% and even 10%.

Were all pots 30% linear or just the audio taper in a dumble?

Scott, beautiful sounds as usual and thanks for the additional info/comments on the amps and setup.

[mlp-mx6]

Scott, for this pair of recordings ("better Bludo" vs. "Glaswerks remix") I just barely prefer the Glaswerks. It's the difference in upper-mid/highs that gives just a bit more clarity and expressiveness to the Glaswerks. I don't know if a re-EQ of the Bludo clip would change things for me. Both clips sound GREAT, and they're VERY close to each other, but if I have to choose I choose the Glaswerks this time around. By a TINY margin.

[dogears]

Hi guys,

Here is a quicky from this am of the Glaswerks SODII in the same mode as the other 2 clips here. Difference is that I had the volume a tad lower, I was a couple feet further from the amp, and I used a send cable to the loop that had about 100pf more capacitance to compress the highs more. This is a different Glaswerks that switches from non HRM to HRM, Skyline or Bluesmaster.

http://www.scottlernermusic.com/SOD/Gla ... ample1.mp3

[mlp-mx6]

Sounds good too, but has a woofiness in the low end that I don't prefer (relative to the other 2 clips).

[greiswig]

When you say "Music Man iron," are we talking PT, OT, or both?