ODS vs HRM vs non-HRM vs ?

[Rich M]

Kind of new to the Dumble thing, but just bought a Ceriatone chassis so i need to learn. I'm having trouble finding a good comparison between the ODS, HRM and non-HRM (is that an ODS?). Can someone point me to a thread or something to learn me? Are the Chassis/faceplates for an HRM the same as for an ODS? Is wood grain formica really a good way to go on the boards? I was going to use the red garolite stuff with turrets as I like working with them better. Sacrilege?

[martin manning]

Kind of new to the Dumble thing, but just bought a Ceriatone chassis so i need to learn. I'm having trouble finding a good comparison between the ODS, HRM and non-HRM (is that an ODS?). Can someone point me to a thread or something to learn me? Are the Chassis/faceplates for an HRM the same as for an ODS? Is wood grain formica really a good way to go on the boards? I was going to use the red garolite stuff with turrets as I like working with them better. Sacrilege?

I'm afraid you're just going to have to start reading the forum and studying schematics. Maybe start with the ODS #124 collection in the Dumble files section.

For a start, I think it's more correct to speak of an ODS, and of an ODS-HRM, and then there is the Bluesmaster variant of the ODS-HRM. Besides that, the basic ODS circuit evolved over time, so there are several versions. The HRM has separate masters for the clean and OD so no, the faceplates are not the same, but it's only the label.

Formica works fine for board material, but the stuff Dumble used is no longer made, AFAIK. Current products are much thinner.

You will find a range of fanaticism regarding the construction materials and techniques used. Some are after a clone in the truest sense of the word, others not so much.

[bluesfendermanblues]

Hi there,
The topics you are referring to have all been well covered on this forum.

May I suggest you do some searching and read though lots of posts.
You will find answers to all your questions above and lots of sound clips/ youtube clips, that demonstrate the quintessence of the various amp types.

For my own part I started a couple of years ago with an OTS ceriatone kit, that just didn't sound right. Did a lot of tweaks on the amp and ended up with a #124 (Search for posts by forumite Ayan), low plate, skyliner amp with Winged C 6L6, only to realise that these amps need a LOT of burn in time, in order to give there best - and with a lot of help from Ampgarage Forumites - This amp is a small blues monster with the OD channel sounding (to my ears) very much like a crancked Fender deluxe, which according to the legend was the initial design goal for Alexander Dumble, back when he was making amps for David Lindley, Ry Cooder, Lovell George and Bonnie Raitt.

My latest build is a 50w with EL34, HRM skyliner amp and based on my experience with the Ceriatone kit and again with a lot of input from this forum, sourced the parts myself and saved a lot of money compared to buying a kit. This amps sounds 'larger' and can give some of the Robben Ford tones, that was the reason I started out trying to build these amps.

Have fun searching and reading.

[odourboy]

Go through the posts in the Dumble Discussion and start listening to the numerous clips that have been posted. Most posters indicate the amp type (as well as speaker, mic etc. ). That may help train your ear to hear the differences between HRM and non-HRM along with the more subtle things like high plates versus low plates, different tone stacks etc.

There's no magic bullet.