Anybody seen this SSS Clone

[boldaslove6789]

I searched E-bay for "Dumble" and this came up. Anybody know anything about these guys or this SSS type amp?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hamiltone-Stevie-Ra ... 35a8ebb36e

[stumpydj]

Hamiltone is also the name of the company that made a custom Strat for SRV. I wonder if this amp was made by the same company?

I am certainly not an expert on SRV's amps. However, all photos I've seen of SRV's SSS's, Silver or Black, show them to have the FET volume as well as the Normal volume, the Hi and Lo Filters and 6550's. The Hamiltone amp doesn't have the FET, or the filters, and has 5881's, not 6550's. I've never seen the amps first hand, or spoken with anyone who has, but this is what the photos of "King Tone Consoul" show.

[boldaslove6789]

I think it is the same guy that makes Hamiltone guitars. Jim Hamiltone lives here in Buffalo. I'm going to contact him and see what he's got to say and I'll post some details. The logo is exactly the same BTW.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

Sure is pricy !

[ampdork]

:O)

[DonMoose]

Sure is pretty!

Not $6k pretty, but pretty.

[glasman]

Look at the front panel closely. Almost looks like a paper laminate.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

Paper is better than plastic, oh no, that's shopping bags....sorry...lol

[boldaslove6789]

He did not answer much of my questions but here its is anyways

This is what the builder had to say:

The SSS we build comes from a SSS I had the chance to repair years ago. The unit in my shop was the original 100 watt version with 6L6GC output section,seen most.I assume you know SRV?s filter section was set,not switched on the fly, so to save space and some parts we fixed the filter and I know a lot of builders want to see the filter section to dissect it as we have, but that's part of what sets us apart. The loop is something again not used by most,without buying and external unit to have a buffer stage etc. Adding the loop and other features can be done or custom ordered. Function, and tone outweigh the features to do what this amp does which is NAIL the live tone SRV had with this type amp in his rig.

With all the conjecture of what and why the amp sounds the way it does from parts used, transformers etc.

The goal was to make an amp that does the SRV thing to a T and leave the rest alone and that's what?s in this unit.

We do have plans to build a 150 watt version with 6550 power section and a up graded filter section as the original is very narrow in focus for most guitar players, not audiophile or bass players. The amps base design was to run very clean (linear) at near full power but SRV was very aggressive with his pick hand so it was cleanish.

We just as Dumble have a policy about disclosure about the inner workings of our amp. I might add if this collectors item does not fit your needs please feel free to inquire about a custom unit with customer care 2nd to none. Each design is protected to unique to its owner and their needs.

[Structo]

Hmmm, interesting.

I sure like the head cabinet on that. Real pretty.

[selloutrr]

Well that's a polite F U

So basically he cloned a dumble he had in his shop but got lazy and left some parts out

[David Root]

Sure sounds like that. Kinda woolly desription too for 6 grand.

[Max]

He did not answer much of my questions but here its is anyways

This is what the builder had to say:

I assume you know SRV?s filter section was set,not switched on the fly,

...

what this amp does which is NAIL the live tone SRV had with this type amp in his rig.

As you can see on the photographs and videos of SRV's different SSS, he obviously changed the settings of the Step Filters from time to time and he obviously used different settings with different SSS.

SRV never used a 100W SSS. All have been 150W with 4x6550A.

Alexander once told, that SRV's SSSs are done more like a bass amp tuned for the frequency range of an electric guitar. That in the end is more or less like a Dumbleland Special 150W for guitar with reverb (or think of a Dumbeland 300SL with only 4x6550A instead of 6 and done in a SSS style amp cabinet).

The dynamic response of the 6550A equipped 150W Dumblelands and SSSs are essential for the SRV "Live Sound".

The 100W SSSs I am familiar with are great amps but not what I would recommend if you are looking for exactly the SRV kind of "Live Sound".

Have a great weekend!

Max

[ER]

Max is right,

SRV's amp was more like a bass amp...more like Jackson Browne's Dumble bass amp that he used on Texas Flood. He wasn't happy with the sound from the ODS's as JB's bass amp was the sound he was looking for.
So the King Tone Consoul is different from not only ODS, but other SSS as well.

I think Tommy Shannon's was a Dumbleland 300SL.

-E

[Grant]

Hamiltone is quite messy...

There are two companies operating under that name

See the bottom of this page:

http://novan.com/jimspage.htm

and the other one...

http://hamiltone.com/