Looking for that Lindley tone.....

[crbowman]

Hi Guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster here.
First I would like to sincerely thank everyone here for providing such a great resource, and so freely sharing all their hard earned chops. I’m positively overwhelmed by the volume of great info here!
I’ve come around to the “D” thing by way of being a fan of David Lindley. That said, I’m doing research for a new build trying to capture the El-Rayo-X Mercury Blues tone. (Yeah, I know, “good luck with that”). I understand that this was probably his “blue light special”.
From what I can gather, what I need is a low-plate, low-cathode, non-skyliner, non-HRM, 50 watter. (as well as a Supro lap-steel, and a smidge more talent).
I’m assuming that this being #8 that it had no master volume, and the accent switch instead of the presence control. Don’t know that I want to be quite that authentic as I do like the D*style master volume and a proper presence control. I’ve seen the 1977 schematic graciously posted by Funk. Would this be a good place to start? If so, what should be tweaked? Any guidance you guys could offer would be GREATLY appreciated. When I finally get this build going, I promise to post pics and notes for everyone to laugh at, as well as an updated BOM if anyone is interested in yet another one.
Thanks!

Carey

[Funkalicousgroove]

use the #40 schemo to start

[crbowman]

Awesome Brandon. I was hoping you'd chime in here. Question, is the odd OD input network on #40 crucial to this sound, or should I sub in the standard 220K + 100k trim pot? Also, in terms of the Lindley tone, will I be OK inserting a master vol, and presence control in the usual D*style manner or should I stick to the original schem? Any other "gotcha's" in there I'm not thinking of right now?
Thanks man!

use the #40 schemo to start

[Structo]

I'm not familiar enough to be an expert on who uses what amp circuit but do you plan on playing a regular electric guitar through this amp as well as a steel?

I would be more tempted I think to go for the more modern ODS amp because of the versatility they offer.
More knobs to turn to dial in the tone or sound you want.

I currently have a high plate D'Lite that I like a lot and I can make single coils or humbuckers sound great through it.

Don't forget how important speakers are with these amps.
A lot of folks like the Celestion 12-65's with these amps as well as the EVM 12L speakers.
I bought a pair of the EVM's and couldn't be happier with them in an open back 2 x 12 cab.

[Funkalicousgroove]

My personal amp is the 70's amp with separate Masters and a presence control.

The pre OD network is key, as are the larger couplers in the OD section, and the different PI

Adding presence is easy, just use a 1uf and a 5-10K pot in place of the accent switch.

The "60's" PI setup at Schematic heaven is pretty dead on.

the Overdrive Ratio control is un necessary, out of V2B coupler there is a 180K to ground, and a 1M in series as sort of a pre-set ratio control- Leave it Really.

The last part of the sound that is absoluteley necessary is the FET input, it sounds WONDERFUL with both regular and lap steel guitars.

[benoit]

The last part of the sound that is absoluteley necessary is the FET input, it sounds WONDERFUL with both regular and lap steel guitars.

Does your statement apply to your opinion of the FET input in general, or specifically on that amp. In the 2 or 3 years I've been posting here I've never heard anyone speak well of the FET input so I'm curious.

[briane]

The last part of the sound that is absoluteley necessary is the FET input, it sounds WONDERFUL with both regular and lap steel guitars.

good point funk & benoit.

I still have yet to put one into one of my builds, only because everyone always talked smack about how bad, or more appropriately useless, they were.....

Now I am going to have to try one Its only a couple of parts.....

we know lindely used one based on reports, but I was always told that was because the guitars had cheapo pickups.

Anyone else like the FET? -

[ER]

What configuration do you like best for a #40 style amp, 1x12 combo, or head with 2x12?

Does anyone know what speakers were in Lindley's 2x12?

As I slowly turn into an old fart, it's so nice to go to a gig and carry a guitar in one hand and amp in the other.

Any 70's American sounding neo-speakers out there?

-E

[crbowman]

I'm not familiar enough to be an expert on who uses what amp circuit but do you plan on playing a regular electric guitar through this amp as well as a steel?

I would be more tempted I think to go for the more modern ODS amp because of the versatility they offer.
More knobs to turn to dial in the tone or sound you want.

I currently have a high plate D'Lite that I like a lot and I can make single coils or humbuckers sound great through it.

Don't forget how important speakers are with these amps.
A lot of folks like the Celestion 12-65's with these amps as well as the EVM 12L speakers.
I bought a pair of the EVM's and couldn't be happier with them in an open back 2 x 12 cab.

Hey Tom,
I've been lurking around the Brown Note forum also.
I do play mostly regular electric guitar, but I play a lot of slide.
I currently have a sort of bastardized cross between the Humble Overdraft Specimen and a Tweaked D'Lite that I built into an old Laney 30w chassis and, although a bit unorthodox, I love it.
Sort of a skyliner HRM Lite.

So for this build I was thinking about (and waffling frequently) doing something a little more 'regulation', and a little more old skool.

I've got an Emi RWB in an openback Avatar cabinet that is working pretty well for me right now.
Thanks!

[crbowman]

My personal amp is the 70's amp with separate Masters and a presence control.

The pre OD network is key, as are the larger couplers in the OD section, and the different PI

Adding presence is easy, just use a 1uf and a 5-10K pot in place of the accent switch.

The "60's" PI setup at Schematic heaven is pretty dead on.

the Overdrive Ratio control is un necessary, out of V2B coupler there is a 180K to ground, and a 1M in series as sort of a pre-set ratio control- Leave it Really.

The last part of the sound that is absoluteley necessary is the FET input, it sounds WONDERFUL with both regular and lap steel guitars.

Well see there! And I was going to skip the FET input.
OK, it's back in there.
So I'm thinking now I might need to be getting me some snakeskin!
Also might need to get in touch with Natchanis (sp?) about one of those cool early D style chassis. Anybody have any experience with these? Also, anybody have a Mouser part# for the slide switches?
Can't thank you guys enough!

[Structo]

Do we know for a fact that Lindley used the FET input?

Yes, when I was scratching the surface here for information about the ODS amps I became overwhelmed with all the details but no real firm answers other than, just build a #124!
There were a lot of conflicting reports about what was what with a few experts chiming in now and then just enough to confuse me further, which doesn't take a lot.

Things have settled nicely since then but it's originally what moved me towards the D'Lite since Moss was also offering a discount at the time.

So I had a pretty good platform to go from. Sure it doesn't have a couple of the switches a true ODS has but from what I gather they aren't used that much anyway.
Shortly after I had it built and although it sounded alright I realized that the D'Lite had been designed around 6V6 tubes and I was using 6L6's so the modding began in earnest.

If I had the money I would love to build a true 100 watt clone.
Maybe some day.

[wjdunham]

I have one of the Natchanis 70's chassis, it's a good platform if you want to build exactly as the #40 schematic (ie accent switch, no presence, no ratio). The one I have says "LAVEL" in stead of "LEVEL" but I think that's been fixed (got mine on ebay from someone who had it lying around and never used it. One thing you have to add to that chassis is some rails to mount it in the box. The lips along the front and back aren't really deep enough to drill and tap or otherwise weld a nut onto the back off. Minor pain, but a pain none-the-less.

Does anyone know where to get the early knobs? I got some from Apex Jr. but they are little too big, I think 1.25" base is the right size, and I haven't come across any except for that guy on ebay selling them for $12 each.

Thanks,
Bill

[markr14850]

I love the FET... https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=9561

[Funkalicousgroove]

What configuration do you like best for a #40 style amp, 1x12 combo, or head with 2x12?

Does anyone know what speakers were in Lindley's 2x12?

As I slowly turn into an old fart, it's so nice to go to a gig and carry a guitar in one hand and amp in the other.

Any 70's American sounding neo-speakers out there?

-E

I've been using a 1x12 Open back cab made of poplar ply with a Jensen Tornado, Loaded cab weighs about 15 lbs.

The FET sounds good with this circuit, and IMHO ONLY this circuit

I think lindleys cab had Altec 417's or JBL's.

[Funkalicousgroove]

Lindley said for a fact that he uses the FET input exclusiveley in the 7 page article he and Ben harper did in the Fretboard journal a couple months back, there were also pics of his amps with the settings marked on them.

This is mine: