100K non-HRM "vs" low plate clean high plate OD no

[ChrisM]

Got a amp I am working on now that is all 100K plate loads. I only play single coils at the moment (strat really) so the low plate thing works quite well.

Doing a bit of reading of old threads and saw a few people talking about the low plate clean combined with the high plate OD section.

Just wondering what change I will experience going from low plate to high plate on the OD side while keeping the clean low plate.

The cleans sound great btw! Just wondering if I can improve the OD even more.

[talbany]

Got a amp I am working on now that is all 100K plate loads. I only play single coils at the moment (strat really) so the low plate thing works quite well.

Doing a bit of reading of old threads and saw a few people talking about the low plate clean combined with the high plate OD section.

Just wondering what change I will experience going from low plate to high plate on the OD side while keeping the clean low plate.

The cleans sound great btw! Just wondering if I can improve the OD even more.

Chris
I have experimented around with this quite a bit, here is my opinion FWIW.. Higher plate loads on the OD side will generate a more complex harmonic structure when in OD..This will help thicken the tone (crude way of saying it) However Dumble liked to keep things symmetrical and from what I've found by following a more symmetrical approach to cascading gain stages helps promote things like increased sustain and bloom, a more transparent shift from clean to OD, better note definition (especially chording)
I know several here have found different plate load combinations they like..No right or wrong here so have fun and give it a try..I would at least try to keep them as close as possible

Hope This Helps You!!

Tony

[ChrisM]

Thanks Tony!

The clean to OD transition is amazing on this amp right now.

The more I play it and roll tubes (just got some RCA grey plates for CL and OD) the more I like the amp. I think I'm going to stay all low plate for now. The tone is mighty thick and full of sustain already, this is all through a 112 cab and a strat!

[dcribbs1412]

Congrats ChrisM
is this based on the 124 or the 3rd gen layout
wondering if you have any voltage readings
I'm looking at trying a low plate(strat friendly) in the near future

Thanks

Darin

[ChrisM]

Congrats ChrisM
is this based on the 124 or the 3rd gen layout
wondering if you have any voltage readings
I'm looking at trying a low plate(strat friendly) in the near future

Thanks

Darin

Hey Darin,

It's actually my own design but OD is based on 124 with some tweaks to sweeten it up more for me. It's a ODS amp at heart. The clean is a bit more Fenderish but still 100K though. I'll post the amp a bit later when it's all done.

The low plates defiantly do play well with strats though.

[talbany]

The more I play it and roll tubes (just got some RCA grey plates for CL and OD) the more I like the amp..

Chris
FWIW I had a similar experience..After getting used to the high plate skyliner then building a low plate I missed the complexity of the OD w/high plates but liked the cleans better but after living with it for a while trying different guitars and tubes I've grown to like the low plate equally as well now....When I went to build the 2nd generation it was a bit different as well but I gave myself time to discover it's vibe and glad I did as It's one of my faves now..What I've learned over the years of building these amps is there is no one amp that does everything for everyone (yes even Dumbles) there is always these slight nuances that might not agree with you, some you grow into others you cant no matter how hard you tweak..I am not sure there is a way around that..My advice to everyone is to listen to the clips Max posted and some of the other famed Dumble clips out there narrow the field and pick 2 or 3 amps you prefer grab the layout and build them..You will like them all and use them for various projects and within those 2 or 3 you build you will find tonal heaven.. I did!!..
PS. Not preaching just sharing my experience!!

Tony

[dcribbs1412]

Thanks Chris
looking forward to the post.

Tony
I like your philosiphy of amps in general
in playing one and getting used to the different nuances of each circuit
"discover it's vibe" along with the inspiration each has on techniques and
phrasings or chops in ones playing.(pitiful as mine is)
All this before straying(modding) to far from the original designs
This I'm learning from you and others that have years of experience building these amps

Thanks

Darin