What is your Desert island Overdrive Special? (and why)

[talbany]

So if you had to choose only 1 ODS model what would it be and why?
Here is my list.
1. 100W 4th gen low plate Skyline (deep switch) Music Man w/EL-34's Mullard X-4's
2 100W High Plate Skyliner (deep switch) w/6L6 Black Plates ala(102)
3 100W Bluesmaster loaded (built in loop) either 6L's or EL-34's
4 100W 2nd Generation (built in loop) 6l6 Blackplates
5 100w 5th Generation HRM Skyliner Stack 6L6
6 75W 3rd Generation Classic Stack with 2 KT88's

I can make a perfectly good argument for picking any one of these other models as I usually prefer one over the other depending on the gig requirements. However, if I had 1 to choose to take to an Island it would be the Music Man loaded with the Mullards.
At least for now

"What is your Desert Island ODS"?

Tony

[Aaron]

Was there ever a 75w KT88’s?

[talbany]

Was there ever a 75w KT88’s?

Aaron
Not that I am aware of? but who know's?. Just consider it a Low plate Classic with 88's It's an amp builders forum so I know many didn't stick to the script however if you did stay off the layout it let us know your mods

BTW. Dumble didn't add built-in tube loops like I did for those that don't know. However, if you want me to be completely accurate he did do one that was transistor driven on a later HRM Model which was I believe later taken off. Don't ask me for the pictures. "terms of agreement"

Tony

[Aaron]

I didn’t think the transistor loop was HAD? Good to know.

I have built a few Low Plate EL34 amps lately with resistor chokes that have sounded quit nice.
So from the list I would probably pick......option 3, Bluesmaster with loop and EL34’s.

Aaron

[10thTx]

Tony,

This is still one of my favorite Dumblish sound clips: https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v3/pla ... i&newref=1

(for anyone who listens, there is maybe 15 sec of silence at the start, but this is a GREAT soundclip with amazing playing, IMO)

Is this the 75w KT88 that you're referring to that's on your "desert island list"? Amazing tone!

AND is this your #1 MusicMan D-style you're referring to? The amp has a nice clear articulate tone to it.

https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v4/pla ... ID=9030530

With respect, 10thtx Jeff

[Mr. dB]

I vote for the "Steven Seagal" 2nd Gen 50W that Bonamassa had, just 'cause it sounds kind of "rude".

[talbany]

I have built a few Low Plate EL34 amps lately with resistor chokes that have sounded quit nice.
So from the list I would probably pick......option 3, Bluesmaster with loop and EL34’s.

Aaron

OK Just to let everyone know that I put up my personal list. DON"T choose from my list make your own list of your favorite ODS's you have built..So we can possibly get some kind of consensus on our favorite Models. Sorry if there was any confusion about this.

Thanks everyone for the reply's

Tony

[talbany]

Tony,

This is still one of my favorite Dumblish sound clips: https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v3/pla ... i&newref=1

(for anyone who listens, there is maybe 15 sec of silence at the start, but this is a GREAT soundclip with amazing playing, IMO)

Is this the 75w KT88 that you're referring to that's on your "desert island list"? Amazing tone!

AND is this your #1 MusicMan D-style you're referring to? The amp has a nice clear articulate tone to it.

https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v4/pla ... ID=9030530

With respect, 10thtx Jeff

Hey Jeff
Yep the one you like is the classic with the KT88's. It's a great amp however that amp is a little too aggressive (in OD) than the Skyliners for my taste's now. Also, the amp is not quite as touch sensitive as the 4 tube 100w output section especially with the added 250V on the plates of the 34's that the MM amp has. Still, a fun amp and I do prefer it to a 2X 6L6 configured output section.
Thanks for the compliment and glad you dig the amp

AND is this your #1 MusicMan D-style you're referring to? The amp has a nice clear articulate tone to it.

https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v4/pla ... ID=9030530

Yes that is my 1st Music Man amp build.That amp was a high plate skyliner and I had the Sovtek big bottle WXT-5881's loaded.
Tony

[dbeasley]

My fave setup is low plate Skyline EQ with 100W output section. I'd argue that setup is also the "easiest" one to dial in with a wide range of instruments.

2nd fave would be Bluesmaster HRM. A more finicky amp, especially in my clumsy hands. But slays with a good guitar player.


Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[bolomule]

1. 183 50 watt with O’netics Marshall OT
2. 102 50 watt with Merc Mag JM-MM (6k primary for 6L6)
3. 3rd Gen with EL34’s and Merren 139 OT

I tend to like 50 watt builds and the Jazz eq The 100 watt amps are just too loud for my home uses...but I did not have a Dlator when I had my 100 watt 124 build. I wish I still had the 183. There was a long stretch there where I had to sell my last build before I could build another. I tried to buy another Onetics OT but the owner won’t sell one offs anymore. That amp just had the perfect balance all the way up the volume dial. You just added more gain or volume as needed. Not sure if I have approached that balance again or if I’m just being nostalgic.

[stelligan]

Bluesmaster me......

I like the way the cleans breakup a little with that PI. Likes my Stratocaster. I also like to tailor the OD tones with HRM.
My build is a 2 holer, so not sure if the 100 watt cleans would behave the same.

Bluesmaster butters my biscuit....

[bepone]

Merren 139 is ok i have mount it somewhere in the past
So speaking of the amps, we can just speak about output transformers ..OPT ,like the last filter, makes 50% of the sound/ bass must be tight, highs not sharp/ and makes amp good... most of the commercial OPT are not good enough so any topology of the preamp/output will sound mediocre, from my experience

[bolomule]

Bepone...good point about OT. Merc mag fender OTs don’t work out that great with a lot of preamp gain. Their twin reverb ot in my 124 build was good with clean but harsh OD. But their oversized twin ot sounded great in a JM build. Their tweed bassman ot was a bust with an skyline el34. Also built just the fourth gen clean channel using their bf vibrolux ot...turned out just ok.
So far I’ve found the larger marshall style OTs to work out the best in my builds. Tried a Marstran -103 in a 102 build with kt66s. Too smooth and not enough punch. Guess this stuff looked good to me on paper but in reality its a crap shoot. Its okay though as I’m enjoying the journey and just end up finding a home for those ots somewhere else.

[bepone]

bolomule.. give pls the good ones , type so i can check.....i have lost too much money with random ordering...and have abandon all the production because of this.. and started to do them alone.
from commercials i have some of Classic tone types... also need a lot of work with them (somewhere to much bass, somewhere to irritant highs)
per example JMP 3K6 transformer with EL34 has toooo much bass , but if you connect 6L6 on different ratio (8 ohms to 4 ohm tap) you get 7k2 , and 6L6s working fine without excessive bass, etc

[Charlie Wilson]

Hmmm, I might have to respectfully disagree in regards to output transformers. I love a good conversation about what is good and what is not but... here, we are talking about Dumble amplifiers and so we have to look at what he actually used. He used stock Fender mostly from the 70, Peavey, Magic Parts(Pacific), MusicMan, and others that would be considered consumer grade transformers.
CW