Finished a BluesMaster HRM

[moj067]

I've completed this build and no issues. I'm pleasantly surprised. The voltages are all lower along all the pre-amp as compared to my prior build (HRM/Skyline) which from what I've read is normal. The PI is in the 250's-260's which I had to look up and apparently seems right. I'll let it burn-in before tweaking but so far it's monstrous sounding, I got and old Fender 100watt Twin PT that never got used (unclipped cloth wires) and an Angela instruments Tone Master OT. So far so good as far as the sounds I'm hearing. Thanks to everyone for their input and in particular to Funk for giving us one last run at his chassis.
I'll post picts when done w/ burn-in and wire tidying.

[jelle]

Sweet! Sounds like fun!

[tubedogsmith]

I finished a bluesmaster a couple months ago and after many tweaks and twists it's probably my favorite amp. Here's a pic from right after I finsihed it. Things have been changed since then and it's cleaned up a lot. I was a short a few part values when I built it and used some subs until I restocked.

[dogears]

Excellent!

What is that burgundy cap on the HRM board??

Thanks!

I finished a bluesmaster a couple months ago and after many tweaks and twists it's probably my favorite amp. Here's a pic from right after I finsihed it. Things have been changed since then and it's cleaned up a lot. I was a short a few part values when I built it and used some subs until I restocked.

[tubedogsmith]

I couldn't help myself, it's a .001 treble cut I got the idea from Gil. After I got done with all the changes that cap came out along with the snubbers on V2. I seem to do better tweaking if I start out dark and smooth and go from there.

[fp2000]

How about the chassis, where did you get it? I noticed you are using stand-up transformers. I love that config 'cause it gives me more room to work with.
Nice and clean build though.
Frank

[moj067]

Here is my BluesMaster build. I put a 33p bright cap on the clean master to give some sparkle w/ the D-lator. It's funny even though I thought it would influence the clean channel only, it somehow changed the OD channel too. Anyway w/ the buffered loop in the line everything balances out. wiring is still a little sloppy, I just don't want to mess w/ it too much. The Skyliner HRM sounds like a thick JTM45 and this sounds like more upper-mid modern Marshall tones w/ more overtones.
It's nice and I'm now putting my other build back on the bench for more tweaking now that I'm getting more familiar w/ the tones coming out. It's getting more fun this damn Dumblecrack.

[Mark]

Dear Mojo

What does it sound like and where did you get your circuit from?

[heisthl]

Here is my BluesMaster build. I put a 33p bright cap on the clean master to give some sparkle w/ the D-lator. It's funny even though I thought it would influence the clean channel only, it somehow changed the OD channel too. .

Dogears pointed this out to me a long time ago when I was building one of these. If you relook at the schematic you will notice that only the wiper of the clean master gets switched out, so that bright cap is happily bleeding highs to ground and influencing the freqs into the OD. Scott was of the opinion that HAD counted on this as an important part of the design.

[moj067]

Thanks Heistl! I knew something was up when the beautiful OD got brighter and kinda fartier sounding,if that is the intent I don't like it, still nice but not that great fat Billy Gibbons type OD I was getting before. I'll have to play w/maybe 10p instead. That's the beauty of these amps-sprinkle to taste.
Mark-This amp is like the Marshall I always wanted,but never found or had money for. That just says something about the OD channel. The cleans are usually nice and chimey w/a little grit, if I can get this bright cap thing right I think I'll be set.
note:Pre-Coffee a.m. edit

[Mark]

Thanks Mojo, much appreciated.

Mojo Regarding the effect on the Overdrive channel of the master volume bright cap, it should slightly change the tone of the amp. Turning the clean master volume up fully should give you the brightest tones (normal brightness levels) while turning the clean master vol to zero should give maximum cut.

I also think the more gain you use from the overdrive stage should make the difference less noticeable.

Look forward to your replies.

[dogears]

The clean master bright cap has a very very subtle effect and one that is the opposite of what you describe. It is a treble cut. And woth a 33pf, not the 47pf Dumble used, a virtually nonexistent one. Please A/B again.

Thanks Heistl! I knew something was up when the beautiful OD got brighter and kinda fartier sounding,if that is the intent I don't like it, still nice but not that great fat Billy Gibbons type OD I was getting before. I'll have to play w/maybe 10p instead. That's the beauty of these amps-sprinkle to taste.
Mark-This amp is like the Marshall I always wanted,but never found or had money for. That just says something about the OD channel. The cleans are usually nice and chimey w/a little grit, if I can get this bright cap thing right I think I'll be set.
note:Pre-Coffee a.m. edit

[moj067]

I've played this morning and what you say jives w/ my observations and maybe I'll pop a 47p in. I've like many, treated this amp like prior amps. It really has it's own thing happening and like Mark mentioned playing w/ the vol and master clean vol does balance out the tone more to my liking. I'm used to cranking the vol to 2:00 and barely nudging the clean vol. to 9:00(it's really loud). Same applies to OD, this amp however, is different. I've got to play some more before writing any settings in stone, what I can definitely state is I haven't heard a bad sound come out of it yet. Thanks for the feedback.

[Mark]

Thanks for the replies, I have edited my post to clear up any confusion.