I've had a Brown Note D'Lite 22/33 that has been basically perfect for my humbuckers since the day I built it. I just put a set of Seth Lovers in my Yamaha SA2000 that is just excellent. My LP Traditional is a bit stronger in output and also sounds fantastic. So I don't want to change anything on the amp. I have a Telecaster and a G&L Legacy that sound OK but just not as good. I have a Lollar P90 guitar that does well ... but they are stronger output anyway. My amp is really set up for humbuckers.
I've read some of the threads here including the mention of an FET preamp to help with this. I was wondering if anyone has tried a simple Xotic EP which I believe is an FET preamp? I have a Xotic RC that gets close to bumping the single coils to where they need to be ... but it seems to not quite do it for me. I can always buy one to try it out ... but anybody here thrown an Xotic EP in front of one of these or similar amps?
Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
Probably considered sort of a lame question at this particular forum. I'd like to get a bit better use of the amp with my single coils. But I just don't to risk screwing up the humbucker sound starting a bunch of mods. I really like it with the humbuckers.
My playing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dovemanvideo?feature=mhsn
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
You could try installing the slope resistor and mid cap mod.
That changes the tone stack to be more Strat friendly.
If I was you, I would wire it up before drilling any holes and give it a try.
Another thing you could do is build the Dumble FET board and make it switchable from the regular input to FET.
That way you could keep the front panel the way it is but you woulf have to figure out where to put the switch.
That changes the tone stack to be more Strat friendly.
If I was you, I would wire it up before drilling any holes and give it a try.
Another thing you could do is build the Dumble FET board and make it switchable from the regular input to FET.
That way you could keep the front panel the way it is but you woulf have to figure out where to put the switch.
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Tom
Don't let that smoke out!
Don't let that smoke out!
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
Any pictures of what one installed looks like? Either option?
My playing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dovemanvideo?feature=mhsn
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
Well the FET board looks like this when wired to it's own input jack.
I don't have mine on a switch so I can't really help you there but it would be pretty straight forward with a DPDT switch or relay.
You would just switch between the two inputs, to the FET board or to the first preamp tube.
I haven't played around much with my FET input so not sure how well it works with a strat.
I'm mostly a humbucker guy these days.
I don't have mine on a switch so I can't really help you there but it would be pretty straight forward with a DPDT switch or relay.
You would just switch between the two inputs, to the FET board or to the first preamp tube.
I haven't played around much with my FET input so not sure how well it works with a strat.
I'm mostly a humbucker guy these days.
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Tom
Don't let that smoke out!
Don't let that smoke out!
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
Thanks for the FET info. Appreciated. Anybody tried the Xotic EP, as well?
My playing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dovemanvideo?feature=mhsn
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
Keeley Katana in front does wonders for me. You may also try reverting to 6V6 tubes. Seems to me that I remember the 6v6 version of my D'Lite to be more Strat friendly. Mid Boost also helps out.
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
I'd rather not make any changes to the amp ... it's perfect for the humbuckers as is. I've tried switching back the 6V6s and it just sounds better for me with the 6L6s. Plus with and EVM12L and the 6L6s, it can keep up with live bands without being mic'd.
My playing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dovemanvideo?feature=mhsn
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
I agree!!..A good booster pedal or OD pedal to hit the front end instead of the D-style FET IMHO..(look at Lindley w/Purple peaker)Hey let's build in a tube screamer...stelligan wrote:Keeley Katana in front does wonders for me. You may also try reverting to 6V6 tubes. Seems to me that I remember the 6v6 version of my D'Lite to be more Strat friendly. Mid Boost also helps out.
...Kidding!!Tony
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
So maybe the Xotic RC that I'm using is doing basically what you guys are suggesting. It's close to what I want ... just not quite. But I haven't tried every setting. Just thought an FET based (rather than OpAmp) type pedal might have an advantage since the FET was specifically mentioned here.
My playing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dovemanvideo?feature=mhsn
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
Have you tried turning the preamp volume control up? It helps a lot.
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
doveman wrote:Thanks for the FET info. Appreciated. Anybody tried the Xotic EP, as well?
I use it to drive a bunch of FX pedals, and goose the input of the amp.. I'd read about Jimmy Page using the circuit from an Echoplex (or some such device) as a booster.
The Xotic EP does what it's supposed to, with no bad side-effects. I'm very satisfied with it.
More info and sound clips here:
http://www.xotic.us/effects/ep_booster/
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
I ordered the Xotic EP this evening. It's worth trying. It does help to turn up the pre-amp but I already run it a bit higher than most between 1:00 and 2:00 with humbuckers.
I also have a Richter Tweed amp that needs a bit of a bump with the single coils too. So this being on the very simple nano board that i have could be used with either.
If i don't like it these turn in about 30 seconds on TGP when they are posted. So pretty low risk if I don't like it.
Appreciate the input though ... thanks everyone.
I also have a Richter Tweed amp that needs a bit of a bump with the single coils too. So this being on the very simple nano board that i have could be used with either.
If i don't like it these turn in about 30 seconds on TGP when they are posted. So pretty low risk if I don't like it.
Appreciate the input though ... thanks everyone.
My playing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dovemanvideo?feature=mhsn
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
have you tried a timmy? sounds amazing on single coils. i'd suggest to buy one, as it's not expensive, and the builder is a great guy, but you can also build your own using the net layout and schem.
Re: Single Coil Question - D'Lite 22/33
This topic has been covered under a few different subject lines before....I know because I have been investigating the whole "strat friendly" option myself.
The conclusion I came to was that the skyliner tonestack is a major factor in producing (or not) a "good strat" sound and that many people here have gone down the Bluesmaster route (Blackface style Tonestack on clean, Marshall style when PAB engaged).
I have a High Plate skyliner that sounds fantastic with my Tele style guitar (I say "style" because it has a DiMarzio S/C sized Humbucker in the bridge position). This combination is great for clean and OD with both Bridge and Neck pickups.
My Strat however is a real disappointment, clean is just about o.k but OD is a real disaster.
So my Strat (Eric Johnson Sig) has low / medium output Strat Single coils and I would have thought that low out put could be corrected by turning up the input gain OR OD level. In practice, turning up either of these controls just gives me more "mush" "buzz" "rattle", you name it, if there's an unwanted artifact I get more of it by turning up these controls.
I have another Strat that I fitted with Fralin "Blues Specials" - these sounded no better than the EJ model, a bit warmer perhaps, but that's about it.
The Mid Boost does help a bit but it's a whole world away from the sounds produced by my Telecaster.
The only control that gets me anywhere near "acceptable OD" is the OD trimmer - if I crank this to around 40 k from ground, the sound is starting to 'get there'. With my Telecaster, I'm operating around the 26 K from Ground.
I've not used too many FX / OD units in front of the amp, but those that I have (Providence SOV-2 and Rockett Flexdrive) do not appear to help at all regardless of whether they were set for "clean boost" or "low gain OD".
The conclusions that I have reached are:
1. The Skyliner tonestack is part of the 'problem'.
2. Low Plates on V1 may be better for strat than High Plates
2. The LNFB on V1 prevents a 'good sound' being generated when driven hard by a boost or mild OD pedal.
On that basis, my next stop is to experiment with Bluesmaster type configuration - starting with Tonestack and LNFB before moving on to PI and HRM tonestack.
Of course, all of this is so subjective.
The conclusion I came to was that the skyliner tonestack is a major factor in producing (or not) a "good strat" sound and that many people here have gone down the Bluesmaster route (Blackface style Tonestack on clean, Marshall style when PAB engaged).
I have a High Plate skyliner that sounds fantastic with my Tele style guitar (I say "style" because it has a DiMarzio S/C sized Humbucker in the bridge position). This combination is great for clean and OD with both Bridge and Neck pickups.
My Strat however is a real disappointment, clean is just about o.k but OD is a real disaster.
So my Strat (Eric Johnson Sig) has low / medium output Strat Single coils and I would have thought that low out put could be corrected by turning up the input gain OR OD level. In practice, turning up either of these controls just gives me more "mush" "buzz" "rattle", you name it, if there's an unwanted artifact I get more of it by turning up these controls.
I have another Strat that I fitted with Fralin "Blues Specials" - these sounded no better than the EJ model, a bit warmer perhaps, but that's about it.
The Mid Boost does help a bit but it's a whole world away from the sounds produced by my Telecaster.
The only control that gets me anywhere near "acceptable OD" is the OD trimmer - if I crank this to around 40 k from ground, the sound is starting to 'get there'. With my Telecaster, I'm operating around the 26 K from Ground.
I've not used too many FX / OD units in front of the amp, but those that I have (Providence SOV-2 and Rockett Flexdrive) do not appear to help at all regardless of whether they were set for "clean boost" or "low gain OD".
The conclusions that I have reached are:
1. The Skyliner tonestack is part of the 'problem'.
2. Low Plates on V1 may be better for strat than High Plates
2. The LNFB on V1 prevents a 'good sound' being generated when driven hard by a boost or mild OD pedal.
On that basis, my next stop is to experiment with Bluesmaster type configuration - starting with Tonestack and LNFB before moving on to PI and HRM tonestack.
Of course, all of this is so subjective.