Fender Twin Iron; Dumble 50 watt

[WhopperPlate]

Hello everyone, I've got a transformer set from a 70's silver face twin. I'm going to build a Dumble type amp with the iron and I'm wondering how well they would work with a 50 watt two tube output, as opposed to the usual quad of power tubes.

I have a bassman ten chassis, with some janky "diy" holes cut out for the full quad by the previous owner, but they're just too damn janky and for this reason I'm thinking of filling them in and just going with the duet. That and I think I'd prefer the 50 to the 100 watt.

Any advice welcome. Thanks for all your time!

[mojotom]

Just build a 100w.

These amps works much better at 100w with better headroom and much more Low/Low mids they rely on a clean and punchy power amp, all the drive come from the preamp.
Using a silverface set is a bonus, it will sound smooth with less attack, you won't regret spending some time to finish those holes properly.

[WhopperPlate]

mojotom, thanks, that was my initial impression from reading the forum and still a considered option. Nevertheless, I'm still interested in the silverface iron 50 watt capability.

[Max]

Nevertheless, I'm still interested in the silverface iron 50 watt capability.

I've played some of the original 50W ODS amps and they really work great for many styles of guitar playing. All the 1st generation ODS, like the amps of David Lindley e. g., are 50W ODS and many of the 2nd and 3rd generation amps too, like the amp of Steve Lukather e. g.. And Lindley's tone was the starting point for many members here.

And I know guitar players who like the tone of the original 50W Dumble ODS on the brink of power amp saturation to round up the tone a bit. Most of the 100W amps do have a 100/40 or 100/50W switch and not only because Alexander liked to drill holes that much. And I know players, who even like the tone of some of the original 50W ODS better than the tone of some of the original 100W amps, just like Steve Kimock e. g..

That an original 100W ODS does have a "better" tone IMHO is just one more misleading ideological preconception in regard to Dumble amps. And IMHO there are already enough of these on the market.

But If you can/should use your 100W OT for a 50W amp from a technical point of view, I don't know. Alexander never did, AFAIR. Perhaps you could sell the "silverface" 100W OT and buy a used 022871/125A13A 50W OT with the money you get for your 100W OT?

Good luck with your build!

Max

[WhopperPlate]

And I know guitar players who like the tone of the original 50W Dumble ODS on the brink of power amp saturation to round up the tone a bit.

I like saturation.

Thanks for the response, very much appreciated! More fuel for my fire!

I would like to learn more from a technical standpoint. Should it be a preferable to just go with a 100w then so be it, but 50w is still the preference.

[David Root]

You'll get no satisfaction with a single pair and the Twin OT. That's a power and impedance mismatch.

I would say use the quad, or build a 50W with a Vibrosonic or Bassman OT, and use a Bassman PT. That's what HAD did for 50W, and that works bigtime!

[WhopperPlate]

I'll just throw in the half power switch fix the janky cutouts and make things happen with the 100w. Thanks for the time.

[Drumslinger]

+1 on the power switch.

[greiswig]

Not sure I agree that a Twin OT doesn't do well in a 50W setting. I used one of Brandon's Twin OT's (4, 8, 16, and 32 ohm taps!) in my two-hole D'Lite, and the new OT seemed to really add heft to the tone.

After awhile, I changed from 6L6's to KT88s, but it sounded good with both. I do not have a 4-hole version to play through, though, and I've heard that there may be something more to it than just power that makes a 4-hole amp preferable.

[WhopperPlate]

Thanks for the perspective Greiswig! I have had impedance mismatches with transformers before as well and have experienced lovely tone. I'm sure the answer will come with more time and my own personal circumstances.

[johan]

Is the Vibrosonic Reverb a good base for a 100W ODS?

[Structo]

I wouldn't think so, the PT and OT are sized for a 50 watt amp.

[johan]

supposed to be 4x6L6

http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=120

[Structo]

Yeah, ok the Vibrosonic Reverb is 100w.

The original Vibrosonic was 50w.

[67plexi]

Go for the 100 watt and install the 1/2 power switch the best of both worlds.

Regards, Steve.