Eric Johnson's ODS prototype

[boldaslove6789]

Eric Johnson's Proto type "chassis up" Overdrive Special (Pic posted on his website recently).

I wonder if this amp was used on his new album "Up Close"?

[vibratoking]

I thought I read in an interview somewhere that is was used on the album.

Interesting to see that part of Eric's solution to the Strat problem is to turn the first stage gain up. If you believe the setting are 'real'. This has been discussed here at TAG. I wonder if any other tweaks were done for the Strat?

[Max]

Greg, thanks for posting the picture. IMO it looks like a 1st generation ODS with a strave switch like this one: http://www.maverick-music.com/vintage-a ... 12-cabinet

Bottom loaded cabinet looks similar to the one of an Odyssey or Special from the same period of time.

AFAIR all the early Dumble amps did still have a chassis with separate front and back plates and not yet the later one piece chassis. And the 1st generation ODS amps have most of their filter caps on the outside of the chassis - just like a usual Fender. So the chassis of the 1st generation ODS amps could be a bit smaller.

I've posted some Strat clips of a 1st generation ODS in the "Dumble reference thread" (Charly Bonat). AFAIR I've included the information concerning amp settings.

BTW: I've played many different Dumble ODS amps and never had any problem to get a great tone out of them with both - humbuckers and single coils. But of course this may be just a matter of personal taste.

Question: Does someone know, if this is reported to be a 50W or a 100W amp? I ask because a 100W amp perhaps could be an explanation for the bottom loaded chassis with the power switches on the front. AFAIR the top loaded 1st generation chassis with the power switches on the back wouldn't have much space left for two additional tube sockets. But this is just a wild speculation about a possible reason for the bottom loaded chassis.

Does someone know if this perhaps could be a 100W 4 power tubes version of a 1st generation amp?

Cheers,

Max

[Rythm-changes]

Here is another pic from his website. I believe this is from his most recent tour.

[boldaslove6789]

Thanx for some info Max!

So it appears EJ is running this ODS clean with the Tube Driver for his Dirty Rythm tone (like he did for ACL with the SSS in 84', & 88' ).

I don't see EJ using a 50w amp for his dirty Rhythm so it's gotta be a 100w amp.

I know his SSS (now owned by Santana) had a Skyliner stack, wonder if HAD did any work on this ODS or is it just of standard Classic non-molecular?

Anybody know of any You-tube clips where this ODS is being used?

[Structo]

Definitely looks like a prototype and an old grimy one at that.

I wonder how he came to get it?

That last photo made me chuckle, it's like he is aligning the amps and cabs with the stars.

[stratcat62]

Haha, nice Structo. Very cool that he's got a Dumble back in his rig, looks like he's changing tubes.

[brentm]

Definitely looks like a prototype and an old grimy one at that.

I wonder how he came to get it?

That last photo made me chuckle, it's like he is aligning the amps and cabs with the stars.

Yeah, he's a true tone freak. If you watch his PremierGuitar rig overview video (no dumble shown btw), he talks about his dallas arbiter fuzz face being too close in proximity to his wah and it messing with the tone. He's also the guy that can tell the difference between a Duracell and Energizer 9V battery in a pedal. Dude has the ears of a dog or something amazing!

[Structo]

Yeah he is probably testing preamp tubes.

Those look like the tube shields on top of the amp.

Who was it that said (maybe Gary from Glaswerks) that Eric can hear the difference
between having the OD tube shield on and off.

I tried it one day a long time ago and I thought I could detect a bit of a change,
but right now I couldn't tell you which way it went.
I know it adds capacitance to the tube.

He also said that he leaves the bottom off of the Fuzz Tone as they mess with the tone.
I've seen interviews and he is aware of his OCD with tone.
He almost acts embarrassed when he says something about something messing with the tone.

But, what I don't get, is I think his distorted lead tone has become more and more muffled sounding.
I mean it sounds good and he gets great violin type/ legato runs with it ,but to me it needs more brightness to it.

[boldaslove6789]

I've spent the past year or so researching trying to replicate EJ's fuzz tones. After repairing and borrowing many, many vintage fuzz faces I've came to the conclusion that even know it seems crazy, the battery does make a difference in tone. So I can vouch for EJ's tone freaky'nes

Also the tube driver/Echoplex preamp is a key part of his lead tone and it's near impossible to replicate it without one.

His tone has changed in the past few years, the lead tone is really getting almost robotic sounding. Guess it really does take years to get one's own signature sound

[Structo]

He uses a Butler Tube Overdrive doesn't he?

[brentm]

Do you have any example songs I could listen to to hear what you're hearing? I don't doubt it, but I never really paid much attention. Right now, I'm just hearing the intro to cliffs of dover in my head which sorta matches your description.

I wonder if that's why he has his pickups so bright. About 6 months ago, I replaced my trusty Fender Strat with an Eric Johnson Strat. Amazing guitars, btw, and I like the tone control on the bridge pup. But his pickups are weirdly bright to me. Not overly, but they had more hi-fi going on than the Lace Sensors I was used to (and a lot more strat buzz).

[brentm]

I wonder if he could hear the difference after wiping down the faceplate of that dumble with a dab of Simple Green on a papertowel.

I swear my car always drives faster clean. Maybe it applies to amps too

[stevlech]

I remember the battery story from a discussion on fuzz faces in one of the pedal forums long ago. Battery impedance was brought up as well as the fabled sensitivity of the old germanium transistors. No mythical properties or esoteric mumbo jumbo to it, really. Then again, there IS the crystal lattice...

[Structo]

brentm, I bought a EJ Strat when they first came out.
I loved the way it sounded!
It was the only Strat I had owned that I didn't want to immediately tear the pickups out!

But, for two things, I didn't care much for the neck profile, and my wife was really pissed that I
spent $1,800 on a guitar so I returned it.

But I would have loved to keep it. I think they are a high quality Strat.