Stupid questions for beginners!

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torben3000
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:00 pm

Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by torben3000 »

Hi,
I want to build an ODS 100 clone and yes, i am a newbie!
so i've got some stupid questions: :?

What does HRM mean?
What kind of transformer do i need?
Where can i get them from?
Is a kit the best way to do it for me?
Which one is the best?

By the way, i'm from germany.

thank you for your help
CaseyJones
Posts: 856
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:29 pm

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by CaseyJones »

Crawl before you walk, walk before you run, run before you fly.

If you jump straight from crawlin' to flyin' you'll learn about gravity the hard way.
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Structo
Posts: 15446
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:01 am
Location: Oregon

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by Structo »

Like caseyjones says if you are really, really new to amp building, as in you have never built one before you might be biting off more than you can chew.
Even the lite ODS is a fairly complex build for a newb.

What is your background in electronics?
Do you have knowledge of components and what they do?

Maybe start off by building a few pedal kits to familiarize yourself with various things.
Then build a simple tube amp like a champ.
And yes a kit is the best thing for a beginner since you don't have to source the parts. If you have to buy them from multiple sources you will soon realize it is not a cheaper way to go due to shipping costs.

There is tons of info here so you would be well advised to read just about everything here before asking questions so you will be able to ask what is not apparent in the threads.

If you know more than your post seems to indicate, please excuse me and carry on. :wink:
Tom

Don't let that smoke out!
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ic-racer
Posts: 1318
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:24 pm

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by ic-racer »

torben3000 wrote:Hi,
I want to build an ODS 100 clone and yes, i am a newbie!
so i've got some stupid questions: :?

What does HRM mean?
What kind of transformer do i need?
Where can i get them from?
Is a kit the best way to do it for me?
Which one is the best?

By the way, i'm from germany.

thank you for your help
HRM= Hot rubber monkey
Fender Twin 100w Power and output transformers.
Hammond replacement transformers are made in USA and Canada. There may be others just as good or better, made in eurpoe, I don't know.
Don't know if a kit is best for you but having all the parts coming from one place will be easier than looking for them individually. The only drawback is that you might not like the circuit of the kits that are available.
I only know of 2 kits: Brown note and Ceriatone and cannot comment on which is better.
torben3000
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:00 pm

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by torben3000 »

Thank you for your help.
yes, i am an electronics technican. i build a few pedals, like ds-1 keeley mod clone or ts-808 clone.
i think it is possible with the right schematics and parts and i want to try it.
i used the search but i didn't found what i was looking for.
CaseyJones
Posts: 856
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:29 pm

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by CaseyJones »

O.k., Gestorben... Here's the deal:

Buy a Brown Note D' Lite kit. It's inexpensive for what it is, mortals can build it with satisfactory results, it sounds kick-ass. It's a Dumble type amp with all the crap you don't need left out. Build it, get it right, see if you dig it then add on the extra stuff in the Mark II version if you're interested.

If you jump right in and build a 100 watt the level of complexity increases. The cost increases, you pay more for bigger transformers, more parts and more tubes. As with high gain amps in general and Dumbles in particular it's important to achieve a layout that works, that's a neat trick because ol' H.A.D. didn't want anyone cloning his amps. The only reason it's possible is that there are enough people interested in doing exacly that and they're connected by the internet.

Speaking for myself... I like relatively simple amps that I can build with one eye on the Superbowl and a drink in my hand. I don't mind workin' my ass off on a once in a lifetime project -IF- the payoff is there in the end.
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Phil_S
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Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:12 pm
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by Phil_S »

Do you have a clear idea of how loud a 100W amp will be? This level of amp requires a venue at least the size of a small auditorium and is probably good in something as large as a stadium. In your house, a small bar, or similar venue, you won't be able to open it up and enjoy it.
torben3000
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:00 pm

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by torben3000 »

yes you are right. i don't need 100 watts. i want to use it on stage, but it goes into a mixer and i've got my monitor. i think i will try the d'lite.
thank you for your help, this is a great forum.

not gestorben, i'm still alive :lol:
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Structo
Posts: 15446
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:01 am
Location: Oregon

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by Structo »

By the way, the D'Lite 44 which uses two 6L6 power tubes (or 6V6 or El34) is friggin loud!
Depending on what you bias it at would play any small to medium venue just fine.
Tom

Don't let that smoke out!
merkaba22
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by merkaba22 »

ic-racer wrote:
torben3000 wrote:Hi,
I want to build an ODS 100 clone and yes, i am a newbie!
so i've got some stupid questions: :?

What does HRM mean?
What kind of transformer do i need?
Where can i get them from?
Is a kit the best way to do it for me?
Which one is the best?

By the way, i'm from germany.

thank you for your help
HRM= Hot rubber monkey
Fender Twin 100w Power and output transformers.
Hammond replacement transformers are made in USA and Canada. There may be others just as good or better, made in eurpoe, I don't know.
Don't know if a kit is best for you but having all the parts coming from one place will be easier than looking for them individually. The only drawback is that you might not like the circuit of the kits that are available.
I only know of 2 kits: Brown note and Ceriatone and cannot comment on which is better.
were you kiding? I surmised that HRM mean Hot Rod Marshall; if wrong, what's hot rubber monkey mean?
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Structo
Posts: 15446
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:01 am
Location: Oregon

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by Structo »

Yes it stands for Hot Rubber Monkey.
What it is, it adds trimmer controls for your treble, mid, bass on the overdrive section to fine tune those controls.
Tom

Don't let that smoke out!
merkaba22
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Stupid questions for beginners!

Post by merkaba22 »

Structo wrote:Yes it stands for Hot Rubber Monkey.
What it is, it adds trimmer controls for your treble, mid, bass on the overdrive section to fine tune those controls.
Wow -- that's nice -- I am about to have the gain stage of my Princeton Reverb II modded by Don Butler out here in LA -- he's on vacation in the moment, so otherwise I would ask him directly -- I wonder if that can be included?
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