Finally got a chance to get the Bluemaster up and running today.
Current tube compliment:
3 x "Preferred Series" 7025 preamp tubes from thetubestore.com
2 x NOS JAN Phillips 6L6WGB again, from thetubestore.com
Biased to 50ma (a lil hot, but recommended for these particular old stubby power tubes)
So far I am in LOVE with the clean channel. It is everything i hoped it would be and more. Proper Fender Blackface tone and then some. Very nice tonal dynamics and harmonics, with a nice crisp bottom end, even more so with the Deep switch engaged. I really dig the Jazz setting, adds a nice dimension to the clean side. My Deep switch was not wired properly but that's no biggie. All controls on the amp are functioning. I'm not in love with the Overdrive channel just yet, but i think there are a few factors for that:
1. The amp isn't quite burned in yet. Currently burning it in with all my jazz content on my ipod, the amp is actually sounding better by the minute
2. I have the amp running into my 20 year old 4x12 cab with my 20 year old eminence legend speakers, i think they may be a bit flat sounding for the HRM, i'm really starting to think speakers make all the difference on the OD sounds on the D-Style amps, i'm gonna try hooking into a couple of my combo amps and see what a difference it makes.
3. The preferred series just may not be aggressive enough or have the right tonal structure for the OD Channel. I also purchased a JJ 12ax7 that i may drop into V2 and see if it helps.
Don't get me wrong, the OD sounds great and can go from SRV type OD to fairly aggressive Marshall/Mesa type sounds depending on how ya rotate the OD trim knob, but it just sounds "flat" right now. I'm sure it will change as soon as the amp burns in a bit, and with some better speakers, and maybe with a change in V2..
as for the mods:
the 1/2 power option is pretty handy, as this lil bugger is loud, especially through a 4x12! i think it may be louder than my Sovtek, which is saying something. Dropping it down to 1/2 power takes some of the high end out, which is to be expected, but it doesn't suck all the tone out, which may be due the high bias i'm running, i dunno
The Mega PAB boost, is just what it sounds like, the PAB just more of it. kinda like hitting the Fat switch on a Fender Blues junior, but in a good way. it adds a lil more snarl to your town (think woman tone)
The SAG switch drops the current across the plates by about half or so, and warms the amp up quite a bit, and gives a little sponginess, as expected. It's a nice option to have if you normally run your tubes a lil hot like i do, and want a lil warmth for certain songs, and it can be switched on the fly, which is nice.
I really dig the amp so far, and the build quality couldn't be better. It is definitely not a plug in and go type amp, which is a good thing, it really allows you to find your own tone with all the various tone settings. I'm looking forward to getting it dialed in over the next few weeks (waiting for my 2x12 combo cab). Just gotta decide on speakers now. grrrr it's gonna be tough
to keep the forums alive.
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