Ceriatone Forum

Hey guys,

I played a HRM (non-mod) of a friend of mine and now I'm hooked! Problem is: I have very little (read: BYOC and Musikding) experience with building electronics. I have a good picture of what I want and I have a pretty good idea of the tonal difference in parts, tubes and mods. It's my technical experience that kills it  ;D .

I'm already convinced it's probably a bad idea to do so myself, but I'm willing to spend a couple of bucks extra and have Nik do most of the wiring. I want to go for a 50w Bluesmaster and mod it. I'm hoping that some of you 'veterans' are willing to share some of your wisdom and have some tips on building and modding the bluesmaster.

Right now I'm thinking of replacing the transformers to higher spec ones. Mercury transformers tend to be a bit 'lifeless' and 'static', is that also the case with the HRM's? And I heard vintage replica's have a tendency of blowing life into HRM's. And would a choke really add (extra) flexibility? Anyone with experience?

I also read about a post-od-tonestack-bypass for more gain, anyone. Would it be an easy mod for a beginner and could it be done with push-pull switching?

I also want a built-in C-lator and (Palmer) attenuator. I'm not a 19" kinda guy, and I think it would be safest built in and with some creative thinking it might just fit in 1 HU for a clean look and plenty of space. How would it work with powering the whole thing?

Lastly I want to do something about the inputs. I'm not a dual-inputs kind of guy so a single input with a switch would suit me better. It gave me the inspiration of a lo-in clean - hi-in od setting. Would it be possible? Anyone with experience and/or schems?

Maybe you guys have some better ideas for awesome mods, please (!!) let me know  ;). I hope you guys can help, if it's done I'll promise to post clips!!!

Grtz,

Laurens

Ummm, actually, the ability to run a D-style amp in completely unmodified form gives up (from the right set of fingers) a truly staggering palette in both variety and real quality of tones.  If you put in every mod you read about you just might ending up compromising a design that was designed by one much more talented and experienced in the art of modding an amp...HAD hisself. 

Regarding your inputs,  a/b/y switch?  I use one and love what it does for little $$

I have never played an actual dumble. I'm not saying the d-style design isn't good, or that my mods make it sound better. My tone comes from the fingers, through a nice piece of wood, handwound pickups and into the amp. I think the dumble tone is the best amp-tone out there. I'm just a guy that emphisises on the things he doesn't like in gear (believe me, I hate it too..damn expensive). The mods I'm thinking of would make it a better-suited amp for my sound and feel...

I have tried a non-modded hrm and a two-rock. For me, the HRM didn't sing enough and didn't feel as touch-sensitive as the two rock, I recon it's to do with it's tubes and transformers. The gain coming from the amp is awesome, silky smooth, transparent, warm, really cool. Yet when I play it, it's not really as sensitive as I like and I can imagine wanting to have some extra gain every now and then. The built-in C-lator is and idea I stole from Alexander Dumble himself and the attenuator is for my GF and neighbours :P.

I have considerd the a/b/y-box, but I'm already kinda tapdancing in the middle of songs so it would be cooler if I could go for a set-and-forget kind of thing.

Thnx for the 2cts man!

You are welcome. 

And your carefully explained thoughts are illuminating. you have explained your self in ways so that others can help.   

My 50w HRM only has the LNFB mod, has a C-lator hooked up sitting on top.   That amp/lator and my choice of vintage old stock tubes and various speaker cabs...sings at small room volumes quite easily.   I can get a lot of bounce and still get the singing, note flipping, oozy lower gain stuff or adjust trim and gain on the OD channel, get some really good old school Marshall-y, more compressed tones.   

S'allgood.

I see I kind of forgot to mention the tone I'm after and why it doesn't come stock in my original text... I was afraid it would be too much to read  ;D.

I've heard from the LNFB mod, can't really figure out what it does though... I know it's an extra switch, completely bypassable, it's something to do with the gain, but what does it add/remove from your tone and how does it do it?

And I forgot about the trimmers, maybe the guy who owned it just had terrible taste ;D. It just felt so unnatural and non-responsive. While those features combined with the transperancy, smooth tone and nice compression are the things that made me want a dumble in the first place.

Again thanks, you're really helpfull! Let's hope some other people can pitch in!

You've tried a 2 d-clones. Based on that you want to mod your bluesmaster.
That's like playing on a Marshall Plexi and than decide to buy a JCM800 with the intention to mod it. Makes no sense!
The current transformers Nik is supplying are very good. I built and modded a fair amount of OTS amps.
With a Clator you don't need a attenuator.
The unique thing with the clator and a dclone is that you don't need to overload the Phase inverter tube to get a good overdrive sound.  Off course louder is better, I can't concur that.

Just play your amp and then decide if it's worth to mod it. Most options you mentioned are doable and some are very pricey in terms of manhours.
FWIW: Non_HRM amps(like a regular overtone or a FM) have a looser feel; maybe you're attracted to that feel. HRM amps can feel very stiff; some like it some don't.

Edit: I see you're from the Netherlands; maybe you can check out this one(not mine): http://www.gitaarmarkt.nl/index.php?ct=gitvers&md=details&id=153591 (http://www.gitaarmarkt.nl/index.php?ct=gitvers&md=details&id=153591)

Hey Erwin,

I understand I've only scratched the surface of dumble-amps, and youtube doesn't really give a good picture of the different sounds of the different amps. I'm probably trying way too hard to get the amp perfect on the first try, but that's kinda my intention. I don't look forward to pull the amp apart again and again, yet that's what I'll have to do untill it sounds the way I want it to. I just want to get the closest to it the first time..

Nik advised the bluesmaster, since I really like the JM sound as a base. I heard the bluesmasters are a bit more responsive and less compressed and (from the demo's on the site and youtube) has more of the character I want than the OTS.

I understood the C-lator is just for the fx-loop, how would it make the amp less loud? Or do you mean the amp isn't that loud? I have a blues dlx at the moment and the 50w is already too loud for the GF and neighbours..my dog doesn't mind though..

The ad is great, I'll look into it and contact the owner!

Thnx

With a clator the ots sounds good at low volumes; takes the harsh edges off.

Btw I don't know what Two Rock you tried; but most of them are Non-HRM(like the OTS and FM).

If I remember correctly it was an artist reverb of some sort, but I can't remeber the exact type.. It did respond nicely, felt really natural.. But it didn't give me the warm tone I like in Dumbles... It's pretty hard for me because the warm tone is addictive, but the brighter sound of the OTS would make it stand out of the mix..

The two-rock was clearly the better one of the 2 I've tried (and pretty much the best amp I have played so far), yet I don't know whether it's to do with the fact that the HRM felt 'wrong'. It was just far from what I expected, it almost felt like the first modeling amps, that can't be right.! I'm going to try a ots, as soon as I find someone I know who has one. (I'm looking for anyone who ones a dumble-like amp) I'm still leaning towards the bluesmaster because Nik described it as a more responsive and versitile HRM. Thnx for the advice!