Hi Gregg
Good question, I'm also looking for an answer to this.
Cheers

Thanks, Greg. That actually make alot of sense, due to the fact that by clipping the ground an infinite resistance to ground is theoreticallt introduced. Funny thing is i was thinking of adding a variable PAB system via trimpot or even a full sized one, so the idea shoulda hit me 

Thanks again!

Gregg

With the HRM totally bypassed there is actually LESS drive on tap, but MORE gain. Basically, you have to turn the drive up higher to get the same amount of Overdrive as you would with the HRM engaged. The drive sound is less compressed and more Fender sounding, due to the fact the tonestack is before the OD and not after like a Fender, with the HRM, of course, ideally you would lift the pre OD tonestack (PAB) and utilize the post OD stack, like a Marshall. Remember that HAD called the HRM "Hot Rubber Monkey" but realllt, it was understood that it really stood for Hot Rodded Marshall, and was his way of having a clean Fender sound and an Overdriven Marshall sound in the same amp.

Totally Bypassed, the OD tone will be based completely off of your clean tonestack settings, so it will sound more like your clean sound, just driven. Of course, it is not quite the same since it is a cascading gain type sound, rather than an overdriven PI/Power section sound, and is threfore more compressed, but not as compressed as it is with the HRM engaged. Totally bypassed, it can get quite bassy and a bit harsh, if you have your treble and mids set too high, and is very unbalanced, and really, without a c-lator or attenuator is kinda useless if playing solo, or in a small space. There is that much of a jump. Remember that you are taking an entire tonestack out, just like if you lifted the main tonestack completely (Mega PAB as in the original Bluesmaster).


It is much better with a small resistor bypassing it. The stack is still defeated, but it is much more controlled, less harsh and more balanced and just overall more happy.

Will the BM OD sound like a standard OTS with the HRM bypassed either fully or resistor bypassed? No, not really. It's apples and oranges, really. The BM has a totally different clean tonestack and OD structure than all of the other OTS amps. It is more like a classic BF Fender with a bit of Tweed rolled in there. Its mid frequencies are much more scooped and the overall OD is less compressed and less middy as well. It CAN get those those standard OTS sounds, but with an OD pedal or a compressor in front of the amp, or with the OD trim turned way up to compress the sound, but then you need to run the bass very low and it loses it character IMO.

That being said, i got the Bluesmaster not for its OD, but for its clean tonestack. After talking with Nik and telling him that my fave amp that i no longer have was my old BF Princeton, which had a footswitchable cascading gain circuit, which was similar to HAD's design, but not quite as complex, and that i primarily just cranked the snot out of the amp and ran either a fuzz or distortion plus in front of the thing and rarely used the cascading gain, and that my second fave was my Sovtek Mig 50 that i cranked the snot out of and ran a fuzz in front of, he said that the BM was just what i was looking for. He told me that i may or may not like the OD, even with the HRM bypassed, but that i would love the clean cranked and boosted, and he was right. The OD is cool at times, but mainly i run the clean channel cranked and boosted. I'm starting to like the resistor bypassed HRM, though, and the HRM is even starting to grow on me a bit, but for the most part, for me, it cranked and boosted clean side with fuzz for over the top stuff for me!

Gregg

Ya too Dumbleish. I'm not really into the D-Tones, that's why i got a BM!!

Gregg

That sounds pretty cool and sounds like the sort of OD sound I'd be looking for, does anyone know whether Nik would do the on-off-on mod when he (okay his team) builds the amp?

Guess I'll have to ask him!!

That's actually very encouraging!! Thanks, Greg!