Ceriatone Forum

I am trying to decide between a 100w BM OTS and the 100w HRM OTS.

I am primarily a strat player and love the cleans on the BM by far. Although, the entire reason for getting a dumble-esq amp is the singing, smooth and harmonically rich overdrive these amps are known for. Can the BM OTS achieve this sound with a strat? I have heard the BM likes LP types better.  I play mostly blues and want a more violin like tone, rich but still keeping a tight bottom end for faster licks and passages.

How would you compare the overdrive section of both of these amps?

Will the HRM take to the strat better and give me the sound i am looking for?

And is there any way to achieve the richness and 3 dimensional sound stage with the HRM clean channel?

I am very new to the dumble world so please be kind, I understand tone better than circuits.

I think a lot of folks would say that for cleans the BM amp is the best for strats. But for OD I strongly suggest looking into Erwin_VE's Bluesmaster with NON-HRm OD. I've modded a few scratch builds with this config and it has a ton of versatility for single coil pups (Both Tele's and Strat bridge pups). Most D-style amps Overdrive can sound nasl'y with single coil pups so having the right set of pups is just as important.

Eric Johnson used a Dumble ODS NON-HRM skyliner amp (possibly a serial number very close to the ODS RF #102 OJAI amp) for the song "Zap" using both a 59 Les Paul Burst (bridge pup) and his 58' strat (bridge pup) it's kind of hard to distinguish both guitars but if you listen closely it's there. That song would be a good starting point IMO for the "Violin" sounding OD.

I agree with the non HRM Bluesmaster. I have a switch on HRM tonestack so I can switch it in or out depending on my moods. It's a bit primitive compared to Erwin's mod, but it was just what I needed.

I will definitely look into erwin's mods. I believe the bluesmaster is an all around better fit for me. I just really wanted that smoother sounding OD.



Also, speaker choice is a big deal for these amps i understand. Would the 1x12 combo from ceriatone and an EV12-65 keep the bass response nice and tight? I want to retain a nice open, warm, huge sound while still keeping the bass response neat and precise. The bloom and soundstage are also big concerns with the 1x12, i have played several that sounded too small and boxy.

My strat sounds fabulous in the clean channel of my BM 50w - it's the best clean sound I've ever had. The OD channel is also amazing, but to really get the best singing tone I have to crank the mid boost knob of my emg DG120 pickup set - the straight setting is a bit thin and the attacks can get a bit "plinky".

I agree with sduck. I've a 100 watt BM that I think sounds fabulous in both modes with my Strat! The Strat does have Bill Lawrence (Wilde) noisless pickups (2-280's and 1- 290 in it. I do run it with the PAB on for the overdrive and use two diiferent cabs depending on the gig. One is an Avatar 2X12 with 2 WGS Et 65 and the other is an 80's Mesa Boogie 1X12 with the original EVM12.  It does sound completely different when I use my ES 335 - creamier overdrive and such but I do like it with the Strat as well - just a different color.
A third way I use it (for the classic rock band gig) is just clean - PAB on - pedalboard with overdrive and distortion pedals (Cusack Sreamer 2 - Wampler Plextortion).
The Bluesmaster is a versital and beautiful sounding amp IMHO.

how does the avatar sound compared to the 1x12? mostly in reference to the bass response.

I will be using this with both an Eric Johnson Strat and a Tom Anderson classic with Hss configuration.

I find the Mesa, probably due to the small box, more "mid-rangy" and not quite as smooth as the ET65's. The Avatar is a bigger box and more bottom but not overly so considering and I compensate this with my settings.

i have a HRM and its beatiful with a strat.....you can shape it as you want
the HRM is able to cope with LP, strat and tele (and gretsch for that matter) and its just up to you how much gain you want from it and the tone you are seeking

definitely get a klein or c-lator with it though...it really makes a difference to the amps capability

On my Bluesmaster 100 I'm noticing a serious increase in bass level on engaging the PAB on the OD channel - I know these are pretty bass heavy but I can get a lovely on the edge sparkly OD tone with a Strat without PAB and the bass control set pretty low.. Can I remedy this by lowering the bass HRM trimmer?
Really didn't want to have to mess with the HRM trimmers unless absolutely necessary...

With an LP the problem isn't as noticeable but my Strat seems to be fussy...using a Klein in the loop with the controls at 2, 5 and 2 o'clock and both bright switches off..

Is the HRM bypass switch mod hard to do? I have a builder mate who could help me with it...

EDIT

I'm running the amp through a slightly oversized 1x12 semi open back cab with EVM12L...

Thanks for any tips guys

The HRM bypass isn't hard to do, you just put a toggle on the ground running from the trimmer board to the ground buss, but you may want to start with lowering the HRM bass trimmer though. This will prolly help alot. FWIW the factory setting for the bass trimmer on the BM is "barely on".

I've done the same mod in my BM 100. Without HRM, OD channel has got a new life.
Now I'm still tweeking my amp, perhaps I'm going to leave V1 as is and convert V2 and PI to OTS specs.
I talked to Nik about, and I'm working on a tweaked layout to made the things a bit clearer.
Another idea is reduce PAB volume and change HRM board to Skyliner or Blackface stack, so PAB will become a "stack switch" sorta more than a boost.