Nice T-shirt   

jim

I guess Marin is using the Axe-FX in the loop of his OTS's?  I flashed on this idea about 6 weeks ago and passed on it when my turn came up to purchase one from Cliff.  I was told that it is overkill, but what the hey, you only live once.

Marin, I hope you see this and comment about the pros and cons (if any) of using the Axe-FX in the loop!

Play on.
Jim

+1 "I would go with G12-65"

BTW, I also preferred it over the EVM12L.

Jim

You need the right speakers and the right cabinet or the amp won't sound so flattering.  Cabinet is critical.  You need something in the loop like a D'lator to wake it up as well.  That is how the amp was designed.  These types of amps aren't so plug and play. 

My OD sounds way better then any pedal I've ever tried and that's been plenty that I have tried.

good luck,
Jim

This afternoon I had the pleasure of spending about 4 hours playing through 2 Bludotones, a Fuchs prototype, Fuchs 30, and another D clone plus my OTS.  The majority of the time was spent alternating between the Bludos and my OTS while swapping tubes and making minor adjustments to a couple of caps, lead dress and the trimmers.

All these amps were great sounding and all of them were from the same tone family, but yet each was slightly different in feel and overall tonal "color".

I agree completely with Pickmaster, the OTS OD tone does stand shoulder to shoulder with the non-HRM Bludo.  There were some differences in feel and overall tone, but at this level of the stratosphere you are starting to split hairs and getting into personal preferences.  The Bludos were absolutely amazing and kicked ass plus had Robben Ford tones in spades.  I was real happy to hear how the OTS performed through a couple of Celestion 1265's.  Plenty of Ford tones to be had.

My amp sounded best with Svetlana winged C 6L6's, the difference was pretty dramatic to my ears.  Creamier sounding then the JJ's  Nik really has something going on with the OTS.  It's a great deal and a real tone machine.

Jim

I didn't have the May layout.  My comment was comparing April to current.  Still it was an interesting exercise.

Jim

Nick, I used the Rake with El34's for the first 6 years and it had an amazing clean ( I play in a band that does alot of funk).  I retubed it with 6CA7s and it was just as good, but maybe feelwise slightly different, but it was splitting hairs.  I never knew a clean could be so good out of EL34s.

My predicament is that I need to continue to try speakers and spend more time with the amp.  I'm sure the OTS will eventually be the main gigging amp.

jim

Hi Nick, I hope you see this post, but my main amp has been the Rivera Rake for the last 8 years.  I got my OTS about 3 weeks ago and have been to busy with work to really get it dialed in, but what I heard so far my Rake has destroyed the OTS for cleans!!!  I'm not giving up yet by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm not hearing the fabled Dumble 3D cleans just yet.  I got a few tricks up my sleeve so more in a couple of weeks.

Thx,
Jim

I'll venture a studied opinion and say that Nik has formally incorporated some of the changes that were offered here in early summer based on the Ayan/Lerner/Zucker mods and subsequent discussions.

When comparing the April 1 rev to the August 26th revision I stopped counting after seeing no fewer then a dozen tweaks.

Jim

I won't masquerade as an authority, but the OTS is not a high gain amp.  I don't necessarily like the tone either with the overdrive and PAB engaged.  Too thick,  saturated and boxy sounding.  Are you using a D'Lator in the loop?  You would be surprised how a  D'lator wakes the amp up.

My OD trimmer was set at the factory at about the 9:45 position just for info.

For me I'd be hearing a 'mo better tone hitting the front end with some pedals.  For example RC boost > BB Preamp > Zendrive with a D'lator in the loop.

I haven't as yet found a use for the "jazz" setting (too weak) or with the PAB engaged (boxy sounding).

Jim

Pickmaster does have a great looking cabinet.  I do like my headshell that I purchased from Gabkits.  I've been lazy (and busy gigging) to install my OTS, but it will be soon as I want to start gigging with the OTS.  I need some cables, etc for my D'Lator.

Pickmaster has pointed out that he has spent considerable time and effort with his OTS to get it too his liking.  I don't know if he has summarized all of his tweaks, but he has certainly performed his share along the way.  Once again the beauty of the Dumble topology.  Tweak to the owners satisfaction from a known baseline.

Regarding Bludotone, yes I have heard some amazing tones from pro level players.  It is little wonder that LC and RF have played them.

Jim

Just curious, where have you been looking at a Bludotone?  In person at a store or just forum musings?


Jim

Hywelg, thanks for the explanation.  Would the G-sharp still function with instrument cables into the OTS?

On a slightly different OTS loop topic, today I plugged a 15' patch cable into the loop and the amp became noticeably fuller, less attenuated and possibly even more "open".  Then I ran my RedPlate D'lator by itself into the loop and the OTS became even more alive.  This was especially noticeable on the lead tones.  (I'm really digging the OD tone with the PAB off) I'm starting to get a big grin on my face when I hear this OTS with the loop in use.

I'm becoming convinced that using a D'lator in the loop of any Dumble clone is an integral part of the experience and HAD's conception of how these amps must work.

Now I just want some sweeter more 3-Dish cleans and I'll be real happy.

Jim

Preamp tubes make all the difference in the world tonewise.  Not so much with the different brands of 6L6's.  There is a difference, but you really hear it experimenting with different preamp tubes.

Jim

Hi John, just wondering why you use TRS cables with the G-sharp.  Does that mean the G-sharp is a stereo unit?  If so, the OTS only sees one side of the signal or what?

Jim