Ohh and BTW, with Vox Cloth, the secret to putting it on is getting it Wet and stretching it so that it doesn't get loose over time and seem flubby.

What does it measure on each plate resister and what value Dropping resistor are you using at each B+ node starting with the Phase inverter?

 You should be getting somewhere around 200 to 205v on each plate on V1 and V2.

I've seen Dumble ODS's with higher or lower V1/V2 B+ voltages depending on the voicing the amp had and what its output section consisted of. You'll really have to use your ears and find what voltages sound the best sonically as every amp is differnt.

 When the B+ is too low, the headroom won't be as high as it should be and the Gain will sound muddy. It should sound tight and Articulate.

I'd change that dropping resistor for that node and calculate what you'll need to get around 200-205v at each plate.

I always use 22awg Solid Core PTFE on heaters. You can use a smaller gauge than that but I like the stiffness that it has.

The dims for a Dumble Overdrive Reverb are (W) 26.5" x (D) 8"x (H) 2.75

183 and the BM are really different beasts, but they have similar power sections, I think you'll really dig the BM though, lots of Low end content.

Here's the checklist I'd run through on your BM and see how you dig it:

 The HRM trimmers in the BM are finicky to say the least (much like all HRM's in nature) , if I were you I'd get in there and try theses settings,

Bass: 200k
Middle: 9K
Treble: 125k

Then, adjust the PI with a matched 12ax7 ( I dig Long plates )
And a short plate in V1 & V2 (Mullard or Amperex short plates sound killer)

And set the OD Trigger at around 27.4k

Put on some Sonny landreth with his Tan Dumble and see if it sounds close.

The Only reason RF uses FX Out front is because he's either A.) Renting an Amp and has no choice to use a FX pedal board to get his sound and versatility. Or B.) he doesn't use the D-lator/2290 setup with his Dumble anymore so he uses time based effects, and doesn't even use the amps Overdrive anymore, he uses a Zendrive instead (Why this is, I have no clue? But it is what it is).

If you're still using Time baed FX, I'd put them in the loop. If you plan on using time based FX out front it will make the Overdrive sound Muddy and all chopped up. Put and OD/Fuzz/ and or pedal Modulation FX pedals in front of the amp.

Only IMO of course, I've tried all the setups, all the different D-lators (Klein, Quinn-u-lator, Bludotone Loop-a-lator, Two-Rock ELI II), and I always keep my Time based FX (Providance Chrono) in the the built in Dumbleator of my Quinn, and I use the amps OD, but I put my Modulation FX (Modded Arion Chorus, Uni-Vibe), a Delica Fuzz & Quinn Fuzz Petal, and Clyde Mccoy Wah in front of the amp. 

You should not have to change anything inside the amp (the trim pots in the amp were preset when the amp was built by Ceriatone) 


Its easier to balance the levels of the amp with the use of a Dumbleator in the FX Loop.

Try these settings though:

Volume: 10:00
Treble: 12:00
Mid: 12:00
Bass: 10:00
OD Level: 10:00
OD Ratio: 12:00
Master: Usually set around 10:00, though you can set it to the desired Volume.
Presence: 11:00

I had a 100w Bluesmaster built by Jon Mernyk (Mill Creek Audio) a while back. Since then moved on to a Quinn SDO-Reverb with built in D-lator).

The BM was a great amp, I just prefer NON-HRM's and not hauling a rack around etc.

Here's the spec's and settings:

100w (4 6L6) Bluesmaster
BM tonestack
HRM OD (had some of Jon's tweaks, more like a standard high plate HRM)
Fender Twin Rev Pwr Tafo
Fender Tonemaster OT
I added FET with a level control to the front panel to it after about 6 months

Svetlana 6L6 Pwr tubes
Sylvania long plate 12ax7 in PI
Telefunken ECC83 (smooth plate) in V2 OD
RCA short plate in V1 Clean

Used a Mill Creek D-lator with (2) 10' RG-400 cables and a 100pF Bright cap.

Also added a LNFB switch on V1 and I usually had the LNFB: ON

 Here's my amp and D-lator settings:

Volume: 2:00
Bright: OFF
Deep: OFF
Rock/Jazz: ROCK
Treble: 2:00
Middle: 10:00
Bass: 9:00
OD Level: 11:00
OD Master: 1:00
Master Vol: 10:00
Presence: 12:00

OD Trigger: (Set at 27.5K)

D-lator Send: 12:00
D-lator Return: 10:00

I also used a Suhr MiniMix II in the Loop with the D-lator and a TC-M300

I've moved on to a Providence Chrono (because the quality is second to none and it runs in Parallel with Zero tonal coloration and is completely transparent in the Loop of my Quinn SDO-R

Yeah I'd go with the Heyboer Plexi OT, as good as you're going to get to the original Magic Parts trafo that was in the real 183, even Shad at Quinnamp who cloned Dumble #183 uses Heyboer for the OT and a Mercury Magnetics Twin Reverb  Pwr trafo.

E-mail Nik, he'll give you a CAD file for the faceplate dims, with Pots and switches holes etc.

Hate to Burst your bubble but JM was not using a Dumble Steel String Singer at this time. That vid has a few Fender's, and maybe an Overdrive Special or Two-Rock in the background, but no SSS.

He only had owned misc Overdrive specials at the time that was recorded(an EL34 HRm and a 70's style combo with an EVM-12L in it).

He didn't get Jackson Browne's Silver panel Serial #2 Dumble SSS until he started the JM Trio, when he recorded Contiuum etc.

I really dig the texas Heat but not really a fan of the overly honky Midz on the Swamp thang, have tried them both in a 2x12 cab but I didn't like the mix of the two.

i did however like these combo's of speakers in a 2x12 ported D-style cab:

Texas Heat & Celestion G12-H65
Texas Heat & WGS ET65 (Two-Rock Labeled)

I have played both an Original Dumble SSS (Blackface era 150w, late serial #), and a Bludotone High plains Drifter (based on EJ's Silver panel 150w SSS #5).

Both amps were not overly loud. The huge pwr section has tons of clean headroom but its all about the amount of girth the power amp brings into the equation. With that said a 100w SSS style amp is basically the same, maybe a few dB's less of clean headroom. Believe me when I say that too much volume will not be an issue, you should be able to get great tones at any volume with the master Volume low, even bedroom levels. Sure the amps sound killer at high volumes and will possibly decapitate someone's head , but the low vol is perfectly fine too.

Sure it can be done and has,.....

Two-Rock has done it with their Classic Type 2 or 3.

Of course it will take a bit of tweaking but sure its possible.

There are a few different cab makers that make great D-style cab's. Here's a list of cab makers with great prices, some have more options than other as far as covering goes though too (Tolex, Suede, etc.)

Avatar: Great prices, Oval ported D-style cab (called the "Traditional") 1 and 2x12 cabs, only tolex though, they can be had on Ebay cheaper. ($180 to 300)

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=avatar+2x12

Amplified Nation: Taylor over at The Amp Grarage owns Amplified Nation, his cabs are killer and he offers all sorts of options when it comes to exotic coverings (Suede, Buckskin etc.), and port options. He'll do an Oval port, front Theile port, and even a side ported cabinet like a Forte cab. his prices are great and his cabs are a sonic representation of what Dumble offered, including the rare Music man 2 bolt handles Dumble used on his cabs.

http://www.amplifiednation.com/D-Style%20Cabs.htm

V-boutique: Great prices, just tolex covering. Oval ported D-style cab. They sell cabs on Ebay for a decent price $259 for a 2x12.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/V-Boutique-USA-Unloaded-D-Style-2-x-12-Unloaded-Cab-/130679360198?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6d18cac6

As far as speakers goes there are a bunch of options. these being the best with the #102 Ford amp:

Celestion G12-65w
Two Rock ET-65w
WGS ET 65w
Skumback H-75
Austin Speaker Works KTS-70
Austin Speaker Works Bludotone G1265 variant (only avail through Bludotone, designed with Bludotone to be similar to the G1265)

Make sure to get (2) 8ohm speakers and wire them parallel if you're going to run at 4ohms.

The WGS are the cheapest of them all, the Austin Speaker Works KTS-70 is the most expensive. The Two Rock labeled ET-65 is the same as the WGS with a slightly different frequency response, better in my opinion.  the Skumback sound slightly different, more pwr handling and more efficiant.

The Celestion G1265 is exactly what Robben Ford uses with his Dumble.

They can all be had used on The Gear page or on Ebay for a decent price, depends what your budget is.

Only you can be the judge, preference is always subjective.


Celestion G1265:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=celestion+g12-65

Skumback H75:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=scumback
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/search.php?searchid=36213011

Two Rock ET-65:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Musical-Instruments-Gear-/619/i.html?_sac=1&_from=R40&_nkw=two+Rock+speaker
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/search.php?searchid=36213032

Austin Speaker Works:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/search.php?searchid=36213081

WGS Speaker:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/search.php?searchid=36213116