Hi there, its been a while since I was on here. I have had a number of OTS amps. The current one was built by a local electronics  tech here in Australia and I was able to specify some things I wanted in the build and lead dress after having had a few of these amps in the past.

I have had some components changed out by another "D" style enthusiast and also some value changes in my search for my ideal dumble tone.

I mention this only to illustrate that what one may find is an improvement is only so in relation to that persons particular end goal. As such and for me, the change to MM transformers was a good move. The amp is a step more articulate with the MM transformers than the stock ones for me and my ears.

The power transformer was not changed as my tech measured the values and sag etc and said it wasnt worth changing it out. However the output and choke were changed out.

The difference is a matter of degree and how much the single percentage points gain is worth to you. The two biggest differences I found are,

1. There seems to be better control over gain levels with pick attack alone.
2. There seems to be an improvement in overall clarity of notes and definition with chordal work.

my 2c

Hi all. I got the amp back but haven't had a chance to plug in yet. I will keep you posted. Another qn though, I have a carol ann od2 that is the main gig amp. It sounds huge compared to the ots. Not a volume thing but it just has a bigger tonal or harmonic foot print. The sound from the same cab when compared to the carol ann is, well, smaller. Still great mind you but doesn't have the same girth as the carol ann.

Thoughts

Just curious but I found a schematic from an original Dumble. Anyway I gave it to my amp tech (who built my amp from Niks kit) and he identified a number of mainly value changes to a number of components (forgive me im not a tech). So as the OTS isn't my main gig amp anymore, I asked him to source the bits and make the changes. I haven't got the amp back yet but i'll keep you all posted.

Anyone done the same?

Result?

hey mate im in Australia too, up in Newcastle. Yeah the Elmwood was pretty impressive. Ive got a Two Rock 2x12 like my friends in the photo and I think it's the best cab in the world but the Elmwood is right up there with it. Its a closed back and sounds tighter than the TR cab. Let me know if you don't get the Elmwood, i'll buy it if you don't.

Have you chatted with stratultra? hes down in Melbourne and has turned to the dark side and got a two rock.Lol. PM me if you wanna.

......................................... a mesa IIc+, modded bassman, two rock studio pro 50.

I was at a friend place this afternoon and took my Ots to show him the latest one. Hes got a couple of Niks amps and I was really curious to hear mine aginst the others and also to get his feedback re the amp. Hes bordering on being a pro player ie conservatorium trained in jazz etc playing guitar is his full time job ie teaching, band work, sessions etc.

Anyway he loved the ots and side by side with the boogie it more than held its own, There was never a question of quality, just a diff sound (d style goodness) vs the others. Very good very good.

Lol, yeah but that would mean I have to stop playing it!!!!!!! to take some pictures.

Now first of all im not an amp builder, not a tweaker, or technician heck my experience only goes as far as knowing which end of the soldering iron is hot!Lol

Anyway, I think ive learned a few things by osmosis ie hanging out with people that know stuff and asking questions. So with the latest and greatest build (the S&M) ive been wondering why it sounds so much better than the other 2 OTS ive had and specifically why better than the FM ME?

Now the tubes are the same ie rca blackplates X 2 and a Jan Phillips all nos. And Sylvania 6l6GCs again nos. These are the same as I put into the FM ME.

The box is the same Two Rock 2x12.

The only diffs are
1. the variant of the S&M model
2. the build
 
The S&M diff would imho give a different flavour of OTS but would not account for the improvement in overall tone and harmonic richness.

So that leaves the build. The guy who put this together is at a level where he'd rather read a schematic than a layout ( and I now know what the diff is between the two). He said he was very careful with the lead dressing and spent a lot of time getting it the way he would if he built it for himself. He also mentioned that a few things (I cant remember what they were) were put in slightly diff positions in the chassis to cut down noise and signal bleed.

Oh and btw he only charged me for 3 hrs labour even though it took close to 5-6 hrs with final tweaks and tube/ plate bias.

This is no attack on Niks builds but im just curious what you all think cause its head and shoulders above the other OTS's ive had as well as the TR Gainmaster.
Thoughts?

yeah that's the guy, he owes me some $$ (just kidding). He wasn't doing the D style oval backed cabs before I asked him if he could make one but I went a 2x12 TR cab , just awesome.

cool, but I thought the 1 x 12 tr cabs had the oval port just like the 2 x 12s?  Theres also a cab builder in Qld who has the odd cab for sale on ebay who does the 1 x 12 and 2 x 12 cabs with a D style ovel port too for memory.

hey mate, afaik the oval was HADs design and I know that my two rock 2 x 12 cab is simply awesome and huge sounding, it takes lunch money from all the quads ive heard. I put this down to the idea that the oval backed, tuned cab was made to go with D style amps. I think  the oval back just spreads the sound but it still has heaps of upfront punch.

my 2c

the only little problem with a bluesmaster idea is that at the end of the day Bonamassa's tone is not a processed as you think amd his dumble tone is from a HRM variant called a Van Weelden. True he does use pedals but his base lead tone is a mix of the jubilee and the van weeldens (dumble clones). From what I gather the van weelden is a HRM dumble and not a bluesmaster variant. He uses the dumble clone to layer over the top of the jubilee for big leads, and its really hard to control that amount of gain and do it well - kudos to Joe!

im sorry im not sure I understand what u mean? Im talking about their tube buffered loop kit

 http://www.londonpower.com/effects-loops

so I can now answer my own question! Lol!

I took delivery of my OTS S&M50 biased with my nos sylvanias and nos RCA x 2 and nos Jan Phillips x 1 in the preamp.

And I can say that I think my search is over!

im really digging the extra touch of brightness on the cleans they are better imho than the Ots FM Me not quite in the two rock league (yet, mods to come).

the drive is as described ie more aggressive, reminiscent of a Fuchs ODS (I almost bought one), it has that great bloom we all love, which is something the two rock didn't do.

all in all im very happy. In fact the Two Rock Gainmaster is now up for sale.............the OTS sounds better to my ears............nuff said!

after my amp tech built the S&M he said he could squeeze the London Power kit into the chassis and use one of the unused (its a 50 watt) tube sockets to hang the 12ax7 out of and use 2 mini pots for send and return levels on the far right of the rear panel of the chassis.

i'll keep you posted.

Adam

I went this way for bonamassa ie D style amp and mashally pedal. It worked out better imho cause its easier to replicate a good marshall tone with a pedal, much harder to get D style bloom from a pedal. And if you do it expensive ie Zen or Dumkudo or Ethos running up to several hundred bucks vs marshal clone pedals at $150 ish.

my 2c

oh and you wont get close to Mayer with a Marshall