Dumbleland Silver Alligator Inspired Build

[Aaron]

Well, here is the finished for now version! There is still a bit of tweeking to do but I just wanted to get it up and running.

This is not an exact clone, this build is inspired by the Dumbleland Silver Alligator.

There are many reasons why I wanted to build this amp:-

1. I don't have an amp with the opto tremolo circuit.
2. I wanted to try this reverb circuit cause every other reverb circuit doesn't really do anything for me. It was always either "2 you can just hear it, 2.5 your drowning in it".
3. Wanted to try the output circuit.
4. Wanted to try the EF86 pre

So from looking at the grainy black and white photo copies, the info that electroavalanche posted and some posts between Brandon and Max I came up with this.

At the moment I'm running twin reverb iron for everything. I'm looking at getting some custom trannies wound.

Thanks,
Aaron

[M Fowler]

That is one sexy beast great job.

[jelle]

Great job! Yes, amps like this are quite some work, aren't they?!

[Aaron]

Great job! Yes, amps like this are quite some work, aren't they?!

Thanks Jelle.
Funny thing is, when I was finishing the last couple of solder points I thought "thank god this is finally done, I won't be building one of these for a while", and now I find myself planing my next build!
Like I say to my wife, "there's things far worse that I could be spending money on".

Cheers,
Aaron

[dreric]

Aaron,

you're frickin awesome!

[mhartman]

Great looking build Aaron. How do you like it? What is your opinion on how this amp differs from the Overdrive Special and SSS, both from a circuit and a sound/playing feel perspective.

Nice work!

[Aaron]

Well, don't break a valve socket in these! In my haste of swapping in and out valves, I bent a pin socket for the reverb send/return. Two and a half ours later............

Great looking build Aaron. How do you like it? What is your opinion on how this amp differs from the Overdrive Special and SSS, both from a circuit and a sound/playing feel perspective.

Nice work!

I've only played it twice at jams so far, so still getting to know. But sounds great! The only way I could describe the sound is clean but full. Like a compressor is plugged in, if you play normally you get nice dynamics, but if you really dig in, it kind of compress's, not break up, if that makes sense.

The Overdrives break up a bit to much for me, I built a SSS/Odyssey hybrid that has a really clean/glassy sound, but this is different again.
I should get my 12DW7 today, so I'll try that tonight.

Cheers,
Aaron

[mhartman]

Well, don't break a valve socket in these! In my haste of swapping in and out valves, I bent a pin socket for the reverb send/return. Two and a half ours later............

Great looking build Aaron. How do you like it? What is your opinion on how this amp differs from the Overdrive Special and SSS, both from a circuit and a sound/playing feel perspective.

Nice work!

I've only played it twice at jams so far, so still getting to know. But sounds great! The only way I could describe the sound is clean but full. Like a compressor is plugged in, if you play normally you get nice dynamics, but if you really dig in, it kind of compress's, not break up, if that makes sense.

The Overdrives break up a bit to much for me, I built a SSS/Odyssey hybrid that has a really clean/glassy sound, but this is different again.
I should get my 12DW7 today, so I'll try that tonight.

Cheers,
Aaron

Thanks Aaron. BTW, was it a Belton socket? I've had a bunch of problems with Belton pins and tube retainers breaking lately. Cheap metal I guess. Makes for tough troubleshooting.

[Structo]

Did you use the 6247 tubes?

I had to look that one up.

So subminiature, 8 pin, 60 mu ?

[Aaron]

Hi Tom,

The valve is a 7247/12DW7. Which is half 12AX7 and half 12AU7.

Cheers,
Aaron

[crbowman]

I see what Tom is talking about.
The two 6247's listed on the schematic are actually 6267's which are EF86's.
I think it's just a typo.

[Aaron]

Thought I would share a little video of the amp.
Starts off in the JAZZ setting, then ROCK, ROCK w/tremolo and finally the middle PAB setting.
Excuse the playing

http://youtu.be/tuWvDTPwk3U

Cheers,
Aaron

[10thTx]

I like the way that amp sounds. It really does have a rich full tone.

THANKS for sharing the video! Super nice tremolo.

With respect, 10thtx

[ElectronAvalanche]

Hi Aaron,

thank you for the demo! Highly appreciated. Nice sounding amp and I would be the last to critique the playing on an amp demo!

Great work on the Sliver Alligator Amp!

Electron

[grtamp]

Hi Aaron , compliments for the incredible work!!

sorry for stupid questions, but the Twin transformer doesn't get hot?

you have to heat filament for about 7.3A or I'm wrong?

R.