#102 Robben Ford Amp (High Plate Skyline)

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talbany
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#102 Robben Ford Amp (High Plate Skyline)

Post by talbany »

Robben Ford Green Light #102 Amp Layout/Schematic

Hi All
Attached is a Layout of ODS #102 the famous Robben Ford green light amp and what we know about it so far.. As well as notes from my own info on the amp..
here is some history of the amp as posted by Max (Thanks Max)in this thread
Amp 1:

RF got his first Dumble amp (#0102) in 1982. 4th generation "classic" ODS head, black tolex (or perhaps dark grey suede with vox grill) Later updated to skyline specs

And the original Miles Davis ("King of Priests", "Live in Montreux" etc.) and "Talk To Your Daughter" "classic" circuit of #102 (1982 - at least 1990), is already documented here http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 327#137327.

Some "historic" details:

When RF got #102 in 1982 it will for sure not have been in the black tolex cabinet in which it was mounted in the nineties after its skyline update. This black tolex cabinet obviously has the tolex covered cross bar between the chassis and the grill cloth and this kind of "cross bar cabinet" wasn't yet in existence in 1982. The first amps mounted into such "cross bar cabinets" have been the "classic >>> skyline transition generation goldscript ODS" amps starting around series #14X.

When RF got #102 in 1982 it was one of the very first (#094 was still a transition generation "classic" ODS) 4th generation "classic" ODS amps with a circuit like the one documented in this layout http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 327#137327.

When RF got #102 in 1982 it was mounted in a usual 4th generation "classic" ODS cabinet in which it stayed until its skyline mod. Here you can see #102 in a 1989 video at a time when it was still a "classic" amp and still in its original 4th generation "classic" cabinet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qiz30Hzhta4.

AFAIK Robben Ford's first Dumble ODS #102 stayed a "classic" ODS and in its original Vox grill cabinet until at least June 1990 and then was updated to skyline specs and fitted into the black "cross bar" cabinet.

AFAIK here it is still a "classic", too, and obviously still in its original Vox grill cabinet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBMC6BHSucY (2:17) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqn1AnA4CMQ (4:57 and 9:07) BTW: In this concert his 4th generation "classic" #102 is obviously already backed up by his then new backup combination - his goldscript "from classic to skyline transition generation ODS" and a matching tan 2x12" cabinet.

Here in June 1990 this "goldscript" backup amp #148 is still in its original tan cabinet. Later this backup amp (# around 14X AFAIR) was mounted into the green combo cabinet and now it is mounted in the black tolex cabinet. #102 is mounted today in the original tan cabinet of this "goldscript" backup amp.

Here’s a picture of #102 still its original Vox grill cabinet (Miles Davis tour 1986): http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/99638837

Pictures of #102 in the black "cross bar" cabinet and of the "gold script" back up amp in the green combo cabinet you find here http://www.roblivesey.com/dumble/ in the "Robben Ford" link (scroll down a bit until you've nearly reached the end of the series number list).

A picture of the "goldscript" backup amp still in its original tan cabinet you find in the 4th edition of Aspen Pittman's "The Tube Amp Book" on page 154.

Clips of the current circuit of #102 (now in the tan cabinet) are easy to find at the YouTube site.

#102 is the ODS, which sometimes has been called here the "green light, green switches" ODS.

Further Discssion here
http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 548#132548

in the meantime I remembered and looked again at a picture that shows Robben Ford’s Dumble gear in 1987. This picture was published in the March 1988 edition of the magazine "Soundcheck" as the title-page for the Steven Rosen interview with Alexander. On this picture you see Alexander standing behind a pile of his gear:

On the bottom right you see the flight case of Robben Ford’s black 2x12” cabinet. On top of this flightcase, and on the right beside the flightcase of his Dumble head, stands his black 2x12” cabinet. On top of his 2x12” cabinet stands his Vox grill ODS. And on this picture you can clearly see the green EQ switches and the green pilot light of Robben’s "green light / green EQ switches" ODS chassis that currently resides in the tan cabinet.

Based on this picture and on what has been posted here up to now - this now is my theory and its practical implications:

- The "green light / green EQ switches" chassis, currently residing in the 8 holes tan head cabinet, is his first ODS that RF got in 1982. Originally a 4th generation "low plate classic" ODS and originally in the Vox grill cabinet.

- For the TTYD recording sessions RF used (at least as he tells it in the "Guitar Player" interview) this "green light / green EQ switches" chassis - still a "low plate classic" then and still in its original Vox grill cabinet - and his Dumble 2x12" cabinet with EV speakers.

- For the '88/'89 TTYD tour he used again the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis in the Vox grill cabinet.

- By no later than 1993 he then got the 8 bolts "gold script ODS", then still in its tan 8 holes cabinet and most likely accompanied by the matching tan 2x12” speaker cabinet.

- Around the same time his first "green light / green switches" chassis was updated to "high plate skyline" specs and an 8 bolts fastening system, left the Vox grill cabinet and went into a new style 8 holes black cabinet.

- After the skyline and 8 bolts update of the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis RF used it in its new style 8 holes black cabinet on his 1993 tour, at least in Europe.

- At some point before Montreux 2007 his 1982 "green light / green EQ switches" chassis was mounted into the 8 holes tan cabinet of the "gold script" chassis and the 8 bolts "gold script" chassis was mounted into the black 8 holes new style cabinet.

So the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis is his first ODS used from 1982 until now.

Result from a practical point of view:

AFAIR some members here posted sometimes that they like Robben Ford’s 80ies guitar tone (TTYD as an example) a bit better than his 90ies and current guitar tone.

Now Scott (dogears) reported, if I understood him correctly, that the power supply of the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis is still the original "yellow Sprague Atoms" one. And Brandon, ampdork and Scott posted here..
http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=183

now have posted a lot of the current specs of this chassis. And AFAIK it is known here, what will be the most likely differences between the 80ies "low plate classic" configuration and the current "high plate skyline" configuration of this "green light / green EQ switches" chassis.

So based on all that is known now due to the generosity of ampdork, Brandon and Scott, someone with the knowledge needed for amp building will perhaps be able now to build a promising clone of both:

The "green light / green EQ switches" chassis in its 90ies and current "high plate skyline" configuration

More discussion
http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12289

Tony


Here you find clips of all the ODS generations from David Lindley's 1st generation ODS up to the skyline-HRM amps in the #200+ range: http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 06&start=0
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Last edited by talbany on Thu Aug 08, 2019 8:42 pm, edited 8 times in total.
" The psychics on my bench is the same as Dumble'"
stiltamp
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by stiltamp »

Hi,

it is a grid on the on the eyelet board drawing shown.
What is the size of the grid?
I'm curious to know the size for making a drilling template.
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martin manning
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by martin manning »

Hi, I am the originator of the eyelet board shown in this layout. It was drawn from #124 photos. The grid is 3/8", and the board dimensions are 2.75" x 7.5". This is my best guess at the dimensions, but they are not based on actual measurements.
stiltamp
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by stiltamp »

Thanks!

I am scaled the board drawing by a graphical software to the mentioned dimensions. I measured the trimm-pot pin distance on the scaled drawing and it is in accordance with the real distance of the pot.
Last edited by stiltamp on Tue Nov 09, 2010 4:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
mlp-mx6
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by mlp-mx6 »

There is a PDF of an eyelet board that is correct (at least as correct as the Bludotone boards are) in the "Files" section.
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hipbluescat
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by hipbluescat »

Hi

What speakers is Robben using?
hipbluescat
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by hipbluescat »

Hi

In this 2007 clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JCbDNWt ... re=related

what type of Dumble amp is Robben using?
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Structo
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by Structo »

His tan ODS, I think it is #102
Tom

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Max
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by Max »

Structo wrote:His tan ODS, I think it is #102
Hi Structo,

yes, that's #102 in this video.

#102 before the skyline update - still with a "classic" circuit ( http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 262#140262 ) and still in its first original Vox grill cabinet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qiz30Hzhta4

#102 after the skyline update and in its 2nd black cabinet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGJafrBw5UA

#102 after the skyline update and in its current tan cabinet (the tan cabinet is the original cabinet of his backup "goldscript ODS", which currently is mounted in the black cabinet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyXXMwKKN_g

Cheers,

Max
thyx
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re

Post by thyx »

Yeah...what speakers are those red-frame ones in the 2x12 tan cab? Tone-tubbies?

I remember seeing him at the China Club in LA back around 1990. He was using a 4x12 with his Dumble, and the tone was so piercing my ears rang for days.
johan
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by johan »

I think the red one is a Eminence Custom speaker. They tried to nail the 65-speaker but nothing came out of it.

Maybe delete all replies and make it a sticky
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KT66
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by KT66 »

I thought it would be nice to have schems for some of these great layouts that Tony is doing, so took one of MDRoberts nice schems and did a little cutting and pasting and made one of the current iteration of #102. Let me know if there are any errors and I will update it.
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Last edited by KT66 on Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ryan

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talbany
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by talbany »

Ryan

Very COOL!!.. Thanks for doing this.. Nice addition to the layout!!

Be well!!

Tony
" The psychics on my bench is the same as Dumble'"
talbany
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by talbany »

martin manning wrote:Hi, I am the originator of the eyelet board shown in this layout. It was drawn from #124 photos. The grid is 3/8", and the board dimensions are 2.75" x 7.5". This is my best guess at the dimensions, but they are not based on actual measurements.
AFAIK.. You can print the layout of any of these layouts and all the boards should be to scale!!..

Have Fun and Good Luck!!

Tony
Last edited by talbany on Sat Nov 20, 2010 4:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
" The psychics on my bench is the same as Dumble'"
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da Geezer
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Re: #102 Robben Ford Amp

Post by da Geezer »

Yes, THANKS Ryan!

I appreciate the layouts Tony is doing, but for me it's so much easier to glance @ a schematic (if I want to check out a particular section) than to trace thru a layout.....especially one as complex as an ODS.

Thx to you, too, Tony!

Geezer
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