No joy from the 50 watt Bluesmaster clone

[Mark]

Hi, I finally converted my Boogie SOB to a Bluesmaster of sorts, that is to say I left the power supply alone. The string is 5.6K, 10K and 6.8K as opposed to 3.4K, 15K and 10K. I didn't think this would make a huge difference though I am starting to wonder.

I find the clean channel to be very pleasing with a Strat, but the HRM doesn't have a lot of gain like a non HRM amp. I find it sounds best with high output humbuckers, though it doesn't easily feedback.

I have the controls set to; volume 5, OD gain 8, OD volume 8, treble, bass and middle on 7 master on 3. The HRM controls are treble and middle at 11 o'clock, bass fully on, the OD drive is set to 10 o'clock.

When I use a strat and HRM overdrive I feel there is a good rhythm tone, but I still need an overdrive pedal to get the lead tones.

I am going to try Tony's set up recommendations, however I'm starting to think the HRM doesn't have the sound.

Thanks for any advice.

[67plexi]

Mark. Building the amp HRM is just the starting point tuning the amp is the greatest challenge.
What does your HRM board look like do you have photos.
A voltage chart is helpful if gain is low v-2 may have low voltage.
This HRM board has mid, bass, treble, trim.

Steve.

[Mark]

I'll post some voltages, however the amp isn't pretty. I threw it together to see if I would like it.

As previously mentioned it lacks a lot of gain. I find I need the Overdrive master volume almost maxxed to compete with the volume from the clean channel.

The voltage at the centre tap of the output transformer is in the order of 470 to 480 volts DC.

I'd post voltage and photo's tomorrow.

[tubedogsmith]

Have you got a PAB wired up? I rarely use the OD without the boost going on a bluesmaster. But, like was already mentioned, you're just getting started with this thing, the real work is ahead!!

[ChrisM]

Mark. Building the amp HRM is just the starting point tuning the amp is the greatest challenge.
What does your HRM board look like do you have photos.
A voltage chart is helpful if gain is low v-2 may have low voltage.
This HRM board has mid, bass, treble, trim.

Steve.

What kind of filter caps are those?

[stelligan]

This HRM board has mid, bass, treble, trim.

Steve.

Trim? Please elaborate. I gotta get me some trim..........
Does this allow swing above and below what is normally there?
Thanks.

[Structo]

Have you got a PAB wired up? I rarely use the OD without the boost going on a bluesmaster. But, like was already mentioned, you're just getting started with this thing, the real work is ahead!!

From what I understand, since the OD has it's own tone stack you don't want to run the OD with the V1 tone stack in play so you would want PAB on when in OD.
If you run both tone stacks it can make for mud.
You should be able to wire a relay to do that when you switch to OD.

[talbany]

Mark
You should have plenty of gain and volume on tap from the OD... sounds like something might be a miss.. Post or tell us the schematic/Layout you used along with the voltages to help us with the troubleshoot..

Tony

[Mark]

Thanks for the replies, I will have to get into the amp after work where I will post voltages and more details.

I haven't wired the PAB, Jazz/Rock, or mid switches into the amp, I've kept it all pretty simple.

The schematic used was this one:

http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12875

[dogears]

Must have PAB in order to get good OD gain levels.....

Thanks for the replies, I will have to get into the amp after work where I will post voltages and more details.

I haven't wired the PAB, Jazz/Rock, or mid switches into the amp, I've kept it all pretty simple.

The schematic used was this one:

http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12875

[talbany]

Been wanting to do this for a while.. Since the OD relay was a PCB on rev 5 and hard to decipher on the layout here is an update showing exactly how the relay is wired..I also updated this in the filed section FWIW..

Good Luck!!

Tony

[Mark]

Tony, I was just looking at installing the PAB switch.

I noticed one side of the relay lifts the earth connection from the mid pot, but the other side of the relay looks like it is shorting boths sides of the mid pot together, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

I dare say I must have it wrong.

[groovtubin]

Hi, I finally converted my Boogie SOB to a Bluesmaster of sorts, that is to say I left the power supply alone. The string is 5.6K, 10K and 6.8K as opposed to 3.4K, 15K and 10K. I didn't think this would make a huge difference though I am starting to wonder.

I find the clean channel to be very pleasing with a Strat, but the HRM doesn't have a lot of gain like a non HRM amp. I find it sounds best with high output humbuckers, though it doesn't easily feedback.

I have the controls set to; volume 5, OD gain 8, OD volume 8, treble, bass and middle on 7 master on 3. The HRM controls are treble and middle at 11 o'clock, bass fully on, the OD drive is set to 10 o'clock.

When I use a strat and HRM overdrive I feel there is a good rhythm tone, but I still need an overdrive pedal to get the lead tones.

I am going to try Tony's set up recommendations, however I'm starting to think the HRM doesn't have the sound.

Thanks for any advice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlfwG5sUxG0

MONDO gain from a bluesmaster here, maybe Jelle will share secrets with you??

jim

[Mark]

Here are the photo's, it ugly now!

I'll post the voltages after I put the little guy to bed.

[bluesfendermanblues]

@Mark, you might want to consider taking the grid wires closer to the chassis.

For reference, check out some of the pictures of the probuilders amps.