Non-NOS component choices

[beasleybodyshop]

Bear,

Can you clarify? Are you referring to Eric Johnson's SSS amp?

[Bear]

Bear,

Can you clarify? Are you referring to Eric Johnson's SSS amp?

Yep. I’ve been curious about that HAD quote since I saw it, degrading his SSS design with “cheap parts.”

Gets a little with the comments EJ has made about his new “Virginia” sIg Strat replicating his original 54’s sassafras body—he mentions it having some “rattiness or fizz” clean that somehow backs down with his lead sound. Dunno where that plays with his dirty rhythm sound, but since that’s usually with a Fuzz Face of Tubescreamer, it may not be all pure and beautiful? Or maybe it’s about compressing and mushing a bit more when a pedal hits? I dunno.

I’m a fuzz pedal fan and though I’m not chasing his thing specifically I love EJ’s sound. I’ve been hoping to get some insight on this before trying an SSS-ish build. Maybe this is too OT to this thread, but talking about the sound of specific parts really prodded me.

[brewdude]

I imagined the EJ “cheap parts” could mean 1/2 watt carbon comp resistors bought at the local Radio Shack(?)... possibly on the plates.

[martin manning]

The story (https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... t-23456149) goes that after EJ described how he wanted wanted an amp HAD brought to him to sound, HAD went out and bought some parts at the local Radio Shack and swapped them in. EJ loved it. This tweak could have been nothing more than say changing the value of the PI coupling caps, and the "cheap parts" comment just a wry statement of fact.

[drew]

^ There you go again with your perfectly logical explanations.

[beasleybodyshop]

I have some observations on EJ's SSS in a new thread here in Dumble Discussion

[drew]

I'm just going to leave this here:

https://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index ... t-13698998

[martin manning]

The only thing that surprises me there is the comment on ceramic vs. Mylar caps. Some ceramics have measurable distortion, so I would have to conclude that none of those dielectric types were included in the comparisons.

[talbany]

The only thing that surprises me there is the comment on ceramic vs. Mylar caps. Some ceramics have measurable distortion, so I would have to conclude that none of those dielectric types were included in the comparisons.

Page 8

990.pdf

Tony

[ChopSauce]

Not 100% Dumble-related, but the title of the topic suited, so:

- any opinion about Xicon vs Ohmite carbon comp. resistors?

[WhopperPlate]

Bump:

great post, but I feel like it had so much more potential...everyone must be keeping their secrets to themselves ...

[bepone]

you have all the infos if you want to read.. also first build the amp with the tubes from nowadays production, and with the caps and resistors what you think that are the best for you and then listen the sound.. range of options are wide today.. if you like result, ok, if you dont like start to read more and experiment with the nos! there will be difference in sound ofcourse. if you think that all sound the same then it is easy and you can't miss!

[martin manning]

Bump:

great post, but I feel like it had so much more potential...everyone must be keeping their secrets to themselves ...

I recommend a close read of the Audiokarma post linked by Drew above. There are no secrets.

[WhopperPlate]

Thanks, I read that post, but the “secrets” I was largely referring to are which brand non NOS parts everyone prefers…you know, the OP subject…

I know better than to try and argue about what makes any difference…that’s how the original post got derailed…

[rootz]

Well, that derailment was to be expected at some point. How I see it. Some people building more or less accurate clones, use nos components. There is a fair bit of experimenting done with different nos resistors or caps and guys like Tony can tell you the difference between them and their impact in certain spots in a circuit. So if you strive for a certain sound and want your amp to sound like a Dumble: use the stuff Dumble used. Now that is different for the newer stuff. Why would you use new components for an accurate clone? Maybe you'd use new components if you're not convinced nos resistors have as big an impact on the resulting sound? Anyway, there seems to be a whole lot less experimenting and reporting about it on newer components. I'd like to hear the difference between Ohmite little rebels, Xicon and Koa CF1/2 resistors. But you'd have to setup your own research.