Ripper build

[rootz]

This project was long overdue. For years I wanted to try out something that looked like a Ripper. I know the Ripper circuit as a gain stage + CF + tone stack as OD stage. Supposedly ODS #178 and #189 are Rippers, although 178's OD was described as 'Carlton'. There are probably others, I don't know them all. Easily recognised by the connection of the OD level pot wiper to the grid stopper of V2a.
Then I have a picture of a Bludo with some odd specs. I assume Brandon has seen Carltons Dumble on the inside? #178 maybe? Not that it matters that much. The picture I have shows a connection between the plate of V2a and the grid of V2b on the socket. Now I'm turning less smart as the years pass by, so beware, but to me that looks an awful lot like a DC coupled CF, where the plate resistor of V2a is still on the board. In #178 and #189 it looks like Dumble just modded two Bluesmaster amps, maybe even an HRM one in the case of #189 to a different ripper OD section, while keeping most of the board intact. Maybe.

Anyway, it does not really matter all that much how the rippers work exactly. The modded Bassman, AN's Ampliphonix & gain, I built them and those are fun as hell, with some tweaks. I liked the Bassman best; essentially a Bluesmaster pre coupled with a Cf driven tone stack. Man, that is one fat combo. So why not aim for something a bit like that when it comes to frequency shaping. Tone shaping options are a bit limited. The clean pre does not provide room for treble peakers, bypasses or bass reduction, without seriously affecting the clean also. So I chose to trim bass right at the input of V2a. Maybe even a cap to ground to mimic the effect of cap across the plate of V1b in the Bassman. Tried it. Didn't like it. Strangely enough (or maybe not), I think this amp sounds best 'wide open'. No limits on the high end of the spectrum, just on the bass. And not so strange: the preamp lacks treble peakers. The only one is the bright cap across the volume pot. The schematic shows what I settled on. For now. The Youtube vid is what it sounds like. For now!

[dbharris]

Hi Rootz,

This amp sounds really lovely. Very thick but also has a clear voice on the top end. The reverb also sounds great! What speaker are you running through in this clip?

Would love to see some pics of the actual amp too! When would you reach for this amp versus a skyline or classic?

-Dan

[Guy77]

Sounds like a beautiful rock n roll machine Rootz!
Thanks for sharing.

I see you setup the reverb feeding after the coupling cap on v1b. I like it this way too.
I have also been enjoying the reverb of the SSS #005 that comes before the coupling cap on V1b Both versions sound great, the SSS#5 is a little more intense, great for surf. Most people dont need that much.

I like that you setup a bypass for the reverb, I know the original Ripper did not have reverb so its great that there is an option.

The EL34 and the 22nf coupling caps on them really suit this amp well!

Congrats

Guy

[rootz]

Thanks Dan and Guy. This is an evolving project. I don’t think in terms of getting this or that amp because I like it better. I can work with many Dumble circuits for the things I do. The mostly inspire in a different way, if you know what I mean. That being said, I do have favourites. The Bassman and ripper types sure do suite me quite a bit. I just like the aggression. The Bassman is very tweakable. Did one for a client last month with Midi, and a much more aggressive top end.

Anyways, reverb in the clips is coming from the amp. Amp running through a Boss Waza TAE with EVM12L in stereo and a touch of 400mS delay.

I like the reverb of 005 a bit less than this one. This one is more shimmer and suits OD better. 005 can get very intense, but not in a way I tend to like.

I did 005 with a Dumbleland/Oddyssey power stage some time ago Guy. Such a fun amp, especially with a Bluesmaster preamp and altered filter section. But that is for yet another post later…

[dbharris]

Great looking build!

Yes, I do know what you mean about the different flavors of amp. I remember reading a lot of threads here back in the day where a common opinion was that X amp only works with humbuckers and Y amp for a strat, etc. But I have never felt that way with any of my builds, you can get great tones from all of them with any guitar provided you make some minor some tweaks to the tone stack settings and/or gain structure.

Thanks for sharing and congratulations on a wonderful build.

-Dan

[rootz]

Yeah, lots of useful tones to be had from any of the Dumble designs (or at least what we or I think they are).

Now listen to this next clip. It’s just random stuff. Not a brilliant guitar with rather old string. But damn, this amp has some nice qualities.

[Guy77]

Yeah, lots of useful tones to be had from any of the Dumble designs (or at least what we or I think they are).

Now listen to this next clip. It’s just random stuff. Not a brilliant guitar with rather old string. But damn, this amp has some nice qualities.

Super clean looking build and sounds great Rootz. The boards look beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
I am doing a 183 build currently and wondered what type of EL34s you are using in your amp. I have a pair of Tung Sol EL34b on order.

Cheers
Guy

[rootz]

Just a set of TAD black plate EL34's. No clue what those are based on. I think I like Sylvania 6L6 STR's a bit better in this amp.

[GAStan]

Great tone and nice playing, can't ask for any better. I like it!

[Guitarman18]

Hi rootz,

Your ripper sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.

I built a ripper last year, which sounds great on the clean channel, but not on OD. I would have to agree with Tony (talbany) when he said, 'IMO one of Dumbles worst sounding Overdrive amplifiers..(in OD)'.

I tend to use my Ripper as a pedal platform, so it wasn't an issue, but having heard yours, I'm inspired to have another look at what I can do to get the OD working.

I based my Ripper on this https://ampgarage.com/forum/download/file.php?id=67474, but I see that yours has some variations, particularly in the cathode bypass caps.

I presume your clips are both in OD. Clip 1 with PAB added?

How did you set your tone stack in the OD stage? It sounds as though you've hit the sweet spot with yours - chunky tone but still articulate.

Thanks again for sharing and inspiring!

BW, Paul.

[jazzbass]

Hi rootz,

Excellent construction and great technique.

A few months ago, I read an article on Ampgarage about the #178 amplifier, which reawakened my passion for building amplifiers. I had reached a critical point in my passion, but that article inspired me to learn more, to search for a new sound, and when I heard your clips on YouTube, I knew it was what I wanted.
However, I'd like to build a simpler amp, without the FET circuit, with just one relay to switch from clean to OD, and without the reverb.
I'm not even interested in redoing a circuit even if it's already gone down in history for the genius of its inventor; I just want it to have the sound I'm looking for.
Thanks, Rootz, for your analysis.

Hugs.

Franco

[rootz]

Hi rootz,

Your ripper sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.

I built a ripper last year, which sounds great on the clean channel, but not on OD. I would have to agree with Tony (talbany) when he said, 'IMO one of Dumbles worst sounding Overdrive amplifiers..(in OD)'.

I tend to use my Ripper as a pedal platform, so it wasn't an issue, but having heard yours, I'm inspired to have another look at what I can do to get the OD working.

I based my Ripper on this https://ampgarage.com/forum/download/file.php?id=67474, but I see that yours has some variations, particularly in the cathode bypass caps.

I presume your clips are both in OD. Clip 1 with PAB added?

How did you set your tone stack in the OD stage? It sounds as though you've hit the sweet spot with yours - chunky tone but still articulate.

Thanks again for sharing and inspiring!

BW, Paul.

Thanks! I used the bluesmaster preamp we all know as the starting point. Including plate resistor values and cathode bypass caps. Documents on #178 say: bluesmaster pre. So, that’s what I did.
I did need to trim some low end. 10nF on V1b out. 270k on the input of the OD stages. It somewhat limits the low end like a 1uF cap would do on V1a (think rockphonix/bassman), not the same though. But it works. It works better in the Rockphonix I think, and I do like the OD in that amp a bit better. But this Ripper is not bad. Just a very atypical ODS!

[rootz]

Oh and I think I did bass 60%, mid and treble both around 40-45%. 250k bass trimmer. PAB on, around 100k lift (no mega boost).

[rootz]

Some pics seem appropriate here

[rootz]

And why not post yet another (oh no Bas, what are you doing!) of this amp. And lease forgive the badly out of tune guitar. No, not going to make an g-string jokes here. But it was the pesky g.