Soundclips of two 100k amps...

[ic-racer]

So, I am nearing the end of the tweaking of my #124 clone built from scratch and a Dumble mod to a Fender Super Twin.

I had both amps set up together and my 'old standard' Mesa Tremoverb was there also.

I used the same 90s Telecaster and the same Celestion speaker for all three sound clips.

I put the three sound clips together in an unspecified order. In case anyone wants to take a shot at guessing which amp is which.

All three sound pretty similar to me, I guess I just sound like myself when I play, irrespective of the equipment. I suspect a listener to an album would not know or care, but for the player, each amp does have a unique 'feel.'

Both the Fender and the #124 have 100k plates throughout. The Mesa is different architecture with 220k/100k/100k/220k on the first 4 stages.

Both Dumble style amps were used with OD and PAB on. The Tremoverb used the Orange Vintage High Gain channel.

Soundclip (same speaker and guitar):

---Mesa Tremoverb
---#124 Clone
--- Fender Conversion

(not in that order).

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6584689

[ayan]

As you indicated, at least through my little 1/2" computer speakers, all three sounds are pretty similar -- same player, same guitar, processed sound, etc. However, I believe the one that stands out as being more "different" is the third clip. It doesn't seem to share the same upper mid emphasis the other two clips appear to have. Let me know if I should get some fried to go with my crow.

Cheers,

Gil

[Bob-I]

I hear more rawness (in a good way) in the first clip, a tad more refined on the second, the third seems to lose some of the nice fat mids in the first two although it has a smoothness on the neck PU the others don't, the bridge PU sounds a tad thin to me.

Overall they're all pretty damn nice. There's something about the way your tweaking the amps and playing that makes them all sound similar.

Nice playing too.

[Bob-I]

I hear more rawness (in a good way) in the first clip, a tad more refined on the second, the third seems to lose some of the nice fat mids in the first two although it has a smoothness on the neck PU the others don't, the bridge PU sounds a tad thin to me.

Overall they're all pretty damn nice. There's something about the way your tweaking the amps and playing that makes them all sound similar.

Nice playing too.

[ic-racer]

The first one was the #124 clone pretty much exact to the schematic.
Second was the Mesa Tremoverb with Tube rectifier and 'spongy' (low voltage) power setting.
Third was the Dumble Mod Fender Super Twin Reverb with 100k on V1 and V2.

I like the bridge pickup sound with the Fender amp. It seems to sound 'bigger' than the others. Since PAB was engaged, I think the six 6L6/ultralinear output section may be responsible. I was hoping for a little SSS mojo in that amp.


In real life the Tremoverb usually gets played through a closed-back V30 cab and the Fender has its own two speakers in the cabinet. These different speakers seem to make quite a lot of difference in the final sound.

In terms of 100k vs 220k my feeling after the last few rounds of tweaking is this (this pure speculation and uneducated opinion )

1)The 'smoothness' 100k and 220k could be matched with appropriate tube selection.
2) The commonly available modern manufacture tubes don't all sound good with the 100k
3) The 220k/150k architecture seems to quell a harshness in the Chinese tubes.
4) It seemed easier to find a good sounding tube with 220k/150k.