Hoffman Dual 50 FX Loop

[purpletele]

After playing with the Dual 50 for a few weeks I decided to install an FX Loop by Metro.  I decided to ask Ben Fargen to do it, he lives locally.

It came out fantastic, he also did a minor mod to the JCM circuit that I will share for the record.

The amp plays and sounds fantastic, another top shelf project!

Thank you all that helped.

[shooter]

I added on of those to a build/re-build I did for a customer, was straight forward, worked good with bench signals. 

[Big_Mike]

Did you ever consider adding a PPIMV to the amp?  I see a slot for a master in the rear of the amp.  It would give you some interesting options to mix the pre and post master volume. 

Also, how do the mods suggested by Fargen sound as compared to the stock amp?

[purpletele]

Did you ever consider adding a PPIMV to the amp?  I see a slot for a master in the rear of the amp.  It would give you some interesting options to mix the pre and post master volume. 

Also, how do the mods suggested by Fargen sound as compared to the stock amp?

The original intent was to add the PPIMV as well as the Metro FX. 

I had to get serious about my work projects and chose not to install either one.  When Ben finished he said that the FX circuit is run through the MV and I really didn't need the PPIMV.

So the way it works right now the MV works very similarly to a PPIMV at least I think it does.  It performs like a PPIMV, I can get a good tone a bedroom volumes and a great tone with the MV set between 9-11.

I regret not going through the brain damage to install the FX board, no wait a minute, I don't regret it at all. 

The Mod that he did makes the amp a little chewy in the JCM mode.  It seemed to smooth out some high end. 

Ben liked the design and said it was easy to work on my amp and welcomed more, so that was a nice compliment.

[Big_Mike]

Cool, thanks for all the info.  How does the dual 50 compare to the Plexi 6v6 tone wise?  I am really enjoying my Plexi 6v6 but sometimes I get the itch to want to build a full-on Plexi.  On the fence as to whether to do so.

[purpletele]

Cool, thanks for all the info.  How does the dual 50 compare to the Plexi 6v6 tone wise?  I am really enjoying my Plexi 6v6 but sometimes I get the itch to want to build a full-on Plexi.  On the fence as to whether to do so.

This is my take Mike;

The 6 v 6 18 Watt Plexi is a workhorse of an amp.  It sounds bright with a Strat and a Humbucker, it can get dirty and grindy quick with a humbucker.  It can make a strat real bluesy.

I have two of them, one in a Mojo Blue Junior cabinet and it is alive, the other is in a head  cabinet and it is a quiet monster.  they both sound fantastic.  The combo is impressive!!

The Dual 50 is a whole different league.  If you don't install a MV or an FX loop as I did then the beast will overwhelm a Strat until you can learn how to tame it with volume control.  I'm not there yet.

If you play a humbucker then the Dual 50 is a beast.  The FX Loop has the MV working like a PPIMV so I can play my Strat through each circuit with manageable signal.

The tone on each circuit is unique, and top shelf Marshally,

Fargen and I also agreed on eliminating the .001 Cap on the JCM Volume. 

I highly recommend building the 50 watter but definitely build in attenuation.  I am intrigued by the Metro Loop but as mentioned too busy to dig deeper.

BV

[purpletele]

After playing tonight with my Charvel, the MV does not work like a PPIMV.  I don't see why I cannot inject a PPIMV? 

Any thoughts?

I need to discuss it with Fargen as well. 

It sounds incredible, that's probably why he didn't want to mess with it further

[Big_Mike]

I have not tried it personally, but others have stated that a combination of the standard MV and a PPIMV gives you a good amount of flexibility to control the master volume.  For the PPIMV, you can either use the Lar/Mar master or the Rich Mod II that Metropolous favors.  Either way, use a PEC pot - the two pots are very closely matched, in contrast with Alpha pots, which can vary significantly.  You can also just buy a bunch of Alphas and see which one matches the closest and use it.

I really like my 6v6 Plexi, but you are right, it is a little bright at times.  I would like to try a full-on Plexi at some point.  The dual 50 is intriguing because it is basically two amps in one box - a standard Plexi 1987 circuit, plus a 2204 circuit.  The best of both worlds, so to speak.

[shooter]

eliminating the .001 Cap

when I built mine Sluckey already had that note n I followed his advice!
learning to blend the channels AND using ALL the guitar knobs is almost a requirement, but once you "get it" there are very few sounds it won't clover

[Big_Mike]

After playing tonight with my Charvel, the MV does not work like a PPIMV.  I don't see why I cannot inject a PPIMV? 

Any thoughts?

I need to discuss it with Fargen as well. 

It sounds incredible, that's probably why he didn't want to mess with it further

A little off-topic, but where did you get your chassis for the Dual 50?  I am looking at potential Marshall-style chassis that are not the standard 4-holers, and will allow more control on the front panel.

[purpletele]

After playing tonight with my Charvel, the MV does not work like a PPIMV.  I don't see why I cannot inject a PPIMV? 

Any thoughts?

I need to discuss it with Fargen as well. 

It sounds incredible, that's probably why he didn't want to mess with it further

A little off-topic, but where did you get your chassis for the Dual 50?  I am looking at potential Marshall-style chassis that are not the standard 4-holers, and will allow more control on the front panel.

I order my chassis' from synaptic Amps on Reverb.  They are Aluminum and very well constructed.  I have a guy in town that does aluminum welding and he welds my seams.

I liked the size of the Dr. Z head so I used the specs on those for my standard.

That's my story, let me know if you have any questions.  If you live in CA you can play it.

BV

[Big_Mike]

Is the 50 watter much louder than the 6V6 Plexi?  The 6V6 is plenty loud, I just don't know how much louder the 50 watt is.

[purpletele]

Is the 50 watter much louder than the 6V6 Plexi?  The 6V6 is plenty loud, I just don't know how much louder the 50 watt is.

The 50 Watter is quite a bit louder.

I'm seriously thinking about adding the PPIMV.

[shooter]

I'm seriously thinking about building an SE KT88