DaGeezer and Tubenit--a very prolific couple years

[pullshocks]

Well, actually you have been doing a lot of cool stuff for a long time, but going back to the Hoso 56 and 56T in 2009 you have really been on fire, with a string of ever evolving designs.  This may be oversimplified, but I would summarize it like this:

     HOSO 56 / 56T phase, incorporating the 5879 and somewhat novel preamp circuits

     Back into more Dumble ODS-related circuits, with and without the 5879

     Simplified, tweedified Dumble ODS-related circuits with and without the 5879

     Ultra simple Lite versions, low parts count and simplified OD switching

     Tweedified Dumble Bluesmaster, back to more complex OD circuits and away from the 5879

Looking back, how do you rate these amps, and would you be willing to kind of summarize what you've learned?  Do you ever play the HOSO 56/56T amps any more?

By the way--thank you and happy holidays

[tubenit]

The reality is that Geezer deserves all the credit on the HoSo56 and 56T. I simply added reverb and tried different tubes out.

I ended up selling the 56T to someone who was very interested in it.  I did an EL84,.. 6V6, 6AQ5, 5881 & 6BM8 versions.  Reflecting back on all of those ............ I think the 6BM8 version was my favorite for playing lead.  The 5881 really sounded good playing rhythm and getting a nicely overdriven clean and chimey tone. If I would build another one, it'd be the 6BM8 version.

Having said all of that, if I am going to have a switch to go from clean to overdriven, I like the 5879 in the OD section more then in the V1 position.  

The Tweed Overdrive Special is the nicest amp I've ever played for the type of tone I am looking for.
It has a very wide range of tones to it from clean to very very overdriven. I've never played an amp that it is that touch sensitive. It is a better amp than I am a player.

I did try a cathode biased D-type with HRM. Nice amp, but I was NOT getting the smooth overdrive that I hear Geezer getting from his Tweedified Dumble (BluezMeister). I think Geezer has hit a home run on that one. I am tempted to try another one using his schematic and values.  Somehow or another,  Geezer can color outside the lines and pull off a true tone machine, IMO. Plus he is a great player, which I think must be a major factor in his ability to tune an amp to make it truly touch sensitive.

The Tweed OD lite is a pretty cool amp and can get both nice clean and OD tones. It has a little more grit and a little less creamy smooth in the OD. For a small combo, it's a good choice for me & I have reverb on mine.  I built one for my son and he is pretty keen on it.  

Regarding the Tweed Overdrive Special ............ some of that sweet blooming type spacious tone I hear on some of the Dumble amps is related to using an active effects loop (I think).  The FX & reverb unit I recently built hooked up to the TOS gives a really big amazing sweet tone with wonderful harmonics and helps that "blooming" thing to happen, IMO.  It was worth it to build it. It has surprised me at how great it sounds.  I am starting to view an active effects loop as kind of a "secret sauce" in the recipe of great tone on these OD type amps.

Honestly,  most of the innovation has been Geezer's on all these amps. I contributed some on the TOS and tweaked his other creations to something I liked for myself.  And then everytime I thought I had actually come up with something "new" I tend to find it's been done before.

And many of my builds did not work at first until Sluckey and many many others gave me help and other things to try.  So in that regard, the forum community deserves alot of credit for anything I've been involved in that was successful!!  Thanks, guys!!

I hope we continue to see innovative or quasi innovative ideas thru out 2011. I love seeing that stuff!

With respect, Tubenit

[moonbird]

Hi Tubenit --

Been wanting to try one of DaGeezers amp but keep changing my mind.   :happy3:

Can you point me to more info about the Tweed Overdrive Special?? A search on it did not return any hits. Also would like to look at the BluezMeister as well. Thx much!

[phsyconoodler]

Just a question for Tubenit and Dageezer: "dis you uys ever build the D style amp stock before you made these mods?"

[Geezer]

As for me, I have not.....except for the Bluesmaster, but even then it was a "mod" from the HAD original (non-HRM) by erwinve.

I'm not much for exact copies of amps. I like to take segments of the original & add my personal tweaks to see what comes out the other end. Sometimes it's crap, but sometimes I find a great tone I've never had before. When that happens, it makes my day!
I know (& like) what a Dumble sounds like (Dogears over @ TAG has that tone nailed), but I want to see what other possibilities are out there that are like that tone, but maybe even better suited for my playing style.

I would get quickly bored doing the "paint by numbers" amp building thing. Staying out on the edge of my knowledge & experience is what keeps me interested & fulfilled in this hobbie that I absolutely enjoy.

I have an original design (as original as is possible when "everything's" pretty much been done) based on the HoSo56 front end/clean section & a gain/CF OD section into 4x6AQ5's that is my absolute favorite so far.

I may slow down soon on the building & concentrate more on actually learning how to play the guitar better!    Every time I say that I find some other thing that I have to try in this or that circuit that keeps me in the solder fumes!

Geezer

[tubenit]

I have never built an exact copy clone of anything including the D type amps.

With respect, Tubenit

[phsyconoodler]

I'm in the same boat but I have built a few exact copies and they do sound pretty damn good.But they can't do everything nor do they like every guitar,so I always add mods or circuit changes so they are more versatile.I don't use the same transformers either and often voltages are quite different,and that needs some re-thinking of power supplies and preamps too.
  Just wondering guys.

[Fresh_Start]

pullshocks - you must've missed the "Little Wing" daGeezer did a little bit earlier.  Kind of a Bassman using 6BM8 tubes for the PI and poweramp.  Worth looking at too IMHO.

All I can say to the Geezer & tubenit is THANKS!

Chip

[Tone Junkie]

Geezer how are you liking the quad of 6aq5,s . Later when I get done with the couple of amps Im working on or planning on right now I want to try something with 6aq5,s either a pair or a quad, are you cathode biasing them, Im going to have to do some studing before I get to that point but thats what I really enjoy about this hobby . Thanks Bill

PS my wife asked me the other day when I thought I would have enough amps (LOL) my answer was when I have every good one ever built side by side so could demo them against each other, A guy can dream cant he.

[pullshocks]

Right you are, and judging by the J Allen Shaw sound clip the Little Wing is a great sounding amp. That was about the time I discovered this page, thanks to a link Tubenit posted elsewhere.

I have been clearing out a bunch of other non-amp projects and getting ready to build some of these designs, as well as the AX84 October studio 2 watt push pull