Gauge613 wrote:
I've been itchin to build a tube amp for a while
i was all set on the 18 watt TMB but am not confident that i can use it as desired (normal channel for cleans (or pretty clean) and TMB for crunch and leads
i'm afraid the normal channel will break up too early
i've nevre played a matchless dc30 - but i loved the badcat hot cat i played (i know - they're totally diff) but Ceri@tone now has a matchless dc30 kit
could iuse the 12ax7 B/T channel for cleans and the ef86 channel for dirty
could someone describe the 2 channels (tone wise)
i really need 2 channels
amps i've loved
badcat hot cat
orange rocker 30
mesa dc-5
even the mesa lonestar special and the new ace seem interesting
however, none of these are really "buildable"
please advise - i'm pullin my hair out
i just don't want to build an amp i don't like or that doesn't suit my needs
the dc-30 doesn't have the kinda gain like the other amps you mentioned. The clean channel has the chimey voxy vibe but has similar headroom to a lightning. It doesn't have the headroom like a fender twin etc amp and kinda breaks up alittle early.
The ef86 channel has alot of gain, but gets buzzy and farty in the bottom end as you crank the dial. The key is adjusting the voltage going to the tube to be <300v, around 285v I found is good.
And DON"T use current production EF86, they are all rubbish. More gain and alot fuzzy in tone. Compared to NOS (clear punchy) they are night & day.
I've found this amp to be quirky (in a good way) - and in that some of the most glorious cleanish breakup to mid gain tones to be found.