The Vertex Steel String Singer Supreme SRV Dumble clone pedal

[ruger9]

I have a Blackheart Killer Ant ( 0.25 Watt) for natural overdrive at bedroom volume. It has only one 12AX7 and sounds Bluesbreakerish. Another trick I use is turning all three tone knobs on my Carr Rambler down to zero (which silences the amp), then turn the volume all the way up at the triode mode and start adding signal from the tone knobs by turning them up tiny bit each time which gives me a very saturated thick tone with moderate overdrive.

That's a "famous" trick people have used for years on the Fender Vibro-King, to get a little overdrive at lower volumes (the VK is a 60W amp, it's hella-loud.)
Interestingly, it doesn't work on other Fender amps- just the VK, so there's something different about the circuit in that one.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

That's a "famous" trick people have used for years on the Fender Vibro-King, to get a little overdrive at lower volumes (the VK is a 60W amp, it's hella-loud.)
Interestingly, it doesn't work on other Fender amps- just the VK, so there's something different about the circuit in that one.

AFAIK, the VK circuit is the only Fender amp since the early designs that uses no negative feedback in any stage. And the tone stack differs from the rest both in component values and in its location in the signal path. Here’s what I think is the correct description:

“The tone stack is an inspired variation on the old “Blackface”
circuit. It uses a 150 pF treble cap instead of 250 pF…and a larger-value midrange pot…The
volume control comes BEFORE the tone stack, and is separated from it
by the second gain stage. The treble pot wiper is connected (via
a coupling cap) to the grid of the phase inverter.“

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Never give up! FWIW, it helps to read the instructions too

Through trial and eror, I finally figured out how to make this thing sing like a bird. It turns out that the "output" pot is the gain control on the input stage, and the "level" trim pot is actually the master volume. If I'd read the instruction card that came in the box, I'd have known that. Here's the first decent Dumble tone I got - it's from my Tele with Lace Alumitone HBs. This was recorded with the neck PU through the SBUS and Toob Metro BG close mic'ed with my TASCAM DR40x.

The pedal adds a lot of high frequency even order harmonics to the signal. I'd removed the 0.33 mF cap from the effects send jack, assuming that I needed to pass all the highs to get some chime and bloom. But it sounds smoother and better to me with the guitar's tone pot rolled back to about 4 / 10 and the 0.33 mF cap left in the effects send jack. The recording waveform actually shows the spikes on the attack from the transient highs that give the sound its chime. And I re-recorded this with a ProPlec after listening to it with the 3mm stubby I started using a few weeks ago. The Lexan Stubby brings out a little hardness in the tone that's not there with the ProPlec.

Tiny adjustments of the controls really make a difference, so I'm just beginning to see the light. Even from this initial success, I understand how good this pedal can be if you take it seriously and explore all the settings.

[st.bede]

Nice playing…

This thread, and that the pedal has a clean blend convinced me to buy one. … oh, the land of reverb pedal purchases.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

oh, the land of reverb pedal purchases.

But this one doesn't have reverb...

[jads57]

So having owned a 1980 Dumble Overdrive Special pre Robben Ford model. One of the things that made that amp really sing was driving the power tubes. Didn’t have the same Clean Singing quality at lower volumes.
Also there was no reverb nor effects loop, just an interrupt in and out. So if you used a Dumbleater tube effects loop.

The pedals I’ve used that sound most Dumble OD like I’ve owned are Jetter Red Shift, and Quinn Butterscotch pedals. The Steel String Singer was a 150 watt Clean amp he offered, and didn’t sound like the OD Special. But then again he tweaked every build. Some great ,others not not so much!

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

So having owned a 1980 Dumble Overdrive Special pre Robben Ford model. One of the things that made that amp really sing was driving the power tubes. Didn’t have the same Clean Singing quality at lower volumes.
Also there was no reverb nor effects loop, just an interrupt in and out. So if you used a Dumbleater tube effects loop.

The pedals I’ve used that sound most Dumble OD like I’ve owned are Jetter Red Shift, and Quinn Butterscotch pedals. The Steel String Singer was a 150 watt Clean amp he offered, and didn’t sound like the OD Special. But then again he tweaked every build. Some great ,others not not so much!

Thanks! It’s great to hear about them from someone who actually had one.

What’s interesting to me is that the more complex SSS effects devices go far beyond the real thing by including an OS-like distortion as well. I was underwhelmed by the basic SSS pedals from Vertex and Nux, neither of which did anything but add that singing quality with no other change in tone. But the SSS SRV is really a SSS + OS device that’s easily set for either extreme as well as middle ground. I really love it, which is a good thing since Dumbles are sold out at the local thrift shop

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Hopefully we are all a little better people than we were a few years ago. Best-dawgbone

By and large, we seem to be a pretty fine bunch despite a few rough edges.

As for the Vertex dude, I knew nothing about him or his company until a few weeks ago, and I’m not in the habit of researching the histories of everyone whose product I’m thinking about buying. But since I unwittingly dragged myself into this controversy, I have to say that Robben Ford’s public statements supporting Vertex (along with a total lack of reports of further problems after the wah-wah scandal) are evidence enough for me that Vertex is now aboveboard.

I don’t believe that most leopards can change their spots. But this one may at least have found a better path through honesty. His products seem to be excellent now.

[st.bede]

But this one doesn't have reverb...

… what is really scary is you know what I meant…

[blue_lu]

If you are after authentic dumble tones and have a couple of hundred dollars to spare - look at kingsley pedals. These are the real deal. I had the zendrive, ethos...

honestly, the kingsley ministrel smokes them all, imo. this pedal is fantastic in front of your standard fender backline amp, heck even with my henriksen it sounds great. tweakable, lots of sustain, for humbuckers and singlecoils alike.

[DawgBone]

By and large, we seem to be a pretty fine bunch despite a few rough edges.

As for the Vertex dude, I knew nothing about him or his company until a few weeks ago, and I’m not in the habit of researching the histories of everyone whose product I’m thinking about buying. But since I unwittingly dragged myself into this controversy, I have to say that Robben Ford’s public statements supporting Vertex (along with a total lack of reports of further problems after the wah-wah scandal) are evidence enough for me that Vertex is now aboveboard.

I don’t believe that most leopards can change their spots. But this one may at least have found a better path through honesty. His products seem to be excellent now.

I don't think there is any controversy at this point. I don't think he's changed his spots but it doesn't really matter if you are satisfied with your purchase. I am happy you are finding tones you like because it can be a big headache getting the sound you are looking for. I generally circumvent the controversy of a company being disreputable, having bad politics, or selling out to china and just buy stuff used myself. Regardless of whether I agree with them or not I don't see paying a premium for new stuff. Guys buy gear and throw it in a corner, Most people don't use the stuff they buy. Like your typical guitar, it sits in a case. I'm a musician and I need to save some money so I have a great fondness for used gear, especially stuff I can get locally off CL. Austin is a pretty good used gear market with all the players around here so that's a bonus and where I usually hunt first. Enjoy your pedal, it sounds like you are really happy with it. Best-dawgbone

[st.bede]

I always thought greed was destructive. I hope that Mason has made amends, for his own sake.

All our excuses create their own momentum, and their are many more things that are so much more important then money.

However, I have a feeling that only few people realize this.

There is the whole Maslow hierarchy of need thing… when I get hungry, things do become more difficult. I guess creating an environment where people are “hungry”, is the best way to manipulate people.

How people justify hurting others is difficult for me to understand… even after experiencing my ex.

[Woodstove]

I connect to this thread on a few levels. First is that when I went looking for a great tube amp for other (sometimes great) guitarists to use in my studio I discovered Amplified Nation and their dumble clones. I could get to the factory fairly nearby and played Taylor's incredible Amps for hours. It came down to the Overdrive Reverb or the Steel String Singer. I went with the ODR as it's cleans are also fabulous but the breadth of tones with the overdrive channel makes it very complex and able to handle lots of applications. But I LOVED that sweet perfect clean gain of the SSS. I even considered getting both but I'm not THAT far gone. Instead, I found a tube SSS preamp made by Peace Hill and it is excellent. While I can hitch it into the ODR it's better going into a tonemaster twin which is a great home for this pedal with it's own huge clean gain. It does not offer that overdrive of the vertex and is too expensive going around $700 used. I nabbed one for $500 but I bet there are a few on this thread that should be thought of instead of it. The main thing is I love Dumble tones and it's nice to have company!! In fact I was so turned on by the sounds in the ODR it opened the floodgates for this keyboardist to get deeply into guitar playing.

The other is just a personal fact. I worked with Mason's father on a project and his world was turned upside down when the trouble hit. Dad didn't make any excuses for him and was quite upset. I never talked to or met Mason. The impression I got from dad was that he learned from his mistakes and regretted them deeply. Small world.

[jorgemg1984]

Up close with the ultimate Dumble Overdrive Special Jason Isbell calls “possibly the greatest amplifier ever made" | MusicRadar

[Irishmuso]

Every few years I pull out an old pedal for an hour or so... always put it away and continue to remain barefoot.

Same here. I sometimes wonder if it's just laziness...not being prepared to spend the time to integrate the pedal into my playing. I hear players who get great sounds from pedals but I'm still not tempted - a few decades ago sure, but that was before I learned to actually play the instrument a little better (or so I like to think.

[Irishmuso]

If you are after authentic dumble tones and have a couple of hundred dollars to spare - look at kingsley pedals.

Great sound but rather more than a couple of hundred dollars in the UK. I've seen prices of £500 sterling and upwards. Might still be worth it, of course!