Hi, I recently bought this head.. due to my ignorance (never had played before a pre 73 amp) I found this odd tone stack.... I found the amp unusable. Dark, muddy, muffled sounding... almost impossible to pull something "decent" out of it unless you put Bass at 9' trb 3' mid 10' presence 100% on the upper brill input, all other inputs are unusable (they sound like if you have your guitar tone pot on 1) but this generate some nasty overtones. Please someone have some schematics to mod this amp and take it to a post 73 kind of tone?
May be some of you will tell me not to do it... I'm not a collector and I don't fancy an expensive "ornament" I really need this amp to work.... I'm really disappointed. Please someone help!!
1970 dr 103 HELP!
Moderator: Mods
-
mikhailwatt
- Posts: 858
- Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:46 am
- Location: Austin TX
Re: 1970 dr 103 HELP!
Sounds like there might be other issues.
The one early Fender/Marshall tone stack "one-off" specimen I've heard wouldn't really be described as "dark."
Hopefully Doc or Prof. Huss will chime in... and, yes, "some of us" will tell you not to do it!!!
michael/mikhailwatt
The one early Fender/Marshall tone stack "one-off" specimen I've heard wouldn't really be described as "dark."
Hopefully Doc or Prof. Huss will chime in... and, yes, "some of us" will tell you not to do it!!!
michael/mikhailwatt
You can almost feel the current flowing
You can almost see the circuits blowing
You can almost see the circuits blowing
-
Dr.HI-TONE
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:51 pm
- Location: HIWATT Valley
Re: 1970 dr 103 HELP!
this amp is an early one with the Fender/Marshall tone stack and cathode follower. A phenomenal amp that just screams when turned up.
a couple guys at the last Convention claimed it was the best sounding DR103 they ever heard.
anyway.
I forwarded a link to Mark's site with layouts and schematics so the amp can be modded to please.
a couple guys at the last Convention claimed it was the best sounding DR103 they ever heard.
anyway.
I forwarded a link to Mark's site with layouts and schematics so the amp can be modded to please.
Re: 1970 dr 103 HELP!
Dude, consider yourself lucky to own one of the early DR103's!
I played a 'standard' '74 DR103 in excellent condition for more than 2 years and when I found a beat up '69/'70 DR103 with this preamp I immediately sold my '74. It's less hi-fi sounding and has a lot more gain and it's the best amp I've ever had! Be sure to put some nice tubes in it and pair it with a cab with Fanes, that's it.
What guitar do you play?
I played a 'standard' '74 DR103 in excellent condition for more than 2 years and when I found a beat up '69/'70 DR103 with this preamp I immediately sold my '74. It's less hi-fi sounding and has a lot more gain and it's the best amp I've ever had! Be sure to put some nice tubes in it and pair it with a cab with Fanes, that's it.
What guitar do you play?
Re: 1970 dr 103 HELP!
+1.Analog103 wrote:Dude, consider yourself lucky to own one of the early DR103's!
Don't screw it up. If it's not your sound, sell it and buy something else.
'67 DR506 s/n 162
'68 DR504 s/n 424
'69 DR504 s/n 675
'70 DR103 s/n 727
'71 DR103 s/n 1489
'68 DR504 s/n 424
'69 DR504 s/n 675
'70 DR103 s/n 727
'71 DR103 s/n 1489
Re: 1970 dr 103 HELP!
I have a 1970 one with the odd tonestack, but without the cathode follower. It sounds more 'Fenderish'.. a bit less mids than the usual Hiwatts. It's stays clean though, unless you really crank it!