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* EDIT: Up-to-date information is available in Yek's Guide to the Fractal Audio Amplifier Models *
FOX ODS: based on Fuchs Overdrive Supreme
The Fuchs Overdrive Supreme is based on the Dumble Overdrive Special amp. Artists playing Fuchs amps include Al Di Meola, Joe Bonamassa (of course) and Dweezil Zappa.
Fuchs:
Cliff:
And indeed: of all D-style amp models in our Fractal devices, the Fox models provide the most gain. Apart from that, it sounds familiar to the Bludojai model.
It’s a 50 watts amp, running on 6L6 tubes. It sports the same channels and controls as the Dumble ODS. The clean channel, apart from being the clean channel on its own, also acts as a preamp to the Overdrive channel.
Original controls: Clean Gain, Brite switch, Deep switch, Rock/Jazz switch, High (pull: mid boost), Mid (pull: gain boost), Low, Input (model: Input Drive), Output (model: Overdrive), Master, Accent (reduces negative feedback at higher frequencies) and Reverb. More information in the manual.
Our models are based on the Overdrive channel. In the “Fox ODS” model the amp’s Deep switch is turned off, in the “Deep” model it’s turned on. The deep switch shifts the overall tonality of the amplifier, slightly increasing the low frequencies. This is often useful for single-coil guitars, which sometimes need a low-frequency boost. Both models are modeled with the Preamp Bypass (PAB) active.
There are two gain controls for the OD channel, available as Input Drive and Overdrive. On all amps like this, including those by Engl, Fryette, Carol-Ann and Mesa, the first control sets the “sensitivity” and the second one sets the amount of distortion. Cliff:
Models with Input Drive and Overdrive controls always feel “elastic” and spongy, a real joy to play.
Because the model has so much gain, I turn down Input Drive to around 3.0.
It’s a Master Volume amp. This means that the amp’s distortion is created in particular by the preamp tubes, not the power amp. The Master Volume, which works in the power amp section, is still very important to the tone and feel. You have to decide for yourself what setting in the model works for you best. The default setting is a good point to start of course.
Review:
About the cabs: Fuchs uses mainly Eminence speakers. We haven’t got those in our stock cabs.
If you want the G12-65 sound, get Cab Pack 17: Buddy's Boutique. Cab Pack 16 ML Suhr also has G12-65 IRs. OwnHammer has some too.
Dumble himself liked the EV-12L. Check out stock cabs #008 and #105 if you prefer that sound. There are more EV-12L IRs in Cab Pack 17.
Alternatively try stock cab #011. It's the IR of Buddy's dual-ported 1x12 closed-back cab. While Larry Carlton uses an old EV-12L in his, this one uses a modern replacement for an EVL-SRO, a Blackhawk AlNiCo WGS. There are more IRs of this cab in Cab Pack 17.
FOX ODS: based on Fuchs Overdrive Supreme
The Fuchs Overdrive Supreme is based on the Dumble Overdrive Special amp. Artists playing Fuchs amps include Al Di Meola, Joe Bonamassa (of course) and Dweezil Zappa.
A Dumble is THE most expensive amplifier available, no.1 on Vintage Guitar’s list of most valuable guitar amps.
Famous Dumble players include Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, John Mayer, Carlos Santana, Keith Urban, SRV, Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa.
There’s always a lot of talk on the forums about Robben Ford's Dumble tone. It’s an elusive tone, worshipped by a lot of jazz / blues / fusion players. It's a thick, mid-heavy, smooth lead tone, very touch-sensitive.
Replicating an original Dumble amp is hard. The amp’s circuit often has goop all over it, hiding the electronics.
Fuchs:
“The Overdrive Supreme excels at everything it does. From crystal clear and detailed clean sounds to its harmonically complex and articulate overdrive, the amp holds its sonic integrity at any volume level. If you've ever heard Larry Carlton or Robben Ford live, that's the tone! "The Overdrive Supreme nails the Dumble sound to a tee, and then some!" (20th Century Guitar).
“The Overdrive Supreme has received glowing reviews in BOTH domestic and foreign publications. We recently received a very favorable review in Japan's "Guitar Magazine," as well as Guitar Player Magazine (February 2005). The Overdrive Supreme is available in power ranges from 20 through 150 watts. Available in heads or 112, 210 or 212 combos. A spacious Accutronics 3-spring long decay reverb pan is used for a natural warm, yet detailed reverb.
The clean channel has brite and deep switches, as well as a rock/jazz switch, which changes the way the tone controls operate. Rock is a more aggressive and punchy bright tone, which jazz is lean and audiophile-like, being more balanced and smooth. There are passive high mid and low controls. The high control pulls for a mid boost, the mid control pulls for gain boost (which bypasses the tone controls). The clean channel acts as a preamp to the overdrive channel, and the tone controls and EQ switches are all active during overdrive use, including all boosts.
The overdrive channel features separate OD in and OD out controls. OD-in sets the level of saturation in overdrive, while the OD out control sets the final balance between clean and dirty channels. There is a global master volume, master reverb and accent control, which adds presence and edge to the output stage.
The entire audio signal path is fully tube (except reverb). The ODS features a regulated high voltage DC supply for lowest noise, consistent tone despite line voltage variations, and also features regulated DC preamp tube heaters for additional noise reduction. These techniques are used in the finest audiophile and tube studio equipment, and are unique to guitar amps.”
Cliff:
"Supposedly a Dumble ODS clone but our reference amp has way more gain than our Dumble."
And indeed: of all D-style amp models in our Fractal devices, the Fox models provide the most gain. Apart from that, it sounds familiar to the Bludojai model.
It’s a 50 watts amp, running on 6L6 tubes. It sports the same channels and controls as the Dumble ODS. The clean channel, apart from being the clean channel on its own, also acts as a preamp to the Overdrive channel.
Original controls: Clean Gain, Brite switch, Deep switch, Rock/Jazz switch, High (pull: mid boost), Mid (pull: gain boost), Low, Input (model: Input Drive), Output (model: Overdrive), Master, Accent (reduces negative feedback at higher frequencies) and Reverb. More information in the manual.
Our models are based on the Overdrive channel. In the “Fox ODS” model the amp’s Deep switch is turned off, in the “Deep” model it’s turned on. The deep switch shifts the overall tonality of the amplifier, slightly increasing the low frequencies. This is often useful for single-coil guitars, which sometimes need a low-frequency boost. Both models are modeled with the Preamp Bypass (PAB) active.
There are two gain controls for the OD channel, available as Input Drive and Overdrive. On all amps like this, including those by Engl, Fryette, Carol-Ann and Mesa, the first control sets the “sensitivity” and the second one sets the amount of distortion. Cliff:
“Input Drive increases the gain amount as you rotate the knob clockwise. As the gain increases the tone is shifted from a treble and upper mid emphasis, which produces an up front sparkling tone, to a lower mid and bass emphasis, which produces a thick meaty tone.
Overdrive increases the gain amount as you rotate the knob clockwise but with no alteration of the tonal balance.
Different combinations of Input Drive and Overdrive settings will have a dramatic effect on the response of the amplifier and the personality of your instrument. It is easy to get familiar with the action of these controls and you’ll be amazed with your ability to make any guitar sound mellow, fat, soulful or aggressive.”
Models with Input Drive and Overdrive controls always feel “elastic” and spongy, a real joy to play.
Because the model has so much gain, I turn down Input Drive to around 3.0.
It’s a Master Volume amp. This means that the amp’s distortion is created in particular by the preamp tubes, not the power amp. The Master Volume, which works in the power amp section, is still very important to the tone and feel. You have to decide for yourself what setting in the model works for you best. The default setting is a good point to start of course.
Review:
About the cabs: Fuchs uses mainly Eminence speakers. We haven’t got those in our stock cabs.
If you want the G12-65 sound, get Cab Pack 17: Buddy's Boutique. Cab Pack 16 ML Suhr also has G12-65 IRs. OwnHammer has some too.
Dumble himself liked the EV-12L. Check out stock cabs #008 and #105 if you prefer that sound. There are more EV-12L IRs in Cab Pack 17.
Alternatively try stock cab #011. It's the IR of Buddy's dual-ported 1x12 closed-back cab. While Larry Carlton uses an old EV-12L in his, this one uses a modern replacement for an EVL-SRO, a Blackhawk AlNiCo WGS. There are more IRs of this cab in Cab Pack 17.
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