D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

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mrpicard
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D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

Post by mrpicard »

D*A*M pedals have undertake lots of obvious and not so obvious changes over the years. For example, to date there have been 5 formal revisions to the D*A*M Professional MKII enclosures and 3 formal revisions to the D*A*M 1966 enclosures. This purpose of this thread is to document the various enclosure revisions, transistor used and information on the controls provided with the pedal, such as the purposes of the trimmers. Finally, at the bottom of this page I have also provided a link to various video and sound clips demonstrating features of these pedals.


D*A*M 1966
Enclosures
1966 pedal numbers #001 to #005 were basically one-offs and all slightly different (see 1966 History for detailed information). Since then we have gone through 3 major enclosure revisions as follows:

Rev. 1
Battery drawer, dry letter transfers, "Super bee/'66" knob, Eaton Cutler Hammer footswitch. This covers serial number #006 to #010 made between October 2004 to November 2004.

Image

Rev. 2
Water slide decals, Seeing-Eye Logo, "'66/Super Bee" knob and a Carling footswitch. The pedals states that it is a "Vox Tone Bender Replica". This covers serial number #011 to #090s made between December 2004 to November 2006.

Image

Rev. 3
Water slide decals and a Carling footswitch. The Seeing-Eye Logo is removed and the pedal now states that it is a "Tone Bender Replica". This covers serial number starting at #090s made between November 2006 and today. The pedals made in 2008 have more of a silver finish than a grey finish.

Image
Image

Transistors
The following shows different transistors used in the 1966.

AC125 (Metal Can) and Philips OC76 (Metal Can)
Image

SFT337 (Metal Can) and OC76 (Black Glass)
Image

SFT351 (Metal Can) and OC76 (Black Glass, POIAY)
Image

Newmarket NKT OC75 (Metal Can, 7351) and Phillips OC76 (Metal Can, 15908)
Image

Mullard OC76 (Metal Can) and Mullard OC76 (Metal Can)
Image

Newmarket NKT OC75 (Metal Can) and Mullard OC81 (Metal Can)
Image

Mullard OC78D (Metal Can) and Mullard OC78D (Metal Can)
Image


D*A*M Drag'n'Fly
Controls
Internal Trimmer
The internal trimmer sets the bias (volts) going into the germanium transistor. Tweaking the internal trimmer may give you a little extra volume but could alter the tone slightly. If set to high it could cause the fuzz to over clip and may cause the tone to mush up. As a note, the standard voltage is set to 5.5V with a fresh Zinc Carbon/Chloride battery.


D*A*M Meathead
Transistors
The following shows different transistors used in the Meathead.

2N3904 and BC182L
Image

BC108B and 2SC693G
Image

BC239C and BC184L
Image


D*A*M Meathead Deluxe
Transistors
The following shows different transistors used in the Meathead Deluxe.

BC549C and BC549C
Image
Image

CV7112 (Black Glass) and CV7112 (Black Glass)
Image

OC81D (Metal Can) and OC81D (Metal Can)
Image


D*A*M Professional MKII
Enclosures
The following documents the different enclosure revisions.

Rev. 1
No battery drawer, dry letter transfers, controls set lower and Eaton Cutler Hammer footswitch.

Image

Rev. 2
First version with battery drawer, dry letter transfers, controls set high and Eaton Cutler Hammer footswitch:

Image

Rev. 3
Water slide decals, Seeing-Eye Logo and a Carling footswitch. The pedals states that it is a "Sola Sound Tone Bender Replica".

Image

Rev. 4
The pedal as a fatter font and now states it is as "Vox Tone Bender MKII Replica".

Image

Rev. 5
Screen printed graphics, Seeing-Eye Logo is removed and the pedal now states that is a "Tone Bender MKII Replica".

Image

Controls
Internal Trimmer
The internal trimmer sets the bias on the second transistor. This was not added until some time at the end of 2006.

Transistors
The following shows different transistors used in the MKII.

OC75 (Black Glass)
Image

Mullard OC75 (Black Glass)
Image

OC71 (Black Glass)
Image

Mullard OC81D (White Glass)
Image

Mullard OC81D (Metal Can)
Image

Mullard OC82DM (Metal Can)
Image


D*A*M Ram Head
Transistors
The following shows different transistors used in the Ram Head.

BC239C x 4
Image


D*A*M Red Rooster
Transistors
The following shows different transistors used in the Red Rooster.

CV7112 (Black Glass)
Image

1960s OC140 (Metal Can)
Image

1970's OC140 (Metal Can)
Image


D*A*M Sonic Titan
Controls
Internal Trimmer
The internal trimmer in the Sonic Titan is to set the Bias on the JFET. There is about 3mm of play where the correct volts are hitting it just right. You will find that tweaking it ever so slightly will either clean up the tone or add a tad more fuzz. The Captain set up the pedal so that it's at full drive but not pushing to fuzzy as it will slightly effect the clean up.

Transistors
The following shows different transistors used in the Sonic Titan.

2N3819 JFET and LM386N-1
Image

2N3819 JFET and Unknown
Image


VIDEO CLIPS
Professional MKII
YouTube videos:
- D*A*M Professional MKII with Gibson R9 (mrcali68)
- D*A*M Professional MKII with Nash Stratocaster, Kinman Pickups (mrcali68)
- D*A*M Professional MKII with RMC Teese Picture Wah (mrcali68)
- D*A*M Professional MKII (3 x OC82DM) vs Pro Analog MKII (Fuzzfunk)
- D*A*M Professional MKII (3 x OC82DM) vs Pro Analog MKII with Area 51 Wah (Fuzzfunk)
- D*A*M Professional MKII (3 x OC82DM) with Area 51 Wah, Foxrox Octron (Part 1) (Fuzzfunk)
- D*A*M Professional MKII (3 x OC82DM) with Area 51 Wah, Foxrox Octron (Part 2) (Fuzzfunk)

1966
YouTube videos:
- D*A*M 1966 - '66 Setting (2guests)
- D*A*M 1966 - Super Bee Setting (2guests)
- D*A*M 1966 - Super Bee Setting (Outtake) (2guests)
- D*A*M 1966 Tone Bender Fuzz (pepperco)

Meathead Deluxe
YouTube videos:
- D*A*M Meathead Deluxe with '50s Telecaster (diablo76)
- D*A*M MeatHead Deluxe (Joy to the Fuzz) (Donnerbox)
- D*A*M MeatHead Deluxe by FPE-TV (fpe)
- D*A*M Meathead Deluxe vs D*A*M Ram Head vs Sovtek Big Muff (Damn6Deal6Done6)
- Conan Live with D*A*M MeatHead Deluxe (CONANDESTROY)
- Conan live at KOROVA Liverpool with D*A*M MeatHead Deluxe (CONANDESTROY)

Drag'n'Fly
YouTube videos:
- D*A*M Drag'n'Fly with Klon, RMC Teese Picture Wah, Fulltone Deja Vibe, Way Huge Aqua Puss, Octavia (mrcali68)
- D*A*M Drag'n'Fly Fuzz (Donnerbox)

Ram Head
YouTube videos:
- D*A*M Ram Head on Bass (bassfuzzcom)
- D*A*M Ram Head with Orange OTR120 Amp (Damn6Deal6Done6)
- D*A*M Ram Head vs D*A*M Meathead vs Sovtek Big Muff (Damn6Deal6Done6)

Sonic Titan
YouTube videos:
- D*A*M Sonic Titan with Gibson R9, Way Huge Aqua Puss (mrcali68)
- Misericorde - Sub Rosa (Some Sonic Titan & Matamp) (jayodoom)
- Misericorde - And Blood Shall Flow (Some Sonic Titan & Matamp) (jayodoom)
- Misericorde - Weary (Some Sonic Titan & Matamp) (jayodoom)
- Misericorde - Gaia (Some Sonic Titan & Matamp) (jayodoom)

Fuzzaround
YouTube videos of original Buzzaround pedals can be found here:
- Baldwin Burns Buzzaround Fuzz Video
- Baldwin Burns Buzzaround Fuzz Video 2

SOUND CLIPS
1965 - Tone Bender MKI Replica
Thanks to Philip for these sound clips:
- D*A*M MKI Sound Clips

Fuzzaround
The following Fuzzaround clips have been provided by The Captain:
- Timbre Zero
- Timbre Full
- Hi Gain, Timbre Full
- Low Gain, Timbre Full
- Clean to Dirt
- Timbre and Balance Demo
- Low Tuned, Mid Gain
- Low Tuned, Hi Gain
- Buzzaround vs Fuzzaround

Thanks to Philip for these excellent Fuzzaround sound clips:
- D*A*M Fuzzaround Sound Clips

FUZZrong
Thanks to Ted for these FUZZrong clips:
- D*A*M FUZZrong on esnips
Last edited by mrpicard on Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:17 am, edited 21 times in total.
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skybone
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Re: D*A*M Enclosure Revisions

Post by skybone »

The Meathead Deluxe has had at least 4 revisions that I'm aware of:

Version #1: Mid size enclosure, 3 control knobs in line, custom colours. Circa 2004-2006.

Version #2: Mid size enclosure, 3 control knobs, Level & Gain on top row, smaller Filter control in middle, offset from top row, mainly hammerite silver/grey, though some small run custom colours. Circa 2006-2007.

Version #3: Small size enclosure, 3 control knobs, set out like V#2, biggest change for V#3 is the utilisation of a PCB for ease of manufacture (toward the end of the approved outlets phase), hammerite silver/grey. Circa 2007.

Version #4: Return to mid size enclosure & strip board, specs as per V#2.


The Ram Head has had at least 3 versions that I'm aware of:

Version #1: Mid size enclosure, 3 control knobs, Level & Gain on top row, smaller Filter control in middle, offset from top row, mainly hammerite silver/grey, though some small run custom colours. Circa 2006-2007.

Version #2: Small size enclosure, 3 control knobs, set out like V#2, biggest change for V#3 is the utilisation of a PCB for ease of manufacture (toward the end of the approved outlets phase), hammerite silver/grey. Circa 2007.

Version #3: Return to mid size enclosure & strip board, specs as per V#1, again mainly hammerite silver/grey, with some small run custom colours. Circa 2007-2008, then discontinued.


Red Rooster has had at least 3 revisions:

Version #1: Small enclosure, 2 knobs, various colours.

Version #2: Small enclosure, 2 knobs, hammerite silver/grey, PCB. Circa 2007

Version #3: Small enclosure, 2 knobs, hammerite silver/grey, some small run custom colours, return to strip board circuit. Circa 2007-2008.
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Mr. Maestro
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Re: D*A*M Enclosure Revisions

Post by Mr. Maestro »

skybone wrote:Red Rooster has had at least 3 revisions:

Version #1: Small enclosure, 2 knobs, various colours.

Version #2: Small enclosure, 2 knobs, hammerite silver/grey, PCB. Circa 2007

Version #3: Small enclosure, 2 knobs, hammerite silver/grey, some small run custom colours, return to strip board circuit. Circa 2007-2008.


According to Dave, he didn't make any Roosters on PCB's. This is his response to that question from the old board.
The Captain wrote:No, Never ever made a Rooster with a PCB and never will!!

As Mr Bones states, I only ever used PCB's in the Ram and the Deluxe for a very short period.
To mass produce means the use of PCB's and I don't dig that at all.

~Dave
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skybone
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Re: D*A*M Enclosure Revisions

Post by skybone »

I stand corrected, but I'm sure I've seen a PCB Rooster for sale on another board...
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Jim Goad
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Re: D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

Post by Jim Goad »

Early Sonic Titans did not have the internal trimmer. I'll post a gut shot as soon as I have one.
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The Captain
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Re: D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

Post by The Captain »

Blimey! Mr P you have been a busy boy :-D Nicely done!! :fu:

btw - the power chip in D's Starlight Blue Titan is also the standard LM386N-1. The last batch had this weird brown ink that don't reflect light so much.
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mrpicard
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Re: D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

Post by mrpicard »

The Captain wrote:Blimey! Mr P you have been a busy boy
I forgot to take the meds this week... he, he :-)
The Captain wrote:The power chip in D's Starlight Blue Titan is also the standard LM386N-1.
Excellent!!
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Teahead
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Re: D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

Post by Teahead »

Thanks for the introduction Mr. Picard! :cheers:

I'm finding the whole "getting to know your D*A*Ms" thing tough to get a hold on and this has been helpful.

I now know how guys feel when they run into the BJFE acronyms that are second nature to me! :hmm:
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6strung
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Re: D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

Post by 6strung »

great history lesson and sound clips. but i wont be happy until i can add my first d*a*m pedal to my sound array.
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5digits6strings
Posts: 44
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Re: D*A*M Pedal Descriptions

Post by 5digits6strings »

Very helpful! Thanks!
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