The Dawg Pound---Lil Dawg Amp Owners

Let's talk about our Dawgs....which ones we have, what speakers, tubes, etc
Also maybe we can share amp settings...

I'll post pics soon.

I have 3 Dawgs currently with a 4th being built now..

1. 5F1 Champster Special---started out as an 8 watt Champster but I put in a 12 watt OT to make it a bit more suitable for gigging. USA "pulls" 5Y3, 6V6GT & 12AX7. Jensen P12R ri. Love this amp. Especially dimed.
Cab is a beautiful Lil Dawg cab with 22 coats sprayed on for a real amber, aged color.

2. 5E3 D-Lux w/25 watt OT. I am also using USA NOS tubes in this baby. 5Y3, 2 6V6GT, a 12AX7 in V2 & the all-important 12AY7 in V1. Love this amp too...took her to an open jam last week & this is the one everybody wanted to play. I have the chassis slapped in a cheesy 2X10 combo I tolexed with "tweed-look" tolex. Looks crummy compared to the hand-built perfectly tweeded cabs Jim makes (or made, now that he's not making cabs anymore), but this amp delivers the goods. I have a Dr Z Z-10 ceramic 16 ohm paired with a Jensen P10R ri. I love all the settings....jumpered, straight in, interactive volumes... my favorite for my pinecaster tele with Rumpel pups...

3. 18 Watt Pug (Marshall 1974 clone). Mine is the first production model Jim made of the mini-bluesbreaker. It is in a tweeded matching cab the same size as my Champster so looks are WAY deceiving with this one! It has NOS Mesa EL84s, an NOS 5v4, & 2 JJ 12AX7s. Speaker is a Weber C1230 8 ohm. I did have an Emi Red Fang in it but tried the Weber on Jim's advice & am very happy with it. British blues-rock/classic rock tone for days. It is one LOUD amp...especially with the Red Fang in an ext cab...I have been asked to turn down at outdoor gigs! Fulfills the lust for Marshall OD since I LOVE British blues-rock from the 60s....

4. A special build....I'll keep mum on this Dawg till I get her home in a few weeks...this is a head designed to power my Red Fang ext cab. I am REALLY excited about this one!

There you go Dawg lovers!

The hardest part for me is deciding which Dawg to take on a gig...not really...Champster for small gigs, D-Lux for blues gigs, & the Pug for gigs where I will be playing a lot of Blues/rock & classic rock.

One neat thing I love about the Dags is that they all play equally well with humbuckers, singel coils or P90s.

Tell me about your Dawgs!

Li'l Dawg 5F2A Prince tweed combo
12 watt 8 ohm output transformer
Mather 12" deep tweed cabinet
Weber Alnico Signature 12 (8 ohm, 25 watt)
set of JJ tubes (1 5AR4/GZ34, 1 6V6GT, 1 12AX7)

The chassis is done. We're just waiting for the cabinet from Mather.

I'm getting really antsy. Can't wait to fire it up.

Here is Jim's description of the one I bought, a slightly different version of the Champster.

"I have a 5 watt 1x12 available and ready to ship right now. Here's
some
pics of one for you from a sunny day a while back. It's got a set of
Mercury Magnetics (5 watt/4 ohm), Sprague Atoms filter caps,
Mallory 150
tone caps, Alpha pots, SwitchCraft jacks, ceramic sockets, and a Weber
Alnico Signature 12, all in a Better Built deep 1x12 tweed cab."

I have to admit that the "ready to ship right now" was a big factor in going for that one! A little less output wasn't an issue for me, no Champ power wise is going to work for any need I have except home use and/or recording anyway.

All I can say is, it's perfect. Sounds great, does just what I wanted it for.

....special build...it is in a "lunchbox" cage head...perfect for a nasty snarling Dawg!

My band "Matt & The Testifiers" plays a big blues festival Saturday so last night I took my 2X10 D-Lux to rehearsal in an old barn where I could crank her up a bit....man she sounded sweet. I tried a treble booster (rangemaster clone) through her for the first time & I liked what I heard...I'n not a pedal guy at all...Just cable straight to amp....but sometimes I use a wah or a fuzz....All my Dawgs take what few pedals I ever use really well.....I do prefer to go straight in though.


Mark

Where ya at , fellow members of the Pound? I know you're out there!!!

Let's bark it up a bit...:grin:

My first Dawg is in the works. Can't wait to get it, but it should be here in July.
It's a 59 Bassman clone.

Wow...wow....wow....that is the ultimate Dawg! I amost had Jim make me a Top Dawg instead of the special build (which is done BTW) but the only cab I have for it is my 2X10 D-Lux & then the D-Lux chassis wouldn't have a home & I don't have any more room for Dawgs!

Once the head arrives, I will be in one in-one out mode concerning amps as I will have 4 Lil Dawgs & one vintage Valco & have no more room...problem is, I like 'em all & don't wanna part with any...

But I would like a low-powered Twin or a Bassman clone...:lol:

Proud owner of a Lil Dawg Champster Spl. I took it over to a friends place a couple of months ago and we hooked it up to one of his Marshall 412 cab's. It sounded scary good.

I have always wanted to do that! Jim told me from day one that a Champster will drive a 4X12 & sound gigantic....speaking of gigantic Champs, Jim is considering building a 25 watt Champster! That would be a monster!

He also offers now the "Mutt"... a cross between a tweed D-Lux & A Champster...I think he merges the front end preamp of a D-Lux with a Champster power section.

But that's not what I got coming in the mail....the ChocoDawg is enroute!:grin:

Champster Special here. Been thinking a lot about a D-lux but can't make up my mind which one to go for.

Proud owner of a 25 watt d-lux. absolutely love the tones comin out of that thing. i built a nice homemade cab for it and run it thru a weber 12f150. sweet sweet tele heaven.

I've talking with Jim about the Mutt!
A 12W watt 5E3 with a Champ power section... for less than a 5E3?
Seems nice!

My latest Lil Dawg arrived yesterday, the Chocodawg! Jim's take of a Fender 6G3 Brownface Deluxe. I got it in a lunchbox head-style am am running it into a Lopo ext cab with an Emi Red Fang Alnico.

I have only played it for 2hours as I took it to rehearsal last night. Man, this amp is LOUD for 25 watts....due to the mega efficient Red Fang.

Compared to my Lil Dawg tweed D-Lux, this is a MUCH tighter amp (GZ34 rec tube as oppossed to a 5Y3 in the tweed). Stay pretty clean until 5-6, then sweet OD starts coming in with full-on Marshall type crunch from 9-12. More than bright enough with buckers.
The trem is awesome....bias-type like in the original.

I can get useable cleans outta this one but man it is sweet cranked. I'l give a fuller report once I wring it out, jumper channels, etc.

So far so good. This is an awesome amp...typical top-notch Lil Dawg build with quality parts & craftsmanship. This is the first brownface amp Jim has built & he hit another home run.

This amp should appeal to those who love the tweed tones but wish it were a bit tighter....I don't know yet but this may be indeed the perfect amp. It is my 4th Lil Dawg & I'm keeping them all for now...it reminds me of teh Champster but on steroids and a lot tighter. I know....I need to post pics...

Those who say the browns are between the tweeds & BFs are right....sometimes I LOVE the ragged glory of a dimed 5E3 but other times I want it to hold togetehr better & this amp does that while retaining the fat tweed cleans. Just too cool. :grin:

I forgot...a JJ GZ34 rec, 2 Tung-Sol labeled RCA 6V6gts (nearly NOS), and 3 NOS 12AX7s (2 GE & 1 RCA) for the tubes. OT is 25 watt as Jim couldn't find a 20 watter like the original had. Brown knobs, 4 inputs, Hi & Lo for both bright & normal channels, 2 speaker outs, 8 ohm, one line out, one output for the trem footswitch (which I made myself), and a bronzed plexiglass baseplate that is somewhat transparent.

I'm gonna spray the grey cage a nice Choco brown to match the knobs.

If you can, provide some sound clips too.

I received my Li'l Dawg Prince last night. It's an amazing amp. I think the pics are below. First time loading pics, so sorry if they're not there.

28223

28225

28226

Also maybe we can share amp settings...




Hey, I just noticed this line in the original post.

Okay, I'll go! On my Champster, usually around 9 or 10. http://thestevieboy.tripod.com/bouncy.gif

Hello,
I started a new thread documenting my new build here:
Li'l Dawg - Top Dawg - 59 Bassman build
(http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/169035-lil-dawg-top-dawg-new-build-june-july-2009-a.html#post1922420)

I traded a buddy of mine some gear for his D-Lux. Mine has a 40-watt transformer and a mystery speaker. It sounds great as is, but I want to install a Red White & Blues speaker and some JAN-Philips 6V6s. The cabinet is the finest I've ever seen. I use a Dano Cool Cat Tremolo pedal, and occasionally a Dan-Echo.

Std D-Lux (5e3), JJ tubes, Weber C-1230. Like Jakeboy, not a pedal user, but have put a boosta grande (clean boost) in front to drive it more w/single coils. Great sound. Have used it w/aby with Allen Accomplish (think blackface deluxe) and wow is THAT a fun combination. It's hiding behind a 535 in the pic below...

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh237/fxdx99/heritagehoc170.jpg

I am still diggin' this Brownface D-Lux! It really is an in-betwwen amp....stays clean a lot longer than my 5E3 yet still fatter tan a BF type Fender.

fxdx99, I too have used a Boosta Grande in front of my 5E3 occasionally but settled on a fuzz instead when I want something like that...I haven't tried it with the Chocodawg yet though.

I gigged my ChocoDawg for the first time last weekend using my Red Fang loaded 1X12 ext cab with the Choco on top....it was an outdoor gig & people were saying "Is that little guy gonna be enough?"

Well, I was backing up another band. I was second guitar and I had to turn down because the lead playerhad a Peavey Classic 50 cranked & couldn't hang!

Did I mention Red Fangs are loud?

I got a great deal on a used Mullard GZ34 which I put in the Choco before the gig & man O man what sweet tone I had with just a cable & a Ricenbacker 650 Dakota! I really think this is the one...the ChocoDawg is great! Jim asked if it has become my 'desert island' amp...I think so...:grin:

It's funny...whenever I play any of my Dawgs, I am amazed...I pulled out the Pug yesterday & thought 'does it get any better?'

Hey Jakeboy, got any sound clips of this thing?

I gigged my ChocoDawg for the first time last weekend using my Red Fang loaded 1X12 ext cab with the Choco on top....it was an outdoor gig & people were saying "Is that little guy gonna be enough?"

Well, I was backing up another band. I was second guitar and I had to turn down because the lead playerhad a Peavey Classic 50 cranked & couldn't hang!

Did I mention Red Fangs are loud?

I got a great deal on a used Mullard GZ34 which I put in the Choco before the gig & man O man what sweet tone I had with just a cable & a Ricenbacker 650 Dakota! I really think this is the one...the ChocoDawg is great! Jim asked if it has become my 'desert island' amp...I think so...:grin:

It's funny...whenever I play any of my Dawgs, I am amazed...I pulled out the Pug yesterday & thought 'does it get any better?'

What is a "ChocoDawg"?
Thanks

straightface, no sound clips yet...my band is busy gigging...once we start recording our second CD in the Fall I'll post some tunes with the ChocoDawg...which is,wbm68, Jim's clone of a Fender Brownface 6G3 Deluxe. It roars. It is the amp for me above all others right now...

I am the proud owner of Mutt #1. Jim had just finished it when I contacted him to ask questions about both the Champster and DeLuxe. He offered up Mutt #1, added a line out jack on the back and shipped it without tubes (I have plenty, don't need more). It's housed in a custom head of my own design and build and runs through a speaker cab (mine again) designed with input from Ted Weber. Tubes are all NOS '50s except the 6V6, it's an NOS 1945 Raytheon. This amp responds to quality tubes and I've spent hours, just tube rolling.

I think that Jim is on to something here. I don't think that it's an original idea, as I've seen references to similar in the past. But the execution is fantastic. All of the benefits of a DeLuxe at Champ volumes. That means hitting the sweet spot at lower volumes, my days of 50 watt amps are long gone. I can use the line out if I need more volume. Plays well with humbuckers, single coils and especially P90s. I'm not set up to do sound clips yet, but I will post something soon. Pictures can be seen at:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res8305p/therevampsite/

If volume isn't your thing, but tone is, this may be your answer. There are several people that have tried it already talking to Jim about one for themselves. The ultimate bedroom amp? Possibly.

31425

31426

Sound clips next.

Here's mine:

Lil Dawg Prince Lunchbox head
sitting atop a AB Audio 1x12 in western brown & wheat grille
Speaker is a Weber Sig12B

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/nasonm/lildawg-smaller1.jpg

still enroute. jim shipped friday and i'm supposed to receive on wed., 9-9.

i think my ron kirn axes gonna sound mighty good through this guy.

also, pic shows the genuine, namesake, li'l dawg.

regards, eljayski

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt262/eljayski/larrysampwiththerealLilDawg.jpg

I was emailing Jim about a D-lux and he talked me into the Mutt.
Do you guys think it can handle a drummer with just as 12" speaker?

I just want to add that Jim has got to be the nicest, most sincere builder/seller I've ever encountered.

I bought my Prince used and Jim answered all my questions and made me feel as if I was buying it directly from him. Great attitude and wonderful work!

I haven't tried it with a drummer around yet, but I think it would. Some drummers, however, refuse to let anyone be louder than they are. At times, they seem a neccesary evil.

Put some good old American vintage tubes in the Mutt, it responds well to them. I have an Ivory colored face plate available for a Mutt if anybody is interested. I had it done when I had the brown one in the pictures I've posted, done for the extra cost of the material only. It's free to any Mutt head (only) for the price of shipping. Email me.

By the way, I want to send my condolences to the family of Ted Weber. I just heard that he didn't make it to getting his lung replacement. When I first started making cabinets for myself, then others, Ted went out of his way to help me make the best product possible. Like Jim, at Lil Dawg, Ted loved what he did, was free with information, and would always return even the stupidest email with a thoughtful answer. People like this are getting harder and harder to find. When we lose one, I wonder of there'll be anyone there to take their place. The music business has lost a good man.

Choose your speaker wisely...an Emi Red Fang will be screamin' loud, as will the Emi Texas Heat. A 12 watt Mutt will cut it but you will be either micing it or keep it cranked....I personally like the tone of my Dawgs cranked....don't need no OD or distortion pedals!

+1 on Ted Weber being a good guy to deal with....I have a lot of Weber products and he is already missed.....

came today.

i know this is the tele forum but the 335 was tuned up and ready to go for the inaugural run.

sounds pretty righteous! :grin:

regards, eljayski

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt262/eljayski/ldawg1.jpg

Hi guys. Ordered a 5F2A Prince "LunchBox" with a 6V6 build through Jim a week or so ago and got my first pics today of the start. I went with the 5 watt Mercury Magnetics option and a line-out as I have higher wattages covered with other amps and want to play at church with this one.
I'll be playing it though an Avatar open-back 1x12 with a Weber Ceramic Greenback clone with pre-rola doping (whatever that means... I bought it on Ebay). :-)
All the good things I've heard about Jim and the amps are what led me to start looking at them. Not any Prince clips on Youtube though... if you guys with more talent would post some I'm sure we'd grow the dawg pound even more.
Can't wait to get my hands on it!

Jim finished the lunchbox today and I'll get it next week!
Here it is, just like I asked for...
blue light, white chicken head knobs, MM OT and PT and 6V6 tubes.
Can't wait to plug it in!! :grin:

Hi guys, I got my amp from Jim and I can't believe how great it sounds, looks and is built. I'd buy from Jim at that price if he were mean as a junkyard dawg but he's not. He has been absolutely outstanding in every communication I've had. Thank God for Jim and his Lil Dawg too!

Ive got a 12w D-lux being built for me, with mather cab and weber 12a125. Very exciting. this will be the longest month everrrrr.

Just got some construction pics of my "in-the-process" 5E3, I'll post them since this thread could use some more stuff!

I just got these pictures of the finished wiring of my 5E3 Li'l Dawg D-lux lunchbox from Jim.

She's finished and a beauty. Jim will be shipping her tomorrow. Have a look:

Hi,

I just ordered a Li'l Dawg D-Lux from Jim. I am having him build a chrome plated 5E3 chassis, 12 watts, Mercury Magnetics PT/OT with a line out. I am having Mather Cabinets make a small (18W x 10H x 8D), cream tolex/wheat and brown grille cloth head. This amp will sit on top and match my Allen Accomplice head. I am able to outfit it with NOS RCA 5Y3, 12AY7, 12AX7 and a matched pair of 6V6 GTs (black plate).


I have a 1 x 12 cabinet which I can use either a Emi R,W&B (120w, 102dB) or a Scholz SugarCone (100w, 99 dB). Will either of these work with a 5E3 or should I consider looking at a new speaker? If so, what would work with both amps?

Thanks,

Bob

Hi Everybody,

Thinking of putting two tens in my Prince amp Jim built for me. I have one twelve in there now. It's a Weber Vintage series. The man who built the pine cabinet for me made it to accomadate two tens as well. Money's tight, but oh, the sound it will have. Thoughts?