Model H

[Donner]

So.....

V2 is probably what you get if you ordered one a few months ago (or is it?)....

& V3 development is already underway?


I'm sure I'll love whatever I get, but it's sort of odd that I'm on the hook for one of these & am still not even sure what I'm getting.

The MH has been tweeked thoughout the trail period,
I have 3 of them and they are all different ...
The first protobatch is the loudest and pushiest
The first V1batch was contained a bit for public use
And V2 is now another EQ changed for wider use ....

The basic 'problem' is that there are so many rigs out there- and to get a specific response there are things that have to be changed that dont always just fit on a knob ...
Like the SY1/2 and SWF/AWF there is more than one viable form for each distortion maker ..... alot of this revolves around the basic differences in single coils and humbuckers and US and UK amps and speakers ......

So is V1 and V2 two versions/applications of the same sound or are they two different models ..... different brands have different responses to that question

[coldfingaz]

Thanks, Donner. I can appreciate all of that.

I play mostly single coils, but I also have a Tele with 70's Seth Lover humbuckers (they've always sounded closer to P90's to me than typical buckers). I also play through a few different amps, but the main live use amps are EL84's with Celestion Blue or Emi Red Fang speakers. But, I also use a SF Princeton Reverb with an old alnico of some sort + a stock '60 Gibson GA5 so I'm all over the place in that regard.

In a cool bit of irony, Custom Sounds just contacted me this morning. My Model H should be shipped shortly.

[bsic]

Thanks, Donner. I can appreciate all of that.

I play mostly single coils, but I also have a Tele with 70's Seth Lover humbuckers (they've always sounded closer to P90's to me than typical buckers). I also play through a few different amps, but the main live use amps are EL84's with Celestion Blue or Emi Red Fang speakers. But, I also use a SF Princeton Reverb with an old alnico of some sort + a stock '60 Gibson GA5 so I'm all over the place in that regard.

In a cool bit of irony, Custom Sounds just contacted me this morning. My Model H should be shipped shortly.

Dude, long time coming!! Congrats and let us know what you think of it when it arrives!

[melodichaotic]

So.....

V2 is probably what you get if you ordered one a few months ago (or is it?)....

& V3 development is already underway?


I'm sure I'll love whatever I get, but it's sort of odd that I'm on the hook for one of these & am still not even sure what I'm getting.

The MH has been tweeked thoughout the trail period,
I have 3 of them and they are all different ...
The first protobatch is the loudest and pushiest
The first V1batch was contained a bit for public use
And V2 is now another EQ changed for wider use ....

The basic 'problem' is that there are so many rigs out there- and to get a specific response there are things that have to be changed that dont always just fit on a knob ...
Like the SY1/2 and SWF/AWF there is more than one viable form for each distortion maker ..... alot of this revolves around the basic differences in single coils and humbuckers and US and UK amps and speakers ......

So is V1 and V2 two versions/applications of the same sound or are they two different models ..... different brands have different responses to that question

Great information here folks...yeah, that's something I learned(and am still learning) throughout the process is when we all go through a particular model, especially those that are still in development, we learn more specifically what we like and don't like, what works and doesn't--of course that's all for research.

I suppose some of that has to do with maybe the H not now being labeled "Customshop" that some think it's in production especially when more start circulating.

I had three, all translucent gray, with 8 months between the first, and two I got from Custom Sounds at once about 4-5 months ago...they all sounded like H's but all were different.

My first gray one I kept as I like the low mids, but yet it had a nice top end as well. One other of the "twins" I got together was similar but had less upper mids than my first, and the 2nd twin, had slightly attenuated highs and a leaner low mid profile, that I also really liked.

Now, I was lucky enough to get one from the first batch(thanks Pete!)that was Fatback's, and I love it, AND just like Donner said, it's louder and pushes more--it actually has the most gain out of all of them that I have.

The other key bit of information that Donner has mentioned a few times before is that the "Hiwatt" thing happens early in the drive pot range, and the rest is all extra gravy.

I will say, as I run this and the rest of the line-up through the Matchless SC-30(El-84's w/ 2x12 Celestion cab), that the Model H can sound "darker" compared to say a DRD or a HBOD, BUT the real magic happens at gig levels(not ludicrous levels), that with drive maxed, the Model H mid-profile just MELDS with the Matchless, and sounds AMAZING...like it's coming from inside the amp.

I mean when you turn up any of the peds, it's going to sound better, but the H, in particular REALLY comes in to it's own.

[cajone5]

Sounds like I'll have to give v2 a close look. I've been on custom sounds waiting list since mid-June - so only about 3 months. I sure hope my number comes up soon. From what I've seen I'll like the "v2" better than the v1 which just didn't sit right in my rig. Thanks for all the great info on these pedals!!!

[thesjkexperience]

I have played 5 of them and the converted Doc's rock box. I couldnt tell you what versions they all were, but the fatter ones, mine and Doc's, seem to have more distortion when the gain is fully CCW and benefit from 12 Volts of power. They also seem a bit more touch sensitive. Almost like the HBOD's full figured cousin. These sound amazing with single coils at loud volumes and stack well with everything.

The cleaner ones truly feel like the one above with two extra 6L6 power tubes. I am still kicking myself for selling the one like this that I owned, but all in all the one I have is perfect. Unfortunately, I didnt keep serial number records.

[BJF]

Hi,

Here's the lowdown,

The very first Model H's had such a wide frequency response that one stage could pick up radio under certain circumstances. This was a transistor early on though so on some amps and speakers this range would not be heard at all but to avoid sensitivity of radio pickup I did a number of things but one was to restrict bandwidth of this stage.

Due to a smear in the paper of the schematic one value of a capacitor got the wrong decimal on some units and so those got more low mids mea culpa,mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

Now there are sparkilng black ones and when there were such demand for this model there were also seethrough black ones made.

Later I came to this conclusion outof an accident also involving a very green island and a finnish guitarist that sits on a bathtub but anyway that perhaps if I'd make opaque black and I found this level of treble that I might call V2.......

And so I made a proto in opaque

Now I would have marked the opaque black ones V2 had it not been for a flying dutchman.....

I thought: I may be wrong, I may be wrong I may be wrong.........

But then so I made the following three black ones V1

However I have decided that the opaque shall be V2.

Now what is V2?

I thought of this when playing extensively with Model H that maybe I miss some treble and if I only could have this ounce ..........but ever so slightly and it took some listening and testing to determine where this would be.

Now I have marked on the solderside of the pcb two points and you can short those to convert to get V1

Have fun
BJ

[melodichaotic]

Thanks for the clarification Bjorn...Ha, "mea culpa"...well,
I thank you twice for mine with the lower mids!

[thesjkexperience]

I haven't pulled mine apart yet, but I thought the pedal was gooped and you cant see the board?

[coldfingaz]

So, I got my Model H (v2) last week. I finally got a chance to get acquainted with it just a little bit last night.

WOW!!!

I need to spend a ton more time with it, but I have to say that I was absolutely amazed in that I was able to dial it in within less than a minute & it sounded fabulous. Very touch sensitive, but surprisingly easy to find a sweet spot quickly (I was playing a fairly low volume so I had the gain cranked, tone at about 1 o'clock & volume around 9 o'clock).

Rig used: Creston Esquire with Lollar P90 / Model H / SF Princeton Reverb

Lots more to mess around with as I have a humbucker guitar & a couple other Esquires with different single coils, plus a few different amps. The tones I'm getting are exactly what I was hoping for & more. Incredible sustain, too.

Good times!