I have made some modifications of course. The Dreamer is essentially a Fender Blackface Deluxe Reverb, but no normal channel: it uses the design of the tremolo channel and it has reverb, but no tremolo circuit. That makes a reasonably straightforward build for the amateur. As for sound, it is classic Fender clean, rich 'verb, and it gets crunchy as you turn it up especially with humbuckers, but all the bass in the preamp limits you there, you won't get Marshall crunch out of this...unless you change the preamp. Works GREAT with pedals so build yourself an Alexa and rock out. For questions, email .

However, there are some important updates that have yet to be posted at AX84. So, get the latest here!

Also - I get frequent inquiries as to a kit for the Dreamer. Alas, there is no kit. Gino Iorfida, the original designer, had a kit, which is how I started, but I ended up substituting parts anyway. Gino had a website www.drifteramps.com, but it seems to be down. For your reference, here is Gino's original BOM, and a BOM with sources and prices (a few years old though).

A few pictures. I need to redo these with my digital camera, but you get the idea. A bit of an advance over the tweed clone. Chassis outside and the guts...here is the tag board.  The entire innards you can see here. I'll post some high resolution photos if I get any requests from builders.

The completed amp with 2X10 cab:

A close-up of the back...note Reverb Dwell and Tone controls on the right In that location the connections from pot to circuit are very short. I highly recommend 2x10 or 2x12 open cabs, the Dreamer sounds great that way, for the music it does best (no it is not a metal amp...).

(Note current clips are with a single 12-inch Weber Alnico Signature.)

The woodwork is Home Depot #2 pine, with many coats of Bullseye Seal Coat Shellac Sanding Sealer. Why? Because that product is the only commonly available wax-free shellac, which will take a hard shine & last a long time. I prefer Kremer shellac for nice wood, but it is big $$$ for a little bit (has to ship from New York).

Strat Neck

Strat Bridge 

RV-20 Dirty - with a humbucker in Input 1, it doesn't take much, at about 5 it is very loud and distorting nicely. The bridge P/U of the SuperStrat is a Duncan Custom Custom, kind of hot and it really drives this amp. The neck P/U, a Duncan Jazz, is also overdriving at this setting.

SuperStrat Bridge

SuperStrat Neck

MasterVolumes: the 'nonintrusive' post-PI MV from Gerald Weber's Desktop Reference to Hip Vintage Tube Amps is not real effective -- it can take a little off the top but turned way down sounds ungood. It is simply a 1M pot between the legs of the PI. The pre-PI MV (installed where Gino originally had a 220K resistor to ground to simulate the tremolo circuit) is great and nonintrusive.

Dwell and Reverb Tone: highly recommended. Tone control gives the 'verb a 'studio' quality.

6L6s: Yes! With the PT and OT I used (see schem for notes), 6L6s work fine with a re-bias. You won't get 40 watts out of it without more voltage on the plates but you get a bit more volume, a cleaner tubier tone, recommended for folks that are looking for big clean tone. Me I'm trying not to go deaf so I stick with 6V6s. You want 40 watts? Put in a bigger PT and OT. The design is very flexible; check the Fender Amp Field Guide, you'll see Fender used the same design for a whole bunch of amps.