I think this GuitarNerd blog is the closest anyone has come to “confirming” the Freedom Amp was used by Hot Snakes:

https://guitarnerd.com.au/2010/04/elect ... eedom-amp/

I think its kind of a reach, really. I get there’s some loose Hot Snakes association there, but I don’t think those amps even sound as good as solid state Traynors. Maybe if Reis or co confirms, but until then, I call bullshit.

I know they had got into Carlsbro for a minute there, which are very rare for San Diego so might have been mentioning those as the amps.

I work at my day job with Ben from time to time (recorded most(all?) their stuff) I’ll try to remember to ask him

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:30 pm i have one of those amps, is there something I can check on mine to see if its a good one?

If it came to it, opening it up and taking pics of both sides of the circuit board would do the trick. BUT I still have the second schematic from Nate to try, and I have a Freedom amp of unknown origin incoming. Either of those might provide the answer first.

TylerDeadPine wrote: Thu Nov 27, 2025 10:51 pm I know they had got into Carlsbro for a minute there, which are very rare for San Diego so might have been mentioning those as the amps.

I work at my day job with Ben from time to time (recorded most(all?) their stuff) I’ll try to remember to ask him

I think the Carlsboro thing started with Plosivs, at least based on this interview:

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/plosivs-john-reis

Actually surprised I’ve never seen an interview with Ben considering how great everything he’s done sounds!

Is he the melodica player? The last time they played Houston I was the one nerd turning around and watching him.

tallchris wrote: Fri Nov 28, 2025 3:29 pm

TylerDeadPine wrote: Thu Nov 27, 2025 10:51 pm I know they had got into Carlsbro for a minute there, which are very rare for San Diego so might have been mentioning those as the amps.

I work at my day job with Ben from time to time (recorded most(all?) their stuff) I’ll try to remember to ask him

I think the Carlsboro thing started with Plosivs, at least based on this interview:

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/plosivs-john-reis

ah! That must have been where I read it, thanks

Actually surprised I’ve never seen an interview with Ben considering how great everything he’s done sounds!

Right!? He's the best - I don't think he tries to get out there much but I have to imagine he gets hit up from time to time and he's really generous with conversation and explanation. I try not to punish him too much. I live down the street from the studio which is a great building, also home to https://www.satelliteamps.com/.

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Is he the melodica player? The last time they played Houston I was the one nerd turning around and watching him.

haha maybe.


Also John if you're reading this I'm still painfully available to play bass

Well there's progress?

I breadboarded up the second schematic provided by Nate (below) and its actually doing a thing now. The bite control works. I suspect it worked in my original attempt and I just didnt notice it as I left off the input "volume" control. The bite is much more pronounced at lower input volumes. And the tone control now works. AND it sounds pretty good and I can make myself believe it sounds Hot Snakes-y

The problem is that its noisy as hell. There's a near constant squeal that happens when you're not playing and some ragged notes when you are. I think its something related to the power supply rail, as messing around with that affects it, but I havent sussed it out yet. It should be noted that i'm trying it with 9V supply and the original shows 60V supply. But as good as I can get it with 9V if I try it with a bigger power supply (24V) the noise gets much worse. Anyway...baby steps.

Did you try connecting R111 and C21 to ground like the original schematic? Connecting them 9V isn't going to do anything, as any DC would be blocked by the capacitors. It makes much more sense to connect them to ground, like a Twin T notch filter.

BTW, there are some good shots of the front and back of the PCB over in this thread on TGP: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... r.2591523/

Also, I just read that the Freedom Amp is apparently the Jean Genie amp?