Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

I wouldn't call Dumble owners stupid. It's kind of like my cousin paying $35K for a restored 65 Ford Galaxy off ebay. Seems stupid to me but he was in love. Years ago, I had an awesome Two Rock head and 2x12 cab. Loved it but couldn't justify the price tag and sold it.


I've never played a Dumble. Would love to one day.

$35K is at least still inside the range of what a normal new car might cost. For $3500-$5000 you can get a pretty high end or even custom built amp. A Dumble at $35K-$50K is 10x that. If your cousin had paid $350,000 for that car you probably would have him carted off to the loony bin.
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

If your cousin had paid $350,000 for that car you probably would have him carted off to the loony bin.

And yet, there are quite a few cars out there that cost that much and a whole lot more. Granted, their production is limited to the 4, 3, and sometimes 2 digit numbers but they're out there, and people pay for them.

Lamborghini, Ferrari, Pagani, Koenigsegg, Rolls Royce, Maybach, Bugatti... etc etc
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

And yet, there are quite a few cars out there that cost that much and a whole lot more. Granted, their production is limited to the 4, 3, and sometimes 2 digit numbers but they're out there.

And many would argue those cars are status symbols more than anything.
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

Dumble Amps customer base: people with more money than brains.

Lemmings. Lemmings everywhere.

You'd think this was the case, but then people casually say stuff like this on internet forums, and it turns up in search engine results...

They have a sound that I can only describe as "liquid-y". Excellent sustain; compressed but dynamic, even at low volume. I've never heard that in another amp, except my old BF Tremolux on about 7.

The nature of their overdrive was pretty distinctive in that even when cranked, they didn't sound saturated or gained out.

Dumbles are voiced to the player.... Alexander Dumble has some incredible ears

and it's no wonder that there's a demand for them.

Some of those comments remind me of what I heard of the Tim pedal "it's like your amp suddenly has a new dirty channel". With endorsements like that, people will buy them sight unseen, sound unheard.
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

And many would argue those cars are status symbols more than anything.

And I would agree with them. You don't find many "daily driver" cars with those badges on them.

I don't know any Dumble owners personally so I can't really say if they treat their amps the same way (i.e. status symbol vs. musical tool) but I'd imagine that there are some who have it just because they can, and some who actually do gigs with them.
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

They're pretty decent as practice amps, but pretty much only good for beginners. The sort of thing that you'd want to move up to a real amp fairly quickly afterwards.
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

Dumble Amps customer base: people with more money than brains.

While not a fan of the Dumble tones I've heard (I'm a plexi guy)... I think very highly of the ears and opinions of players like Eric Johnson, John Mayer, Keith Urban, Robben Ford, etc. Your statement may apply to some anonymous, wanna-be gear forum junkies with money (there are plenty), but it does not apply to these household names.
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

You'd think this was the case, but then people casually say stuff like this on internet forums, and it turns up in search engine results...

and it's no wonder that there's a demand for them.

Some of those comments remind me of what I heard of the Tim pedal "it's like your amp suddenly has a new dirty channel". With endorsements like that, people will buy them sight unseen, sound unheard.
While I was being slightly tongue-in-cheek, the "Dumble phenomenon" is, to me, exactly like the Fischer/Trainwreck/'59 Les Paul fetish except that Dumble is still around.

Are Dumbles phenomenal amps? Undoubtedly.
Are they $50K+, years-long-wait, you-must-be-someone-famous/personally sanctified, phenomenal? Ehhh... probably not and certainly not to me.
What makes them appealing, as well, is their exclusivity. And the retail music industry absolutely *thrives* on that concept.
It isn't that you're the guy with the cool gear that gives you great tone, it's that you have to be the *only* guy with that cool gear.

Like any craftsman, I understand the usefulness/necessity of quality tools but Trainwreck/Dumble, IMO, have moved into the arena of fetishism.

It's no longer about finding ways to be creative.

I love that guys like Dumble and Fischer exist because they are obviously sensational craftsmen. But at what point is that kind of attention to detail justified?

Guitars and amplifiers exist to make music.

And the music doesn't care what instrument it is played on.
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

Ah yea, the Trainwrecks are right in that twilight zone as well, made more interesting after the amp maker died.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me
 
Re: Can someone explain the Dumble phenomenon

For those with money there are always "expensive" toys. Guitars and amps also happen to be tools. Now, we have "cheap" tools, and "expensive" tools. Question is: would you pay $25,000 for a hand wired Skill saw if you saw Larry & Robben using one to build a house (never happen)? Speaking of houses...I wish a had a houseful of those Klon Centar hammers!
 
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