Dumble Amps

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Dumble Amps

EJ ditched the Dumble several years ago...I don't even think it makes it on to too many recordings these days but I could be wrong...

Funny thing about EJ using a Dumble anyway...he used a Dumble SSS, which is pretty different from the ODS...the SSS was made for CLEAN tones but Eric used his with a TS-9 and used it for his dirty rhythm tones...those dutys were taken over a while back by a vintage Marshall...

 

[aleclee]

Re: Dumble Amps

"amazing crystal clear distortion"? Something's not quite right about that phrase.

It sounds odd but I don't think it's as far off as you might think. Though I've not gotten my hands on the real deal, I've played a LOT of D-style amps and pedals as well as owning my share.

The best (IMO) ones have a quality to their OD where it adds sustain and harmonic complexity without sounding gained out or particularly saturated. It makes the guitar sound "bigger" while letting the inherent character of the guitar's clean tone come through.

Another trait is touch sensitivity: they're very responsive to changes in volume or picking dynamics. When I rolled off the volume, my Two Rock's drive channel sounded almost as good as the clean channel and better than many amps' clean channels.

That said, it's not gonna be everyone's cup o' tea. It works great for the roots/classic rock stuff I'm playing these days but I would choose something else for more aggressive music.

Given the number of quality D-style amps out there, the price of used Dumbles boils down to supply and demand. There are only a few hundred of 'em out there and they're considered grail-type amps. I could see someone dropping that kind of change to have a master builder voice an amp specifically for their playing but I think a lot of people buy those amps as much for their unobtainium status as their sonic qualities. After all, since they're individually voiced, there's no guarantee that the voicing will work for your particular sound.

Even so, I think that there's something very special about the design and that most people who hate on Dumbles and their owners are jealous or trolling.

 

[Thunder]

Re: Dumble Amps

There is a lot of mis information on teh WWW about HAD...for one thing he does still build amps but they are built on a custom order basis only and he does decline to build a lot of people amps...

I've played through a few original Dumbles as well as a few clones and the truth is many of the clones sound as good as a real Dumble and the other truth is that to my ears there is little amazing about a Dumble except the fact that some fools will pay such high prices for them...

Get a Twin Reverb, load it with Celestion G1265's and get a Zen drive and you're ready to go for a LOT less money!

I played a gig a few years ago with a guy that had spent thousands on a matched pair of Dumble clones from some obscure builder...he had matching cabs and original G1265's in the cabs...I rolled up with a beat up SF Twin Reverb, a Pro Co Rat on all the time and an SD-1 used as a lead boost and I smoked his tone...funniest part to me is he even admitted it!

+1 Twin + good speakers + boost = Sweeeet!

 

[J Moose]

Re: Dumble Amps

I've played, heard & placed mics on a few Dumbles... like Steve Kimocks. While those amps do have a unique vibe I'm not so sure I dig 'em myself. Part of it is the feel of the amps... very dynamic, but unlike a Marshall or a tweed, Hiwatts etc... when you hit the guitar harder those amps bark & get bigger. The Dumbles compress & get smaller. Guys who play with a light touch love 'em... took me a while to figure that out.

And the build quality is impeccable! Rather then use a sheet of steel or aluminum & bend it up for the chassis, he starts with a billet and channels it out. Crazy stuff.