Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

L

louthunder

New member
Who are the nimbrods who figurered it was ok to spend the B-I-G $$$ B-U-C-K-S on a Dumble amp. I"ve played one before and they are nice. But I"ve heard of people plunking down $20,000- $30,000 on these amps. Yah, they really sound good, but people have paid the above mentioned money and waited 4-6 years to have one built.Honestly I have played amps in the $1,000- $2,000 range that were easily as good.Ok, Robben Ford plays on one, and a few others, but the hype of these things is off the charts. If you have deep pockets or are brain damaged, knock yourself out.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

I think it's playing into the tone snob thing, and the status thing (You know "I have Dumble I'm good). Personally I'm love to play one, hell see one, but I'm find playing what I"ve got.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

I'm just not sure who this post is addressed to. If, hypothetically, I had the cash and were actually interested, I don't think I'd be convinced by your argument.

My theory is that a Dumble stole your girl, and you're just jealous.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

Mononoaware said:
I'm just not sure who this post is addressed to. If, hypothetically, I had the cash and were actually interested, I don't think I'd be convinced by your argument.

My theory is that a Dumble stole your girl, and you're just jealous.
Click to expand...

I'm just saying it's an amp that costs about 10 times what it's worth, and people are buying them
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

A lot of players think they're the best amps ever made...Robben Ford for one. Maybe they are! Read the interview with him in the latest Vintage Guitar. Personally, I think my modded Deluxe Reverb and the latest Mission Aurora are the best amps ever made, but I've never played through a Dumble. Bruce has though and he says they are spectacular. The treble is bright and articulate but not to bright...and the lows are deep and tight but never woofy or to tight, according to Robben.

I'll tell you what is nuts: the price of Gibson Les Paul guitars - new or old!

Lew
 
Last edited:
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

Lewguitar said:
A lot of players think they're the best amps ever made...Robben Ford for one. Maybe they are! Read the interview with him in the latest Vintage Guitar. Personally, I think my modded Deluxe Reverb and the latest Mission Aurora are the best amps ever made, but I've never played through a Dumble. Bruce has though and he says they are spectacular. The treble is bright and articulate but not to bright...and the lows are deep and tight but never woofy or to tight, according to Robben.

I'll tell what is nuts: the price of Gibson Les Paul guitars new or old!

Lew
Click to expand...

My point exactly, Lew your amps are probably worth about 2 grand each, and to you they are the best.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

It's all relative, and to some it's tax deductible as a musician's expense. To others, it's an investment they've sat on for a few years, buying one for $8000 and trying to turn it around for $20,000.

I'm certainly not in a financial situation to buy one, but I wouldn't fault someone who is.
Think of it as a stock certificate. I think that someone who buys shares in a risky investment is an idiot. If they bought a $15K amp that they can play and always sell for as much or more, they aren't an idiot.

I'll agree that they're the most overpriced amp in history though. At this point, it isn't about having an amp that sounds good, it's about having an amp that sounds good AND seeing it as poker chips.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

Gearjoneser said:
It's all relative, and to some it's tax deductible as a musician's expense. To others, it's an investment they've sat on for a few years, buying one for $8000 and trying to turn it around for $20,000.

I'm certainly not in a financial situation to buy one, but I wouldn't fault someone who is.
Think of it as a stock certificate. I think that someone who buys shares in a risky investment is an idiot. If they bought a $15K amp that they can play and always sell for as much or more, they aren't an idiot.

I'll agree that they're the most overpriced amp in history though. At this point, it isn't about having an amp that sounds good, it's about having an amp that sounds good AND seeing it as poker chips.
Click to expand...

Bingo. I think you hit the nail on the head with that post. If someone wants to pay 20 or 30 grand for an amp, more power to em. I personally will probly never have that kinda money but it would be nice to be able to do so. Besides, dumbles may actually be that good, who knows? I've never seen one much less even met someone wha has played one. The only thing I know about dumbles is that SRV liked em, so they can't be half bad.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

A lot of people get way uptight about how other people spend their money. Jealousy is an ugly thing. :(
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

I realize that Dumbles represent an investment to some people( as do the Gibson's Lew mentioned). I as a musician, sort of resent what "Investors" have done to the price of some of the vintage instruments. Some of these investors don't even play, and use NICE intruments to enhance their PORTFOLIOS. Back to the Dumbles, I"m as big a fan of Robben Ford as anyone, But listening to his recordings, his tone is no better than say, Joe Bonnamassa, Gary Moore, Buddy Whittington, Clapton etc. As a player and not an investor( At least w/ instruments). I judge an instruments worth on how well it performs and not how much money it will bring.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

If you got the money spend it on what ever you want. Is dumble a good/great amp, probably I won't buy one even if I had the cash....that kind of money is just crazy to drop on an amp...but that's me. To Joe Blow Millionaire it might be worth spending. A Dumble is worth every penny if you think it is, its sound justifies the cost if you think it does. The truth is there are plenty of great amps and tone at all kinds of prices. I think John Mayer has a good tone recipe with his Fender Super Reverb (or Twins I forget) for cleans and his Two Rocks for dirty (although I think he said he had a Dumble). Both his amps sound amazing and at a fraction of the Dumble's cost (Though still pricey) all in all to each their own.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

All in all, I guess it boils down to, buy what you want and play what you want. I just thought it was interesting that people will pay that kind of money, and/or wait up to 5 years to have one built. Ironically, the one I played, was owned by a mediocre guitar player who makes about $35,000 - $40,000 a year. I will say I enjoyed it alot, but I've played Blackface Super reverbs, or some Tweeds that made me wet myself just as bad!
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

I say Dumble, you say dumb bell, let's call the whole thing off.

Up until that right there, I think Sonny Landreth was the only person who used the name Dumble in a song lyric.
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

I've played through a few different ones. They are a pretty magical amp.......... Are they worth 20K?? Well is a 59 Les Paul worth 300K??
 
Re: Who put the DUMB in DUMBLE

Another thing you've got to realize is that all the magic in an amp isn't necessarily captured on tape, which is why a Dumble may not blow away a Fender with an OD in front of it.

The magic is what you feel and hear in a room standing in front of it, and it isn't always able to be captured by a recording. I've even talked to Robben Ford about it after one of his seminars, and he said he could just as easily show up with his favorite OD and plug into a Fender Twin Reissue, and have a tone he likes. He owns it because it nails what he wants to sound like 100%.

I've listened to Robben Ford CD's and hear a good tone, but not one that sends chills up my spine. But....I've stood in his rehearsal room and at the House of Blues right in front of his Dumble stack, and can tell you....it sounds friggin amazing when you're standing right there listening to it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Masta' C
For the "JB" Nerds... (Inductance and DC Resistance values for older JB models)
Replies
11
Views
623
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
playas
Do Orange amps generally have a very particular voicing?
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
El Dunco
El Dunco
midnite_man
humbucker comparison
Replies
13
Views
1K
Mincer
Mincer
Phantasmagoria
NGD: They put these at the top of the pile..
2 3
Replies
48
Views
2K
Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria
Chris EmCee
59/Custom Hybrid and Custom Custom in the Battle of '78
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
Ascension
Ascension
Back
Top