Dumble amps

**West LA Jazz** · 12-10-2015, 04:59 PM

I was wondering. Other than Mike Stern, which other jazz artists use Dumble amps?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumble_Amplifiers

**wintermoon** · 12-10-2015, 05:05 PM

none.
jazz guitarists can't afford them.

**mr quick** · 12-10-2015, 05:07 PM

Here's Robben Ford playing one

Solo at 2:20, although it's (juicy, juicy)fusion. Sorry for those hopeful!

**docbop** · 12-10-2015, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

none.
jazz guitarists can't afford them.

Also Dumble amps aren't like buy a Fender or a Boogie each one is built specifically for the person who orders it, based on their playing style. So each one sounds a bit different and might not be a good match for someone else.

Bottom line they are too dam expensive especially for a Jazz guitarist. Then if a jazz guitarist in NYC it's a too big and heavy to lug around so want small gear or use the club's backline.

**HeyNow** · 12-10-2015, 05:39 PM

Larry Carlton is a very well known Dumble player - though he's technically a musician vs a jazz player - he's been over 200 records or something like that.

This is one of my favorite jazz-based Dumble clips, though you could probably argue it's more progressive rock:

Dumbles have this clarity when distorting and spewing out overtones.

For straight ahead jazz, it's hard to beat a vintage Twin Reverb. A jazzer could do well with a Steel String Singer platform since those are designed to stay clean, but jazzers rarely need that much power.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-10-2015, 06:04 PM

Some jazz guys play dumble inspired amps - like Vic Juris and Fuchs amps. I always heard dumbles as a "revised" blackface sound - less bass, sweeter treble and a lot more mids.

**HeyNow** · 12-10-2015, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Some jazz guys play dumble inspired amps - like Vic Juris and Fuchs amps. I always heard dumbles as a "revised" blackface sound - less bass, sweeter treble and a lot more mids.

The early Dumbles had preamps in the clean channel very similar to Blackface amps but that changed in the early 80s.

But, all Dumbles are different. Generations share a lot of commonalities but they aren't the same values everywhere. There are also many different models of Dumbles. The most well known - the ODS - has several main pre-amp and phase inverter topologies e.g. low plate Classic, Skyliner, Bluesmaster, Megaplex, etc. But then there's the ODR, Manzamp, Steel String Singer, Dumbleland.

**West LA Jazz** · 12-10-2015, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

none.
jazz guitarists can't afford them.

That was good. I meant no disrespect by choking with laughter.

**Guido_59** · 12-10-2015, 06:44 PM

If you want a dumble in a pedal you can consider two itslian pedals those are no expensive : I-ODS by I-SPIRA ( make also a good pickup ) and EDEN DRIVE by KOR PEDALS

**Jonathan0996** · 12-10-2015, 06:49 PM

Corey Christiansen recently found a Dumble clone that he raves about, but I'm not sure who made it.

**icr** · 12-10-2015, 06:55 PM

Mark Whitflield; The Marksman CD. May have been recorded with a Dumble.

In my experience, the "Jazz" switch seem to act like an "Archtop" switch.

**Jonathan0996** · 12-10-2015, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

none.
jazz guitarists can't afford them.

A Dumble owner is someone who puts a $50,000 amp into a $500 car and drives 100 miles to a $50 gig. :-)

**docbop** · 12-10-2015, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Some jazz guys play dumble inspired amps - like Vic Juris and Fuchs amps. I always heard dumbles as a "revised" blackface sound - less bass, sweeter treble and a lot more mids.

You could be describing the old Paul Rivera mod's he did before going to Fender then on his own. I had two a SF Super Reverb and later a BF Princeton. That Rivera mod Princeton is the only amp I really want back. Paul referred to his mod as "opening the window of sound" on a Fender. He cleaned the reverb and I think a couple cap' changes and then as an option put in six-position knob that had multiple voices to the sound. The one of the knob he made a push-pull, but I can't remember what it did (it was back in the 70's memory fading for me.) When done the amps were quiet, very clean, and smooth overdrive. Did had other mod's I had a Echoplex he cleaned up the circuitry on. What I wanted but never got was he had a mod for the original Roland Chorus pedal and cleaned up the circuit, but also made it a stereo chorus, and he added a knob it might of been a effect level knob. When I had him work on my stuff he had left Valley Arts and was working out of his garage he was also consulting to Fender. Larry Carlton and many of the studio guitarist were using Rivera mod'd Fenders and pedals then.

**HeyNow** · 12-10-2015, 07:29 PM

Charlie Hunter played a Dumble clone for a little bit:

**pingu** · 12-10-2015, 07:58 PM

saw larry carlton play
10 odd years ago ....
great night a lot of Dan tunes

spoke to LCs tech after when they were
breaking it down ...

friendly guy ... I said how did L get all
the different sounds he got that night

clean , singing , crunch all great sounds

he said its just Guitar ... into Dumble into 2x 12 cab
(actually he had 2 dumbles main and a backup !)

**jorgemg1984** · 12-10-2015, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by docbop

You could be describing the old Paul Rivera mod's he did before going to Fender then on his own. I had two a SF Super Reverb and later a BF Princeton. That Rivera mod Princeton is the only amp I really want back. Paul referred to his mod as "opening the window of sound" on a Fender. He cleaned the reverb and I think a couple cap' changes and then as an option put in six-position knob that had multiple voices to the sound. The one of the knob he made a push-pull, but I can't remember what it did (it was back in the 70's memory fading for me.) When done the amps were quiet, very clean, and smooth overdrive. Did had other mod's I had a Echoplex he cleaned up the circuitry on. What I wanted but never got was he had a mod for the original Roland Chorus pedal and cleaned up the circuit, but also made it a stereo chorus, and he added a knob it might of been a effect level knob. When I had him work on my stuff he had left Valley Arts and was working out of his garage he was also consulting to Fender. Larry Carlton and many of the studio guitarist were using Rivera mod'd Fenders and pedals then.

True - in the late 70s early 80s guys like Rivera and Dumble (and Mesa Boogie) started to think about a new direction for the fender with two channels - a more hifi clean and a smooth overdrive. I never tried a Rivera or a Dumble but I liked all the early Boogies I played (and also the Two-Rock although it did not impressed me that much). Must have been good to be there to watch it!

**jorgemg1984** · 12-10-2015, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by HeyNow

The early Dumbles had preamps in the clean channel very similar to Blackface amps but that changed in the early 80s.

But, all Dumbles are different. Generations share a lot of commonalities but they aren't the same values everywhere. There are also many different models of Dumbles. The most well known - the ODS - has several main pre-amp and phase inverter topologies e.g. low plate Classic, Skyliner, Bluesmaster, Megaplex, etc. But then there's the ODR, Manzamp, Steel String Singer, Dumbleland.

It's true, I was referring to the sound that most cloners get their base for building models.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-10-2015, 10:06 PM

Scofield also played Two Rock amps for a while. Apparently he loved Robben Ford's Dumble! Not sure if he still does it...

Interview: John Scofield - Taking It Slow

Also, Mike Stern uses a Dumble? Didn't know that!

**Jabberwocky** · 12-10-2015, 11:12 PM

Henry Kaiser. Fast-forward to 4:00.

**SamBooka** · 12-10-2015, 11:17 PM

I've never seen Mike Stern with a dumble. He has such a well-defined tone that I'm surprised that he would even consider it. Oz noy has been using to rock amplifiers for a while and they're very dumblish as well.

**henryrobinett** · 12-10-2015, 11:27 PM

I've never seen hm with a Dumble either. He used to play a Pearce many moons ago.

**neatomic** · 12-10-2015, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Henry Kaiser. Fast-forward to 4:00.

the classic nightmare vid!

& essential proof..that music comes from the mind not the gear

cheers

**Jabberwocky** · 12-10-2015, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by neatomic

the classic nightmare vid!

& essential proof..that music comes from the mind not the gear

cheers

There are 10 parts to it. Watch them all...if you dare.

**West LA Jazz** · 12-11-2015, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

I've never seen Mike Stern with a dumble. He has such a well-defined tone that I'm surprised that he would even consider it. Oz noy has been using to rock amplifiers for a while and they're very dumblish as well.

I'll have to find that video from last week. I was very surprised myself.

**West LA Jazz** · 12-11-2015, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by Jonathan0996

A Dumble owner is someone who puts a $50,000 amp into a $500 car and drives 100 miles to a $50 gig. :-)

HILARIOUS.. that's COLD!!! Hey man, John Mayer rocks Dumbles big time. Oh, that's right.. he's not a jazz kat!
Tell me this rig doesn't make you at least go hmmmm! It looks like overkill but his fans expect each hit to sound something like the original in exchange for him having extended soloing segments.