What makes a Dumble, a Dumble?

[yowza]

I'm new around here but I'm not new to amps, having played lots of different amps over my many years of being a guitarist and guitar teacher.
I recently built a Ceriatone Lightning clone and I'm totally hooked now and soaking up as much amp knowledge as I can to figure out what to build next.

What I'd like to know from those of you that know Dumble amps well is this, what is it that makes a Dumble what it is? I'm talking specifically about the overdrive channel and it's topology. Is there anything I can learn from the D overdrive circuit that I can apply to modding other amps?

If people want to give a general nutshell overview of what constitutes a D style amp that's cool but specifics are also welcome as I'm trying to learn different amp topologies and circuits and the theories behind them.

Thanks so much for any insight you can give!

Ed

[stelligan]

Welcome to the forum.
If you have never played a Dumble or Dumble inspired amp, it may be hard to describe. The overdrive is addictive as hell. Enthralling, inspiring.....
I would say it is one of those things that you don't know until you experience it. And not just the hearing part - it is the experience of playing the amp and hearing it. The touch sensitivity makes the connection to the amp and it's sound very interactive and addictive. The cleans are cool, too. Sounds like you always have new strings. The overdrive, though, is killer. And at most any volume - louder is better, but not necessary like with many other amp types.

Build one! Much good info here. Have fun.

[ER]

Basic dumble recipe in a nutshell:

Tone shaping early on, get a good tone and preserve it through the following gain stages. Lots of stages left to make up gain after tonestack loss. Switches and trim and level pots allow lots of flexibility in shaping gain and tone character.

Reduced cathode bypass caps to tighten up the fender "flabby" bottom end.

OD following the clean stages, not on the front end like a distortion pedal. More gentle coaxing of gain signal, not a clipping type of distortion which better retains the character of individual guitars and players.

Clean and stiff power section to faithfully reproduce the sound from the preamp. Also makes for a more effective Master volume since the power amp isn't adding as much to the tone character as in some other amps.

Clever component selection, layout, and design, everything is done for a reason. This part takes the longest to figure out and is what makes for a truly special amp.

Every amp designed a little different for a particular player, so expect to spend some time tweaking to make it your own.

-E

[59Pro]

Alexander Dumble makes many different amps, to bring it down to one amp (mostly the ODS) would be wrong.
A Dumble is a Dumble if it's built by Alexander Dumble.

[Kregg]

"What makes a Dumble, a Dumble?"

Humbuckers![img:38:20]http://www.dogproductshop.co.uk/smile/h ... py0158.gif[/img]

[yowza]

Alexander Dumble makes many different amps, to bring it down to one amp (mostly the ODS) would be wrong.
A Dumble is a Dumble if it's built by Alexander Dumble.

Well I left myself open for that one. I realized after I posted that someone might say it's only a Dumble if it's built by Dumble. In retrospect I really asked two different questions, the first question - what makes a Dumble what it is but I also was asking specifically about the overdrive channel on the ODS, sorry about any confusion there.

To someone who has never played a real Dumble, the Dumble sound to me is either Fendery cleans or the typical warm, brown, fat, singing lead tone. I know each model he makes is different and tailored to the player but I'm trying to understand more about what constitutes the classic Dumble lead tone on the ODS. I've heard of people Dumbleizing (sp?) Fender amps so I'm trying to understand what that might mean.

Thanks!

[amplifiednation]

I've played two real Dumbles. They are articulate and have great girth when clean or overdriven. They sound like every awesome recording youve ever heard but right there on your fingertips. The notes bloom and almost swell with sustain and character. That being said it is a very signature sound that isnt for everyone. Cleans are better than fender with more to them. Peter Lerche has a great demo on youtube that is pretty representative of the sound.

[Allynmey]

about $50,000

[M Fowler]

Don't some members on TAG converse with Alexander Dumble once in a while?

What models are still being produced.

And how come no one has tracked down the original chassis and cab supplier yet?

Mark

[ChrisM]

Don't some members on TAG converse with Alexander Dumble once in a while?

What models are still being produced.

And how come no one has tracked down the original chassis and cab supplier yet?

Mark

Both done in house as far as I have heard.

[amplifiednation]

I'm working on the cabs! I got some majestically purple suede today.

[Allynmey]

Don't some members on TAG converse with Alexander Dumble once in a while?

Maybe by attorneys!!!!

[Kregg]

I'll bet that Dumble wishes he could sell his new amps for 50K plus ...