ODS before Skyliner and Bluesmaster

[Max]

Could this be LGs ODSR ?
(see second pic, right edge).

As far as I know this is not the very amp LG used, but one that looks identical - with one exeption: LG's amp did not have the second (red) 'pilot light (it lights up when the OD is activated).

It's a first series ODSR, slide switches, 100W, reverb mix before OD, tonestack (as far as I still remeber): 1M treble pot, other tonestack values same - or at least very similar - as second series ODS, as posted earlier in this thread).

The matching Dumble 4x1O" cabinet (oval opening on the back) is loaded with four 1O" Altecs (great cabinet for slide, IMO).

Cheers

Max

[Structo]

They sure look similar from what can be seen.

Max, you seem very knowledgable about Dumble amps.

I'm sorry if you talked about this before but what was your association if there was one, with Alexander Dumble?
Have you had the fortune to know him?

[Max]

They sure look similar from what can be seen.

Max, you seem very knowledgable about Dumble amps.

I'm sorry if you talked about this before but what was your association if there was one, with Alexander Dumble?
Have you had the fortune to know him?

Hi Tom,

I've never met him, but I really like to play with his amps: Lots of fun!

A very close friend of mine is a collector of fine musical instruments and me and some other musicians, trusted by this collector, can play the Dumble amps from the collection whenever we want.

And - as with most collections - some of these amps pass on and new arrive. That's why I had/have the opportunity to play a lot of (around 30 up to now) different Dumble amps, cabinets, devices like Dumblelators, and so on.

In regard of the 'Dumble devision' of this private collection you could think of me as a kind of 'curator'. I am consulting the collector in regard of what to acquire for the collection and for what conditions. Together with the tech I make sure, that the collection acquires all authentic original specimens and that they stay in best technical condition (that's one of the reasons why they are constantly played, in the studio or even live).

That would perhaps be the best way to describe my relationship to this collection.

So sometimes I talk with the tech, who kept/keeps all these Dumble amps, cabinets and other devices of this collection in best working condition, and we discuss my impressions about their - sometimes very different - special individual virtues and characters as the great (IMHO) musical instruments, they are.

Generally I am more interested in their different characters as very individual musical instruments, the musical concept/s each one fits in best, and the relationship of their history and evolution to the history and evolution of the different styles of electric guitar playing in the last 40 years, as in their technical details.

But from time to time I like to know more about the relations between their individual characters as a musical instrument and their technical aspects. If so, I ask this tech.

And in those very very rare cases, when unknown first hand infos were needed, I asked someone who sees Alexander from time to time and always got a friendly answer.

But generally I try to research and find out myself what I need to know. I understand, that Alexander does not like the phone ringing all the day and that he prefers to deal with working musicians he is befriended with. And knowing this, I think it wouldn't be very polite to bother him with my questions. I am fine with this situation. It's even better now, as now there is this forum and all the knowledgeable and generous members here.

That's why I know this and that about Dumble amps.

Cheers

Max

[Structo]

Thanks for that Max.

You are very fortunate to have that relationship to the collector.

That would be so cool to see the various works of HAD.

I seem to remember that you are in Germany?

Are the amps the collector acquires mostly from Europe or does he buy them from all over the world?

[Max]

That would be so cool to see the various works of HAD.

Are the amps the collector acquires mostly from Europe or does he buy them from all over the world?

Hi Tom,

Yes, that was and is a lot of fun indeed.

The Dumble equipment in this collection has been acquired from musicians and collectors in the US. Here you still can find the most interesting pieces of equipment, even more so since some great amps have returned from Europe and Japan in the last years.

Have a great time

Max

[Max]

I noticed that these amps are not discussed often on this forum since 'they are not the Robben Ford thing'.

Hi Jelle,

yes, and I always wonder why:

LC and RF are great guitar players indeed and achieve some great guitar tones with their modern amps, but as far as I know the number of great recordings done with the early amps without snubbers and ratio and with those you call the 'classic' here is countless in comparison to what has been recorded with Skyliner and HRM amps:

David Lindley, Danny Kortchmar, Steve Lukather, Brian Wilson, Lowell George, Bonnie Raitt, Rick Vito, Todd Sharp, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Steve Farris, Kevin Dukes, Chris Cross and of course the early LC and RF recordings and many more.

And many of these 'early Dumble' players are or have been studio cats and sometimes have given their amps to other musicians for their recording sessions too (as an example: Andy Brauer once told in an interview, that the Farris amp is on some recordings of Clapton and Knopfler).

And last but not least: Andy Brauers 'early Dumble for rent' alone is on countless recordings.

And IMHO there are a lot of great guitar tones on these records done with such early ODS amps.

That's why I always wonder why those early ODS seem to have such a low appeal for many members here. But of course this is a matter of personal taste.

Cheers

Max

[jelle]

Max,

Naay, those recordings were all fenders and marshalls....

Was EVH's solo on 'Beat it' an ODS?

BTW, these earlier amps have to be approached differently compared to the blackpanel ones. They are very touch sensitive is what I noticed in my builds. What are your experiences with these earlier circuits?

Jelle

[Max]

Max,

Naay, those recordings were all fenders and marshalls....

Was EVH's solo on 'Beat it' an ODS?

Jelle

Jelle,

Andy Brauer told, that, as soon as he offered the ODS he had bought for his rental business (around 1979 as far as I remember), many if not most of the studio cats and guitar players recording in LA lost all interest in Fender amps. He said, that since then there have been only very few days this ODS was in his shop and not rented for some recording sessions.

As Andy Brauer and EVH had (maybe still have - I don't know) a close relationship, it may well be, that he used an ODS on this track. You could call Andy.

Andy Brauer sold his rental business some years ago but still has a shop in North Hollywood. He's a great guy and knows everything in regard of the LA recording scene. So just call him and tell us what he told you concerning this EVH song and Dumble amps. Don't have his number at hand right now, but you'll find it using google.

And if you want a 'Historic Collection' Les Paul or a 'Custom Shop' Stratocaster to sound like the best of the 'old ones', you should call him anyway, as Andy can do these kind of things.

Cheers

Max

[JimiB]

And if you want a 'Historic Collection' Les Paul or a 'Custom Shop' Stratocaster to sound like the best of the 'old ones', you should call him anyway, as Andy can do these kind of things.

How's that?

[talbany]

I noticed that these amps are not discussed often on this forum since 'they are not the Robben Ford thing'.

Totally agree... It's like purchasing a CD from an artist you heard on the radio or from a friend and liking it so much you begin to dig into past efforts and find the real gems...Lukather, Vito,LG, and of coarse the Lindley stuff are those gems to me!! Thanks Max for the info... Very COOL!!!!

Also heard Clapton's solo on After Midnight(August).. Sounded hauntingly like an ODS to me...


Tony VVT

[coffeecupman]

First, I know this thread was last updated 12yrs ago. So we can get past the necro bump comments...

Does anyone have a template for the oval port in the back of a Dumble 4x10 cabinet? From what I've gathered, it's Marshall 4x10 size, and square in its dimensions.

But how big is the oval hole, and where is it located, what's the diameter of the oval, etc? Depth?

I seem to have found a loose reference that Amplified Nation has built one. Does anyone know the measurements on these?

I'm going to try and commission an ODR in 2022 that is voiced like Lowell's, since I'm a huge Feat fan and Lowell's tones are some of my faves of all time.

I've read here his speakers were "Altec 10s". Can anyone be more model specific?

This has been a really great thread to read, no matter how old it is.