Dumble Chassis Prototype Pictures

[Funkalicousgroove]

Here are the first pics of the chassis I've been working on, this one is the first prototype and I'm making a few small changes, but they should be available in about two weeks.

1/8" Aluminum, CNC Punched with inset sides, correct mounting aparatus, based on the later amplifiers with provisions for an impedance selector and a Ring Lock DIN connector for the footswitch instead of an XLR (5 pin XLR=$19, 5 pin ring lock DIN=$1-11) like the later amps used. I also have CNC Punched Board sets that match up perfectly.

Of course the final product will be Black Enamel with Industrial Screen Print and a protective clear coat.

[Funkalicousgroove]

a few more...

[tonelab2]

Hey nice lookin' chassis.
Will have to get get one or two down the track when I've completed the 3 I have right now. I appreciate the work you've gone to as I've done 3-4 myself. Not an easy thing to get right.Good work Funk.

[BobW]

Funk, That's a very cool looking chassis. The weldment will definitely prevent any bending. I also like your attention to details such as the beveled side holes, etc, etc. What's your ballpark price for the final chassis?

[Funkalicousgroove]

They should come in right around $150 each including a set of boards and mounting hardware, powder coated and screen printed. I know these have taken a long time, but I wanted to make sure that everything was in the right place. I have to build an amp into this one before I give the final go ahead to the sheet metal guy, just to make sure everything lines up properly.

Here's what you get:

1 chasis Enameled and industrial screen printed
4 mounting nuts
4 10-32 x 1 1/2" mounting bolts
16 4-40 oval head screws/kep nuts to mount the mounting nuts
1 preamp board ready for eyelets (I can provide/install them for you for a nominal fee) will accomodate HRM or non HRM(contact me if you need a blank for the HRM Mod)
1 support board for the preamp board(mounting holes only)
2 copper clad boards for the bias/B+ and relay supply board mounting holes punched
2 plain g-10 support boards for the bias/relay boards (you can also drill and mount eyelets on these if you don't want to etch PCB's)
1 Copper clad FET Board
1 Plain FET board (Same thing applies!)
2 Copper Clad Relay boards
2 plain relay boards.

Not a bad deal really! I left all the boards undrilled besides the preamp board so that the end user would have the freedom to use whatever they prefer. ALL BOARDS HAVE MOUNTING HOLES DRILLED

[Funkalicousgroove]

here are some pics of the last run I did, I have changed the location of some of the holes for the sake of accuracy.

['67_Plexi]

Maybe this has been discussed or mentioned elsewhere, but are these going to have Dumbles name on them ?

That could be a potential legal issue and would exclude some of us full time amp builders who do this for a living from being able to purchase one.

It's one thing to try emulate the sound and look and getting inspiration from a Dumble, using his name is pushing it though.

Please don't be offended, I would just hate anyone in this great community to end up with issues.

[Wasserockinbluesman]

As the newbie here, the chassis looks good but I amnot qualified to judge. However (and this may be a silly question) ... is anyone doing a cab for the chassis?

Regards,

[BobW]

Funk, You've got a PM

[Funkalicousgroove]

The chassis I am selling will not have Dumble Logo's on them, that one is my personal amp.

I had inquired in an earlier post if anyone was interested in having a logo of some kind on there or if they prefer blank--most folks said blank.

A note to "Full time amp builders" These chassis are intended for personal use for members of this board, and not as OEM, as I am an Amp Builder Myself, and these ARE MY OEM chassis. If your intention is to save yourself the legwork of doing your own production run STOP RIGHT THERE! if you are building one or two here and there for a friend or something that is one thing, if your plan is to buy 50 and go into business for yourself you need to find someone with a metal shop.

Regarding Dumble and Lawsuits: Howard Alexander Dumble, and Dumble Musical sound are not registered with the state of California as a business of any kind nor have they ever been per the California secretary of state. There are No trade marks or patents of any kind for any intellectual property registered to Howard Alexander Dumble, H.A. Dumble, Dumble Musical Sound, or Dumble amplifiers. I heard through the grapevine that after all these years Dumble has trademarked his name, although there is no information about this as of yet. As far as the chassis/artwork goes, one could argue easily that the "Blackface" look of the Dumble amplifiers was taken from fender, and the cabinet style taken almost directly from music man.

Aside from that, The man had to change his legal name from Howard to Alexander due to all of the pending lawsuits from people who paid for amplifiers and cabinets and never recieved them. I personally know of at least one such case: An acquaintance of mine has 3 Overdrive specials, 2 of which he bought directly from HAD. One of the amplifiers was sent back for tweaking, and more than a year later it took a call from the california attorney general's office and a threat of grand theft charges to get the amplifier back, This friend of mine had also sent HAD 4 Celestion speakers and $1,000 for a 4x12 (Keep in mind this was in the 80's and $1,000 was ALOT for an unloaded cabinet) and TO THIS DAY HAS NEVER SEEN IT. I also know of another instance where a fellow sent his amp to Dumble for repairs, and Dumble SOLD his amp to someone else! There are a number of folks out there who lost their money by calling his majesty to inquire about how much longer they'd have to wait. I shed no tears for this man whatsoever. simply

I will have head cabs available to fit these chassis in the upcoming months for around $175 USD In black/black. If you want a raw one I can do that too, as well as custom colors, unfortunately there will be a fairly hefty price increase for one-off's, unless you can possibly provide your own tolex--My cab guy only buys it by the roll ($100+).

[ampdoc1]

Looks great, Funk!! I still want one or two, with cabs!

DEH

[Funkalicousgroove]

When I get them all done I'll post them on the For Sale page, we're in the home stretch now!!! Thanks in advance for your patience!

['67_Plexi]

Well there you have it !! Thanks for the info man, wow, thats interesting stuff !!

Yes you are correct, I would never expect anyone including myself who was in business to try to order in quantity from you. To be totally honest unless you were going in to business doing it, it wouldn't be financially viable. I get the occasional request to build a Dumble inspired design. For the most part I design the chassis myself and outsource to Nik for one off production. He usualy gives me a one week turnaround for customs. The standard amp designs use standard off the shelf chassis.
The point I was making just to avoid confusion, albeit moot after your comments, was that *if* there was a logo on it any guys who are not just hobbyists may not be comfortable, even if the amp is for themselves.
Maybe I just worry too much

However, I am still wanting to order one of these myself, just for the hell of building as close to a real one as possible for my own use. I may do it for a living, but I'm still an enthusiast !!

Again, no harm.

[Funkalicousgroove]

Like I said, I have no qualms about folks building amps for other people, heck if Jim Marshall got pissed at me for making plexi's I'd be in a world of hurt!

But, that being said, I agree with your point about the logo, and will not put one on the chassis I am selling.

I hope I didn't offend anyone with my rant, It just pisses me off that Dumble ripped off so many folks, and is such an elitist. not to mention that every circuit in his amps (Aside from the PAB, but that in itself is fairly intuitive) can be found in the RCA/Western electric Recieving tube manual, and yet he chases people down with threats of litigation even though he has no grounds or basis. He ripped off everything in his amps from someone else and covers his "Secrets" with goo so no one can see. I love the amps, but I'm so-so on the Man.

['67_Plexi]

I *SO* agree with you. I once went looking to see if he had registered any patents or trademarks to make sure I wasn't using any proprietory stuff and came back with totally nothing.
You have to do that sometimes, there are a couple of very very big manufacturers that do put pressure on the small guys. It's amazing the number of small circuit patents a Company like say Peavey has.