dumble ultra phonix mod

[Max]

BTW, I always wonder how someone can judge an amp just by listening to a youtube clip.

Hi 59Pro,

IMO there are (at least) two very different perspectives on this topic that perhaps make sense:

On one hand one could argue like this:

Listening to Youtube and mp3 clips etc. with a computer or mp3 palyer is a widespread form to listen to music nowadays. So what does not help the listener to get "lost in music" as you cannot perceive it with your mp3 players and earplugs, is without any additional value for the enhancement of the joy of the listener.

On the other hand one could argue like this:

Even if the mp3 or youtube listener does perhaps not perceive the difference in tone of RF playing his Dumble or playing his Twins, he will perhaps perceive a difference in the way Robben plays:

Perhaps he has a bit more fun playing his Dumble, feels more at ease with its way to respond etc. and because of this perhaps plays with a bit more joy and inspiration and by this for the joy and entertainment of even the listener in the last mp3 row, too.

Of course it is impossible for a musician to personally try every variation of every amp produced today. At least if he loves to play the guitar in his band more than to hang around in music shops (and hanging around in music shops will not pay the rent). And because of this it is great IMO, that you can listen now to some youtube or audio-only clips to get at least a rough impression what would perhaps be worth the trouble of a personal check and what obviously is far away from your personal taste.

In the case of the "Ultraphoenix" the whole question is a bit academic anyway IMO:

As far as I know, there is no way to get one for the average Joe anyway, at least without special connections to some special people that could perhaps introduce him to Alexander?

Or am I wrong?

I ask, because I know some really great guitar players - like Karl Ratzer, just as an example - who would perhaps like to get one of these "Ultraphoenix" mods and could provide Alexander with a used blackface Showman, Bassman or Deluxe and pay 5.000 USD, too (btw: in addition still less or at least not that much more than TR asks(ed) for some of their "signatures" and with perhaps some devaluation as soon as you leave the shop with your new TR), as they earn some money with their music or could raise some funds from some generous sponsor?

And I know some professional Dumble players, who would perhaps like to have a "ripper" or other kind of "update" implanted into their Dumble amps. But all these guys think AFAIK, that such a mod is an unobtainium nowadays without beeing a close friend of Carlos Santana?

So what would be your personal recommendation for these players? What phone number should they call, or what else could they do to get in contact with Alexander to get their "Ultarphoenix" or "ripper" or whatever mods?

If you know such a way, but for whatever reasons do not want to post it here at the open forum, a PM would be appreciated.

Have a nice Sunday, a lot of fun with your guitar and Dumble and your friends in your band and all the best,

Max

PS

In case some here fear it will perhaps be a too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXeRB-3nDR8

here are some links (without any special order), which perhaps shed some sidelights on some scientific approaches in regard to "How do we perceive timbre and music?":

http://www.engineeringandmusic.de/indiv ... Paper.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_cognition

http://www.uni-graz.at/~parncutt/guests ... timbre.pdf

http://www.oicm.umontreal.ca/doc/cim05/ ... _CIM05.pdf

http://www.music-cog.ohio-state.edu/Mus ... .lectures/

http://www.complexity.org.au/ci/vol01/fletch01/html/

http://deutsch.ucsd.edu/pdf/frontiers.pdf

But of course, just

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCVVvNLUjTU

is great, too.

Cheers and have fun,

Max

[59Pro]

Hi Max,
I appreciate your inputs and understand what you are saying. However, I just think it's funny when someone writes "I heard a clip on youtube of so and so amp or this speaker and I didn't like it.." Listening and watching your favorite or not so favorite musicians on youtube is great an I enjoy it very much as well. However I would never judge an amp, speaker etc based on a youtube clip.

BTW, I really love the Small Faces "Lazy Sunday Afternoon" video, that brings back some great memories.

Cheers

[Max]

Hi Max,
I appreciate your inputs and understand what you are saying. However, I just think it's funny when someone writes "I heard a clip on youtube of so and so amp or this speaker and I didn't like it.." Listening and watching your favorite or not so favorite musicians on youtube is great an I enjoy it very much as well. However I would never judge an amp, speaker etc based on a youtube clip.

BTW, I really love the Small Faces "Lazy Sunday Afternoon" video, that brings back some great memories.

Cheers

Hi 59Pro,

I understand your point. And IMO you are right of course, at least to a large degree.

But this said, to check the behaviour of a musical instrument in its intended environment (stage, studio mix, chamber or symphonic orchestra, etc.) IMO can - and often perhaps even should - be an important part of such a choice. More often than they perhaps like, guitar players e. g. buy some gear that sounds great playing alone in the isolation booth of the music store or along a CD in the living room but then does not work at all on stage.

My own quintessence in regard to judging the "tone" (and not the "response" or "playing comfort" etc.) of an electric guitar amplifier and any other "audio amplification chain" is this (in its most simplified version):

Every guitar amp and other kind of "audio chain" will add some noise, distortion and many other perceptible artefacts to the music, even if all this should measure as being less then xyz % and below xyz dB signal/noise ratio etc.

My personal impression now is, that I like the "tone" of an amplifier or complete audio chain the more, the more I perceive all the noise, distortion overtones, phase shifts and countless other artefacts it ads, as "timbre" and not as "noise". The perception as "noise" seems to distract me from the music and the perception as "timbre" seems at least not to distract me or even please me, if this "timbre" even matches my personal taste.

Let me explain this a bit more in detail:

If you are sitting in an opera house and listen to "The Magic Flute" there is noise present, even if no one coughs: People move on their seats, fumbling with their opera glasses, etc. But up to a certain level we obviously perceive this noise as a part of the "timbre" of the "ambience" (this opera house), and it does not distract us from the music. But if every minute someone coughs, or a ventilation noise is very prominent, we start to perceive this as distracting "noise".

Now IMO something similar happens with our perception of the "tone" of guitar amplifiers and "audio chains" in general: A certain kind and amount of noise and distortions etc. we obviously perceive in some way similar to the "timbre" of the ambience of some concert hall and it does not distract us from the music. But other kinds and levels of noise and distortions etc we seem to perceive as distracting "noise". This "distracting noise" can even stay below the level of conscious perception, and we only notice that we have to reduce the volume after some time or even stop listening, because the "tone" starts to get a nerve-racking quality.

And this is one of the many things what I like about most Dumble amps I’ve played up to now, that all the distortion overtones and other "faults" they add, I perceive in a near to perfect way as being part of the "timbre" of my instrument, the electric guitar, and not as "noise".

That are only my very personal impressions of course.

Some additional theory in regard to "Timbre And Overtones":

http://books.google.com/books?id=CuHi9e ... es&f=false

Have fun,

Max

[phsyconoodler]

I wouldn't say I didn't like it,just the mod is changing the Super into something else that is far more easily done by just building another amp.
Make it into a better Super?Maybe,maybe not.
The clips lean too much toward the playing style of certain Dumble players and don't go where the Super goes.The blues and classic rock.
For me.I'll just build the amp.

Go to www.claramps.com and listen to the "Overdrive Rocket" clips.It's close to a Non-Hrm with KT77's and a few internal changes.It's through a 1-12 combo with a Mojotone Greyhound speaker.The guitar is a Musicman with humbuckers.The amp has a one tube reverb as well.
It depends on the player to a great extent.I'm not trying to brag about the clips,just try and show the difference.Or maybe the similarities?

[Structo]

Are those your amps?

[boldaslove6789]

Yeah, Not to derail but I always wondered what the amp was in your avatar. I really dig the cosmetics and you clips sound great.

[M Fowler]

phsyconoodler I need one of your Overdrive Rocket cabs in blue, knobs and chassis please, thank you ahead of time.

Nice sounding amp sir.

Mark

[59Pro]

I wouldn't say I didn't like it,just the mod is changing the Super into something else that is far more easily done by just building another amp.
Make it into a better Super?Maybe,maybe not.
The clips lean too much toward the playing style of certain Dumble players and don't go where the Super goes.The blues and classic rock.
For me.I'll just build the amp.

Go to www.claramps.com and listen to the "Overdrive Rocket" clips.It's close to a Non-Hrm with KT77's and a few internal changes.It's through a 1-12 combo with a Mojotone Greyhound speaker.The guitar is a Musicman with humbuckers.The amp has a one tube reverb as well.
It depends on the player to a great extent.I'm not trying to brag about the clips,just try and show the difference.Or maybe the similarities?

I understand what you are saying. Again, mine sounds different. But I play different music and have a different style than the player in the youtube clip.
I play in a Blues band and I play pretty clean, I love a great clean tone. I'm a Fender guy since I started playing electric 35+ years ago. I love Tweeds, Browns and the early BF amps. I was always looking for an amp that somewhat combines the best of the three. A. Dumble built it for me and this amp can do more.
I'm sure you can build a great amp as well, but I found the ONE I always wanted. I like the BF cosmetics, nobody knows it's a Dumble. Looks just like a BF Fender

[phsyconoodler]

Thanks guys,
Yes,those are my amps that I build.I mostly build for local musicians in my area.
The blue amp is actually blue suede.A local guitar guru owns it now.
The one in the clips is a 50 watt non-hrm combo.The suede amp is a 50 watt with 6L6's.
Both use Fender Bassman OT's with multiple taps.
Both are fixed bias with no chokes.I like the sounds with and without a choke.They both have their merits for different musical styles.
I just finished one with 6CA7's and a Marshall OT,choke and no local negative feedback.It sounds very much like a Marshall,but has the D bloom.Interesting tone.I also did another combo with a quad of 6CA7's with old Traynor iron with a Marshall PI and presence control.Doesn't sound anything like a Dumble except the overdrive still has a nice sustain.The cleans are very,very nice and fat sounding.I really prefer the presence control over the dumble.Each to his own.

[ChrisM]

phsyconoodler I need one of your Overdrive Rocket cabs in blue, knobs and chassis please, thank you ahead of time.

Nice sounding amp sir.

Mark

+1!!!!!!
Please!