Sonny Landreth Talking About His Dumble

[donvan]

I was listening to a podcast from 2017 and thought some folks here might find the short discussion about Dumble interesting. Not sure I learned anything new other than the fact that Dumble apparently has manuals he has written about mods and circuitry. Wouldn't you like to read those manuals!?

The Dumble stuff is from about 47:13 to 53:00

https://shanetheriot.com/blogs/the-riff ... y-landreth

[talbany]

That's pretty cool! I didn't know Dumble actually built that amp for Sonny. Interesting that he built him a Bluesmaster. The statement that made the most sense to me when he was talking about Dumble's approach to amp building was " So meticulous about everything! If he had a Radio Shack part in there it was right next to something for a reason" Does this sound like a builder that chooses parts because they are readily available or cost effective or cheap?

Sounds to me like someone who has thought about every component and why his amps are so sought after and expensive

Tony

[donvan]

That's pretty cool! I didn't know Dumble actually built that amp for Sonny. Interesting that he built him a Bluesmaster. The statement that made the most sense to me when he was talking about Dumble's approach to amp building was " So meticulous about everything! If he had a Radio Shack part in there it was right next to something for a reason" Does this sound like a builder that chooses parts because they are readily available or cost effective or cheap?

Sounds to me like someone who has thought about every component and why his amps are so sought after and expensive

Tony

Yeah,Tony, I came away from that with the same thought. Every component and the placement of every component was well thought out. He said that Dumble was so meticulous about every single detail of his amps that he couldn't let anyone build these amps for him.

I didn't realize this was a Bluesmaster. On the podcast they just said ODS. Good to know.
I was surprised that Dumble called up a steel player and told him how good he would sound through an ODS. Why not an SSS?

[talbany]

That's pretty cool! I didn't know Dumble actually built that amp for Sonny. Interesting that he built him a Bluesmaster. The statement that made the most sense to me when he was talking about Dumble's approach to amp building was " So meticulous about everything! If he had a Radio Shack part in there it was right next to something for a reason" Does this sound like a builder that chooses parts because they are readily available or cost effective or cheap?

Sounds to me like someone who has thought about every component and why his amps are so sought after and expensive

Tony

Yeah,Tony, I came away from that with the same thought. Every component and the placement of every component was well thought out. He said that Dumble was so meticulous about every single detail of his amps that he couldn't let anyone build these amps for him.

I didn't realize this was a Bluesmaster. On the podcast they just said ODS. Good to know.
I was surprised that Dumble called up a steel player and told him how good he would sound through an ODS. Why not an SSS?

Yep! The way I see it is, The design gets you about two thirds of the way there and the rest is parts selection, lead dress, cap orientation, circuit constants and any other secrets he has that we don't yet know? I am sure there are a few When I listen to Youtube vids and other sound files of the replicas out there and many of the sound clips posted here I will admit that many of them do sound good and are perfectly useable amps and in a way some semblance of that Dumble character (Especially in OD) but it's just not what I would consider the "Classic" Dumble sound I fell in love with and am used to hearing from the real ones throughout the years. This is not to say the amp is without its faults or short falls but you cannot make a 59 Burst sound like a Blackguard Tele It is what it is and no matter how impressive the ODS is? it's not for everyone.

Sonny's BM does have a different sound than a standard Non HRM. I got a chance to see him several times. On one occasion I was about 10ft away and right in front of that amp. He pretty much lived in the OD side and occasionally hit the boost. His is definitely more aggressive with a thicker texture of gain probably for someone else would be considered muddy but the way Sonny plays and how articulate he is, keeps it under control. I was thinking this thing is going to get away from him any minute . Thats got to be a real bitch playing slide with all that gain and not have it get obnoxious at times. He is a master!. The cool thing I remember about hearing that amp was with all the gain and texture he had going that night you could still hear every note even when he played his chords the amp was articulate and chirped at you on the top end (almost like the top end was clean and the rest overdriven). The bottom end was heavy and loud but the amp stayed TIGHT! and didn't move all night. Someone wants to explain to me how parts types don't play a role in that I am all ears

BTW. I wonder what it was he liked about the old formica boards he used in the early amps. I'll bet he could tell you

Tony

[norburybrook]

really nice interview, I love shane's playing too

It brought back some great memories for me too as I was on that Hiatt tour he talks about my Band opened up for them on the European dates he talks so fondly of. I've still got all those guys phone numbers/addresses in my old filofax from '87..remember them? Dave Ransoms' is just a number and address is 'somewhere in a 'swamp in Louisiana' ....LOL great times.

Sonny was playing a firebird back then and I preferred that sound to his later transition to strat.



M

[donvan]

really nice interview, I love shane's playing too

It brought back some great memories for me too as I was on that Hiatt tour he talks about my Band opened up for them on the European dates he talks so fondly of. I've still got all those guys phone numbers/addresses in my old filofax from '87..remember them? Dave Ransoms' is just a number and address is 'somewhere in a 'swamp in Louisiana' ....LOL great times.

Marcus,
I really like Shane's playing as well.
That must have been something playing on that tour. Wow.
Since you have his number, perhaps you should call Sonny up and tell him what he really needs is a NorburyBrook amp. Hey, apparently that worked for Alexander Dumble.

[norburybrook]

really nice interview, I love shane's playing too

It brought back some great memories for me too as I was on that Hiatt tour he talks about my Band opened up for them on the European dates he talks so fondly of. I've still got all those guys phone numbers/addresses in my old filofax from '87..remember them? Dave Ransoms' is just a number and address is 'somewhere in a 'swamp in Louisiana' ....LOL great times.

Marcus,
I really like Shane's playing as well.
That must have been something playing on that tour. Wow.
Since you have his number, perhaps you should call Sonny up and tell him what he really needs is a NorburyBrook amp. Hey, apparently that worked for Alexander Dumble.

LOL, I don't want to be making amps for people

It was a great time for sure. I'd never heard of john Hiatt but I remember the first gig. We arrived early of course to sound check and John's band were on stage soundchecking. My overriding memory was hearing this 'sound' and wondering what it was.......It was Sonny,stood there with a Firebird, a guitar I was unfamiliar with really so it looked strange at the time, making this amazing sound. I was memorised, I'd never heard or seen anything like it at my young age and musical background ;D

once we'd got to know each other he showed me how he did things, the whole fretting behind the slide thing, this is pre you tube etc so it was great to see that up close and personal It was also the first time I'd seen and heard New Orleans musicians, they have a thing and I was drawn to it. I used to sit behind Kenny Blevins the drummer for their set most nights and just take in the whole 'New Orleans' rhythm section feel. Now I look back and see what a great privilege that was. It also stood me in good stead years later when I played with Emmy Lou Harris and Daniel Lanois around the time of that Wrecking Ball album, which was New Orelans based.

M

[donvan]

Great story Marcus. New Orleans definitely has a unique sound and feel. It's probably my favorite city in the U.S. to visit.