So, I played a Dumble yesterday...

[Eddiehazelfan]

...at the Winter NAMM Show. It was an Overdrive Special, #094.

The experience was very much like having the opportunity to drive a Ferrari but being limited to taking a test drive around the corner in a residential neighborhood. In other words the venue was completely inappropriate and essentially reduced the experience to wanking on a production amp at the local Guitar Center.

The exhibitor stated in their promotional material that the demos would take place in a private lounge
away from the main floor, in order to truly appreciate the amp. Well, there must have been a snafu of some kind because there it was on the main floor in a corner booth on a major traffic aisle. It also stated that someone would be present to help with the amp's settings so that one could get as much out of their 30 minute appointment as possible.

Well, there was a guy there...friendly, engaging fellow...but his expertise with #094 was limited to "Plug her in and have at it."

It goes without saying that a Dumble is not a plug-and-play amplifier. One would need much more than a half-hour to learn the control layout and how to best tweak it. Even if such help had been provided, a guitar that wouldn't stay in tune and the guy in the next booth doing his best Zakk Wylde imitation still diminished the moment.

Nevertheless, there I was still given a half hour with #094. My buddy and I were disheartened but still appreciative.

What I can tell you is this. To me, it sounded like a really, really nice Fender-derived amp. I played various jazz and blues chords and progressions, focusing on listening and not my playing. I heard the notes swell and bloom and the complex overtones. I heard the fat, juicy mids. I played some Santana licks and riffs...I held a note for at least a minute as it sustained naturally until I killed it...just the fundamental note ringing without breaking up. That was awesome.

I wish I could tell you the technical specs but we were very respectful...not to mention we were watched as if by a hawk. There was no chance of turning it around or looking under the hood. However, we were allowed to take photos. Video or audio, we didn't even ask because the white noise of the convention hall would have compromised the nuances.

Did I hear five or six figures worth of tone? There's the million-dollar question. If I had it to burn...and didn't have to go through what one has to go through in order to join the club...maybe. Probably not, but I don't know. That is all subbjective. But if it never happens again, at least I can say that I played one.

[groovtubin]

...at the Winter NAMM Show. It was an Overdrive Special, #094.

The experience was very much like having the opportunity to drive a Ferrari but being limited to taking a test drive around the corner in a residential neighborhood. In other words the venue was completely inappropriate and essentially reduced the experience to wanking on a production amp at the local Guitar Center.

The exhibitor stated in their promotional material that the demos would take place in a private lounge
away from the main floor, in order to truly appreciate the amp. Well, there must have been a snafu of some kind because there it was on the main floor in a corner booth on a major traffic aisle. It also stated that someone would be present to help with the amp's settings so that one could get as much out of their 30 minute appointment as possible.

Well, there was a guy there...friendly, engaging fellow...but his expertise with #094 was limited to "Plug her in and have at it."

It goes without saying that a Dumble is not a plug-and-play amplifier. One would need much more than a half-hour to learn the control layout and how to best tweak it. Even if such help had been provided, a guitar that wouldn't stay in tune and the guy in the next booth doing his best Zakk Wylde imitation still diminished the moment.

Nevertheless, there I was still given a half hour with #094. My buddy and I were disheartened but still appreciative.

What I can tell you is this. To me, it sounded like a really, really nice Fender-derived amp. I played various jazz and blues chords and progressions, focusing on listening and not my playing. I heard the notes swell and bloom and the complex overtones. I heard the fat, juicy mids. I played some Santana licks and riffs...I held a note for at least a minute as it sustained naturally until I killed it...just the fundamental note ringing without breaking up. That was awesome.

I wish I could tell you the technical specs but we were very respectful...not to mention we were watched as if by a hawk. There was no chance of turning it around or looking under the hood. However, we were allowed to take photos. Video or audio, we didn't even ask because the white noise of the convention hall would have compromised the nuances.

Did I hear five or six figures worth of tone? There's the million-dollar question. If I had it to burn...and didn't have to go through what one has to go through in order to join the club...maybe. Probably not, but I don't know. That is all subjective. But if it never happens again, at least I can say that I played one.

Quote i heard one time from an owner, was that it`s "BEST" asset was the ability to "CRUNCH" at a whisper, maybe just his version, who knows, to me it`s the fact he was doing this 30+ years ago long B4 most of the kids w/e solder jockeys here @ AG.were even born...n long B4 i even knew what a tube amp was! I was in Memphis chasing women......

[Structo]

Yeah, we had a look at it when Gregor Hilden owned it.

By all accounts a good sounding amp.

[ToneMerc]

The most recent former owner posted a week or so ago, maybe he will chime in. I won't call him out.

TM

[bluesfendermanblues]

...at the Winter NAMM Show. It was an Overdrive Special, #094........
.

Great report. Good thing you got to play the amp and enjoy it - in spite of the background noise.

[Charlie Wilson]

Yeah, #94. I went through it a few weeks ago for him. The owner is fairly new in the music business and I think he is doing the best he can with limited experience. I didn't realize he was going to make it such a formal thing having a listen to the amp. He means well. I documented as much of the amp as I could awhile back but if anyone one has any specific questions about the amp, just ask.
CW

[aflynt]

High plate classic with 150k slope, 1M OD trimmer, and HF taper? What's that sticking out of the V2b coupler/150k junction?

-Aaron

[Charlie Wilson]

That is a bare wire or component lead. Why? I have no idea. The other interesting thing about the amp is no 500pf bypass cap across the 220k V1b grid stopper. It also has a .02uf in series with a trimmer set to about 100k for a HF taper. I guess brown sounding was the theme with this amp.
CW

[aflynt]

Interesting. Antenna maybe? Could you tell if it was Highplate from the start? Really dark and gainy?

-Aaron

[Charlie Wilson]

Crystal lattice antenna. Maybe it something to do with the HF taper and Dumble changed his mind and clipped it after it was gooped. It would be a guess on my part but because those are the components that were under the goop and there is a lot of dark and gainy stuff going on with this amp that it was originally a high plate. I like a bright chimmey sounding amp and this is not that but it sounds so good in the darker gainier territory that it is really addictive to play. It also has "Larry Carlton" scratched in the chassis although apparently Larry never owned the amp(according to what I have seen posted about it).
CW

[groovtubin]

That is a bare wire or component lead. Why? I have no idea. The other interesting thing about the amp is no 500pf bypass cap across the 220k V1b grid stopper. It also has a .02uf in series with a trimmer set to about 100k for a HF taper. I guess brown sounding was the theme with this amp.
CW

It` s not much different than a tuning capacitor in a AM radio! Who knows, clip it n the mojo flys away!

jim

[lovetone]

Hi Charlie did you gat a chance to compare it to the schematic thats in the files? just wondered it thats accurate?

Thanks Geoff

[aflynt]

I think the schematic is a bit off based on the photo. 1M OD trim, .02uF cap in the HF taper are two differences I see.

Unknowns AFAIK (w/my guesses):
* V1&2 filtering? 20uF or 40uF?
* Presence cap? 1uF, 2.2uF?
* Presence pot? 2k?
* Tone pots? 250k treble, 100k mid, 250k bass?
* OD pots? 100k, 100k?
* Bright cap? 200pF?
* Treble cap? 330uF?
* Cathode bypass caps? All 4.7uF?
* Where's the PAB Relay?

-Aaron

[FUCHSAUDIO]

I believe the wire stuck out of the goop when the goop was present, for measurement/calbration purposes. I've seen that before.

[Charlie Wilson]

Thanks Andy, that makes sense. I will tell the owner that is probably what it was. He was wondering about it also. I told him to buy a Verbrator for the amp. I did a post awhile back "Had a nice visit with #94 until...". In it I corrected all of the incorrect values that were on the schematic.
CW