Is Dumble a Lead only amp

[Ed Bonatto]

Hi Everyone

I'm new here, and I've allways had some doubts about the Dumble sound, so I guess I'll just ask here and see what happens!!
(I've never played a true one or a clone, so I'm hoping to hear some players opinions).

So... from the artist recordings I've been able to hear and confirm as been a dumble I could only hear pure lead tones (Santana) and light touch playing style (Like R Ford).

What makes me wonder: is the Dumble best suited for lead work because of its nice, liquid sustain, or it also provides good rithym guitar tones?
If so, is it more of a fusion amp, or we can state that it is also a rock'n roll amp?
Ok, I know that this is very subjective, but still opinions and experiences are very welcome!

One more: how different would a fet input sound compared to the normal one??

Thanks!

Ed

[Funkalicousgroove]

1. It's mostly a "Lead amp" in that you can't just bang on it like a Marshall, but I get GREAT rythm and in-between sounds.

2. The FET sound sucks, it's not made for regular guitar, it's made for piezo pickups without a preamp.

[G-Dorian]

Hi Ed -

Having played Dumble clones, I can say that I love their cleans (the good clones, anyway). I use my tele a lot on the clean channel, and I love it.

If you've listend to Robben's CD's, then you know that Dumble-style amps are excellent for chord work.

[Darkbluemurder]

[quote="Funkalicousgroove"]1. It's mostly a "Lead amp" in that you can't just bang on it like a Marshall, but I get GREAT rythm and in-between sounds.
quote]

+1. If you want AC/DC tones a Marshall (or clone) would be better suited. Likewise if you want to go heavier, then SLO, 5150 or VHT would be appropriate (just to name a few). That also has to do with the speaker cabs. Dumble style amps are mostly used with open back 1x12" or 2x12". The other amps mentioned are almost always used with closed back 2x12" or 4x12".

[kleinm]

I've been surprised at how versatile my non-HRM Dumble style amp is. It sounds pretty killer for chording, however I will say I think it shines with lead work. FWIW, I normally use my modded D'Lite through an oval-back 2x12 with Celestion G12-65s. Through my VHT Deliverance 4x12, it sounds much more rock...but I still go to my VHT Deliverance 60 for that type of stuff.

Long story short - the Dumble styled amplifiers are far from one trick ponies. One thing you don't see mention of much is the cleans - but man, the cleans are just ridiculous good!

[stelligan]

Here is an example of non-HRM clean chording. This amp was a converted MusicMan RD-50 built by heisthl from this forum.

Clean: http://members.cox.net/stelligan/music/clean.mp3

If I'm not mistaken a lot of Jackson Brown rock songs from the late 70's and early 80's feature Dumble amps doing rock chordal supporting roles. The main vamp from "Running on Empty" sounds like Dumble to me. Perhaps others more certain could chime in with examples from other records. I find my amps to be nothing if not versatile.

[Tonegeek]

+1 on the versatility. I have owned old Twins, JCM 800's, a few Peaveys (Classic 30 - not bad with a good speaker and a couple of tweaks), but the DClone is the shit. It definitely can do rock (my band covers Hendrix, Cream, Rush, Beatles) - also do some Robben tunes, SRV and other bluesy stuff (schizophrenic we are!) where the lead sounds referred to come into play. IMHO Dumbles get great pre-amp generated distortion which sounds just as good at bedroom level as it does cranked. (Of course, we prefer loud don't we!) I suggest scouring this board for clips. There is something for everyone with these amps so I can't imagine anyone being totally disappointed. Of course building your own amp gives you ultimate control cause if you don't like something, you can swap parts till it sounds right.

[heisthl]

IMHO if you could own only 1 amp the D style would win my vote hands down.

[Funkalicousgroove]

Me too, but it's all I've played for 5 years now! All I'm saying is the Dumble does not respond well to a Ham-Handed technique, whereas a Marshall or Boogie is a bit more forgiving.

[heisthl]

2. The FET sound sucks, it's not made for regular guitar, it's made for piezo pickups without a preamp.

I agree, except if you're a blues slide player you can adjust the FET trimpot to make for a good slide tone and switch back to regular guitar without changing settings.

[Funkalicousgroove]

It adds a grainyness that makes it sound harsh to my ears, I have tweaked it a bit and wound up using a 5K1 to bias, that keeps it from sounding anemic without making it scream. I have a friend that ONLY likes the FET, guess there's no accounting for taste!

[Bob-I]

I'm using an HRM I built for gig's with a classic rock band. I have only the footswitch, a chorus (blech) and a wah (double blech) in the chain and a delay in the loop. I get every tone I want using a Les Paul and a Tele, plus I'm using a 12 string electric for a few things, also through the Dumble in a 2x12 combo, one Tonker and one Swamp Thang.

I find that if I run the clean gain up to about 1:00 I get a nice crunch tone with the LP with the PAB on, a tad more crunch with the ODS on and PAB off, then a great smooth lead tone using the ODS and PAB.

I am considering hauling around a JTM45 1x12 combo I built awhile ago for really crisp clean tones, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra trip to and from the car. The Dumble does 99% of what I want.

[skyboltone]

I am considering hauling around a JTM45 1x12 combo I built awhile ago for really crisp clean tones, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra trip to and from the car. The Dumble does 99% of what I want.

He who dies with the most amps wins, eh? Let's see, the princeton build, JTM-45, at least one HRM, a Hybrid A (or did you sell that). How many you built this week?

Dan H

[Bob-I]

\He who dies with the most amps wins, eh? Let's see, the princeton build, JTM-45, at least one HRM, a Hybrid A (or did you sell that). How many you built this week?

Dan H

Only one this week, an HRM for HiGain, sounds awesome.

Ok, I have one Peavey transplant, sold the other one, the 3 channel HRM, the Princeton chassis, the 4x6V6 HRM with reverb and Dumbleator, the JTM45 with reverb in a Royale Reverb chassis, an 18 watt in a Peavey Classic 30 cab.

Next projects, gotta finish up the Zen drive then a standalone D-lator.

[Funkalicousgroove]

I just finished a D-lator, I did it Point to point, came out quiet as a mouse!