Robben Ford Dumble Amp(s)

[gingertube]

I'm fairly new here - built a Trainwreck for a local muso and mentioned to him I got the info from this site and that there was a big section on Dumble.
He immediately asked for a Robben Ford Dumble Amp Clone.

Can anyone give me a quick summary of what amp(s) Robben used and where here I should find the schematics.

I don't expect that such an amp will make him sound like Robben but it is a start.

Thank You,
Ian

[ampdork]

look in the dumble files section for amp #102.
God luck m8.

[gingertube]

Dear Mr Dork,
Thank You.
If you ever come to Oz - I owe you a beer, not that Fosters stuff which only good for exporting (or for pouring back into the horse) but a good brew.
Cheers,
Ian

[Structo]

Can you tell us what kind of music your friend plays and a little about his technique.

The reason I ask is because we see a lot of people show up that want to sound like Robben or Larry Carlton but what they don't understand is that these Dumble amps take a bit of finesse to get the most of.

A light pick attack works well and they excel as a lead amp.

Also the phrasing and style of the guitarist matters a lot with these amps.

Just one man's opinion.

YMMV

[Eddiehazelfan]

I'm interested in getting a D-styled clone at some point. I have a fairly heavy pick attack, playing syncopated funk & R&B chords primarily in my rhythm playing. Same with lead...I have an aggressive attack at times, using pinch harmonics to accent my phrases and a lot of vibrato. I tend to bend up rather than slide into notes.

Which D-model would you suggest for that style? I was looking at the HRM Bluesmaster/90's era model but I'm open. Thanks.

[Structo]

The Bluesmaster is probably be more your cup of tea.

It is compared to Marshall tone by most that play one.

I don't have any experience with that amp but I'm sure those that have will weigh in and give you better advice.

[gingertube]

My friend Richard is almost unique amoungst local guitarists in that he finger picks everything. He trained as a Jazz Guitarist but loves his Rock and Roll. Plays a lot of Little Feat, Steely Dan and similar (what we old farts called Jazz Fusion). Current amp set up for gigs is almost weird. He runs 5 amps, a Fender75 (with a 15" JBL fitted) on low power setting, the Junkbox Trainwreck I built for him (Strauss 12" speaker), a Mullard 5-10 HiFi Amp into another JBL 15" and 2 little single ended amps cranked (both run 6J7 pentode inputs and 8" speakers). When mikeing for the PA he tries to emphasize the pickup from the small SE amps. That apparantly gives him the blend of sound he likes.
Cheers,
Ian

[Structo]

Wow, five amps live at a gig?

That is a hell of a set up.

He may not be satisfied with a Dumble if he likes the grindy overdrive you get from a small combo amp that is mic'd.

I used to play Fender, Ampegs, Peavey's (did I just admit that?), Marshall, Carvin Belair combo.

Years ago when I learned that one of my favorite artists (Robben Ford) used a Dumble as well as Larry Carlton, I really wanted that sound.
Eventually that led me to this forum which has a wealth of information.

Of course nobody sounds like them but them but I wanted that tone foundation.

Now there are quite a few guitarists associated with these amps.
John Mayer for one. He seems to buy a Dumble every week!

To me the Dumble Overdrive Special (High Plate, Skyliner, 100w clone) is one of the most versatile amps I have ever owned and played.

You get blackface type clean tone, a great overdrive that can be adjusted from a Blues type tone to pretty hard rock and roll.

I still use a pedal board for effects though I could plug straight in and be satisfied.

Something else that should be mentioned is the ODS amps have a passive effects loop.
Essentially what that means is that there is a jack from the preamp and a jack to the power amp.
Depending on the effect, you can use some reverb pedals with short patch cables to that loop.

But Alexander Dumble did one better, he designed a tube buffered FX Loop called the Dumbleator.
It is a series buffered loop that not only manages effects but it enhances the tone of the amp.
It is usually built in a 1U rack enclosure.

You can turn up the pre gain and master volume on the amp and control the actual volume of the amp with the Output pot on the D'lator.

I would say a person can build a decent ODS amp for around $1,000-1,200 US if he is resourceful.

The D'lator is around $100 depending on the enclosure used.

[Teleguy61]

"To me the Dumble Overdrive Special (High Plate, Skyliner, 100w clone) is one of the most versatile amps I have ever owned and played."

Word!