Electric Guitars

[soundcreation]

The only contest I see on this site is which cheap snob can come up with the most beleavable yet completely baseless arguments for why no build factors ever matter when it comes to tone. 

I have no doubt you will do better next time.  Or worse.  I suppose it's a matter of perspective. 

[bjcarl]

You forgot "lazy". As in, "cheap, lazy slobs who don't work hard who seem to be bothered by people who do having nice things."

[kayd_mon]

The issue that I have is that you seem to say that people who don't have $50k of disposable cash on hand are lazy. As a school teacher, I am not even paid that much in one year, and I am far from lazy.

So anyway, I'm sure they're worth it to those who have the cash. To each his/her own.

[1001gear]

Fact remains Dumble can does the music.

[jrockbridge]

It does appear that some research supports Alexander Dumble's statements regarding tubes vs transistors.  I still think he comes off like a clown in those YouTube videos.  Even if he was right, I think it's fair to have a laugh at the way he chose to present himself.

While Dumble amps may be too rare and expensive for the average player, there are plenty of affordable clones out there...like Ceriatone and Bludotone, for example.  Also, Robben Ford is one of the more famous players associated with Dumble amps.  Yet, he often used a Zen Drive pedal through a Fender amp.  So, I think that's a pretty good indication that at least SOME of the Dumble vibe is obtainable even for the average player on a budget.  

Here's a cool demo of two Dumble in a pedal options....the Zen Drive and Ethos.....

Personally, I've always been curious about gear.  I've never seen a Dumble amp in person, so all joking aside, I'm extra curious about them.  I stumbled across these Dumble amp videos one day on YouTube. For anybody curious about Dumble amps, they might be worth watching....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Y3lHpKXWY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNSAj6AzWGo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qvMwCte8TE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGPxrt7d6xk

[Elias Graves]

I've read that about the crystal lattice in more than one place. Don't know if its true or not but it makes as much sense as any other explanation.

Electrically, there should be ZERO difference between tubes and transistors but our ears tell us otherwise.

Engineering can't explain everything.

[Floyd Rosenbomb]

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Elias Graves wrote:
I've read that about the crystal lattice in more than one place. Don't know if its true or not but it makes as much sense as any other explanation.

Electrically, there should be ZERO difference between tubes and transistors but our ears tell us otherwise.

Engineering can't explain everything.

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[Mad Tele]

the plot thickens!

the seller added

"Alexander Dumble may request the new owner to sign his contract to protect the design of the Dumble Overdrive Special.".

[Elias Graves]

National security is at stake here!

[akapuli]

I bought my Zendrive for 150 EUR on a local gear fest. Totally unexpected, bought it on impulse buy as long time big fan of Robben Ford.

It was the right decision, delivers stellar during our gigs. IMHO it lacks the more body-characteristics of the recorded Dumble sounds, but has the typical bite.

[icannotlogin]

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BG76 wrote:

 Of course there are always lazy people who don't work hard who seem to be bothered by people who do having nice things.

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Wow....I really get a kick out of guys who think that just because you are rich, you somehow work harder than those less fortunate than you.

Most of the wealthy people I know had 2 things happen to them: 1) Daddy left them a big business that they or Granddaddy built, or 2) They got lucky as stink.

Granted there are those who got wealthy by their hard work, but keep it real man.....hard work alone does not make one rich.

[harold heckuba]

If Dumble does not own the amp, how can he require the new buyer to sign

a contract such as this?  If I were the buyer and he dangled a contract out in

front of me, I would refuse and take the amp to a specialist and have a clone built.

[soundcreation]

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harold heckuba wrote:

If Dumble does not own the amp, how can he require the new buyer to sign

a contract such as this?  If I were the buyer and he dangled a contract out in

front of me, I would refuse and take the amp to a specialist and have a clone built.

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Then he would probably refuse to sell to you in the first place.

I'm sure that he made the original owner sign the contract which probably also stipulated that if or when they sold the amp, the same conditions would have to apply to the new owner.

I don't have any problem with that.  Nor should anyone really.  Nobody is forcing anyone to buy.  Dumble has contractual conditions on the purchase of his amps.  That's his right.  Just as it's your right to not buy that amp if you don't like his conditions.  

[bjcarl]

It just occurred to me...Alexander Dumble must be be incredibly lazy, considering how enormously fat he is. He must be jealous of all those hard-working people who buy his amps.

[w00dsy]

i think Chappers sums up the price thing in this video. It's not that it sounds better, but that sound costs more money to get.  

[Presc]

I've never had a chance to play the real thing, but I have played the Dumble-derived Fuchs ODS, which I think is a fantastic amp.  The overdrive had this singing quality to it and a great "touch" to play on.  Hard to describe but you know it when you play it - an amp that really responds to working and controlling the note.  Also one of the few dual-channel amps I've played that legitimately had a great clean and overdrive tone in one package (the Divided by 13 FTR37 also comes to mind,although a very different sound).

Based on my experience with the Fuchs, I think the Dumble is a great circuit design/concept, and you don't have to play $40k to enjoy it, although the modern derivatives certainly aren't cheap either.

For what it's worth, when I saw Robben Ford he was playing a Fender backline with a Zendrive.  He sounded fantastic and "like himself".  But just because something sounds the same to a listener doesn't mean it feels the same to the player.  It's an overlooked quality when people talk about gear.  Amps have a feel and it definitely affects the playing experience and enjoyment

[harold heckuba]

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bjcarl wrote:
It just occurred to me...Alexander Dumble must be be incredibly lazy, considering how enormously fat he is.

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He is lazy- that is why he doesnt build more amps.