Is the Dumble style amp the best tone ever?

PATREON : / theguitarshow for Ramon's Guitar Course
WEB: www.ramongoose... for Ramon's music

[@p6x2]

The Mystic Blues Amp. is no longer available from Cougar, unfortunately.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for letting me know - I wasnt 100% sure of that.

[@p6x2]

@@TheGuitarShow I checked the Cougar website, and its no longer part of the current product line.

[@TheGuitarShow]

@@p6x2 www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/186005/fs-mystic-blue-star-by-cougar-50w-dumble-for-a-few-less?new=1

[@Fugettaboutit]

Really nice demo, brother. Great playing and really showcases the breadth of this type of amp.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks bro 🙏🙏

[@arvongaunt1575]

Excellent sounds and excellent playing Ramon - cheers!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks indeed Arvon

[@evanwilliams8908]

A very dark sounding amp to my ears sounds like a mix between a Marshall and a Mesa boogie. Like someone took the dark clean channel of a marshall and added more tweak-ability. Sort of gives the teles single coils a humbucker like sound because it’s much more rounded and less harsh than had it been plugged into say a fender.

[@glasgowguitarist3636]

Never mind the amp, that’s some seriously sweet playing sir! Oh, the amp sounds cool too 😉

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks a million btw my mum is from Glasgow!!! 🙏

[@thebrowns1017]

Very interesting. Great to see the tone comparisons of the various settings. My nearest thing to a Dumble is a Fuchs Blackjack Mk 2, a pretty rare amp here in the UK.

[@frantisca]

What an intro ! Beautiful playing and awesome tone with that green Tele: what pickup does it have ? The sustain with that SG was quite impressive ! Cheers Ramon

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks so much brother, it actually has Seymour Duncan antiquities from the late 90s. Thanks

[@grahamt33]

Ramon, Thanks... I think, in fact know, that you have the magic MOJO You certainly inspire me to seek out new tones and sounds from the equipment I already have - with Fender, Laney and Bughera -and my preferred guitar, a Squier Tele Standard - in that alone I have so many tonal possibilities. I love what I have and will continue to explore the wonderful world of sound, thanks to you ! Bless you, My Man !!!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks brother for the amazing comment! Yes you can dial in any gear to sound good - thats what is so much fun with this equipment - to find your tone!

[@strat0871]

Niiice, and fantastic sustain with the SG ! Larry Carlton also used Dumble amps in the 80's. Once, (20 years ago) I tried a Carvin 112, 60watts with EV speaker, it was really great too.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks, never played a Carvin but have always liked their guitars and Im sure their amps would be high quality

[@spaceman9921]

Sweet vibe going on here with this amp..!! I can tell what you mean by a "Hi Fi " sound do you think the 6l6's play a major part in this or would other tubes do the same thing ?? Thanks Ramon !!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Yes in part they do, however EL34 can sound super chimey in the righr Dumble circuit. Thanks so much for watching! 🙏🙏🙏

[@1972luap]

Another excellent video. Your playing is on fire today, love it.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks so much Paul very kind 🙏🙏

[@omaryousef7616]

Got to love these Dumble Style amp, clean and right-past overdrive sound SO GOOD! I just put a video out in a similar vein about my Ceriatone Overtone Special 50!!

[@dietmarsimon]

Such an excellent and instructive lesson. A Dumble and his clones are best with an ‚educated’ , mature player. Anyway I‘m still satisfied with my Dr.Z Remedy.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks indeed, DRZ are really great amps!

[@jonnybeck6723]

Hey now Ramon... I especially loved the feedback/sustain resolving into a higher harmonic. Cripes, I Never get sick of that... Beautiful tones and great playing as always. Just got my 1st ever Les Paul (standard) after playin' all me life... Wish I could show it to you, 'wish I could sing it to you' cheers

[@TheGuitarShow]

Oh so cool can you email me a photo?

[@audiquattros6]

Great video Ramon! You inspire me. Just one question - aren’t those master volume levels actually quite deafening?

[@TheGuitarShow]

Yes but I'm using a dumbleator style rack to bring the overall volume down a bit. Thanks Peter

[@audiquattros6]

The Guitar Show Thanks for the tip. I will try that with my c-lator and ceriatone OTS.

[@TheGuitarShow]

@@audiquattros6 yes its great to use as an attenuator

[@grahamt33]

Ramon, your playing is always inspiring -LOVE IT !!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thank you Graham 🙏

[@mikeymurder2174]

Yes it's nice and thick sound

[@sammyrothrock6981]

Excellent demo and playing

[@p6x2]

Since you cited Robben Ford as a Dumble owner and player, I would like to offer an anecdotal comment; I had the opportunity to see Robben several times when he was touring in Europe; I never saw him play his Dumble. Each time, he used two Fender "The Twin" from the back line, and his magic "Dumble" pedal, the Hermida "Zen drive". If you had not known, you would not have been able to tell that he was using Fender amps...

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for this, agreed Robben always sounds wonderful regardless of gear

[@p6x2]

@@TheGuitarShow It is true of any guitar virtuoso... lot's of us embark in gear quests, hoping that a magical spell would give us the gift... I am a big Andy Timmons fan, and over the course of his career, I just purchased everything he ever used during his gigs, guitars, pedals, amps.... lol! I just sound like myself, never like him... But I am really craving to see Robben Ford in public with his Dumble equipment. He was one of my early pick, before I even knew Andy Timmons. The "Talk to your daughter" was a revelation. And I must thank you for letting us know that he did record on his Dumble. I always thought he was using the Zen Drive on that record.

[@paulcowart3174]

I imagine he didn't want to take his very expensive Dumble for that long of a ride Basically out of his hands Stolen/Damaged whatever And don't blame him

[@LTJR.]

@@paulcowart3174 and taking your own equipment is expensive. I don't know how it's done now but in older days endorsements could be swayed by availability of backline/equip. Imagine the cost, and savings of schlepping your equipment around the globe or just showing up and having stuff there. Way back when Mesa/Boogie was smaller, maybe you were from another country maybe you were from farther across the US, but with their headquartersin middle California and their satellite store in Hollywood you could be covered pretty much anywhere around California to not have to carry any gear in and just grab stuff from them, should you have had a good relationship with them. And I remember the Hollywood store being very casual and friendly and open and 'hand shaky'.

[@qddk9545]

@@TheGuitarShow No, I once heard him on a red knop Fender 4x10", it sounded terrible. Extremely ear piercing.

[@stanesposito2664]

Last two times I saw Robben Ford he was using the Zendrive with the Dumble. You're getting great tone here!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Stan - I was lucky to hear Robben with both the Dumble and the Zen drive - I remember being rally impressed with the clean channel on the dumble for his chordal playing

[@stratcat4450]

Great video Ramon. You can make any amp sound great. I've become a huge fan of all your content.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many many thanks indeed 🙏🙏🙏

[@generalpatzer6893]

I saw Robben Ford in 1993 at the El Mocombo nightclub in Toronto. I was sitting maybe 8-10 feet away right in front of the stage. He had his Dumble and a big rack of effects. It was painfully loud...so loud that people had cocktail napkins shoved into their ears. The volume was totally unnecessary.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Yes I got that from a lot of folks rhat saw him in that period, I guess he had one rog at the time for big and small gigs and it was overlill for the smaller venues. Thanks for watching 🙏

[@johnnyevans1367]

I saw him at Alice Stephen Center in Jan. 2020 and he was very loud then as well. Maybe he has some hearing loss?

[@johnhbox7767]

I didn't realise there was such a thing as too loud in 1993

[@johnnyevans1367]

John H Box I didn’t either, ...in 1983!

[@WyattWillis88]

Great video thanks for all the great content. I've read multiple times that SRV used jackson brownes dumble steel string singer #4 to record Texas flood. SSS #1 is owned by Henry Kaiser

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Wyatt, you are correct, Henry is a friend of mine so I will try to do an interview with him soon. 🙏

[@glenkepic3208]

Great demo here. Playing and tones are pretty amazing. Big RF fan as well. Had read about him in mags like GP since '73 or but it was a drummer who also played guitar who recommended Talk To Your Daughter to me, Again, i'd seen an interview in GW or GP but didn't consider buying it. DC was right. I loved it. Wasn't playing much then in the late 8o's but in '94 was all in again. I've spent hours jamming with this (Help The Poor is a fave) and other titles from Robben.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thats just great Glen, like you Im a fellow Robben Ford from way back..when he was in the zone there's nothing like it!

[@shaunw9270]

That is one sweet sounding amp . Great playing too of course 😉👍

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Shaun🙏so kind

[@vkelly1975]

Sounds fantastic, nearest that’ll ever get to a Dumble is the Royal overdrive by van weeldan but funny enough does get in the ballpark. Great sounding pedal I just watched this video and amazed how close R.O is to that sound. Very versatile amp must be a joy to own, great player.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks

[@bradt.3555]

Every Dumble ODS sounds different. Some are way different than others, There's a character to the circuit design but tone is all over the map.

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Very clean,succinct tone

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Michael yes its very hifi but sweet at the same time

[@LucasHaneman]

That’s funny, when you were talking about being heavy-handed and using 11s, unlike a normal person, I felt like it was me talking about myself. haha. I’ve been using 11s for longer than I can remember, and 12s on short scale guitar’s. Like you, I play a ton of acoustic guitar, so anything less than 11 just feels extremely odd. I’ve always been fascinated by the Dumble sound, and feel like I would love it if I had one. The closest thing I have is an amplifier made by a guy from Canada called a Kingsley. It’s a single channel 30 W amplifier with EL 84-s’ but it definitely is influenced by the D thing in some ways. I love it. It’s got that crisp tight clean sound, and does edge of break up great, so it’s a wonderful pedal platform Great playing in this video man.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Very cool Lucas i always admire a fellow '11' player!

[@LucasHaneman]

Same here! I can’t figure out why more people don’t play them

[@curtisreid9100]

Here's what my clone sounds like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXOlmHWMjNyBj8U

[@grahamt33]

Ramon, I am always amazed how you get your sound no matter what guitar or amp you use. I guess most of us only use a fraction of the tonal possibilities of our guitars and amps no matter what we are playing

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks Graham, it is true we all have, 'our' own sound its hard to totally change it with gear alone. Thanks 🙏

[@bobhewitt5047]

Superb demo and explanation ... I have a ‘Dumble-ised’ blackface Pro Reverb ... sounds great too! Thank you so much - really enjoyed this and have now subscribed to the channel.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks indeed Bob, great idea to mod a proverb... Used to gig with a '67 proreverb for many years.

[@5150show]

Absolutely brilliant thank you Ramon

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks 🙏🙏🙏

[@ronfrey5327]

great playing and the Cougar sounds really really great. These amps are all touch from the get go if they are built right to begin with. Ive got one of those speakers need to hook it up hear it. Saturation .. The SSS ive designed into axe does this all day long and it growls barks and sings and does the viola or cello sound through Evs but flat response Ir's. I equate the ODS VS SSS TO YIN AND YANG ONE IS DARKER THEN THE OTHER The Cougar you have is a great one because it does both really well and thats rare for the Ods style amp on my ODSR #183/#60 the bass is mostly off. Due to its tendency to be dark. Id put the Ultra Phonic more aggressive then the ODS and actually cleaner for the cleans then Ods due to the platform but keep in mind the first ones for David Lindley were just that with rock jazz features some of which can be done with clever thought in the bright switch area. These amps show all your warts if you play sloppy or stiff its going to show you have to play them and not hold back but its all right hand compression . The Ultra is so touch sensitive you can keep a note going longer by pressure on left hand touch. So keeping the other strings quiet brings your playing awareness up. and not bashing the string too hard but coaxing sounds so it makes you play dynamically. Does that improve your sound and make you sound better ? LOL YOU BET YOUR ASS IT DOES.. You grab one heavy handed and it sounds as strained as your playing it You coax it and relax your attack its all in the hands .... Well ok then so its all the hands one can argue well do that on a gorilla or crate amp or a fender or any other amp it and its not the same touch wise.. So is it the amp then or your hands ? YES IS THE ANSWER ITS BOTH

[@TheGuitarShow]

Great comment thanks Ron🙏🙏🙏

[@jerrymorganjr]

Damn! That intro was on fire!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Jerry 🙏

[@jewellmendes1496]

Damn he has a great feel 🎸🔥

[@TheGuitarShow]

🙏🙏🙏

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome video man

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks indeed 🙏

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

I’ve heard a lot of Dumbles. Ben Harper’s Dumbles sound huge. I saw him with 2 ODSs. What a great, fat, huge sound.

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

First of all, Stevie Ray played through his Fender Vibroverbs for 90% of the Texas Flood album. He never gigged with a Dumble ODS because he had no use for the Overdrive section. And secondly the Dumble ODS overdrive sound has to be one of the least dynamic, most monotonous, lifeless overdrive tones of all time. As good as Robben Ford is as a guitar player, his Dumble overdrive tone is utter tedium. He sounds so much better through a super reverb

[@TheGuitarShow]

Great comment, Stevie used Jackson Brownes ODS on his first European tour he didnt like it but used it alongside his fender amps until his SSS amps were made.

[@curtisreid9100]

Here's what my clone sounds like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXOlmHWMjNyBj8U

[@jamesprice6381]

After tweakin these circuits for 21 years, there are quite alot of variations, course the main theme is quite nice!

[@TheGuitarShow]

You would know far more than I could possibly know..

[@jamesprice6381]

@@TheGuitarShow LOL, man ive forgotten the best ones! last year starting in october i got all fired up, n came up w/@ 3 circuits worth a 5n dime mention, lol....my best! jim

[@TheGuitarShow]

@@jamesprice6381 is love to hear them all the best bro

[@alohamark3025]

Happy Independence Day. God save the Queen. (Do not want to offend the US or UK). I'm lusting after a Dumble style amp (other than my Ceriatone Dumble clone). Yours is the best demo I've heard so far.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks brother, wow thanks for the kind words really appreciate that

[@Hungry_Hunter]

It's in the players fingers. There are thousands of combinations of guitars and amps today. Dumble is merely one of the first amp makers to focus on those particular tonal characteristics.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Very true, but these are great amps nonetheless, but I hear what you are saying!

[@Hungry_Hunter]

@@TheGuitarShow your playing is ridiculous and soulful which will make any amp guitar combination sound sweet. A great explanation too boot.

[@tdunster2011]

i've never even seen a Dumble. I've played through a Two Rock TS-1 which I assume is trying to do the same thing. It wasn't so much the tone that got me it was the never ending amount of headroom available which I'd not experienced before. I can't afford either of them but I'm pretty happy with my Carr Rambler.

[@TheGuitarShow]

I love Carr amps hes a great builder... In fact I am thinking of getting a Telstar amp

[@godbyone]

I’ve been lucky seen a few played a few. . I first saw Lowell George and Larry Carlton. Then Eric Johnson srv Kenny Wayne . Ben Harper.

[@patstillman888]

I could be mistaken, but I believe the tune Talk to your daughter was a Rivera.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Some say that but on revelation my guess is it was a dumble

[@tomeyster3360]

Excellent!

[@heyzeus777]

It's the ultimate in blues lawyer tone. You'd never see one of these on stage at a Sonic Youth concert though, right?

[@heyzeus777]

...which isn't to knock it, I should add. It's simply the tone for a very specific subset of blues. You could say the same about Johnny Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin, etc. Just not the right profile for their tone. BB, maybe?

[@heyzeus777]

I've played a Two Rock amp that was going for this style tone. It's pretty, but to me just isn't rock and roll. I don't know.

[@TheGuitarShow]

I love sonic youth!

[@johnbeloe]

Really enjoyed the vid as always :) I like the clean sounds a good deal but for me I've never got the dumble overdrive sound ...nothing to do with this particular amp, just the dumble style generally, they always sound a bit tubby to me, like I'd want someone to take a blanket off the amp! Definitely not a tweed sound to my ears, they don't have that raw exciting character. All that said, I've never played one in person so...

[@TheGuitarShow]

Valid comment bro amd thanks for watching 🙏 I had a compressor on in protools recording this so maybe that affected the overall tone. I would suggest trying one out as the beauty is the way the amp responds to your touch on the fretboard. Thanks R.

[@johnbeloe]

@@TheGuitarShow thanks yes certainly hope to get the chance to try one someday. Keep up the great content 👍

[@gregorglasbruch6917]

Dumble aficionados need to check out a Ladner Tomtone Deluxe, it will make you happy.

[@kxmrock]

I'd agree best "Blues Amp" SRV used one

[@TheGuitarShow]

So true!

[@markesquivelarvizu6942]

Feeling the Robbin Ford vibes.......great!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Mark🙏🙏

[@Terryomalleyonline]

I use different amps for different styles/ guitars. Mesa express for humbuckers, deluxe reverb for strats, tweed deluxe for teles. P90 guitars suit all amps. Part of the fun of playing guitar is chopping and changing . I don't get the dumble thing. Played a ceriatone clone, but just searched for the tone I was used to. Great video today. Gets everyone talking

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Terry and a great comment! Respect!

[@jamesprice6381]

Nails Ching Chi era hands DOWN, Bobs nails Blue Line Era

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks!

[@denmut]

What a great playing, but if you could lower your tone knob a tiny bit more, it would sound much better and less ice-picky. Just my two cents :)

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks very much for the comment, I think I was full on with the green tele

[@nylonsteel]

Does the Ford tone well. I like your playing ,more than half the people that demo this stuff cant play or even tune a guitar

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks indeed happy new year 🙏🎸

[@thetelenator4468]

I like several of the pedals that capture in their own ways the Dumble sound better than I like actual Dumbles. The amps themselves are fine, but most players end up sounding like so yesterday, like all those overplayed Steely Dan songs. There's just something to safe about the sound. Don't know if that makes any sense, but they make me want to take a nap. Rock was supposed to be a little dangerous, and Dumbles are just not. I much preferred SRV on Fenders cranked. I use Friedman BE-50s, and any good head like those will show you there isn't an amp out there worth more than $3 or $4k. today. As nice and sweet as Dumbles are, it has entered the zone of anal retentive.

[@mikec6733]

Anyone have an opinion on the VHT D-50?

[@zankyalbo2208]

Sweet as honey from a bee

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks so much 🙏🙏

[@onewiththings]

I've never liked Dumbles. Sorry, just being honest. I do like the clean SRV sound you got out of it.

[@mandanglelow1442]

That's the beauty of music and tone in general. We don't all have to agree on what's good or not. I've always found it interesting how people think they know what a good tone is when it's totally subjective to the things around it. A great tone in your bedroom by yourself may be horrendous against a bass player, drummer and keyboard player playing in a dead room.

[@treatb09]

They have an extremely compressive tone to them i dont like. While its velvety smooth and the overdrive is dumble’s unique quality. Its a sound that comes off controlled. While i grew up with the sound of pushing valves to get a nice bloom in the circuit from rectification of the signal and trying to understand the electrodynamics of how an analogue pickup works with all of that to offer all sorts of over tones. Under tones. N natural unyielding signal.

[@DallasGunther]

I'd like to hear it in a downtuned stoner doom, sludge kind of context. Maybe in a shoot out with a Sunn model T just because I'm that kind of guy.

[@DallasGunther]

You know, on drugs.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Cool! Thats a great idea - now why didnt I think of it!

[@TheGuitarShow]

One of my favourite bands was Morphine

[@gregleroy1]

👍🏼

[@11calman]

Sorry mate I have to agree with ps10iceman, Amps & guitars are nice but it's all in the fingers & although you have a great style, your not quite up to the heavyweights No I'm not either So Not putting you down in any way --An example-------I always thought that I was pretty near the mark with the top players,,,,, Hank Marvin, picked up my guitar plus amp, & sounded like him straight off, he just smiled and handed it back "Gobsmacked" would be the word you and I would use.. No, my rig was nothing like his, yet he produced his sound (Fingers mate)

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks gib - and totally respect your comment. I dont try to be Robben, I have my own style!

[@11calman]

@@TheGuitarShow Sorry mate, I was just trying to explain things to the people out there. We can all sound really good if we buy our heroes, favorite amp & guitar plus pedals, we can get near the mark. but when you go to see your fave guitar player and hear them play I think "Holy Shit, that sound Ive got everything he has and he/her still sounds 1000 times better,,,---- "Hey, By the Way, "The Guitar Show" the Guys who gave you a thumbs down, We would call them "Sheep Shaggers" over here in New Zealand, But for you, keep up the good work mate, No offense

[@TheGuitarShow]

@@11calman Thanks none taken! My favourite guitar player is Ali Farka Toure from Mali - I like such a vast array of players and that includes players like punk guitar players - its not all about chops or tone - its about the music that one creates with the instrument. hank marvin is a genius at what he does but its not a style I would want to play myself all the time so its more important to find the music inside of you and use the instrument to portray that - yeah the gear is fun and all that but its all in the fingers, head and heart and most important - you have to feel the music you play. Respect to you bro and god bless.

[@11calman]

,@@TheGuitarShow I like to play all styles the opportunity comes up, so that keeps me in work, But the Hank Marvin, came about because I know his manager, HM a very nice guy

[@jeffdubuque5622]

imo you sound like a pro guitar player to me.

[@jamesprice6381]

Sahara Moon tone??? :)

[@jimbrennanguitar]

Good thing there are clones out there.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Absolutely!!! 🙏

[@fabiostabel]

Great video and awesome playing, man. I also appreciate the fact that your replies are respectful to everyone. Since you’re raising the subjective question of the best tone ever (we all have different styles/tastes and it’s a question that oftentimes we have to agree to disagree), please check gjika amps. This is IMHO the best tone. Here is his latest video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4HUYWhpmpudebM

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks Fabio

[@russellesimonetta3835]

The overdrive types are great for the blues and will rock!! Metal ??? Not my favorite anyway. The thing with these amps is minimal pedals. Delay, reverb, trem and maybe a good drive pedal to push on the overdrive.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Well summed up Russell thanks 🙏

[@TheNocturnalEvil]

With a closed back 4x10" cab loaded with Weber 10F150P you can pull off 80's hair metal with aplomb with a Dumble, but it's unsuitable for modern sub-genres of metal.

[@heftosprod]

No.. I don't think it is. There are many good sounds.

[@TheGuitarShow]

I totally respect your opinion bro 🙏

[@BlindTom61]

No they aren’t...