What is The "Dumble" Sound?

[@RhettShull]

We just lost a legend, RIP Dumble.

[@passionplayer7]

Crazy to feel just a year after you made this vid. His amps will be set aside with ‘59 bursts and Stradivari’s for sure.

[@gregsmith1392]

Agree...Passion!

[@BenDover-uy9zg]

OMG!!! You use intirely TOO MUCH Reverb!!!

[@TotalEvo7]

Dumble would be so proud of you

[@danrebolledo8385]

I had a vertex clean drive stomp, nice fattner and boost, sparkly od. Want the bigger one though.... or a wonderland....😌🙏

[@Joe_Robinson]

I have visited Alexander Dumble a handful of times and I'll never forget pulling into his driveway for the first time - and hearing him play as I was walking up to the front door. He is the Dumble sound! Beautiful player and a true artisan.

[@christopherhansford6876]

You actually knocked on Dumble’s door?

[@Guitarsloth]

@@christopherhansford6876 that’s Joe Robinson, I’m sure he’s allowed to knock on Dumble’s door every now and then

[@alexhutton4848]

It's a Harry Potter joke

[@Joe_Robinson]

@@christopherhansford6876 😂

[@SMAAAASHTV]

@@christopherhansford6876 Harry Potter and the Deadly Solos.

[@nathanielavenmarg4504]

With all the complete and utter insanity around tone-chasing, I am absolutely flabbergasted how rare it is to see an EQ pedal on most guitarist's boards. Always been perplexed by this. It's actually mind-blowing how much tone-shaping can be done, even with a simple 7-band EQ. Thanks for showing this to so many folks, Rhett.

[@jasonwright7513]

What's even more amazing is most people don't know the 'EQ after distortion' trick. (Me included until recently) people always complain about the loss of low end when they use a dirt pedal. With the eq AFTER the distortion, you can boost the low end to your liking. In fact I do just that and just leave it on. This way you really can use the amp as a pedal platform.

[@derrickfphillips]

Agreed. Just got one for my board. Loving the results. Actually thinking of getting second. For a quick change of sound to if needed. I played a lot of slide, and the EQ between that and my standard playing could be different.

[@DudleyTaft]

True dat! Hahaha.

[@louderthangod]

Best “overdrive” I’ve ever used is a Furman PQ-3hitting the front end of my amp hard with mid’s while also tightening up the low-end.

[@yakshrajsingh8121]

Eq is an always on pedal for me . Like a very light compressor that is always on on my pedalboard. Great tone it gives on its own

[@renzocalcagno536]

He hit the nail in the head when he said "the great Dumble sound people talk about is actually more about the artist's own tone; the person the amp was built for". Using a clean amp, an overdrive and EQ pedals to get closer to the sound is way smarter than spending a fortune for an overpriced gear.

[@simonsbuddy1806]

BRILLIANT vid, Rhett...you're everyone's big brother who's five years older and shows us what to do...you're that guy down the hall who invites us into his apt to show us his gear and teach us how to use it. What a wonderful youtube world we live in.

[@BennieTarrMusic]

It's the small mafia (incest).

[@nickshaw6085]

This!

[@GOREilla.]

Dude, I totally agree with you, I get the feeling.

[@jaykelley103]

His little hair nub and beady eyes freak me out

[@iforget8716]

Thanks for this, I especially liked the “trying to get that Dumble sound” using two pedals most people can get their hands on : Eq & Ovd. I also loved your “What if Jim Marshall only made 300 amps” explanation for why Dumble are so expensive.

[@tonyennis1787]

The reason they are expensive is because even pros chase mystical tonez. The fact is, a couple of cheap pedals in a Dumble cabinet would be satisfactory for 99.9% of tone-chasers out there.

[@hootowl6354]

@@tonyennis1787 Yeah, but like art, many are happy to pay for history.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

That sounds good. I need to save for a house tho

[@RhettShull]

Same, that’s why I have to send this amp back

[@ebathurst9216]

Dude you guys have to get together after the pandemic

[@archerevan823]

Big fan man 👍🏽

[@ianbrouwer719]

I would absolutely love to see you two collab!

[@jennifer6833]

Rhett Shull What about a video about the mule caster that you have received?

[@KerryLiv]

I must say, you're one of the best guitarist communicators and I appreciate the time and effort you put in to share your knowledge!

[@theedrstrangelove]

The "Dumble Sound" is the sucking sound of money leaving your bank account.

[@Teleman73]

In a crystal lattice LOL some people will get that. Reference Dumble and Henry Kaiser.

[@stevesuv]

You were born with no ears

[@sonsauvage]

haha, yes sir. i've had the pleasure of hearing an ods in person and then hearing some dumble-in-a-box pedals into a clean platform like the menatone dumbstruck. man...if you're not some sort of crazy wealthy collector player you're no worse for wear. it was a good sounding amp though, but there are many many many more of those that aren't dumbles

[@tatialo37]

Dang that eq and overdrive nailed the dumble sound!!! Saved me 149,500k!!! Lol

[@georgefromgreece4119]

@KC so true. They are nothing but just overpriced electronic circuits, year 2020(!!!). But brother, you speak of some truth many people out there just don't want to listen to.

[@hairlab9646]

You nailed it when you implied that the whole idea behind Dumble's approach meant there was no Dumble sound--he made amps tailored to his clients'/friends' preferred tone, complementing their touch, pick attack, style, etc ...which is why the two or three that seem to be getting filmed on KZbin sound so radically different depending on who's playing them.

[@TheDesertRat31]

I'll just say it. A blindfold test, with no other info, would result in a WIDE array of opinions. I'd guess less than10% of those who took it would say dumble. This kind of stuff is deep in "tonewood" cork-sniffery. Yes, it's fun to talk shop and wax poetic on bell-like chime, spank, smooth, violin overdrive, but it's just an aural Rorschach test. Still a cool video because what is not in dispute is how good a well made tube amp sounds.

[@hannoverfist5628]

Bob C .....makes you wonder......how many presets are named dumble.....in a trickfish. :/

[@hannoverfist5628]

Benjamin .....everything effects everything......from the calluses on your fingers to the size strands in your gtr cable..... but when would a 6 figure amp ever be warranted? Maybe if tracking thru a Neve......onto some fresh 690.....playing to fresh ears? Certainly no live applications come to mind.....none that the grandeur of the amp wouldn’t be utterly lost on.... cheers

[@hannoverfist5628]

Benjamin ....I’m afraid you think I was disagreeing with you

[@TheDesertRat31]

@Benjamin well, part of my comment was referring to the way people try to describe how an amp sounds. It's funny to me that often, different people describe the same amp very differently. I think the tonewood analogy is completely relevant because it highlights the differences in perception. How about using PIO caps vs ceramic disc caps in a guitar tone circuit? The only difference you would find would be attributed to company tolerances. .01mfd is the same regardless.

[@stevesuv]

Im no cork sniffer, but when I hear Robben play his dumble it proves you are drinking Ripple, and do not care.

[@MrUltraworld]

I have a Dumble that was gifted to me by a client I teched for in the 80's. He came by it cheap and it didn't suit him, but boy did it suit me. I also own a Dumble modified Bassman, and you can see where the Dumbles come from. Marshalls evolved from the Bassman, but the Dumble goes a different way. I love the sweet singing highs of the Dumble, nothing I have ever heard comes close. There are a couple of pedals that when used with a Bassman get you in the neighborhood but without the huge headroom and complex high end of a Dumble. One thing, Dumble doesn't build the same amp twice. The last 15% or so comes from Dumble tweaking the amp while the new owner plays it and gives Alex feedback. Dumbles are by all means a custom amp, and guys like Robben Ford require a custom amp. Hope this helps.

[@joe-e-geo]

May we ask who that kind client was? (And maybe how we can find such kind clients?)

[@weschilton]

Great viewpoint, thanks!

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

If you love a Dumble for the highs would you say you also love an AC30 because people seem to love those for a same reason. They also can get insanely loud. Just curious is all.

[@jamesfetherston1190]

@@joe-e-geo I have heard the name Fred Garvin before. I understand most of his clients are ladies from out of town.

[@ekw555]

@@jamesfetherston1190 just give him a minute to take off his truss. damn, we're old to get the reference!

[@mikeoxley9121]

I talked to Dumble around 1983 on the phone, and told him I was interested in the ODS Combo. He sent me a signed letter, Spec Sheet, and Order Form. Still have those. The ODS then was $2,150. (I was a poor college student then, so couldn’t afford one).

[@emptyarms6113]

RIP

[@BennieTarrMusic]

Lies

[@BennieTarrMusic]

@@emptyarms6113 gay

[@emptyarms6113]

@@BennieTarrMusic sure

[@stratorarious]

I played a Dumble OD special owned by an amp tech friend. It was an experience I'm glad to have had. The sound was indeed huge.

[@jaker.4863]

I've never seen someone break down EQ in guitar terms before, particularly in context of a pedal control. The ending was itself worthy of an entire video, LOVED IT!

[@DavidDiMuzio]

Had no idea a video about Dumble amps could be so entertaining. Well done Rhett 🤘

[@cjCONDAD]

Make this a series for sure Rhett. This is thorough and covers bases for all viewers, well done.

[@coquipeludo]

It’s amazing that an EQ pedal is the ultimate secret weapon. You can shape the sound of your rig and also get an overdrive by boosting the level of it. Tim Pierce recently did an episode of this.

[@jfo3000]

EQ pedal has helped me for decades. They are inexpensive Magick boxes.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@jfo3000 You have to really know what you're doing with them though don't you? They've always seemed like pedals for mad scientists to me. LOL!

[@2beJT]

@@SimpleManGuitars1973 You have ears. If it sounds good you are doing it right.

[@garettjackson1791]

Not at all. Get your sound as close as possible with all the sliders at 0 db, then start adjusting. You'll be able to nail any sound with them.

[@jubei7259]

I still use an old Boss EQ for a nice treble boost when you need it. It sits at the end of my chain & doesn't suck any of the tone so it's really useful for gigs.

[@colelandry9657]

“It’s the textbook definition of iconic.” Been a guitarist for 12 years and only heard about this amp today.

[@michaelnugent9758]

That’s insane

[@jeperstone]

I've been playing for over 30 years and only heard about this amp a few years ago. As usual a lot of hype and mythology pumps something into 'legendary' status that doesn't merit it

[@garmisra7841]

I've been a guitarist for 33 years, and heard about this amp maker/modder, about 5 years ago. I'm "don't believe the hype" for most things, but I really like the tones that Dumbles make when played through by Robben Ford, Carlton, Clapton, Eric Johnson, SRV et al. But honestly just like with any other gear, it is the player as much as (if not more than) the gear. Robben Ford would sound like himself and sound awesome with any decent gear, and lets not forget that Dumble was inspired to create the tone stack on the Overdrive special by seeing Robben play through a Tubescreamer into a 60's blackface Fender Bassman. But For what it's worth my ears can't really tell the difference anymore (I've abused them too much LOL) between a 100% authentic unobtainium piece of gear and and some other combination (amp, pedal, axe, analog, digital, tube, solidstate) that gets you 95% of the way there. It's the scarcity that drives up the price and drives the hype, as is typical for guitars. Two great guitarists - Slash and Prince - both had 'signature' axes that were copies of Les Paul/Tele. Tone is in your hands, your technique, and the personality you bring to the playing.

[@danielmargolis3210]

You should get out more.

[@BillDerBerg]

@@garmisra7841 you lost me at the tube screamer

[@evenstephen2000]

This is really the best, most comprehensive, accurate, clear, and most fair explanation I’ve ever heard regarding a Dumble amplifier. And listening to it after having gotten the new UAFX Enigmatic pedal - which, personally I think is a phenomenal pedal…whether you compare it directly to a Dumble ODS, or have no reference whatsoever - I’m even more appreciative of its sound! I think James Santiago at UAFX REALLY knows what he’s doing, and it’s evident in how great that pedal sounds. To me, no other attempt comes even close to what UAFX has just achieved. But this video is really a great complement to understanding the whole history of the Dumble ODS. Thanks, Rhett!

[@manifestgtr]

I have a “dumbly” setting on my rig. It’s just three pedals straight into my bassman. Nobels odr > cali76 > zendrive. That’s it...bam....a nice, expensive sounding drive. When people say “the Dumble sound”, what they really mean is a nice gainy sound with strong midrange and zero harshness...so that means you have to be careful with your treble. That’s all it is...you don’t need a ton of expensive gear or a special amp to get some facsimile of that sound happening.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Since Rock music was born it has ALWAYS been about 'If it sounds good'. It is good. Proof of that being true is when CBS bought Fender they brought in qualified engineers in to redesign the amps to get rid of that nasty (LOL) harmonic distortion.We all know how desirable those amps over the old ones that Leo made simply by using his ears.

[@SwnkyTiger]

I attempt a similar sound via Naga Viper > Zendrive (clone) into the Traynor mk3. Bliss

[@AlexRamosDrTaz]

I can get a similar tone with just my Digitech Hardwire Tube Overdrive as the OD, into a tc electronic Mojo Mojo.

[@manifestgtr]

Alex Ramos Not surprising...I love the hardwire series pedals, myself. I’ve been using a supernatural for its plate algorithm over the last five years or so. It’s an unbelievably under-appreciated pedal...

[@stevesuv]

well done but like you said DUMBLY

[@Az_1987]

I've been watching you for a few years and I've got to say this is definitely my favorite vid you've done. Very well presented and explained. Top notch 👍

[@jonsmith3945]

Ceriatone make several flavours of Dumble style amps. They sound great and are reasonably priced. Fuchs have a similar tone.

[@ralphshaw9758]

I use a Fractal to get Dumble sounds and they are great. Among hundreds of other fantastic tones as well.

[@001USA001]

I have built a PR and a Tweed Deluxe clones. Marshamps plug. Husband and wife. Very nice to work with even from across the country! If there is anything missing on KZbin, it’s more amp design and build approaches to obtain certain tonal qualities. Keep up the great work.

[@witeshade]

As an amp diy'er this is a great video for me - I always see people in threads and forums saying they want a dumble sound and they treat it with some kind of mystical reverence. Now I know it's just that wooly overdriven tone that sounds really close to being bad but isn't quite there. A big mystery has been resolved for me now and I realize it's just the sound of the dreams of middle aged men.

[@JerseyMiller]

Don't worry bud. Snotty little know it all kids will be making jokes about your middle aged dreams soon enough.

[@matthewwatt2295]

@@JerseyMiller people have definitely already started making fun of our jazzmasters and modulation pedals 😂

[@atech9020]

When you see the clones and copies guts and schematics, whether they are exact or not is moot. The core of the Dumble sound is the unique negative feedback loop that he uses in the preamp stages. The feedback loop actually reduces the high-frequency content amplified by that stage, but the distortion created in that stage adds some harmonic content back. The feedback loop also reduces the stages propensity to distort until the loop closes up from going non-linear. I.E. it stays cleaner longer but when the feedback loop goes non-linear, it makes the onset of distortion more abrupt. This is what makes an amp seem more dynamic and allows it to go from clean to mean with subtle playing and volume level control. These feedback loops are what is unique to Dumble designs. The cascading gain stages are much like Ken Fischer designs but with the added loop to control the highs. Trainwreck amps are essentially modified Fenders as well, or more like Fender preamps with extra gain stages grafted into Vox type power amps. Ken and Alex were friends and did bounce ideas off each other, and from a schematic standpoint, you can see where they had similar ideas. Like Fender, they used a gain stage immediately followed by a tone stack. They added a couple more gain stages to get saturation, and that is where their individuality appears. Trainwreck amps don't typically use a master volume as we are used to and work more like a Vox design where the input volume is the distortion control, it doesn't saturate until the walls are rattling, but when it does, it is glorious. Alex tended towards master volumes in order to get the saturation at lower levels, hence why I believe he employed the feedback loops. He treated the gain stages as if they were power stages, and subsequently controlled the highs and the feel at the same time. The unique Dumble distortion is the result of that. Having the tone stack early in the chain makes the EQ more effective and REALLY shapes the overall sound of the distortion. This is why the jazz and rock EQ settings work so well in the Dumble amps. It is setting the pace long before any distortion actually occurs. These EQ switches, the tone stack, and the feedback loops are likely the only things that Dumble actually tweaked in each of the amps. Because he could tailor the majority of the sound before it was even really amplified, a small change in this position goes a long way. Marshall designs, among others, have the tone stack placed after all the gain stages and in this position, it is less effective for outright tone control, but the use of a cathode follower and the tone stack in that position is what lends them that sound. Another thing that is different in some Dumble amps is the Plate and cathode resistor choices. Dumble really liked running the preamps pretty hot ( as opposed to warm like Fender and Marshalls ) and this increases gain and changes the feel a little. In all, the Dumble designs are definitely different, but not nearly the voodoo he makes them out to be. They are more or less a Fender based preamp with an extra cascaded stage, utilizing different plate and cathode resistors, sometimes with a feedback loop or two and sometimes without feedback at all. The ODS does use a FET preamp for it's " gain " channel, but I think he did that to act more as a clean boost to incite some preamp distortion before the tone stack. Anyway, yes, they are cool amps, but like any other amp design, it does its thing.

[@gloriouspeanut]

Thanks, subscribed.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Hey the local negative feed back was used by leo fender in his 50's bandmaster! Leo hated distortion and was basically into hifi ish sound from his amps. The sound ken fischer was looking for was the sound of a certain harmony guitar amp he heard as a kid. Robben ford sez,, while the dumble is a great amp a fender twin does the thing for him too! A little reverb, slight delay and a clean boost pedal works !! Interesting stuff! Robben's #1 is a dumble and he has two clones of that amp. So embrace clones be it Fender, vox marshall or train wreak. They are what they are.

[@jasonxoc]

This! I got a custom redplate RP50duo from the guys at redplate. I spent a weekend with them and they explained exactly this about the feedback loop. They’re well known in the old school dumble circuit community... They actually tuned the amp to what I wanted. My goal was to get the largest range of tones as a recording head... They explained the clean feeds the eq / overdrive almost exactly like you did and said the quality of the amp is in its clean tones not the distorted tones. You know what you’re talking about because reading your comment brought back that conversation vividly. The thing about them is that you can get an INSANE amount of tones from these amps based on the amp settings / guitar settings. The tone / volume / pickup selector / where you pick / how hard you dig completely changes the tone. Great tube amps are part of the instrument / inflection of the note. If you’re not a sloppy player, you wont want to play through anything else after playing through something like these amps.

[@atech9020]

I should add that while the Feedback loops are more of a Dumble thing, it is not exclusive to him. Fender did use versions of it as pointed out by Russell and even Peavey uses them in the 5150/6505 designs. While I'm not privy to many others using it, I have messed with it in some of my own amp designs and it can be used to great effect. I should also note that not all Dumble amps use the local negative feedback loop. He used it in some amps and not in others of even the same design. Again, I think it is between this loop, the tone stack, and the tone switches that he did 90% of his tuning for the " individual " he was making it for.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

@@atech9020 I should have said local negative feedback as opposed to negative feedback on the final output stage. But a moot point. Amp guys know we are talking preamp stages.

[@the-LeoKnightus]

You can get a usable "Dumble" sound from a Fender Blackface with an EQ pedal and BD-2 Waza.

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

Yup, I think a lot of people underrate eq pedals

[@fernank017]

@Quinn Jones this hurts my pp

[@bendayze]

@Quinn Jones Str8 Fire As in youre gonna cause a fire

[@gabe2869]

@Rocknrolladube buy a boss PQ-4

[@jeepmanxj]

You don't even need the waza bd2. To be fair I've heard one and to be honest there are dozens of combinations of things that will get you there

[@RC32Smiths01]

The Dumble is definitely so iconic for wonderful reason! However I could never see myself paying for such expensive prices. Really enjoy this guitar hack to save the trouble.

[@keenanpage9790]

R.I.P Alexander Dumble.. such a pioneer in sound and some of the best amps in the world!! I always dreamed of having my own amp from him and now looks like tht will remain a dream.. great video!! Tht tone is amazing!!

[@pbrewsky]

"Normal players like you and me" guy sitting in front of several thousands worth of gear :D

[@PureJadeKid]

Several thousands worth of gear, not several hundreds of thousands worth of gear!

[@Mr2006explorer]

@@PureJadeKid More like it!

[@aaronashear3002]

*several tens of thousands.

[@laslen]

I hate how the music hobby, and especially analog synthesizers and guitars have become completely speculative with unrealistic prices. I call it the "dentist effect." I know several rich dentists who buy all the most expensive gear, and can barely play. They just watch KZbin videos like this telling them what the "best" stuff is.

[@stephentyler4352]

Do make this into a series, please, Rhett! I can see an incredible amount of growth in the way you create your content, fine Sir. The livestream on Saturday evening cannot come soon enough. 🙏🏼❤️🔥

[@johnrobie9694]

The modest EQ pedal is THE MOST underrated pedal. The tone of your guitar and amp can be dramatically shaped with a very affordable EQ pedal. I actually have (2) on my board. One as the very first pedal, to essentially flatten the signal from the guitar. Then one at the very end to shape all the colored signals before it heads to the amp.

[@wesleyAlan9179]

👍yep

[@jwalkrr]

2 eqs on my board as well. A 7 band at the beginning of the curcuit and a 10 band after the drives!

[@BrotherJohnJubilee]

And that's why many Mesa Boogies have one built in , besides hi mid lo

[@fivewattworld]

Great stuff Rhett as I'm using a version of this tone most everyday, haunted by having heard Robben play live.

[@michaelcraig9449]

He is OK but he sure did not have Stevie Ray, or Duane Allman tones..Sure would not say Robben is the ultimate tone guy..

[@metallica3604]

@@michaelcraig9449 That is just lack of taste

[@tonymarinelli7304]

Michael Craig srv and duane are in My top favorite guitar players but Robin Ford my friend is unbelievable different type of chops but equally as good as the other two. You should hear his jazz playing it’s otherworldly

[@konarain]

@@tonymarinelli7304 His whole-half diminished scale, is enlighteniing. Met Robben w George Harrison rehearsals at A& M in '74..he must have been 20+ Gotta be inspired Stevie Ray sure had that tone..muscular tone.. Alohas

[@konarain]

@@tonymarinelli7304 fix the typo..lol 🙃

[@christopherpappas4880]

I’m just tuning into the Dumble sound. Caught wind of Amplified Nation and down the rabbit hole I went. My research led me here and I must say that the videos you put up, with the knowledge you have, the manner in how and what you discuss is top notch and that’s being modest. So much so, that I’m deciding between 3 of Taylor’s creations, one being the Wonderland Overdrive and this vid pretty much just sealed the deal. I’ll certainly be keeping in tune (tone) with your channel. Thanks!

[@kylespeller]

The playing on the intro is outstanding!

[@therapist6328]

I'm starting to think EQ pedals and the volume pot on my electrics affect my tones more than anything else. Nice vid Rhett

[@jasonwright7513]

EQ makes a big difference especially with distortion pedals if you put the EQ after the Distortion pedal you can bump up the low end. I just discovered that "secret" but actually it's been known for a long time just not shared widely Steve Vai( and many other top players) had an EQ before AND after his distortion pedals so this has been going on for a long time.

[@jsullivan2112]

Everything but the "tone" wood effects the tone.

[@chopperdeath]

I'm a believer in the power of a good EQ to sound like almost anything.

[@hootowl6354]

I've owned about 15 good and bad amps. I disagree wholeheartedly.

[@DavidLee07]

I have an early Two Rock (it has K&M on the front and Two Rock on the back) Classic 50 that hits that 3D clean channel and Steve Carlton/Robben Ford overdrive in the drive channel very well. It sounds fantastic, although unfortunately it sounds good LOUD. I think the modern pedals are also cool, and even the Dumble clone in my Helix (along with a better IR than the stock cab simulations) sounds very good. A lot of it is the approach to setting up your overdrive so it can go clean but have some bite when you play harder, and the approach with your playing and touch. That's something Larry Carlton emphasizes. By the way, saw Larry early this year and he was using a Vox AC-30 as his backline amp for a fly-in gig and he still sounded GREAT.

[@deanallen927]

Dumble's first foray into production amps was a short lived line of Moserite amps he built as a very young man, each by hand. The Ventures thought they rocked a bit too much so they stuck with the Fenders. Would love to find one of those.

[@guskalogeros9021]

Awesome video Rhett. YES, definitely make this a series! People should really pay attention to this video. I’ve had lots of success using an EQ pedal to replicate sounds and not have to pay crazy prices for vintage gear. Nothing wrong with vintage gear but you can achieve similar results without having to take it out live and risk damage or theft.

[@sirbaronvoncount4147]

Sounds like a strat bridge pickup with the tone rolled off

[@desmondmyers]

THANK YOU for doing the EQ section! There’s so much emphasis on buying gear that is voiced a certain way but not a lot on shaping EQ to get into that ball park. Very informative. Anybody know of a 1073 esque inductor EQ as a guitar pedal??

[@Locoandchooch]

I remember seeing these for sale, in the back of guitar player magazine. They were $2500 I think. Late 80’s early 90’s. Which now is a toss in the bucket for a decent amp. But back then I was shocked lol

[@crifox16]

to be fair 2500$ in that period was quite a bit more money than 2500$ today, but still nowhere near as the current used prices

[@Locoandchooch]

crifox16 That’s what I meant to say, $2500 now is a drop in the bucket compared to then.

[@Locoandchooch]

Prasanth Selvadurai I bought an Anderson in 1993, that was $2800. I still have it. Lol

[@garettjackson1791]

Well, that's like $6,000 in 2020 dollars.

[@mikerope5785]

this is *such* a great video, this should stand alone as the only EQ pedal tutorial that a player needs.

[@alexnetick1834]

If it's rare and it has some hype, it's worth money. I see what people like about them, but I don't think most people would notice if you switched to a cheaper amp. A Fender, Marshall, or a Boogie are all great amps.

[@ebathurst9216]

Hopefully Rhett takes all the money he and Tilly have saved for a house and buys a Dumble. Parents Basement forever🤩

[@TheVirginianRambler]

What a mood. Don’t know how tilly would feel about that tho.

[@jambajoby32]

James Tillman she can play it too!

[@blackiejames1843]

The Schull's will be living in the parents basement for many many years to come as long as Rhett has access to musical gear.

[@weschilton]

Hahaha, Tilly would have his hide! I'd be standing right behind her cheering... Go girl!

[@vanessajazp6341]

Wampler Euphoria is a pedal that does a really sweet Dumble sound. Synergy Amps also has an OS-modeled tube-driven module.

[@andrewm7903]

A video on the “Trainwreck” sounds would be cool.

[@samcomfort6564]

Agreed!

[@paulsigmon7263]

There are some by Glen Kuykendall on KZbin, a great player and friend of mine. We grew up in Herndon, VA. Check those out.

[@BradWarrenMusic]

@@paulsigmon7263 I've played in a band with Glen for the last 4 or 5 years. Great player and guy! He mostly used a custom bassman circuit amp in a champ sized combo box with a 10" speaker for our gigs. It was still loud as hell!

[@paulsigmon7263]

Glen just connected with me on Facebook, I think he just joined it. He had some nice Marshall stacks when I was a kid. He recorded the band I was in at his studio, his sound man, was our sound man. Wow, that was 40 years ago. Good ole Bassmans do it good too, I still have one, put it in a combo, amongst a dozen other amps.. I’ve collected so much, got to thin out soon.

[@kimmohamalainen5568]

I second the idea of checking out Trainwreck amps, preferably the Express as I've built a clone some 14 years ago and still think it's quite cool.

[@michaelkelly1251]

I started watching this out of curiosity then learned a ton of stuff that I never knew. Totally blown away because I want to build a tube amp myself, this guide helped me realize where that notion came from.. Light bulb is so bright in my head right now. Thank you for taking the time to educate others by what you know.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Videos such as this are a tremendous amount of work to create and I believe deserve more than a caustic or frivolous comment. Why not listen and learn for the sake of becoming more knowledgeable? Thanks for the video Rhett.

[@Sobchak2]

I've seen Robben Ford playing live countless times. One of the best tones I've ever heard from him was from a concert where he was playing a Sakashta through a rented Fender Twins, with occasional use of Zendrive for solos and wah/volume pedal for a couple of songs. Just to say that there is much more tone in a player's fingers than most people believe. Having said that, I've never played through a Dumble, but for what it's worth I am sure they are absolutely amazing amps.

[@TheLochs]

I agree 100%, I'm not a gear fanatic at all, and I've been playing professionally for 30 years. Its all in the player. I never chased certain amps or pedals, I just found something I really liked and stuck with it for ages. I still do.

[@sammyrothrock6981]

I just built my 4th clone this last one puts me in musical 🎶 heaven. I got this one right! Its sings for days at extremely low volume!!

[@shoominati23]

I love the 'Overrated - Special' pedal from JHS or whatever, that made me LOL hard when I saw they had actually released a pedal called that

[@mono.isgtds]

That’s from way huge.

[@Rainyman63]

It was built by Way Huge for Joe Bonamassa. Basically it‘s a tubescreamer with a 500 Hz pot. They must have laughed pretty hard when they picked that name and the typical knobs and font for it.

[@51MontyPython]

@@Rainyman63 Did you mean 500 Hz or K?

[@iconoclastic12007]

I was arms length away from David Lindley for an entire night one night in the late ‘80’s at a small bar in AZ. When he played his pedal steel guitar through his Dumble amp it was....it sounded like a cross between a 747 and a Harley Davidson. It was glorious!

[@DaveZiffer]

Great video. I like how you provided the historical context and then delved into the details. It's also very concise - none of the excess BS that I find in so many videos. THANKS!

[@sammyoso1876]

When you learn more history through guitar than at school

[@fredriksvard2603]

School is about learning to do things ypu dont want to do 9-5 mon-fri

[@Mcsteveberry]

@@fredriksvard2603 gotta make precious use of that sunlight!

[@vav413]

Which is why funding schools and teachers are important so these kinds of comments aren't as relatable as it seems to be

[@sassycat]

Schools? Yes. Teachers? Absolutely! Endless layers of administration? Very nah.

[@vav413]

@@sassycat who said anything about endless layers ?? Tf

[@conorbelvin9024]

I would love to see you do the Orange tone, especially going for more stoner rock/metal type tones. I know your style is more Americana than anything, but I'd love to see how you would approach getting those tones.

[@vaughnquinlan6722]

So, we should just play tube screamers into fender bassmans.

[@stevesuv]

Do you have ears....that work.Put on Talk to your Daughter

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

I'll bring the screamer, if you bring the bassman🥴

[@Heatfarmer]

Damn right!

[@tylerscott9329]

Fender Bassbreakers nail this sound honestly

[@SD_UK]

Ha!. Well.. Bassman goosed by a TS is a glorious sounding combo .

[@wallyramirez5527]

Every EQ setting is ridiculously amazing 🔥🔥🔥

[@thisgoestoeleven]

I just got a Helix and the "Litigator" is quickly becoming my favorite amp model to play around with

[@popsfereal]

The "Dumble Sound"- the sound a of a giant cork being sniffed.

[@bigblueplanet1968]

Yup

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

or a cork being sniffed by a giant nose hahaha

[@bigblueplanet1968]

Lots of brands belong on the "Cork List"

[@popsfereal]

@@bigblueplanet1968 TRUTH!

[@jacksmith4460]

@@bigblueplanet1968 none like Dumble though you can buy Ferrari's for the same price of a dumble

[@almostliterally593]

Dumble actually reminds me of a 1960s sears/silvertone amp kind of sound.

[@daro9582]

You might be onto a secret tip here, definitely more affordable than a dumble

[@k-9thecat765]

I too discovered the Silvertone chime... So sweet and tasty...

[@alzenno4333]

You all can keep your Dumbles. I'll keep on wailing on my '64 Deluxe Reverb.

[@bradfinamore2396]

Thanks again Rhett. I purchased and built a Trinity OSD as a pandemic project. I had no "plan A" LOL Just felt i needed to do it after I had a great experience building a 5E3. I had the pleasure of sitting with Mr. Ford one afternoon talking about amps, guitars and tone. He was, at that time going back to roots with a tele and a deluxe. Guess what? He still sounded like Robben Ford. Now that I've had the OSD a while I'm starting to explore the vast panoply of tones it provides. I've received a lot of information and inspiration from your in depth explanation of tone derivation. Keep up the great work. RIP H.A. Dumble

[@michaelgaurnier3108]

Your playing style sounds by far the best with this amp.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

If you want to do a video on specific "sounds" then do Vox. I feel like Vox is WILDLY underrated and underappreciated and I think they can hold their own with all the "boutique" stuff that youtubers seem to love to "flex" constantly on their channels. Worked for Rory. Worked for Brian May. Worked for Tom Petty. I'm REALLY considering getting rid of my Deluxe Reverb for an AC30 because I have an AC10 that I absolutely adore and honestly like more than my Deluxe Reverb. So I'd love to hear you play more "traditional" amps because this is what I feel like most players are playing anyway and they're considered classics for a reason.

[@jsphillip60]

Definitely get that Vox, but hold onto that Deluxe Reverb! I used to have a Vox AC 15 that I would run in stereo with my Deluxe Reverb Reissue. Got amazing tones that way! (Granted, I never got to play live with that rig.) Vox may be underrated by some, but certainly not by me.

[@toulcaz31]

I wonder if Rhett got the idea of that video watching Carlos Santana’s Dumble amp on Anderton interview this weekend.

[@ebathurst9216]

Rhett you better pull out that Strat

[@dejablueguitar]

PLEASE DO MORE BRO!! I’d LOVE to hear your view on the “Boston” Sound/Sounds!!

[@Kaijetuckerofficial]

Hey Rhett, I know this is an older video but do you happen to know the settings on the amp at 1:30? Thanks

[@maxheadroom6067]

Sparkling mule. Love it

[@rockgtr35]

You might want to do a video for the VHT D-Fifty. It's a Dumble clone for like $899 retail.

[@talegunrdav]

My 13-year-old dog woke up beside me on the couch at two minutes into this video and sniffed my iPad with approval then laid her head back down she definitely likes the tone

[@email3575]

so your dog is a cork sniffer too

[@RoyHayward-ng5rp]

Really interesting video. My friend and I were just talking about this very thing. But more to the trying to get that southern rock bluesy sound using pedals on a clean tube channel. I really like the idea of using the eq in front of the overdrive. It gives you so many tones without a lot of major changes. Thanks for the ensight. I'm also in Georgia

[@johnmoser2689]

Very helpful in tuning for any tone Rhett your explanation was perfect you're really good at instruction and your playing is next level glad to see more content keep up the great work

[@doctordox6278]

I mean, if memory serves me correct, Dumble built amps for people particularly right? so to chase a dumble is kinda weird. Its built for someone else. but to each their own I suppose.

[@nathanandy]

Yes. Dumble tailored his amps to each specific player; the artistry/subtlety in their hands and playing style. They’ll still sound good played by someone else, but I think of it as like buying someone else’s custom made suit.

[@doctordox6278]

Andy Nathan right! No offense to any owner but to me it’s a bit weird. I’m also a crazy spiritual guy so wtf do I know lol

[@swissarmyknight4306]

@@doctordox6278 I play other people's guitars, pedals, and amps all the time. Used gear has mojo.

[@llamont2336]

Carlos Santana bought Eric Johnson’s Dumble after Eric had it repaired and the tone was different. I guess the repaired sound was all Santana...one man’s trash another man’s Dumble. People pay more than $50K for used Dumbles so there’s got to be something to it.

[@doctordox6278]

@@swissarmyknight4306 Oh i know that, I just meant that they are totally custom. I actually play one of Albert Collins old Quads.

[@davidroden3799]

So much of what is available today is focused on re-creating an iconic sound, like this Dumble, and that's cool. But- what are the sounds and equipment on the market today that will be 'iconic' 40 years from now?

[@briankehew579]

My favorite Dumble is the Small Special. A 1x12" combo; I think there is only 1 - he built it for himself with a weird military surplus transformer, a round shaped (maybe toroidal) transformer. it's the best amp I've ever played. His designs range TOTALLY all over the map - from 150w Fender "Super" amps he made for SRV that do not distort at all, to incredibly thick distortion amps at low volume. There is no "sound" just whatever he needed for a customer. Beware; if a top clothes designer makes someone a suit, you buy it and it won't fit you at all. He considers the player, the guitar (not ALL their guitars) and what the desired output is. Some of it is mythology; he never charged these insane prices, he charged reasonable, boutique prices when he made them. The RARITY of them makes them valuable. I wish HE were making that money.

[@twangbarfly]

If you buy a Klon KTR pedal (a great pedal btw), designed by Bill Finnegan, who designed the original and overpriced/overhyped Klon Centaur, you will find this text by Finnegan silk-screened on the top. "Kindly remember: the ridiculous hype that offends so many is not of my making." I feel the same way about Alexander Howard Dumble. I love the sounds of the great players of his amps, but Dumbles are out of anyone's reach bcause of hype not created and sustained by Dumble himself.

[@badtweed2087]

If you've been around long enough, and I mean over 5 decades or so, as a player and off and on tube amp builder/designer, you were able to see many custom amp builds from small garage techs to amp repair shops, that installed the extra tube of gain stage and similar circuits to accommodate the emerging styles of rock and pop guitar starting in the mid 1960's. And for good reasons, very few would get into making a business out of building tube amps. The Dumble OD circuit was a nice update to the Fender 4x6L6 black face amp circuit but certainly way over hyped. But the guitar universe simply feeds off the "gas" mode of many guitar players looking for that special bit of mojo in their quest for improved tones. It's a lot of fun, but stay focused on making music as well. Thanks for these cool videos!

[@blessed7fold]

Hey Rhett I am a first time viewer of your channel and I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with your video presentation on this topic as well as your home studio and lighting/decor setup. You did a perfect job with this video and I hope to see more content from you. Cheers.

[@DanRelayer_Ukraine]

The Neil Young sound - the sound of a small tweed fender pushed to the very limit.

[@SvenTviking]

Don’t forget the severely microphonic unpotted mini humbucker from a Thunderbird.

[@tommyvatne2290]

@@SvenTviking Firebird

[@tonelocrian]

Hey Rhett - liked the video - thought it was informative - especially once you kicked in that EQ pedal. First off, what is the brand of that EQ box ? Secondly, how can we get more in-depth on these tonal options here ? I suggest you do a Part Two of the Dumble tone experiment including that same set up (sounds great) & switch guitars, WITHOUT moving the EQ, to see what happens (Les Paul, Strat, 335, Tele & Gretsch style axe) ....

[@tomaburque]

If you have a Kemper the "D" (for Dumble) pack from Michael Britt is especially nice. Compared to Marshall the crushed glass distortion crystals are a finer grain, more compressed and without the upper mid hump that gives Marshalls their throaty roaring lion thing. Absolutely beautiful for mid-gain and edge of breakup bass pickup lead noodling.

[@Janmann2007]

I can only suggest using some sort of high quality IRs with the MBritt profiles. The speakers he uses are super flat and don't sound three-dimensional IMO. Celestion's got very good ones with Alnico 15W whose early breakup just suits the Dumble profiles like a glove.

[@LarryPollock]

I was a young 20-year-old working at JJs Pizza in Santa Cruz when I met Howard. He came in to build the sound system for the live music room. I got to know him a bit and ended up at his shop on 26th Avenue at 1am one night. He pulled out his guitar and turned the volume down to near zero and proceeded to play overdrive and feedback sounds! He was a great guitarist and amp guy. On his bench, Amps for Neil Young and one for Little Feet. I knew he was doing something special, but you never really know in the moment that he would become such an Icon (and recluse). Special times

[@ZeroMod]

Just discovered your channel. Bravo for such detailed and accurate accounting of these classic amps! I ran a service center outside of NYC in the 80s and did work and mods to all these legends. Watched your Marshall, Hiwatt, Dumble, Vox videos back to back as it made hearing the tonal qualities unique to each so much more noticeable. Amazing you know so much minutia about these at your age! Being 65 I have forgotten more than I remember about these masterpieces.

[@Finnvbot]

As a wise man once said, the "dumble" sound is the sound of getting ripped off.

[@johnmarshall3903]

I really don't see or hear what the big deal is. You can have that overrated bullshit

[@jamesmitchell2052]

the famous ones weren't really that expensive when they were made. i think they went for two grand.

[@sharonraizor2839]

Really? Have you monitored the prices of Dumbles from the 80's on? They have NEVER gone down in value. Not only that, the value has increased at a pretty staggering rate. I remember guys like you in the early 2000's saying "They are a rip off at $20k". Had you bought one, you would not only have a tremendous amp, but it would be worth 4 times what you paid for it. Alexander is in his 70's now(?) When he dies, there will be a finite number of these amps forever and the price will double overnight. I played a Steel String Singer at Carter's and it had a fantastic sound. They are a cut above and a great investment. Buy a $100k boat and see what it is worth in five years.

[@jamesmitchell2052]

@@sharonraizor2839 i think you misread my comment, because i don't disagree with what you're saying. of course i haven't been following Dumble prices since the 80s. but OP said Dumbles are a rip off. the only two i've spent any real time playing are a friend's, he got the first one in the 80s for 2K. that's all i'm saying - when they were new they weren't that much more crazy expensive than another high end amp. it's the used market that's driving that stuff, not that Dumble was out to rip people off. they're incredible sounding amps, i'd love to have one!

[@Rusty69-er]

True. As he said, Robben Ford played through a Bassman with a tube screamer and sounded like himself. He could get close to his core tone with other gear as well, but ultimately it's the musician that counts

[@jeremythornton433]

Just curious. What about cabinets? I'm more than sure that they have a massive effect on the tone. A 2 12 as opposed to a 4 12 or a 4 10. What did you use?

[@bluesfuse]

Jeremy Thornton makes a huge difference. I have 112 evm ported thiele cab, 410 open back and 112 open back with a celestion gold. They are each different but I think I like the 410 the best. Was a tube works 410 combo I gutted. I have 2 fuchs ods amps.

[@teuwaisu6204]

what is the "Pignose" sound? what is the "Bugera" sound? what is the "Line 6 Spider" sound?

[@jasonwright7513]

Bugera amps (20 watt and up) actually sound pretty good if you turn up the bass and middle and the master volume. I have the v22 and the v55 both in 112 cabinets and they sound pretty darn good if you turn up the master volume at least three quarters.

[@georgefromgreece4119]

@@jasonwright7513 they are very well made amps, especially but not only compared to their ridiculously low cost.

[@georgefromgreece4119]

The Bugera sound is actually pretty good. In a way, it falls in among the Fender and Vox families. It lacks bass and low mids, which can be balanced with something like an appropriate speaker swap. But it is really decent, great at a ridiculous price. Don't bother too much about gear. Focus on practising, improving your skills and opening your thoughts to new horizons. Enjoy your music, share it with people and express yourself. Spread some love. Whatever it is you are doing that makes you feel serene, keep it up. There is no end to consumerism, it is a vicious circle. Man has vanity and always desires what he has not. Cheers from Greece.

[@jasonwright7513]

Normally I just find a clean sound I can live with, use my MXR EQ to bring up the low end, and for most songs I use a Klon klone to liven things up, and if I need real distortion, I have a Mad Professor Sweet Honey that stacks with it perfectly. Boss delay at the end. Works every time.

[@dtgris7291]

Well that last one is the sound of a 15 year old wannabe shred head at Guitar center playing metal riffs poorly with the gain dimed and maybe a random phaser thrown on there just cuz the Spider has that built in.

[@dlichtenwalner2084]

I was at the Atlanta show too and agree with you. I am in the lower right corner of your video of that show bobbing my head :)

[@Azfun6]

Great video Rhett. But....in my humble opinion, as I am (unfortunately) old enough to remember first hearing Larry Carlton way back in the beginning. Every guitarist every where, clubs, concerts, music stores, etc., ALL were wanting to know not how to get his tone, but how to get that "touch" from sweet super clean leads to heavy nice distorted so smoothly just by how he was picking the note. Not the stomp box on/off effect, but that smooth playing from clean to dirty and back to clean with everything in between just by picking that was a Carlton trademark. That is what I remember growing up, and Howard certainly accomplished that superbly in his design. I can remember everyone, me included, beating the heck out of all our music stores to find out what this was and get them in. We were not blessed with internet yet to be able to know what this was. But your video was great, especially your Nation Wonderland Overdrive....loved it. Thanks for sharing.

[@stevesuv]

Dumbles are like sports cars. You cant afford them, but you sure would love to drive one

[@Tommyd479]

I’ve driven a Dodge Viper and played through a Dumble. The sports car is more fun.

[@blackiejames1843]

Dumbles are not for the everyday player and even most professionals can't justify the price of owning one. You would have to order one when you are about 25 years old because you wouldn't take delivery until you were in the retirement home at the pace that Alexander Dumble builds them.

[@duanewilson3941]

If you ever get them. He's apparently difficult to deal with.

[@lalimacefolle]

Duane Wilson he’s apparently dead isn’t he ?

[@duanewilson3941]

@@lalimacefolle I don't believe so.

[@ericwalters5382]

The Only thing fatter than him is his wallet

[@Wolf_K]

Dumble amps are completely unsuitable for my music. I wouldn’t play one if it was given to me.

[@mydogspet]

I prefer the overdrive and EQ. Some killer sounds.

[@SteveRockstein2]

Hey Rhett. Following you for about a year. Good stuff, thanks. Been a solo guitarist/singer-songwriter/ bar band vet for 30+ years. Over that time my needs/tastes have evolved. And the one thing I learned is, EQ is the most important tool we have for tone. So I’m watching this…. Going yeah, yeah, yeah… Dumble this & Dumble that… and I’m thinking, I could get that with an EQ pedal. And just then, you pull out The EQ. Respect, my man. In my rig today, I’m playing a Relish Mary One - with stereo output - into a Jim Frenzel 25 watt head > Mesa 1x12 cab. The piezo & magnetic outputs each have an MXR 6-band EQ in their FX chain. And there’s a Whirlwind Perfect 10 EQ in the loop on the amp. Tone shaping heaven.

[@jeffbower8355]

Hi Rhett - really great video with many insights. The one thing I missed was having you demonstrate how it (if it) cleans up when you roll the guitar volume back ... on each device or pairing of devices.

[@garyhamilton7111]

Kemper has some amazing "Dumble" profiles, I have a steel string singer, Ceriatone and Fuchs as well as a John Mayer Prototype that the man himself played and believe me they are all fantastic

[@brandonvarnado4216]

Just a day or so ago I saw that Vertex Effects makes a pedal to emulate a Steel String Singer. Granted, it’s a different sound than the Overdrive, but still cool. Great video! If you do make this a series you could always do Trainwreck amps (especially if you want to stay in boutique and no longer being made amps).

[@coquipeludo]

Next episode... David Gilmour’s tone. Gilmourish is an authority on this but I’d love to get your take on his sound.

[@TheRosswise]

With him, it is more how he plays. Lots of minor pentatonic with the dorian 2nd note peppered back in.

[@glyman1212]

Rhett I was at that Atlanta show too. I think that is me going "Woo!" at the start of your clip. Thanks for the research. Check out Robben doing one man's ceiling is another man's floor with Susan Tedeshi. Awesome playing and tone.

[@TheFmazz]

Thanks Rhett, the EQ portion is a game changer for me.