His most famous amp is his Tan Dumble (serial number 102) bought from Alexander in around 1983. While on tour, Robben and I have spent many a happy hour in a van or tour bus discussing guitars, amplifiers and, most notably, Robben’s Dumble amplifiers. If I could keep one of Robben's Dumbles, it would be this one… but it would cost me in excess of £100,000 His name will go down in tonal history and people will ask, ‘Have you tried one?’ To which most, unfortunately, will say no. We must remember that he’s only produced around 300 amplifiers, and yet to this day and for ever more, guitarists will whisper the name “Dumble” in dimly lit backstage areas, or type it into a search bar on an internet forum. He never wanted to be a hugely successful businessman or, heaven forbid, a household name. This is a man with one goal: to make the finest, most responsive guitar amplifiers ever created. He has unwittingly gained absolute legendary status in the guitar world. This guy actually played in a band called Captain Speed who opened for Jimi Hendrix. People who have heard him say that he’s a most accomplished player. Later, he would also go on to build amps for Larry Carlton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson and, most importantly to this feature, Robben Ford.Īlexander was, and is, no slouch on the guitar. Alexander’s own family was hugely musical and from a very young age his interest in musical instruments and electronic equipment would throw fuel on the fire of his passion for rock ’n’ roll and, most importantly, the electric guitar.Īlexander started producing amplifiers in the early to mid-1960s, and by the end of the 70s he had built amps for some of the very biggest names in guitar history, including David Lindley, Jackson Browne, Lowell George of Little Feat and Bonnie Raitt. At this time, the West Coast of the US was an absolute melting pot of music - and musicians who would gather from all over the world. This is one of a pair that belongs to one of the legends in Dumble’s story, Mr Robben Ford.īoth Robben Ford and Alexander Dumble (he dropped the name Howard in favour of his middle name) grew up in the Bakersfield area of California. Here, I present to you the Dumble Overdrive Special - and not just any old Dumble. I, myself, have been almost obsessed with the Dumble story since the mid-1980s. The name Howard Alexander Dumble may not mean much to the man on the street, but the amplifiers this gentleman has produced over the last 50 years have gone on to gain almost biblical status among us tonehounds.ĭumble's name will go down in tonal history and people will ask, ‘Have you tried one?’ To which most, unfortunately, will say no In a recent feature, I discussed how some of the biggest names in guitar playing history have invented their own unique guitar tones - sometimes very much by accident, coincidence or maybe something more. Here, Simon Law examines the Overdrive Special, with some help from his friend and colleague Robben Ford… We are looking forward to showing you why so many people choose to work with Amplified Nation.(Image credit: Joby Sessions/Future) IntroductionĪs one of the true pioneers of boutique amplifiers, Alexander Dumble forever changed the tonal landscape of guitars in the 1960s - and with little more than 300 of his amps in existence, they remain the Holy Grail of tone. We are committed to providing an excellent experience building long lasting relationships with our customers. We work individually with our customers, talking tone, guitars, picking out aesthetics, and showing the products come to life. We’ve borrowed some ideas from these elusive circuits and added modern features resulting in custom amplifiers that our customers love. We have spent thousands of hours becoming acquainted with legendary vintage amplifiers, experiencing their sonic and timbral characteristics, and getting intimate with the electronics. Our amplifiers are based on hands-on knowledge. You need to be confident the company you choose can deliver results. It’s important to find a trusted partner when you are trying to find a new tone and definitely when commissioning a new amp build. There are so many different style amps, countless voicings, and even more designers and builders. There are countless options in the boutique guitar amplifier industry.
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