Another tube preamp. Dumble this time.

[Saul Goodman]

I have no idea what the Dumble sound is. I know who some are who used / use it. But, here's another preamp for you.

 

[Jimbilly]

Keep in mind that there was a recent story about the Beach Boys Dumbles (2) being recently located, is that also the "Dumble Sound"?

[beezerboy]

Dumble made amps for the Ventures... that the D sound too????  pretty sure he evolved along the way

[Pieman]

I thought he took into account the customer/players style before building their amp.  So wouldn’t there be a lot of Dumble sounds?

[velorush]

At $570 it's certainly more accessible than a Dumble. Effects loop and dual DI outs. Nicely done!

[Jimbilly]

6 hours ago, Pieman said:

I thought he took into account the customer/players style before building their amp.  So wouldn’t there be a lot of Dumble sounds?

exactly

I have an Ampeg VT40 that was reportedly owned by Nokie Edwards, I believe the story from when I bought it in '85. It's too new ('72) to have been used in any notable way. 

(further sidenote/rabbit trail)  Some of the Ventures touring amps are fs locally https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msd/d/tacoma-authentic-ventures-touring-amps/7907942103.html

[Saul Goodman]

Well, I may have misspoke. I can't find any mention of tubes in the Dumblifier in videos or on the DSM website. Solid state? They say, "Analog." So I guess I assumed. My apologies to anyone who rushed out and bought one based on my misconception. 

[velorush]

Explained:

Seriously well-thought-out IMO.

[django49]

There are quite a few "Dumble in a box" options. This one looks like a good option. I have long been a fan of the Ethos products and their more recent "Clean Fusion Deluxe" is really great. Rob went years since the original product and (IMO) made it much better than the original.....said he would not release it until he was satisfied that it was much more "tube like". Lots of knobs and switches, but once you have it tweaked to taste, many tones on the fly for live use.  For example, footswitchable choices for F, D and M tones without resetting.

Anyone seriously interested should also check out the Effectrode Blackbird SR-71. It does not have nearly the range of options for fine tuning, BUT is a tube driven (3 12ax7s) 2 channel preamp. Like the CFD, more or less a Fender Deluxe channel and a Dumble channel. They are made in the UK and not real easy to find at a lower price. But really sweet tones.

Tube preamp pedals have changed up our options.

FWIW, either one mates well with the Thermion Zero (pedal board mounted) stereo power amp. (BTW, it has a built in preamp of its own, more or less Blackface Deluxe, that can be bypassed, but essentially adds another footswitchable channel). From early indications, the forthcoming Wampler Pedalhead will be even better for matching to preamps in a pedal....Worth checking our details.....Likely not available for several months.

Edited February 10 by django49

[Disturber]

On 1/14/2026 at 11:16 AM, Pieman said:

I thought he took into account the customer/players style before building their amp.  So wouldn’t there be a lot of Dumble sounds?

There are lots of Dumble sounds!! 

[scottcald]

I never quite understood the whole Dumble thing.  I've read there's a "Dumble Sound" but then I also read that he tuned every single amp specifically for the player he was building it for. 

[django49]

1 hour ago, scottcald said:

I never quite understood the whole Dumble thing.  I've read there's a "Dumble Sound" but then I also read that he tuned every single amp specifically for the player he was building it for. 

Very true. Lots of the love is due to recordings made by notable players, such as Larry Carlton and Robben Ford. But not all had the SAME sound or recorded only with their Dumbles. For example, I heard Carlton play in LA with a Mesa and similar tones. Much of his famous studio work was done with a Fender amp. (Tone is in the fingers?) I have heard that Ford travels with a preamp pedal (older and simpler one) rather than an uber expensive amp. Is Carlos Santana's tone all that much different than what he recorded pre-Dumble?

With Dumble players ranging from such as SRV to John Mayer to Steve Lukather, there is not "one sound". 

The original Mesa Mark series amps were basically hot rodded small Fender amps. Dumble more or less then built upon that formula. Versions of the amp (or various preamps) that have the "HRM" function can also get more into the M tones. I like it. I never have, and never will, play a real Dumble.

Edited February 13 by django49

[scottcald]

I guess whenever I see the crazy pricing etc. I always think how many people also say "tone is in the hands" and all that.  So, which is it?  Or is it all just more fodder to argue with other people on the internet?  🤣

[django49]

Or just learning to use the various tools available.....😉

[velorush]

9 minutes ago, django49 said:

Or just learning to use the various tools available.....😉

As Jonn Suhr said "practice cures most tone issues," or something like that. 

I, too, have never played a Dumble, though I did see a Trainwreck amp at Carter's Vintage once... It looked nice! Just like the interweb pictures.

[django49]

BTW, Ethos (Custom Tones) also makes a TWE pedal that I think is excellent. Robbie does good work...Without the outrageous prices of a Dumble or Trainwreck.