Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: lidon2001 on March 15, 2006, 08:12:47 AM

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: lidon2001 on March 15, 2006, 08:12:47 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Dumble-100W-Combo-1x12-w-EV_W0QQitemZ7398692897QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: David Houck on March 15, 2006, 08:30:28 AM

4) No local pickups

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: lidon2001 on March 15, 2006, 11:24:44 AM

I just liked the pictures.  Never saw one before except from a distance.
 
T

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: lbpesq on March 15, 2006, 11:25:30 AM

$15,000 and counting for a 1x12 combo?  At that price I expect it to get a job and support me in my retirement!  
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: olieoliver on March 15, 2006, 11:29:57 AM

I agree Bill, Or at least be able to let me take it out for a Sunday Drive.

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: dela217 on March 15, 2006, 02:02:30 PM

And there are bids on it!!!!!!!!

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: drjenney on March 15, 2006, 02:16:43 PM

OK, count me among the Gentiles, what the h*ll is a Dumble? Who would pay this kind of money for a 1x12?
 
Having said that, I use a Glock Bass Art  through an Accugroove cab and an Ampeg Portaflex B-15, modified for Class A operation w/a couple of THD Yellow Jackets.
 
Is there anyone here who seriously thinks a Dumble, whatever that is, could sound better?

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: precarius on March 15, 2006, 02:25:15 PM

Thanks drjenney. I've never heard of a Dumble either. I'm 46. Was this before my time, after my time, or parallel to my time? I've pretty much learned that no matter how good you think your amp sounds, you're still always at the mercy of the Soundman!

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: tom_z on March 15, 2006, 03:51:16 PM

Dumbles are hand-wired hand-built guitar amplifiers. They have a bit of a myth built up around them because Alexander (Howard) Dumble, the builder, makes so few of them. Custom order only and very expensive. Used by Carlos Santana, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, David Lindley, the late Lowell George and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Kimock, Henry Kaiser and others - very clean sounding and extremely touch sensitive. The Overdrive Special is known in some circles to be the Holy Grail of Fender-style amps. There is also, reportedly, significant variation in quality of tone from one Dumble to another - so I would think one would want to play a Dumble before buying. So goes the short version of the story. IIRC Valentino mentioned them here and has perhaps played through one.  
 
Two-Rock is making amps that are very close to the kind of tone for which Dumbles are known.
 
Overpriced? Perhaps. But look at what an early Strat is fetching these days. If this one goes for 15K I would estimate that to be a bargain.
 
Tom

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: David Houck on March 15, 2006, 04:34:58 PM

Ok guys; ever seen the list price for an Alembic Series II ??   Who would pay that kind of money for a bass ??

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: David Houck on March 15, 2006, 04:48:51 PM

Here's the wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumble_Amplifiers).  Interesting reading.

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: zuperdog on March 15, 2006, 05:23:20 PM

Average used street price is around 25K the last couple of years.
 

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: j_gary on March 16, 2006, 03:59:56 PM

Thanks Dave for the reference site. Very interesting amp. Anyone know the cost for a new one, or ever play through one?  
 
Anyone ever walk by one, or get it's autograph?

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: lbpesq on March 16, 2006, 05:21:34 PM

I've seen Santana play one.  I think maybe he can afford it.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: tom_z on March 16, 2006, 06:06:37 PM

I've seen Santana, Kimock, David Lindley, Robben Ford and heard countless other Dumbles on recordings.  Here (http://homepage.mac.com/bill_jpn_morgan/Treasures/amp/dumble/price.html target=_blank) is the price schedule from 1993, but I understand that you kind of have to know Howard Dumble to have one made.
 
Tom

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: lidon2001 on March 16, 2006, 06:11:48 PM

Build your own Rumble
 
Rumble Heaven, formerly known as Dumble Heaven, schematics
 
http://esc73.midphase.com/~schehol8/rumble.htm (http://esc73.midphase.com/~schehol8/rumble.htm)
 
Interview with Santana.  Not one, but four Dumbles...
 
http://www.musicplayer.com/lounge/setups/santana.htm (http://www.musicplayer.com/lounge/setups/santana.htm)
 
(Message edited by lidon2001 on March 16, 2006)

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: kmh364 on March 17, 2006, 05:22:37 AM

With no disrespect intended to anyone, for 15k I could buy a room-FULL of custom-ordered hand-built hnad/hard-wired tube amps of all types. Considering I can't play like (or as good as) any of the guys above and even assuming the Dumble is the best amp in the world (debatable), I'd have to hit the Lottery big-time to even consider dumping 15-large on a 1x12 tolex-covered combo amp (tonality not withstanding).
 
BTW, Stevie Ray used a Dumble along with at least one-or-two other amps simultaneously and pedals as well to get his great amp tone (lest us not forget the guitar mods, detuned steel cables for strings and large hands with prodigious talent and dexterity behind them).

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: kmh364 on March 21, 2006, 06:05:40 AM

Two bidders...high bid was $17,800!!! Seller cancelled all bids and ended auction early.

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: gtrguy on March 21, 2006, 09:30:09 AM

Check out the auction for the #1 Dragon (sp?) PRS guitar. It was at $42K yesterday. Talk about spending cash.

Title: Dumble on EBay
Post by: kmh364 on March 22, 2006, 05:44:10 AM

The U.S. economy's in the toilet, but people can still find obscene amounts of money to spend on toys! Where can I get me some of that disposable income? LOL!