Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Overdrive Special, Steel String Singer, Dumbleland, Odyssey, Winterland, etc. -
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Aaron
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Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Aaron »

I've been trying to piece a timeline on SRV's amps, actually any SSS/Dumbleland amp. For most of this era, '83 - 87, the Dumble amps are used along with 2 x Fender Vibroverbs. Once he started using the Dumbles, Super Reverbs are rarely used. There are some shows where there are no Dumble amps used, but are replaced with two Super Reverbs.
Here's what I've found, so far:-

1982
  • November 23-25: Records Texas Flood in Jackson Browne's Downtown Studio.
Jackson Browne, "When Steve came to L.A., he started playing this Dumble amp that we had laying around, that we called the Mother Dumble because it was kind of like the first one Howard Dumble built. I have since sold that amp to try to buy a tape machine years ago, but it was an amp he continued to borrow when he would come to L.A. He also played this Fender Leslie, and he would call up and ask if he could borrow those for a night when he was playing in L.A."
I think through Jackson Browne, Stevie then orders his Dumble amps.

1983
  • August 22: The Palace, Hollywood. Byron Barr, "First gig with Dumble amps"
Doesn't say what models but....
  • August 27: Reading Festival, England
Stevie is using a Black ODS and Dumble 4 x 12, Tommy has the Dumbleland and 4 x 12. So both amps must have been delivered for the Hollywood show.
  • September 5: Germany, Lieder & Luete. T.V Show
Stevie has the Black ODS/4 x 12, Tommy has the Dumbleland/4 x 12.
  • October 6: Music Hall, Houston. Support act is Eric Johnson
Could this be Eric's first encounter with Dumble amps?
  • October 13: Rock of The 80's "Showtime", Los Angeles
Stevie has silver chassis SSS/4 x 12, Tommy has Dumbleland "Mother Dumble"/4 x 12
This SSS might have been on loan from Jackson Browne as well as the Dumbleland.
  • December 13: KLRU Studios, Austin. Austin City Limits
Stevie has the ODS/4 x 12, Tommy has the Dumbleland/4 x 12.
  • December 27: Wax Museum, Washington
Stevie has the ODS/4 x 12, Tommy has the Dumbleland/4 x 12.

1984
  • January: Records Couldn't Stand The Weather at Power Station Studio, New York
Possible first recording session of silver chassis Steel String Singer?
  • February 4: Nashville, Tennessee. Charlie Daniel's Volunteer Jam
Silver SSS.
  • February 25: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. 27th Grammy Awards
Silver SSS is used along with two Vibroverbs and two unknown 4 x 12 cabs.
  • March 19: CBS Records Convention, Honolulu
Stevie has the Silver SSS/Marshall cab, Tommy has the Dumbleland/straight 4 x 12.
  • April 29: Springfest, Buffalo
Silver SSS/4 x 12.
  • August 1: The Pier 84, New York
Silver SSS/4 x 12.
  • August 25: Rockpalast Pop Festival, Essen, West Germany
Stevie has the Silver SSS/4 x 12, Tommy has the Dumbleland/straight 4 x 12.
  • August 27: Alabamahalle, Munich, West Germany
Stevie has the Silver SSS/4 x 12, Tommy has the Dumbleland/straight 4 x 12.
  • September 15: Delta Blues Festival, Mississippi
Stevie has the Silver SSS/4 x 12, Tommy has the Dumbleland/straight 4 x 12.
  • October: Interview by Guitar Player
"Right now, I use a Dumble 150 watt. He calls it Steel String Singer, I call it King Tone Consoul, that's s-o-u-l. It's like an overgrown Fender tube amp. Some Dumbles, like the Overdrive Special, you've got to know what you're doing with them, because they'll get away from you and take you with 'em"
  • November 9: Opera House, Sydney
No Dumbles used.

1985
  • March 1-14: Records Soul to Soul at Dallas Sound Labs, Las Colinas
Interview from July 3, 1989: "When we did Soul to Soul, we had every amp that I owned at the time hooked up". "For amps, I had two Dumbles, a couple of Marshalls, a bunch of Fenders"
  • April 19: Performs National Anthem at Astrodome, Houston
Silver SSS/4 x 12 cab. Also uses is a Dumbleland (probably Tommy's)
  • June 7: Chicago Blues Festival, Grant Park
SSS not used, the Dumbleland is used.
  • July 15: Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland
Silver SSS and 8 x 10 Marshall cab
  • July 24: Montreal, Canada
Silver SSS/Marshall 8 x 10.
  • September 21: Capitol Theater, Passaic
Silver SSS/Marshall 8 x 10.
  • October 26: Montagne Center, Beaumont
Silver SSS/???
  • November 7: Fox Theater, Atlanta
Silver SSS/Marshall 8 x 10.

1986
  • February 2: Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston
Silver SSS/Marshall 8 x 10.
  • February 15: Saturday Night Live, New York
No Dumbles used.
  • March 16: Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Silver SSS/Marshall 8 x 10 and Dumbleland.
  • July 4: Farm Aid, Manor Downs
The black chassis Steel String Singer is now being used. Don't know the exact date, but could have arrived anytime from April.
  • July 18: Recording for Live Alive, Austin Opera House, Austin
Both Silver SSS and black SSS/Marshall 8 x 10.
  • August 26: Recording American Caravan, Orpheus Theater, Memphis
Black SSS/???
  • August 28: Both Steel String Singers are stolen
Not knowing if or when the equipment would be recovered , Stevie orders two replacement Dumble Steel String Singer 150w amps at a cost of $3250 each, plus $2545 "administrative and rush labour." Stevie ended up renting the two Dumble until his were recovered. Alex Hodges confirmed that it took forever to get the new amps and they were constantly arguing about whether Stevie owed Howard money or Howard owed Stevie an amp.
Both amps were recovered by October 14, 1986.

One month later Stevie collapses from years of drug and alcohol abuse. I don't know if replacement amps were delivered/used in this time. Only a few shows were played in September, and one show in October. Stevie enters rehab October 13 and checks out November 15.
  • November 22: Live Alive tour begins
  • December 31: Fox Theatre, Atlanta
Both silver SSS and black SSS.
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dreric
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by dreric »

Thanks Aaron!

I didn't know that the 2 SSS were stolen. Do know if they were recovered? If they were not recovered perhaps that is why folks are so tight lipped regarding those amps
Eric
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Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

dreric wrote: Tue May 02, 2017 8:47 pm Thanks Aaron!

I didn't know that the 2 SSS were stolen. Do know if they were recovered? If they were not recovered perhaps that is why folks are so tight lipped regarding those amps
Check the comment from 28 Aug. They were indeed recovered
Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

A few that I had mapped

1982 Montreux: 2 Musicman Twin Blackface
1983 Mocambo July 11: 1 Vibroverb, 1 Super Reverb
1985 Tokyo Jan 24 (pic attached): 2 Vibroverbs, 1 Super, 2 Twins (late 70's silver and mid 80's bf).
1985 Montreux July 15: 2 Vibroverbs, 1 Dumble silverface SSS, 1 Super Reverb
1987: Nashville: 1 JCM800, 1 Super, 1 silverface Dumble SSS, 1 Twin
1988 UK Interview: 1 Marshall Major, 1 silverface Dumble SSS
1989 Austin City: 1 Vibroverb to drive the Vibratone, 1 Marshall Major, Blackface SSS and the 2 Super as a speaker cabinet
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Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

This is a pic from 1983 Reading with the ODS
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Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

And this is from 1985 Anthem in Houston with the SSS silverface and the Dumbleland
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Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

27 Oct 1984 @ hey hey it's Saturday (Australia) https://youtu.be/tTRd1WIMoS8

No SSS. Only Fender amps
jph118
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by jph118 »

If I may add, there was a black SSS on display at the Grammy museum a few years ago from Jimmie Vaughan's collection that looked much newer than anything SRV used in the 80s, in fact it looked brand new, but was credited as "used by Stevie" along with a Marshall, some tweeds and a blackface Vibroverb. Maybe a loaner or backup? I heard rumors of a third SSS that never made it to him.



-JP
Aaron
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Aaron »

Hi JP,

That amp was one of two that was ordered in August 86, it was used from around May '87.
The amp can be seen in Austin City Limits.
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Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

Interesting the ON/ON/ON switch = Rock / PAB / Jazz

Also the Marshall Major Lead is modded to remove the polarity switch
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ToneMerc
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by ToneMerc »

Bombacaototal wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 6:03 am Interesting the ON/ON/ON switch = Rock / PAB / Jazz

No, it's an On/Off/On switch.

TM
Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

ToneMerc wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 9:55 am
Bombacaototal wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 6:03 am Interesting the ON/ON/ON switch = Rock / PAB / Jazz

No, it's an On/Off/On switch.

TM
Hi TM, would you mind elaborating. What is the set up on the off (middle) position then?
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ToneMerc
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by ToneMerc »

Bombacaototal wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 11:28 am
ToneMerc wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 9:55 am
Bombacaototal wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 6:03 am Interesting the ON/ON/ON switch = Rock / PAB / Jazz

No, it's an On/Off/On switch.

TM
Hi TM, would you mind elaborating. What is the set up on the off (middle) position then?
PAB, exactly as labeled. The switch is an on/off/on and when in the off (middle) position serves to activate the PAB from the front verses the mini switch on the rear of the chassis. It's configured the same as seen on some ODS amps, like #124 IIRC.

TM
Bombacaototal
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by Bombacaototal »

ToneMerc wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 12:01 pm
Bombacaototal wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 11:28 am
ToneMerc wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 9:55 am

No, it's an On/Off/On switch.

TM
Hi TM, would you mind elaborating. What is the set up on the off (middle) position then?
PAB, exactly as labeled. The switch is an on/off/on and when in the off (middle) position serves to activate the PAB from the front verses the mini switch on the rear of the chassis. It's configured the same as seen on some ODS amps, like #124 IIRC.

TM
Thanks for clarifying. It makes sense now!
jph118
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Re: Stvevie Ray Vaughans Dumbles

Post by jph118 »

Aaron wrote: Thu May 04, 2017 12:18 am Hi JP,

That amp was one of two that was ordered in August 86, it was used from around May '87.
The amp can be seen in Austin City Limits.

Thats the one! Thanks, I hadn't seen that digital-font logo on any of his SSS's before.
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