Dumble Mod Reviews

[UltraHookedOnPhonix]

I wanted to drop in with a couple of brief reviews of two Dumble modded Fender amps a good friend of mine was gracious enough to let me play extensively. A BIG thanks goes out to him.

One is a Dual Showman head with the "Ultra Phonix Mod" and the other is a Bassman mod Dumble calls "La Tostada".

******************Disclaimer******************
I have limited playing experience with the un-modified versions of the two amps and I was not allowed inside any of the two.

Ultra Phonix:

The "Vibrato" channel (which is actually amplitude modulation rather than pitch) is the clean side of the amp but gets a slight breakup when cranked. This channel takes effects very well and practically anything we threw at it sounded good. Sounds like the classis Fender clean but just...more! From what I understand the Tremolo was modified as well and it sounds very quiet and no audible tick can be heard from the LFO even at very high volumes.

The "Normal" channel has been converted to the overdrive channel and in my opinion this channel is scary good. The volume control sets the amount of gain and volume. It's fairly unlike the overdrive on an ODS in that it has a rawer more raspy sound, great for classic rock power chord galore. But the real magic happens when the Volume is on 10 (doesn't it always!). The sound gets absolutely HUGE and signal-to-noise ratio is beyond phenomenal. If I stopped playing I could have sworn there was a noise gate in there, it was that quiet and I'm not exaggerating one bit. Also, the amp had an unearthly way of producing controlled feedback. Every note played would sustain indefinitely and even chords! The feedback would retain the note played without running away with a crazy harmonic, again, even on chords. A particularly cool way I liked playing this channel was to pedal an open note, have it feedback and then play stuff over it! Although sometimes, when I played a particularly disonant chord I could hear some swichy inter-mod-type sounds emanating from the speakers but I didn't think it was ugly.

La Tostada:

4x10 Bassman with Jensen P-10R speakers. This amp really shone with a humbucker equipped guitar. Cleans were very sparkly even on the normal channel but always retained a thick low-end that really filled the room. One thing that took me by surprise was how interactive and versatile the EQ was on this amp. We really had to spend some time dialing this one in to a sound that suited the room and guitar.

The overdrive on La Tostada is, of course more Marshall-like than the Ultra-Phonix and the available gain on the Tostada was in the same ballpark as the U-Phonix as well. Absolutely brilliant on huge power chords and rock music in general. The amp never got muddy and the individual strings could be heard clearly through distorted passages. Also, a very quiet amp even at full bore.

Although the Tostada was a great amp, I really though the Ultra-Phonix was the one to beat. It had that "something" that inspired me to just play and at that point, dare I say, I didn't give a damn what was inside the amp becuase doing anything other than just playing the thing seemed ludicrous.

BTW, HAD still writes in a gold pen on the tubes!

[Guitarman18]

UltraHookedOnPhonix, do you have any idea of how recently HAD modded these amps?

It's a pity but most of my guitar buddies seem to have modern Marshalls, so I'm unlikely to ever come across anything HAD has had his hands on.

[sidehatch]

sounds cool!

Do you think a pro reverb could be modded to ultraphonics?

[angelodp]

Any gut shots per chance.

[UltraHookedOnPhonix]

Guitarman18

I don't think the owner wants to divulge that. Sorry to be an enigma

sidehatch

Good question, I suppose since they are very similar. If I had to guess what the Ultra-Phonix modification is I'd say that it's a preamp/phase inverter mod. Could be completely wrong though.

angelodp

Answer lies in the "disclaimer" portion of the first post

[Wolfgang]

Howdy UltraHookedOnPhonix
I believe we have a commom friend. If I'm talking about the same person as you, he is also the proud owner of what I consider the best sounding Esquire/Tele I've ever heard.

angelodp
If I'm talking about the same guy as UltraHookedOnPhonix, you would have to shoot him in the head in order to get even close to his amps with a screwdriver.

[UltraHookedOnPhonix]

Wolfgang
That Esquire-Tele is something isn't it?

[Mark]

http://www.londonpower.com/catalog/prod ... ucts_id=14

I imagine it is very similar to this sort of thing.

Is the dual Showman a blonde amp?

[qtone]

I would love to get a dual showman with verb and the fat boy trem..
I was curious what the cost is on something like that...?

Are they 10 grand ?
And dont call me Ill call you..?

Id love to own one just asking and Dual showman with verb and fatboy would be quite something to own..

[Mark]

Qtone, reverb isn't mentioned.

I'm curious as to which of Showman it is. As far as tremolo/vibrato goes, the Blonde Showman amp call it vibrato and the thump can be minimized by adjusting the two 1M resistors that feed the oscillator to the final preamp valve. I suppose having the right valve would also be a good means of adjustment too.

[qtone]

I guess I mentioned the reverb cause I would want that included
getting what you want is sometimes a tough deal it seems.

If they dont come with reverb that would be a feature Id want.
I dont gather price is mentioned either ?

That could be helpful as well for someone say wanting to buy one.
I usually ask just to arm myself with knowledge.

If I cant get what I want and a price outright then I tend to loose interest quickly..

[Mark]

I think I'd like to hear both amps before lavishing them with praise.

[59Pro]

sounds cool!

Do you think a pro reverb could be modded to ultraphonics?

A.Dumble did built Ultra Phonix Pro Reverb's. Robben Ford owns an Ultra Phonix Super Reverb as does Landau. I have a BF Deluxe and a Bandmaster.
BTW UltraHookedOnPhonix, nice review !

[Mark]

I have a BF Deluxe and a Bandmaster.

59Pro I'm not sure why you told us this info. Perhaps you left something out?

To explain my reply, the problem I have with the review is there isn't a reference point. Perhaps if he had heard the amp unmodified he would have liked it too?

What can the amp be compared to?

You Tube clips would have been handy. Maybe if I were to hear the amp I too would be raving, or maybe I'd say meh.

As music is so subjective, I don't take anyone's word on anything unless I've established that we have similar tastes, and I have to be wary then. I still believe the best thing anyone can do for their tone is to practise and play more.

[59Pro]

I have a BF Deluxe and a Bandmaster.

59Pro I'm not sure why you told us this info. Perhaps you left something out?

Mark, maybe should read some of the post's above. The question was if the UltraPhonix can be done in other amps than the reviewed Dual Showman, one particular interest was on a Pro Reverb.
I've played the following different Ultra Phonix amps: a Pro Reverb, a Super Reverb and my two amps.

Why I told you this info? To anwser the questions.