Robben Ford's amps / follow-up

[Max]

Hi all,

in the meantime I remembered and looked again at a picture that shows Robben Ford’s Dumble gear in 1987. This picture was published in the March 1988 edition of the magazine "Soundcheck" as the title-page for the Steven Rosen interview with Alexander. On this picture you see Alexander standing behind a pile of his gear:

On the bottom right you see the flight case of Robben Ford’s black 2x12” cabinet. On top of this flightcase, and on the right beside the flightcase of his Dumble head, stands his black 2x12” cabinet. On top of his 2x12” cabinet stands his Vox grill ODS. And on this picture you can clearly see the green EQ switches and the green pilot light of Robben’s "green light / green EQ switches" ODS chassis that currently resides in the tan cabinet.

Based on this picture and on what has been posted here up to now - this now is my theory and its practical implications:

- The "green light / green EQ switches" chassis, currently residing in the 8 holes tan head cabinet, is his first ODS that RF got in 1982. Originally a 4th generation "low plate classic" ODS and originally in the Vox grill cabinet.

- For the TTYD recording sessions RF used (at least as he tells it in the "Guitar Player" interview) this "green light / green EQ switches" chassis - still a "low plate classic" then and still in its original Vox grill cabinet - and his Dumble 2x12" cabinet with EV speakers.

- For the Carson TTYD promo show he used another Dumble ODS head.

- For the '88/'89 TTYD tour he used again the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis in the Vox grill cabinet.

- By no later than 1993 he then got the 8 bolts "gold script ODS", then still in its tan 8 holes cabinet and most likely accompanied by the matching tan 2x12” speaker cabinet.

- Around the same time his first "green light / green switches" chassis was updated to "high plate skyline" specs and an 8 bolts fastening system, left the Vox grill cabinet and went into a new style 8 holes black cabinet.

- After the skyline and 8 bolts update of the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis RF used it in its new style 8 holes black cabinet on his 1993 tour, at least in Europe.

- At some point before Montreux 2007 his 1982 "green light / green EQ switches" chassis was mounted into the 8 holes tan cabinet of the "gold script" chassis and the 8 bolts "gold script" chassis was mounted into the black 8 holes new style cabinet.

So the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis is his first ODS used from 1982 until now.

Result from a practical point of view:

AFAIR some members here posted sometimes that they like Robben Ford’s 80ies guitar tone (TTYD as an example) a bit better than his 90ies and current guitar tone.

Now Scott (dogears) reported, if I understood him correctly, that the power supply of the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis is still the original "yellow Sprague Atoms" one. And Brandon, ampdork and Scott now have posted a lot of the current specs of this chassis. And AFAIK it is known here, what will be the most likely differences between the 80ies "low plate classic" configuration and the current "high plate skyline" configuration of this "green light / green EQ switches" chassis.

So based on all that is known now due to the generosity of ampdork, Brandon and Scott, someone with the knowledge needed for amp building will perhaps be able now to build a promising clone of both:

- the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis in its "low plate classic" 80ies configuration

and

- the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis in its 90ies and current "high plate skyline" configuration

- just according to everyone’s personal taste.

So all those here, who prefer the 80ies tone, now can perhaps build a "TTYD clone" - and all those here, who prefer his current tone, can use the current configuration for a clone.

And because on most of all these YouTube clips (and reportedly on TTYD, too) Robben Ford always plays the "green light / green EQ switches" chassis with the same power supply and the same OT etc. - at first in its "low plate classic" configuration and then in its "high plate skyline" configuration – IMO this is a great opportunity to compare the different timbres of these two configurations - and be it only out of some general interest in different Dumble timbres and without building a clone in mind.

So far my theory and some of its practical implications - based of course on my current knowledge, which could of course be wrong. So if you detect inconsistencies or if you know contradicting facts, please post these, so they could be discussed here if some members should be interested to do so.

Have a great weekend,

Max

[talbany]

For the Carson TTYD promo show he used another Dumble ODS head.

Here is the most likley reason for the odd ball pop up!!

If you perform on one of these high profile talk shows you can’t bring in your own gear, you have to have it shipped to the rental company days ahead of time..Allot of guy’s don’t want to stick their prized amps in the mail especially to a rental company...Since the Tonight Show was so widely watched at the time Dumble provided the amp for the show..Why not wonderful exposure..
This was before most TV producers decided amps were ugly!!..

Tony

[Max]

For the Carson TTYD promo show he used another Dumble ODS head.

Here is the most likley reason for the odd ball pop up!!

If you perform on one of these high profile talk shows you can’t bring in your own gear, you have to have it shipped to the rental company days ahead of time..Allot of guy’s don’t want to stick their prized amps in the mail especially to a rental company...Since the Tonight Show was so widely watched at the time Dumble provided the amp for the show..Why not wonderful exposure..
This was before most TV producers decided amps were ugly!!..

Tony

Hi Tony,

thanks for this explanation! And do you know what - on this "Soundcheck" picture from 1987, taken at Dumble's place, there's another ODS that looks just like the one from the Carson show!

Take care,

Max

[talbany]

Max
Cool!! Thanks didn't notice that..There you go!!..I have an amp that I've kept that's been on at least a dozen or so TV shows and Music awards shows..When they come back they always carry a new battle scar!!..

Tony

[Bob-I]

This was before most TV producers decided amps were ugly!!..

Tony

I don't know about THAT. Even back in the old Ed Sullivan show amps were mostly off stage. Check out the Beatles first performance in US TV. (Warning... no Dumble content)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8pX_nHPduo

[Structo]

Man I remember that night. My older sister wouldn't shut up!

[talbany]

This was before most TV producers decided amps were ugly!!.. :roll:

Tony

I don't know about THAT. Even back in the old Ed Sullivan show amps were mostly off stage. Check out the Beatles first performance in US TV. (Warning... no Dumble content)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8pX_nHPduo

Bob
From what I gather TV producers these days don't know what will show.. They assume its going to be the rental gear which is pretty beat up and not as cool looking as we think.. If the artist wants to use something different it's up to them to provide the gear so the producers are kept out of the loop on this one.. I am sure some of it depends on who the artist is what they want and what's in the Ryder..If they don't specify where they want the amps they are usually put somewhere un seen.. Most of the artists don't mind this due to the improvement in the in ear monitor systems which they use out on the road and most are used to them.. There are other concerns such as volume issues since some of the sets are rather small..If your Eric Clapton or Robben or Paisley you put the amp anywhere you want.. If your a hired gun you do what they tell you..For those who care to know!!

Not to de-rail..Purely gossip!!

Tony

[johan]

A pic of Robben Fords "other" Dumble.
From a Renegade Creation gig 8.11.11

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