Why do you like Dumble clean tones?

[pula58]

So far I have played two amplifiers, so far, similar to the Dumble Overdrive Specials.

In both cases I did not completely bond with the clean tones. They seemed overly brite, perhaps crisp is the right word, as compared to my experience with Blackface and Silverface Fenders (and the AB763 style circuit that I built myself).

So, I would love to hear from you guys, who like the Dumble Clean tone , how to get the best out of it with, say, A Strat with low-ish output (Lollar "Blackface pickups). What is it you guys like about Dumble clean tones. Why would you like a Dumble-style clean tone compared to, say , A Fender Blackface clean tone?

I have a friends Brown Note D'lite over here and want to play with it a bit and see what lots of folks love about these amps. But, I don't hear it yet.

I don't think it is the fault of this amp in particular because I tried another brand of amp that was a dumble architecture, and felt the same way about it.

[brentm]

Man, I'd hate to be one of those cork sniffing dorks. Infact, I can never tell what a wine has hints of or tastes like (currants, chocolate, blackberry, or whatev) but I know what I like. Actually, I could taste blueberries in a coffee roast once... but anyway.

Both of the amps I've had the opportunity to play take some time to dial in. You gotta approach it slowly and work at it. I guess the buildup around these amps is such that one would expect to plug into it and just be blown away. Infact, some of my greatest guitar playing friends have casually played through my amps and not really been all that amazed.

Call the cleans how you'd like... glassy, 3d, articulate, floating on puffy clouds, chimey, swirly, bright or warm. You know what you like when you find it. Infact, I can get some great cleans that give me that same feeling on an old Fender tweed.

What I've found is that there is quite a bit of molding between all the components that go into the sound. From the player, guitar, down the cable, into the amp, settings on the amp, the tubes, speaker choice/cabinet, and back to the players ears/perception, etc. I spent the better half of a weekend rolling tubes in and out only to find that I really like RCA 12ax7s in V1 and V2. Then later switched out V1 for a Baldwin Japan long plate 12ax7. Sometimes I think I spend too much time tone chasing and not enough time just playing my guitar. FZ said it best I think. I should probably just shut up and play my guitar.

I was just watching Robben play Freedom. It sort of embodies that tone that I chase. Sweet cleans, slightly overdriven, then just full on overdrive. Check it.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRil3JBW35c

-Brent

[greiswig]

I was just watching Robben play Freedom. It sort of embodies that tone that I chase. Sweet cleans, slightly overdriven, then just full on overdrive. Check it.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRil3JBW35c

-Brent

Nice! Is he on the OD channel the whole time, just cleaning up the tone with the volume knob and finger attack?

[ER]

Why not go for the best of both worlds?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=old2pFY9owc

the sig 2rock;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2c9JPoh ... re=related

Peace-ER

[Bob-I]

I was just watching Robben play Freedom. It sort of embodies that tone that I chase. Sweet cleans, slightly overdriven, then just full on overdrive. Check it.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRil3JBW35c

-Brent

Nice! Is he on the OD channel the whole time, just cleaning up the tone with the volume knob and finger attack?

I don't believe that he used the dumble at all, there's a twin in the back line as well. That tone is more fendry to my ears. It never really gets into od territory.

[pula58]

Why not go for the best of both worlds?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=old2pFY9owc

the sig 2rock;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2c9JPoh ... re=related

Peace-ER

I LOVE Coles law, a song I like to play!

Are both clips the Kimock Sig two rock, or, didn't he have a two amp setup that includes a fender bassman?

[brentm]

I was just watching Robben play Freedom. It sort of embodies that tone that I chase. Sweet cleans, slightly overdriven, then just full on overdrive. Check it.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRil3JBW35c

-Brent

Nice! Is he on the OD channel the whole time, just cleaning up the tone with the volume knob and finger attack?

I don't believe that he used the dumble at all, there's a twin in the back line as well. That tone is more fendry to my ears. It never really gets into od territory.

Possibly the Tele's tone? I don't see a mic on the Fender Twin but there could be one, or he might have a mic on the back?

Here's another one that always gets me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7OINxfKZW0 - Robben's "Peace on my mind".

[ER]

The Fender is a two rock modified bandmaster that's basically a clean stereo extension amp with single showman OPT, the black amp looks like some sort of two rock with a 15" JBL(?) and he fiddles with a dumblelator type loop on top of that amp and then his 50 watt dumble (#86?) off to the left with a hard trucker style cab with JBLs?

The slide clip shows the tan two rock and who knows what else is on stage since the camera doesn't move (possibly slave out from dearmond RT5 for a little singe and compression and good likelihood of the bandmaster again for stereo extension), but it definitely has the clean dumble vibe for slide.

Good examples of low output single coils with dumble style cleans and light touch playing.

[Structo]

Nice! Is he on the OD channel the whole time, just cleaning up the tone with the volume knob and finger attack?

I don't believe that he used the dumble at all, there's a twin in the back line as well. That tone is more fendry to my ears. It never really gets into od territory.

Possibly the Tele's tone? I don't see a mic on the Fender Twin but there could be one, or he might have a mic on the back?

Here's another one that always gets me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7OINxfKZW0 - Robben's "Peace on my mind".

That is one of my favorite Robben videos.
Nice dynamics.
Whatever he plays he usually makes it sound great.

[brentm]

That is one of my favorite Robben videos.
Nice dynamics.
Whatever he plays he usually makes it sound great.

Same here! I have the song (less the solos) charted out if you're interested.

I watched the video of Kimock playing Stella Blue. I'm not really a dead fan, and am impartial to Kimock. But I had my 6 week old daughter on my chest/shoulder while listening to that, rocking in my computer chair. Trying to get her to relax and go to sleep and the song had some real lullaby qualities to it.... i got a little emotional. Just for like a split second though... damn that guy can play.

[guitarjazz]

Robben lent his ODS to Mark Whitfield for his first solo CD. I think it often gets overlooked that ODS's have a 'jazz' switch. How thoughtful of the man.

[ER]

Here's another one for all the dad's out there + more clean dumble content;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxWtdIewv7Q This is just the 50W dumble and a boogie (hi-fi?) stereo power amp for extension.

John plays with his dad now in crazy engine and is a great drummer in his own right.

I grew up watching Kimock play in Zero as an impressionable young guitarist and had some friends in common and got to open for them a couple times in my early 20's, that hippie shit just always stuck with me. Chippolina, Jerry, Carlos etc. those guys were hero's and mentors, where as the Ford Brothers from up in Ukiah we're just another blues band, and then Robben went all slick smooth Jazz later on (that was our impression back then, I hate to say it, we were blues snobs ).
I love him now but it took me a while to warm up to it when we had so many hot blues players locally around back then, and good tone is practically a religion where I grew up.

Imagine being a kid and sitting at the feet of something like this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vDDpPBP3L0
it makes a bit of an impression.

[pula58]

Here's another one for all the dad's out there + more clean dumble content;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxWtdIewv7Q This is just the 50W dumble and a boogie (hi-fi?) stereo power amp for extension.

John plays with his dad now in crazy engine and is a great drummer in his own right.

I grew up watching Kimock play in Zero as an impressionable young guitarist and had some friends in common and got to open for them a couple times in my early 20's, that hippie shit just always stuck with me. Chippolina, Jerry, Carlos etc. those guys were hero's and mentors, where as the Ford Brothers from up in Ukiah we're just another blues band, and then Robben went all slick smooth Jazz later on (that was our impression back then, I hate to say it, we were blues snobs ).
I love him now but it took me a while to warm up to it when we had so many hot blues players locally around back then, and good tone is practically a religion where I grew up.

Imagine being a kid and sitting at the feet of something like this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vDDpPBP3L0
it makes a bit of an impression.

Beautiful use of feedback!

[Structo]

Here's little Johnny playing with John Scofield and friends.

He's really come a long way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyL8NgyI ... re=related

[tictac]

I have a three way bright switch so I can switch between 50pF (like a BF Deluxe) 120pF (BF reverb) or the Dumble value of 250pF.

For me the 250pF is overly bright for the cleans but sounds good with OD.
Also I don't use feedback on the triode after the volume control; the sound with feedback seems constricted plus feedback creates the odd order harmonics which can be harsh...

Don't know if this will help you but it helped me dial in my OD cleans...

TT