martin manning wrote: ↑Mon Apr 14, 2025 7:46 pm ... Maybe it didn't have the post-PI driver in it originally and that was added? Need to see the documentation.
To date, I have never heard of or seen a Dumble amplifier with at least four KT88 or 6550 power tubes without a post-PI driver. Therefore, I personally consider it rather unlikely that the conversion of this "Dumble Special" into a "Steel String Singer," which, according to D. Berlin, was subsequently named accordingly on the back cover, involved the installation of a driver tube that was not originally present in this "Dumble Special."
Since A. Dumble was familiar with the circuitry of the two stolen Steel String Singers, I consider it more likely that the modifications to the "Dumble Special" consisted of adapting the circuitry of this "Dumble Special" as closely as possible to the circuitry of the two stolen Steel String Singers, given the time constraints imposed by the theft, without making major changes to the mechanics and chassis, and without considering the reverb.
But you are of course right that without knowing the exact changes (circuit before and after the conversion) and/or the correspondence between A. Dumble and SRV at the time, this is all pretty speculative.
And Dumbleland Special #009 (https://www.instagram.com/kittyhawk_dum ... VVNwQuf-L/) originally had these small potentiometer knobs on the rotary switches and also on all the other potentiometers (and, as I recall, originally not a "classic" tonestack, but a "pre-classic" tonestack like SSS #001).
So, as I have already written, I personally think it is rather unlikely that the two small potentiometer knobs for the filters only found their place on the front panel of this “Dumble Special” in the 80s as part of the modification to a “Steel String Singer” reported by D. Berlin.
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Dumble's mystique and secrecy, how many amps, what kind of builds, who got what amp, who has it now, what kind of parts, the eccentricity of his ordering process, which amp was for which player, where did he live, etc etc etc.
That each amp was totally unique and build for a specific player. I don't see that as much as each amp was "tweak-able"
Many may not agree with my opinions. I believe that Dumble had significant social anxiety, a strong tendency towards hording, addiction issues and significant health issues most of his life.
Did he take Fender, Marshall, Ampeg designs to another level? Did he leave his mark on the history of guitar amplification?
ABSOLUTELY!!
I believe that Dumble was truly an artist following his quest for artistic identity.
He was clearly not a business man
Not that he's passed his legacy is in the hands of someone who has primarily a salesman and business and his intention (as well as Dumble's family) is to profit from Dumble's legacy for their own gain.
I don't have a problem with that, but call it what it is.
I mean no disrespect to Berlin and I am sure that he was very important to Dumble and vise versa but it is in Berlin's own interest to maintain the mystique. It is part of the Dumble "brand"
This forum has been the design melting pot for over a dozen now professional builders who now cultivate their own brand mystique and secrecy, yet at their core............ at my core in my builds.
We are all copying someone else's art.
Eric
1949 Zenith, Zenith Toggle Recoil, Zenith 55 & 440
