Mike Landau new dumble???

[FUCHSAUDIO]

LOL.

"I love this amp but I need a dirtier clean....." oh

"Great amp, can you make the dirt channel cleaner ?"

grrr

[Colossal]

Tony, Andy:

You guys make lucid points, completely valid from that point of view. Yes, it is very hard to convey tone between player and builder and there is definitely some intense one-on-one needed to tease out the nuances of what the player is looking for in a custom amp. I have done this with clients I have been fortunate to build amps for (and thankfully, I exceeded their expectations...whew). However, given Dumble's known eccentricities for taking years to deliver an amp (after someone has prepaid), $5k Fender mods, and all of the other quirky lore I've read, the idea of an audition tape only adds to the perception that he would be very full of himself.

I could seriously see the value in a player presenting an audition tape as a tonal reference for the builder to say "this is the clean I am looking for but with a little more bite" or "hear how the note blooms there..." but the way I interpreted the post was that Dumble had to judge someone "good enough" to play one of his amps. I suppose I could see the value in not having a complete hack buy one of my amps and then bad mouth the tone he/she was getting and the negative (and unjust) publicity that could cause. I also suppose if you had so much work (and money) that you could pick and choose your clientele, I guess that could be anyone's prerogative.

Great Eric Johnson tale by the way.

Regards,
Dave

[Max]

Hi all,

My personal opinion concerning this "How strange is Alexander Dumble?" off-topic:

AFAIK in a democratic society, like the USA where AFAIK Alexander Dumble lives and has his shop, everyone has the right to do whatever he likes best as long as he doesn't step over the borders of the human rights - and the constitution and laws that are valid wherever he lives.

AFAIK it is a rather obvious fact that what is legal at some given place and time is something rather different from what people may think as being ethical at this given place and time.

AFAIK different people have very different opinions – sometimes depending on religion etc. - concerning what is ethical and they and others should do and shouldn't do and these different opinions and the deeds based on them often result in conflicts between people with different ethical opinions.

AFAIK very often both parties who are a part of such a conflict claim that they both do or did act ethically.

AFAIK because of this a democratic society has courts who judge, which party of such a conflict is right and wrong, but in a legal sense and not in an ethical sense.

AFAIK it is a strong believe in democratic societies that all ethical questions are of a completely personal and subjective kind and – if at all - only valid as rules for only one single person: the person who believes in these personal ethical standards.

So because of all this IMO it doesn’t make much sense to discuss if person A has the better or superior ethical standards as person B, because in the view of a democratic society there isn’t something like a universally valid ethical benchmark that IMO would be needed to discuss something like this with some sense.

AFAIK the only universally valid benchmarks in a democratic society are the human rights, the constitution, and the laws.

And concerning a discussion if it’s legal, or in accord with the human rights and the US constitution what Alexander Dumble does or doesn’t, I personally have strong doubts that we all here are the appropriate experts to discuss such a question with a lot of sense.

Cheers,

Max

[59Pro]

This has been speculated about for years.

He did live on Jackson Brownes Estate for a number of years (in "The Abbey" a church-like building on JB's property). I think in return, he supplied maintenance and repair work as well as amps to JB and to JB's studio. Within the last few years (not sure of exact date) he was asked to leave. I had heard that Carlos Santana leased or bought a house for him to live in, and he lived there for some time. Not sure if he still does. He is supposedly "very busy" doing custom work for artists and recording studios in the LA area, but it's just speculation. Your not the only person who's wondered how he's survived for so many years.

What is there to speculate? Why wonder how he survives?
He does what many of us do, he works to make a living. He does what he loves to do. He is building amps, developing new technologies, playing his guitars and he has the luxury to chose his customers, not a bad place to be. From what I can tell, he is busy.

[CHIP]

This has been speculated about for years.

He did live on Jackson Brownes Estate for a number of years (in "The Abbey" a church-like building on JB's property). I think in return, he supplied maintenance and repair work as well as amps to JB and to JB's studio. Within the last few years (not sure of exact date) he was asked to leave. I had heard that Carlos Santana leased or bought a house for him to live in, and he lived there for some time. Not sure if he still does. He is supposedly "very busy" doing custom work for artists and recording studios in the LA area, but it's just speculation. Your not the only person who's wondered how he's survived for so many years.

What is there to speculate? Why wonder how he survives?
He does what many of us do, he works to make a living. He does what he loves to do. He is building amps, developing new technologies, playing his guitars and he has the luxury to chose his customers, not a bad place to be. From what I can tell, he is busy.

Yeah, and he makes guns too! It honestly is a cool life to live.

[stelligan]

This thread is an interesting read. I couldn't care less about how HAD is getting by financially. It is really none of my concern. What does fascinate me, is the screening and choosing of his clients. I would think that it is in his best interest to have only players with the finest chops and tonal concepts play his creations. No matter how long it takes. It serves to consistently put him and his amplifier in a better light. I do not presume to know anything about the man. Seems it's much less about financial gain for him and more quality than quantity of work. While I do not believe entirely that all "tone is in the fingers", a freakin' lot of it really is. I assume it makes some of the pro builders here cringe when someone is so excited with their new Jimbo's Super Deluxe Overdrive Spacial that they post a youTube of them with their buzzing Stratocaster playing Mustang Sally with a tone that would make a billy goat puke. Sure you got the money in your pocket from the sale, but how much did that nasty posted clip set you back. Or the buyer saying "I have a TooRawk, MadeYa Boogie, and a Sad Proclaimer and their clean tones are WAY better....."

I have great respect for you guys here making a living building hand wired amps. I am sure it is very challenging in this economy and with everyone able to post videos of your handiwork for all to peruse. I am certain you would all wish that most of them were the likes of Michael Landau, Robben Ford, et al.. Wouldn't that be good for your business?

Some artists die broke and forever famous. Such is life. This thread puts a magnifying glass on the difference between art and commercial art. All good, just different.

[dreric]

Hi all,

My personal opinion concerning this "How strange is Alexander Dumble?" off-topic:

AFAIK in a democratic society, like the USA where AFAIK Alexander Dumble lives and has his shop, everyone has the right to do whatever he likes best as long as he doesn't step over the borders of the human rights - and the constitution and laws that are valid wherever he lives.

AFAIK it is a rather obvious fact that what is legal at some given place and time is something rather different from what people may think as being ethical at this given place and time.

AFAIK different people have very different opinions – sometimes depending on religion etc. - concerning what is ethical and they and others should do and shouldn't do and these different opinions and the deeds based on them often result in conflicts between people with different ethical opinions.

AFAIK very often both parties who are a part of such a conflict claim that they both do or did act ethically.

AFAIK because of this a democratic society has courts who judge, which party of such a conflict is right and wrong, but in a legal sense and not in an ethical sense.

AFAIK it is a strong believe in democratic societies that all ethical questions are of a completely personal and subjective kind and – if at all - only valid as rules for only one single person: the person who believes in these personal ethical standards.

So because of all this IMO it doesn’t make much sense to discuss if person A has the better or superior ethical standards as person B, because in the view of a democratic society there isn’t something like a universally valid ethical benchmark that IMO would be needed to discuss something like this with some sense.

AFAIK the only universally valid benchmarks in a democratic society are the human rights, the constitution, and the laws.

And concerning a discussion if it’s legal, or in accord with the human rights and the US constitution what Alexander Dumble does or doesn’t, I personally have strong doubts that we all here are the appropriate experts to discuss such a question with a lot of sense.

Cheers,

Max

Max

Of course all of this is true. Dumble has every right to be and do as he pleases within the confines of our social and legal system.

However, his lack of involvement in our social system, (interviews, web page, available contact information, retail representation/dealers) generates the kind of speculation that is running through this thread.

HAD is like the Marlon Brando of the amp world. Like Brando, HAD does what he wants for reasons that he does not share with the public. Brando left his films, with HAD are left with the product.

Every now and then there's a person who does something to generate celebrity and yet they seem not to care about the the fans who hold them in high esteem. It creates an enigma. A puzzle of trying to figure out the nature of their motives. Their past actions become the source of speculation, exaggeration and gossip.

Thank you for the reminding me that it's a free society and to be careful of too much character assessment.

Eric

[butwhatif]

Enigma is a good way to describe. And because it's the boutique amp world
his kind of dysfunction is tolerated. If it was in the automotive dealership world
i don't think so---

[Chris333]

Enigma is a good way to describe. And because it's the boutique amp world
his kind of dysfunction is tolerated. If it was in the automotive dealership world
i don't think so---

Ever been to Sears Auto Center?

[Structo]

Remember DeLorean?

[ToneMerc]

Yeah, and he makes guns too! It honestly is a cool life to live.

Supposely he makes black powder pistols; that would keep him under the radar of not needing an FFL, not having to charge federal excise tax or any local zoning restrictions.

TM

[Max]

his kind of dysfunction

Indeed, to be functional is thought today as beeing the most important character trait and ability of a person. Obviously the Woodstock generation did find the way back home. Welcome To The Real World!

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

Cheers,

Max

[groovtubin]

how 'bout all the ones that sent the $, got impatient, pissed him off, and got nothing?

Hi,

AFAIR most self-help books on shopping often recommend reading before signing.

Cheers,

Max

Deposit- haha, it was to be paid all up front via cashiers check.

#04- was an additional $700 in 1989.

Price-the price was directly related to the lead time and of course the most expensive price was the quickest delivery time.
That's not a problem in itself, however I remember being "encouraged" that it would be in my best benefit not to choose the slowest delivery time.

I was thinking to myself over the phone, damn this dude is shaking me down............

TM

SO..you own a real one? Just asking!

jim

[qtone]

When Ejs SSS went down he took that to Rays in Austin.. Bill Johnson no relation to Ej was the tech there . He was trying to fix the amp but there was a giant dark purple blob in it and they did not know how to fix it.
I was told to be quiet as Bill Called Dumble to ask for tips on how to fix it.

Before he ever picked the phone up I said he isnt going to tell you how to fix that thus the DARK PURPLE BLOB. Again I was told to shut up and Bill called.

The conversation was less then 10 min and it went something like this
but im trying to fix, but i just need to know how to fix but i can fix it if you tell me what to change ....a few more frustrated butts and the conversation was over.

I asked if he told them how to fix it and they said get out of here
I was laughing the entire time...

I stood over Ejs SSS it indeed had purple goop and it was not working.
Eric told me in person he thought he had blown the transformer.

The amp was given back to Steven Bruton as Bruton knew HAD very well and he could go back and get it fixed.

Eric had a bogner 100b the next time I saw him play live.
Two of those came to Texas the first one went to Ej the second to
a studio player dave seebring... I bought that Bogner from Seebring.

The amp was returned to Dumble to fix via Bruton because he could get in
to see Dumble if anyone could.

When it finally came back through and Eric played it again it was not the same as it had been to Erics ears and he passed on buying it.

That is not a tale it is fact. The point of sending it back through Bruton
was not to ever burn any bridges and to someday get another Dumble.

I suggested taking the dark purple goop off they said idiot it would ruin the amp further and you could never ever get it fixed then because it had been tampered with..


Eric explained he sold the amp back to Bruton for what he had paid
I was jumping up and down saying id have bought it for that.

He said it was broken what would you do stare at a broken amp ?
Yes until I found someone to fix it yes.

Back then though no one had the spine to degoop the amp
No one in Austin that is and if you did you would never get another one.


The Srv SSS story is another "tale" Stevie had two of them
one broke down he sent it back and was on the phone with HAD at Rays
the same place in Austin Srv and Jimmy both were always in there using the phone in the back..

Anyway Srv gets the big man on the phone and the next thing said was
how much ? I did not pay that much for the amp to begin with !
You can keep it for that....

Dumble wanted 4 grand for phone expenses time on phone consulting and fixing the amp back exactly how SRV was telling him on the phone...

Stevie was pissed because D wanted to charge for phone time..
I remember that causing ww3 right in Rays...

Danny Thorpe worked at Rays during that time on the counter and
doing setups for guitars building pedal boards ect...

When Srv left mad I said what the hell happened ?
Danny laughing his ass off said D tried to charge him 4 grand
for the repair and phone charges and Stevie told him to keep it.


He was not laughing at Stevie they were best friends he was laughing
at the fact Stevie told him basically to go fuck himself and keep it.

I saw Srvs D cab in Rays and the burnt orange suede cabs for Tommy
Srvs D cab had the back off and I asked whats up with the divider between top 2 speakers and bottom 2...? all EVS at that ??

The evs wont blow they said and the divider was to keep the sound from washing about in the cab... making 2 12 cabs in one basically.
all wired to the same ohms but I guess if you wanted you could in fact
wire those stereo top and bottom and have separate feeds.

That was what I thought anyway..

I lived in Austin from 81 till about 10 years ago..

I think the artists could use that phone and call long distance
there and Ray paid a flat fee so long chats would not matter...

Evidently they mattered to Dumble though...
lol

[Structo]

Thanks for the great story!

It makes you wonder how HAD ever sold an amp in the first place.