![]() However, if someone were to purchase a used amplifier, Dumble offered free servicing. As of 2017, Dumble still built and serviced amplifiers for mainly prominent recording artists. Īround 2000 Dumble preferred to be called by his second name Alexander. Bill Putnam covered the additional "Low Noise" portion he developed for the 1176 in version C with black epoxy. One such application of this was in the 1971 UREI 1176LN version C. There are other practical reasons for covering circuits in epoxy: it keeps the parts firmly in place, and specially formulated epoxy can conduct heat well, although it will always have less surface area to dissipate heat than the bare components. Since the 1980s, Dumble covered the preamp circuitry of his amps with a thick layer of usually opaque epoxy, presumably protecting his circuit's exact design from prying eyes. After someone loaned him an amplifier (it wasn't for sale) he "was hooked for life." He subsequently contacted Howard Dumble, and was able to buy a used amp and have Dumble refurbish it. Carlos Santana, for instance, only heard of Dumble in reference to Stevie Ray Vaughan in the late 90s. Howard Dumble did some interviews and advertisements in the 80s-but few people knew about him, even in the professional music community. Much of the company's PR over the years has been word of mouth. Dumble became known as a tube electronics master, and his high end clientele gained him a reputation as a reclusive amplifier tech to the stars. Building to order only (even building his own speaker cabinets by hand), his amps gained a positive reputation and became highly sought after by professional musicians. Dumble, however, was not interested in selling amplifiers in greater numbers, but focused solely on getting the best possible sound. By the late 1970s, he was modifying and building high-gain amps in the way that Randall Smith of Mesa Boogie, and others did. Before he was 21, Mosrite, in Santa Cruz, hired Dumble to build a special line of Amplifiers for The Ventures. Howard Alexander Dumble began modifying Fender tweed and blackface amplifiers in 1963. Carlos Santana and Ben Harper, for example, both bought their first Dumble used, and had Dumble refurbish the amp for their particular playing styles. Dumble serviced and refurbished his original amplifiers for a fee, and many players would buy used Dumble amplifiers and have Dumble refurbish them. He priced them similarly to the used market to dissuade resale. ![]() ĭumble built two or three amplifiers per year, primarily for celebrity musicians and studios. In 2012, Vintage Guitar magazine described the Dumble Overdrive Special as the most valuable in the product line, with used amplifiers fetching between $70,000 and $150,000. ![]() Because of this, Dumble amplifiers are the most expensive boutique amplifiers on the used market, and prices have risen rapidly. In the one-person operation, Alexander "Howard" Dumble (J– January 16, 2022) made each amp personally. It sounds absolutely brilliant and has true rock star provenance.Guitar amplifier manufacturer in Los Angeles, Californiaĭumble was a guitar amplifier manufacturer in Los Angeles, California. This is a very rare and unique amp that Mr. The accompanying flight case still displays tape that reads “Carlos (PARK) 100 WT” and the amp itself still has input tape markers as well as red marker amp settings that are dialed to Carlos’s exact specifications. Santana from whom we purchased the amplifier directly used this amplifier live & in studio sessions for the better part of the next half decade as is written in his letter of authenticity. Jason used this amp for a number of years on the road but ultimately ownership of the Park ultimately transferred to Carlos Santana. Dumble only modded or rebuilt two Park amps, this being one of them for which he was very proud of. Dumble rebuilt the Park from the ground up using exclusively vintage parts, adding his coveted “Purple Haze” mod. By 2010 Ben’s guitarist, Jason Mozersky was eager to have a Dumble amp as well and provided this Park 100w head s/n: 17215 to be rebuilt. ![]() Dumble built and modded several amplifiers for Ben Harper in the early 2000's. Serial Number: 17215 - Previous ownership Jason Mozersky (Ben Harper) & Carlos Santana Make: Park 100w Head Model: Rebuilt by Dumble w Purple Haze Mod/Ultra Phonix (2012) ![]()
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