Alexander Howard Dumble RIP ?

[Matt Sarad]

LA Vintage guitar Instagram
No confirmation as of yet.

I met Howard when I was 12. I saw him play guitar with a band in the late 60s here in Bakersfield.
He was a friend of my big brother.

 

[buster poser]

Wampler just posted about it on their Twitter, but I haven’t seen any official confirmation. Hope it’s just rumors

 

[roeg]

yeah. hoping here too not true. Amp genius.

 

[Rufus]

RIP
I could not identify the "Dumble sound" if my life depended on it, but anyone who owns a real Dumble amp can expect to see their already high price tag increase even further.

 

[roeg]

Wampler just posted about it on their Twitter, but I haven’t seen any official confirmation. Hope it’s just rumors

View attachment 941346

that sucks, if true.

 

[schmee]

RIP. Sold him an old speaker once.

 

[Ronzo]

Not sure how accurate the reports are regarding his death… but, in case they are true…

RIP, Mr. Dumble. Thank you for showing us all just how wonderful an amp can sound when used by the best guitarists on Earth. You did things your way, because you were talented enough and single- minded enough to know why you were here, and that you didn’t want to be compromised by other people’s so-called “needs”, or their egos. It was good to have you with us. Sorry it wasn’t for a longer time.

 

[stantheman]

A True Artist. Liked by everyone who knew him. Innovator and Genius. People I know always said he was a generous Guy and kept it quiet. Humility and Decency.

 

[Robert H.]

Howard Dumble dead and obituary, Alexander "Howard" Dumble - cause of death

We are hearing very sad news that one of the undisputed kings of tone, Howard Dumble has passed away. Our love to his friends and family, his work touched many lives x #dumble Dumble is a guitar amplifier manufacturer in Los Angeles, California. One-man operation, Alexander “Howard” Dumble...

en.memesrandom.com

 

[drmordo]

Sad news, though until today I had not realized how unlikely it is that I will ever own one of his amps. Those are bonkers prices.

 

[That Cal Webway]

r i.p. to a true innovator

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

So much has been written about HD, good, bad or indifferent. I think he will always be in ampdom, " a riddle wrapped inside an enigma ".

R.I.P.

 

[Engine Swap]

An interesting blend of genius, mystery, and innovation. R.I.P.

 

[thunderbyrd]

i really don't know much about him except that Robben Ford gets a great sound from one of his amps. but i'm sorry for his passing.

 

[getbent]

rest easy alexander. I hope they put a plaque up for you at the catalyst and at sylvan.

you made the tone quest a real quest... and lots of fun.

 

[Silverface]

RIP

It will be interesting to discover if he left any documentation somewhere in his hoard of gear (besides his amplifier work he amassed a huge collection of vintage gear). Each amp he built, modified or serviced was unique and tweaked to the needs of each player.

"Dumble Overdrive Special" is like saying "Chevrolet" - more a brand name than a specific amp, and one made for (as examples) Robben Ford will not have the same touch response or tone as one made for Jackson Browne. I've played through several ODS and each one was very different in its breakup point, touch sensitivity and overall harmonic emphasis.

Some techs have removed the epoxy he "gooped" his preamp circuits with (except for early ones not really representative of his best-known work), but very few parts were readable after "de-gooping" and the removal process made LCR meter readings unreliable. *IF* he left records and *IF* they are made available to anyone - even at premium prices - my guess is there will be a mad scramble for schematics of ones owned by the most famous players.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

One of my goals in life was to make enough money in the music biz to buy a Dumble. Well no plan survives first contact with the enemy, and while that will never happen, his amps are magic.
What a genius.

 

[Esquire Jones]

Many moons ago I came across one of his amps at a music store in Boston. I was able to play around with it for a few minutes and couldn’t get any tones that I liked out of it.

Then the guy I knew at the store plugged into it and angels flew out of the speaker. Buttery, creamy, thick and delicious.

 

[Willie Johnson]

So much has been written about HD, good, bad or indifferent. I think he will always be in ampdom, " a riddle wrapped inside an enigma ".

R.I.P.

...covered in epoxy. Rest in amplitude.

 

[Deeve]

Those amps are going to become expensive, now.
And the crystalline mystery may never be solved.
RIP, dude.