Rowin Dumbler

[Dan German]

TLDR I like it

Well, I was house-sitting for a friend (forced to entertain myself with his MIJ Strat and his Larrivee acoustic) and he just returned. He had left the fridge heavily overstocked with my favourite beverages, and added a big sack of such things as a gift on his return. On top of said beverages was a Rowin Dumbler. I don’t need any more pedals, I have my pedal board just exactly as I want it (admit it, you’ve told yourself the same lie), so it’s not something I was interested in. Curious, but not interested. Well, now I have to find room for it on my board. Luckily, it’s a mini. I’m not going to get into whether or not it recreates “the Dumble Sound,” but judged on its own merits, it deserves a place on my board. My gain-stacking currently consists of an MT-10 Mostortion clone/Roland Funny Cat SDS into a TC Spark Boost. I have been happy switching between the two distortions and leaving the Spark as an always-on. Now, I think I need the Dumbler as a third option. It provides enough sustain that it may make the Roland redundant, but that remains to be seen. On to the specifics:

I started with the Dumbler knobs at 12:00 and played my Logan with Keystone pickups and a 5 way switch. Guitar>Dumbler>Clean PRII. After playing for a bit, I started tweaking. The tone knob I basically left alone. Volume might need some adjustment relative to Gain but we’ll see. Gain knob is good from 12:00 right to the max, probably best at 2:00. One interesting effect is that the difference between my 5 switch positions seems more pronounced with the Dumbler. I may need to learn how to adjust the Dumbler better for some positions. After getting satisfied with the pedal on its own, I put it in my chain. It’s even better with the Spark after it. Time to switch guitars. Mustang copy with Bootstrap low-output Strat pickups? Rockin’! ‘65 Danelectro? Rockin’! The “Voice” knob will probably see some usage as I go forward, but this pedal suits my single-coil needs pretty darn well.

As for the Dumble question, one of the things that always gets mentioned in Dumbletalk is “bloom.” Whether this cheap pedal simulates Dumble or not, it definitely gives good sustain with a strong finish. I noticed right away that what sounds good with the Dumbler sounds even better with some delay and reverb on it.

 

[dlew919]

I have one. It’s a nice little overdrive. Again I don’t know if it sounds like a dumble but I don’t really care.

 

[richey88]

I couldn’t get along with the one I had. Glad you’re having fun with it!

 

[schenkadere]

I thought it was a decent pedal. The NUX dumble thing was better.

 

[PCollen]

TLDR I like it

Well, I was house-sitting for a friend (forced to entertain myself with his MIJ Strat and his Larrivee acoustic) and he just returned. He had left the fridge heavily overstocked with my favourite beverages, and added a big sack of such things as a gift on his return. On top of said beverages was a Rowin Dumbler. I don’t need any more pedals, I have my pedal board just exactly as I want it (admit it, you’ve told yourself the same lie), so it’s not something I was interested in. Curious, but not interested. Well, now I have to find room for it on my board. Luckily, it’s a mini. I’m not going to get into whether or not it recreates “the Dumble Sound,” but judged on its own merits, it deserves a place on my board. My gain-stacking currently consists of an MT-10 Mostortion clone/Roland Funny Cat SDS into a TC Spark Boost. I have been happy switching between the two distortions and leaving the Spark as an always-on. Now, I think I need the Dumbler as a third option. It provides enough sustain that it may make the Roland redundant, but that remains to be seen. On to the specifics:

I started with the Dumbler knobs at 12:00 and played my Logan with Keystone pickups and a 5 way switch. Guitar>Dumbler>Clean PRII. After playing for a bit, I started tweaking. The tone knob I basically left alone. Volume might need some adjustment relative to Gain but we’ll see. Gain knob is good from 12:00 right to the max, probably best at 2:00. One interesting effect is that the difference between my 5 switch positions seems more pronounced with the Dumbler. I may need to learn how to adjust the Dumbler better for some positions. After getting satisfied with the pedal on its own, I put it in my chain. It’s even better with the Spark after it. Time to switch guitars. Mustang copy with Bootstrap low-output Strat pickups? Rockin’! ‘65 Danelectro? Rockin’! The “Voice” knob will probably see some usage as I go forward, but this pedal suits my single-coil needs pretty darn well.

As for the Dumble question, one of the things that always gets mentioned in Dumbletalk is “bloom.” Whether this cheap pedal simulates Dumble or not, it definitely gives good sustain with a strong finish. I noticed right away that what sounds good with the Dumbler sounds even better with some delay and reverb on it.

I bought the iSet Dumbler last December, which is the same as the Rowin Dumbler (I've been told) but in a cosmetically different box. It's a great pedal, especially for the money, one of my favorites and I have many that cost much more. I also use a full size TC Spark as you mentioned.

 

[Grenville]

I've owned a Wampler Super Ecstasy (aka Euphoria), two One Control Golden Acorn Overdrive Specials and a Rowin Dumbler.

The Dumbler is definitely in the same family as the Wampler and the Gold Acorn. Compared side by side with the Acorn, the Dumbler is a bit grainier, the Acorn a bit more finessed.

But for certain gigs, the 10% less polish and 5% more grittiness of the Dumbler was perfect.

 

[Hoodster]

I also had the iSET version for just over $20 new on Amazon and it’s a very good od.

 

[GotA24Fretter]

Pretty sure it's a Zendrive clone. In that case the Voice control takes a bit of getting used to. It affects the amount of low end/low mids in the clipping circuit while also affecting the overall available gain. At lowest settings it's least gain, most lows. At highest setting it's highest gain, least lows. So there's a good bit of interaction with the gain knob as you tweak the Voice.

Very cool tonally and elegantly simple electronically.

 

[Jon S.]

Pretty sure it's a Zendrive clone. In that case the Voice control takes a bit of getting used to. It affects the amount of low end/low mids in the clipping circuit while also affecting the overall available gain. At lowest settings it's least gain, most lows. At highest setting it's highest gain, least lows. So there's a good bit of interaction with the gain knob as you tweak the Voice.

Very cool tonally and elegantly simple electronically.

Very helpful info., thanks. I’ll do some more experimenting with mine tomorrow.

 

[micadoo]

Pretty sure it's a Zendrive clone. In that case the Voice control takes a bit of getting used to. It affects the amount of low end/low mids in the clipping circuit while also affecting the overall available gain. At lowest settings it's least gain, most lows. At highest setting it's highest gain, least lows. So there's a good bit of interaction with the gain knob as you tweak the Voice.

Very cool tonally and elegantly simple electronically.

I was going to mention the Zendrive. I've built a couple. It's a good pedal, doesn't work with every amp, but when it does it's great. Very smooth. Now that Lovetone is making them I don't know if they have changed? Never even seen a real Dumble let alone play through one. Too rich for my blood

 

[FenderLover]

I've built a few Zendrives also. That LovePedal is building them (with the original designer) should not minimize their cache, but it does anyway because they are not 'original'. Guitar players always want the pedal that is not available any more, or hasn't come out yet.
The circuit is so simple there would be no reason to change anything, and I doubt LovePedal has. My DIY's compare very favorably with my LovePedal version. If a clone can't hit the mark, it's probably not a clone. I'm sure some builders like to put their own thumb print on things so their work is not a direct lift of the original. Probably rightfully so. If no two Dumbles are the same and a pedal cannot likely replicate a Dumble with a single IC, who are we foolin'? You like it or you don't. The Dude is considerably more complex, and I'd like to try one of those. They are also available as a kit for DIY'ers.
Excuse the ramble. Trying to avoid going back to work...