Topic: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

I recently stumbled across this and felt like I should share.  I know a lot of the forum members are from Europe and the UK.  Being that most of the D-style amps are built in the US they can be harder/more expensive to get.  I think this amp sounds great and is priced lower than some of the other clones out there:

http://www.voltamps.co.uk/

Maybe another option for Joe like with the Van Weeldens...

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.

2 (edited by fox5150 2010-01-24 04:56:20)

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

I recently stumbled across this and felt like I should share.  I know a lot of the forum members are from Europe and the UK.  Being that most of the D-style amps are built in the US they can be harder/more expensive to get.  I think this amp sounds great and is priced lower than some of the other clones out there:

http://www.voltamps.co.uk/

Maybe another option for Joe like with the Van Weeldens...

I'm in the UK and totally agree with how expensive and elusive the D-style amps are on this side of the pond! I did a Google on this last week and the Aston guys turned up. I'm really keen to try one of these out.

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

Lower priced...

I definitely still can't afford them.  :/The seem to sound nice though. smile

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

The prices are just insane!
Considering if I got one I would just use it as a blend amp for a few songs I can't really justify that price. As I'm sure that's many other peoples reasons.
I play too many different styles and play small venues so can't be doing with 2 amps. It'd be a lot of hassle really for a half hour set lol

5 (edited by shobet 2010-01-24 19:47:07)

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

I've found Martin at MJW (formerly Martamp) to be very knowledgeable and skilled in his builds and repairs. If you're after a specific amp type and don't see it on his page, email him and I'm sure he'd be able to build it for you.

http://www.martamp.com/

There are 10 kinds of people who understand binary.
Those who do and those who do not.

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

Jimi_lp wrote:

The prices are just insane!

I agree, far too expensive. For that money you could get Ceriatone's Overtone Special AND the Bluesmaster.

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

Guys, if you explore the website, you'll come across a pedal they make, which seems pretty awesome! I'm very tempted to buy it.

Jamming with Joe and Bernie Marsden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18zqg3brNH8

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

I agree that they aren't cheap by any stretch, but the fact is over here in the states they are much more.  A Bludotone Bludodrive will run you at least $3500 not counting any voicings/mods.  Two-Rocks are over $5000 new...imagine the shipping costs too!  I agree, the Dumble type amps are overpriced and overhyped.  They won't instantly turn you into Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, SRV, EJ, or Joe.  But they do have a signature sound that cannot be fully replicated with anything else.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

i heard the clips--the pedal too.  sound good.  we'll have to see who shows up with one    cool

Re: Heads up Joe, another "Dumble" builder in the UK!

If you spend some time on ampgarage and some of the other builder forums, you'll see there there are a fair amount of these level builders with fairly discreet set of components. The Ceriatone and Brownnote crew, to name two-have taken some time to essentially take a set of common Bill of Materials and offer those for these, staged gain "D" type circuits and either a pre-built or DIY set up. Where Moss (Brownnote) steps away from Ctone is his interface with his customers to do any custom voicing but still within a given set of options list.


There are two chief suppliers with Schematics in the open domain on the various circuits. This all started about 7-8 years ago when the hopeful DIYr's got frustrated and were taking their kits to a handful of builders

Where Brandon (Bludo) has focused on each era of HADs various circuits (and there's about 10-15) different ODS circuits alone. His builds are so specialized (like HAD's) that to lump Bludotone and even Two-Rock in with the more generalized D Circuits is a bit of a non, like kind comparison. Brandon is now one of the singular go to guys for these circuits in the US.

Clearly the PVW amps are killer though it appears that his build times are pretty long (10 months) which is where Brandon is running.

The amount of detail just in the OT's is boggling for these amps. TrainWreck clones are in the same boat though those circuits are much more straighforward. Still, In talking with some of the Wreck builders there are myriad options on the various component pairings to get it "Right" are stunning. Dizzying actually.

Ugh- what was my point? Oh well- I guess it's that the various folks particpating in the "D" style build space are not all equal. Far from it.

Here's a chunk of the various offerings or stylings that can be built to various D stylings- The Ceriatone's,  Skydstrups, and (presumably) voltamps- just don't go near this deep- Now you can start to see where these custom rigs can get pretty pricey. Don't even get me started on NOS nut cases- tongue

CLEAN:
70's Version1
70's Version 2
Low Plate Classic
High Plate Classic
Low Plate Skyline
High Plate Skyline
Bluesmaster Version 1
Bluesmaster Version 2
Bluesmaster Version 3
Ripper Version 1
Ripper Version 2

Overdrive:
Standard Overdrive
"Fat" Standard Overdrive (usually in 70's amps)
Hot Rubber Monkey Style Overdrive
Megaplex Style Overdrive Version 1(Usually in Ripper)
Megaplex Overdrive Version 2(also found in Ripper)

Phase Inverter:
70's style
Standard
Bluesmaster

Here's a cool one for you Dumble folks-

http://www.roblivesey.com/dumble/