• From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Topic: low wattage dumble type amp?

Hey guys. Been having a good time with my new fulltone fulldrive and getting some pretty good tones. Getting convincing dumbleish tones using it through a superchamp xd on the blackface setting at home. There are plenty of low powered amps out there especially doing the marshall or the fender thing. The digital part of the champ just seems to be compressing things too much. Does anyone know of a good low powered amp that does the dumble thing or would I be better sticking with what I have. Don;t get me wrong the sounds from the fulltone and champ are pretty damn good. I have a marshall class 5 which does a great low volume marshall thing. Is there anything at say less than 7 watts that will get a good dumble tone without the need for pedals?

Would I be better getting something like a deluxe reverb or princeton and using a pedal for drive?

  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

You might want to e-mail Nik at Ceriatone and get his feedback and or possible custom offering at such a low wattage. I have a Fulldrive and it's a nice pedal, but not designed IMO to replicate a Dumble-ish tone like a Dum/Zenkuko, Zendrive, etc IMO - these pedals add a little different color to your tone then Fulldrive.  You might try stacking another OD pedal with your Fulldrive - have one at low OD setting and other on higher OD setting.

Fuzzblues wrote:

Hey guys. Been having a good time with my new fulltone fulldrive and getting some pretty good tones. Getting convincing dumbleish tones using it through a superchamp xd on the blackface setting at home. There are plenty of low powered amps out there especially doing the marshall or the fender thing. The digital part of the champ just seems to be compressing things too much. Does anyone know of a good low powered amp that does the dumble thing or would I be better sticking with what I have. Don;t get me wrong the sounds from the fulltone and champ are pretty damn good. I have a marshall class 5 which does a great low volume marshall thing. Is there anything at say less than 7 watts that will get a good dumble tone without the need for pedals?

Would I be better getting something like a deluxe reverb or princeton and using a pedal for drive?

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

If you look around you can find a used Brown Note D'lite 22/33 that was built from a kit.  These can go from $800 to $1100 depending on how far someone went with it.  If you are handy you could also build your own to save $$$.  Another option is like you said, to hunt down a small Fender combo and slap a D-style overdrive pedal in front.  Some of the small Silverface Princeton, Champs, VibroChamps, and Deluxe Reverbs can be had for good prices.  Ceriatone is a good bet as well but I'd recommned the 50w version.  Don't be afraid of the 50w rating, especially if you make the amp into a 1x12 combo with an inefficient speaker.  The Dumble type amps are on the lower side of the wattage/dB spectrum whereas most Marshalls and Fenders seem to put out more than their respectable volumes.  In my experience, Dr. Zs are also guilty of putting out way more than they suggest.  They should call them Z-watts, just multiply what they tell you the amp is by at least 2 or 3!

'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.
  • From: Pittsburgh
  • Registered: 2008-05-22
  • Posts: 261

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

Fuchs ODS 30.

DannyG's Website

  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

If you're going to get over the $2K price tag, you might want to pickup a used Two Rock Jet or preferrably a Jet Sig head - they range around $2,500.00 if you're patient.  You can set amp to be 20 watts or 35 watts via tube change and or get as a combo - though I don't recommend - better to lug a lightweight 1x12 cab for added headroom.  These little amps do some nice things IMO.

  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

I'm hoping to have up to around £800 for an amp. I've been looking around on ebay and have found a few bits and bobs. I only play at home so don;t really need something that kicking out serious wattage. An option I could have is to use an attenuator of some sort. I'm liking stratpaulguys suggestion the most so far. I'm keeping my eyes open for some fender amps.

What do you guys think of the deluxe reverb reissues?

If I go down that route I'm then torn between the fuchs plush drive and the zen drive. Anyone had anyluck with these pedals.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

Problem with the reissues are that they use cheap PCBs, have cheap/harsh speakers, and the tubes are about the cheapest crap they can throw in them.  Somehow despite all this, they do sound passable stock but are nothing like their vintage counterparts.  A good Blackface or early Silverface is a much better tone machine.  For about a grand (what the new Deluxe Reverb RI's cost) there are plenty of vintage amps that you could get into.  If you are based in the UK that may make the prices different IDK.  If you go Silverface, try and get a non-master volume model.  When they started adding the MV's the amps really started to suffer IMO.  No snobbery, just my firsthand observations.  Most Silverface amps will run between $600-$1400.  I got my '68 Super for $800 + shipping.  It's easily one of the most killer amps in my collection!

'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.
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 438

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

Here's my two cents worth.  I recommend old blackface Fender Heads. (Although I hate to recommend anything Fender after what they did to Joe and Philip Sayce.)  I bought a 1965 Fender Bandmaster for $425 and a 1965 Bassman for $600.  They sound great and you can experiment with speaker cabs until the cows come home, or your money runs out. I bought a DR Z 2x12 for $300, and two Marshall 4x10 cabinets for $300 each.  Combine either of these heads with any of these cabs and I have a great rig for less than a $1000.  I keep a cabinet at our practice room and two at home.  I just pack one of the heads to practice. They love pedals.  For Dumble type sounds, don't rule out a Barber Small Fry.  The builder actually recommends a setting that he calls the $10,000 amp (Dumble reference of course!)  And the price is right for a boutique pedal, $149. I would steer clear of the reissues, just not the same.

  • From: Belfast
  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 110

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

Fuzzblues wrote:

I'm hoping to have up to around £800 for an amp. I've been looking around on ebay and have found a few bits and bobs. I only play at home so don;t really need something that kicking out serious wattage. An option I could have is to use an attenuator of some sort. I'm liking stratpaulguys suggestion the most so far. I'm keeping my eyes open for some fender amps.

What do you guys think of the deluxe reverb reissues?

If I go down that route I'm then torn between the fuchs plush drive and the zen drive. Anyone had anyluck with these pedals.


He man, I have been a slave to the Dumble sound since I heard Talk to your daughter the first time. Well, 17 years later I have just got a Ceriatone HRM and the only thing I can say is why did I dick about so much with other gear?
I had re-issue Bassman, Twin, Deluxe... you name it and Stratpaulguy is right. Those amps are poorly made with PCB's and sh1t speakers. There are some pedals out there that will get you close (Zen/Dumkudo) order from Tababe.tv (checkout my videos on youtube - just type in chooseyourblues) but in reality it's gotta be a Ceriatone or if you just robbed a bank a Two Rock.
For £1050 you could get a 50 Watt head and for another £3-400 a really nice cab (i got mine from Paul at Zilla Cabs, custom made in the Two Rock style).
Oh and another thing, 'The Dumble Sound' comes from the Preamp, so while these amps do sound slightly better cranked, they are not like a Marshall and do not require huge amounts of 'Power Amp' breakup to sound good, so you can run them at lower vol.
Enjoy!

Guitars: 95 Les Paul Standard, Relic Strat,
Amps: 1973 Marshall JMP 50 head and Vintage Modern Cab. I use no effects other than a Cry Baby on occasions.
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

There is a silverface bassman 10 combo on ebay just now. Anyone have any ideas about this amp?

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

HoosierRock wrote:

  I recommend old blackface Fender Heads. (Although I hate to recommend anything Fender after what they did to Joe and Philip Sayce.)

Recommend away my friend, the current crooks at Fender will not see a penny of that money.  That's the cool thing about buying the old stuff...it's better made, sounds way better, and the corperate fat cats don't get a penny for it.  BTW I have a '65 Bassman Head as well and it's an absolute rock monster!  I put a NOS 12AX7 in V1...it turned the amp into a frigging Trainwreck, no lie.  With my PRS or Les Paul it's almost too much gain really.  Definately my go to hard rock/high gain amp.

'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.
  • From: Belfast
  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 110

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

stratpaulguy86 wrote:
HoosierRock wrote:

  I recommend old blackface Fender Heads. (Although I hate to recommend anything Fender after what they did to Joe and Philip Sayce.)

Recommend away my friend, the current crooks at Fender will not see a penny of that money.  That's the cool thing about buying the old stuff...it's better made, sounds way better, and the corperate fat cats don't get a penny for it.  BTW I have a '65 Bassman Head as well and it's an absolute rock monster!  I put a NOS 12AX7 in V1...it turned the amp into a frigging Trainwreck, no lie.  With my PRS or Les Paul it's almost too much gain really.  Definately my go to hard rock/high gain amp.


Hey, the Fat Cats at Gibson are no better. I read somewhere that Gibson is the 4th most hated company in America.

But yes, to quote Billy Walsh from HBO's Entourage - 'SUITS SUCK"

Guitars: 95 Les Paul Standard, Relic Strat,
Amps: 1973 Marshall JMP 50 head and Vintage Modern Cab. I use no effects other than a Cry Baby on occasions.
  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

BTW I have a '65 Bassman Head as well and it's an absolute rock monster!  I put a NOS 12AX7 in V1...it turned the amp into a frigging Trainwreck, no lie.  With my PRS or Les Paul it's almost too much gain really.  Definately my go to hard rock/high gain amp.

Are you serious? I always fancied one of those old blackface heads. I suppose you could get almost any tone out of these things.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

Yes, I'll probably do some clips in the near future.  I have an old one on my youtube page but that was before the tube swap.  With the low gain preamp tube in V1 it's much more JTM45 like.  I thought that something was wonderfully wrong with the amp after I put the 12AX7 in there.  I thought the amp was about to explode it had so much gain!

'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.
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

How about the mesa boogie express 5:50 1 x 12. Anyone had a go through one of these.

16 Reply by vim

  • vim
  • vim
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  • From: Norway
  • Registered: 2009-06-03
  • Posts: 108

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

I've been playing a little bit with my East Amplifications Studio this weekend, and actually found a sound that comes pretty close to my Ceriatone OTS. The Studio 2 is the most versatile amp I've ever owned and is capable of everything from semi-clean Fenderish tone to "Marshall on 11". 2 Bober watts makes it as good for home practise as for small gigs. Almost too good to be true, I know.
Check this link out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWNtLZn5isw

  • From: Belfast
  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 110

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

Fuzzblues wrote:

How about the mesa boogie express 5:50 1 x 12. Anyone had a go through one of these.


Owned a 2X12 version. Had it for about 3 months. One of the most uninspiring, sterile and toneless amps I have ever had. (and I've had a few)

Guitars: 95 Les Paul Standard, Relic Strat,
Amps: 1973 Marshall JMP 50 head and Vintage Modern Cab. I use no effects other than a Cry Baby on occasions.
  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: low wattage dumble type amp?

Two Rock is selling on their website in their Pre-owned Certified Amps a Jet for $2,399.00 - you might be able to call them and have them ship for free and drop price.