Dialing in a Dumble clone?

[doc]

Anybody have any good info on efficiently using the controls on a Dumble style amp? I can get lots of sounds I like, but getting the thing dialed in where the boost or overdrive level is right in comparison to the clean tone, or the amount of "thick" etc. would be easier if I had had a "users manual".

Whats one more D*mble thread anyway in the grand scheme of things?

[jay42]

k...The OD sound doesn't suffer a whole lot when you adjust the guitar's volume between 6 and 10 to adjust overall volume, however, that boost is meant to be right in a loud setting. Join The Amp Garage and research there. The 'Bluesmaster' model boost is an exception for some people and can be modded for a smaller jump. hth

[spakuloid]

The more important question regarding the many dumble based amps is: how come no one makes the 3 font panel switches (Brite - Deep - Rock/Jazz) footswitchable? It seems that many amp makers just take the main layout and assume that it is the be all end all of dumbleness without improving on it. From a functional standpoint - to me it seems like a no brainer. Sometimes i want to go from Jazz to Rock within a song. Or hit the brite switch on some funky parts. Or just get deep. Way deep - but only for a few seconds.

[jay42]

Originally Posted by spakuloid

The more important question regarding the many dumble based amps is: how come no one makes the 3 font panel switches (Brite - Deep - Rock/Jazz) footswitchable?

Mid-boost on a three position footswitch is more typical.

[spakuloid]

Yeah - the mid boost switch is what they give you - and it sounds like mud. How come nobody wants those 3 switches on the floor?

[jspax7]

Originally Posted by spakuloid

Yeah - the mid boost switch is what they give you - and it sounds like mud. How come nobody wants those 3 switches on the floor?

I wondered about this too. Just have to find a builder who is willing to do it. Any of the toggles should be able to be run to a footswitch. As for the mid boost, the builder should be able to tweak the value of the mid to suit the player. Probably best to take the amp in for custom voicing.

To the OP: The boost is a tone stack bypass. It's like having the High Mid and Low controls dimed. Try playing the amp that way, and reducing the tone controls to achieve the best balance when not boosted. I find the boost more useful when the unboosted settings are not radically different. These amps can be dialed in a number of ways, some of which are not conventional. Again, everything can be tweaked to suit if the builder is willing, or if you know a tech that can help.

[jspax7]

[QUOTE=doc;10790758] I can get lots of sounds I like, but getting the thing dialed in where the boost or overdrive level is right in comparison to the clean tone, or the amount of "thick" etc. would be easier if I had had a "users manual".[QUOTE]

Set the Gain (1st control) at 12:00. Adjust the clean volume with the Master, adjust the OD Input to taste, turn the OD Level up so that it's louder than the clean. The higher the Master is, the higher the OD Level needs to be.

[phsyconoodler]

It's very easy.The master and the OD level controls work independently so adjust accordingly.Set you clean level and then hit the OD button and set the level control to where you want the OD to be in relation to the clean.
Then set the master where you want the overall level.
I don't understand how people have trouble with something so simple as that.
As was said before,the boost does just that:it boosts the level in clean or overdrive.

[spakuloid]

Yeah - what he said above. These amps are dead simple to use for the most part. The thing that I have noticed on my amp and the others that I have played in the D style family is that the BOOST actually is not a uniform volume bump depending on where you have the ROCK/JAZZ switch. On Jazz setting the boost sounds much louder both on clean and OD channels than when you have it on the ROCK setting where it feels more natural. Too bad there isn't a knob for it so you can tweak it - another overlooked and sorely missed feature that amp makers keep copying for whatever reason. If Mesa Boogie can do it on their amps that cost half as much - why can't the booteek geeks do it?

[phsyconoodler]

Mesa's boost is actually done through the effects loop and uses a couple of tubes to accomplish it.They use a gain control on one tube to set the level.
Not that easy to do in an amp without a tube effects loop.

[spakuloid]

Most D clones I have played had a tube buffered effects loop. I am staring at one across the room right now.

[soiajake]

Find a custom builder who will do the footswitch access, you only get what you ask for guys

[doc]

Thanks for the help. I'm especially grateful for learning how the boost switch works - makes using it much more straightforward.