D
umble amps are the Klon
Centaurs of amplifiers. Either
that, or Klon Centaurs are
the Dumble amplifiers of
overdrive pedals. I’m not sure which,
but there are many parallels: eccentric
hermit builder, lengthy waiting list,
incredibly limited production, insane
second-hand prices, goop all over
the internal electronic bits, hardly
anyone has actually played one but
everyone has been convinced that they
need one. There are probably more
commonalities, but I’m getting a little
queasy considering all of them, so I’ll
stop. It makes me wonder, though,
has anyone ever run a Centaur into a
Dumble? Is that even legal? Is it even
possible? If no one was around to hear
it, would it still make a sound? What the
hell is my point, anyway? I don’t have
any answers to these questions. Much
like the mythos that surround these
two pieces of guitar gear, the questions
I’ve posed are patently ridiculous, and
apropos of nothing. For those that have
suffered through this nonsense and are
still with us, however, I shall bestow a
list upon ye. This list shall contain the
names of overdrive pedals that are said
by the oracle to exhibit characteristics
reminiscent of the mystical, magical
Dumble amplifiers. Behold the list:
HOTONE GRASS OVERDRIVE:
I think it appropriate that I should begin
this listicle with the tiniest and least
expensive pedal, a pedal that should
net the thrifty blues lawyer a savings of
no less than $49,920.01 over an actual
Dumble amplifier. That being said,
however, one should not equate this
pedal’s low cost and miniature physical
dimensions with second-rate tone.
The Grass is a most impressive
overdrive, with a full and very dynamic
range of overdrive sounds that would
likely fool even the snootiest of tone
sniffers in a blind taste-test. Besides
being green and adorable, it is outfitted
with Volume, Voice, and Bright knobs,
as well as the big Hotone signature
gain knob on the top end of the pedal
(which also contains the status LED).
All in all, it’s quite a steal, and a perfect
stocking-stuffer for the Dumble-curious
tone hound that has yet to pass
a bar exam.
TANABE DUMKUDO OR ZENKUDO:
The Dumkudo and Zenkudo are made
in Japan by Toshihiko Tanabe, a retired
ad-man with a seemingly strong fancy
for the Dumblest tones. He makes quite
a few pedals that are purported to
have the legendary Dumble qualities,
all quite distinctive with their genuine
abalone tops and kanji adornment. The
Dumkudo and Zenkudo are the most
well-known of these. The two pedals
are similar in most respects, with the
Dumkudo being geared for singlecoils, while the Zenkudo is intended for
humbucker-equipped guitars. Perhaps
the most ringing endorsement of
these pedals comes from Henry Kaiser,
avante-garde guitarist/composer, and
genuine Dumble Overdrive Special
owner and user since the late ‘70s.
Kaiser often uses the Dumkudo or