What is the Bass equivalent to the famous Dumble amp?

Walter Woods amps never got as crazy expensive as Dumbles but share a similar mystique. The amps were built solely by Walter, were never really advertised yet highly sought after, were played by some big name players, and had component values/markings obscured or erased by Walter to keep them "secret". Technology has caught up to them but they were revolutionary when they first came out as one of the first, if not the first, microamp.

 

I don't know that we have one.

 

For me, this one comes closest. Sadowsky SA200. 200 tube watts of pure bliss and the matching 410 cab ( built by Jim Bergantino) is the perfect mate. Shoulda, woulda, coulda bought one back then.

 

Was just going to post the SA200.

 

I agree with elgecko about Walter Woods, legendary and mysterious to most non-jazz players, but they have never been as unobtainable as Dumbles.

As far as the SA200, not many were made but it's not like I hear people talking about them as often as I hear guitarists talk about Dumbles. In fact I never hear anyone talking about them

I don't hear people talk about this amp either, but I played a gig with one and it is the best tube amp I have ever experienced.

 

I would agree with this assessment. I have owned three WW amps over the decades but I could never afford a Dumble, even if I wanted one, which I don't. For me, I would look to Ken Fischer's Trainwreck amps if I wanted a coveted guitar amp.

 

Most of the top players I see on tour are using SVT's or the occasional Aguila DB750/1. Do bass players get hung up like guitarists over their sound?

 

Who needs a Dumble when you've got tort and flats?

 

Here's the real answer to the question: Dumble Winterland bass amp, 300 watts, all tube



Here's a link to a Japanese page showing Winterland with serial number 0003.

EDIT: got the wattage wrong, sorry...

 

Two come to mind...

Matamp OR200



Hiwatt DR405

 

Dumble is an absolute triumph of marketing over reality. I've heard several in person. They're good sounding amps. Nothing I would mortgage the house for.

 

Well supposedly the Dumble Steel String Singer uses essentially a SVT power section. I believe there is a story of Tommy Shannon using one of Stevie's Dumble's on bass but I'm foggy on where I got that info.

 

WhenI last saw Hot Tuna, this was Jack’s amp combo.

 

I don't know that bassists are as bewitched by tube amp lore as guitarists are. As someone who plays both, it seems much more prevalent on the guitar side of things.

Amps like Dumble, Trainwreck etc. and their makers are considered legendary and almost magical. Yet, if you actually listen to some of what their makers said, you have to wonder if they really believe it, or are just blowing smoke. For example, Ken Fischer was quoted as saying that a piece of wire has a natural polarity, and when you learn that and assemble an amp with the wire connected in the proper polarity, it sounds better.

Thankfully, there doesn't seem to be the same fanaticism on the bass side of things, at least not with tube amps. Maybe with tort though.

 

I don’t believe a bass parallel to the Dumble amps really exists because I can’t think of anything with the right combination of intentionally manufactured exclusivity, secrecy, and snake oil! I’ve no doubt they’re great amps, but there’s simply no way they’re worth the price of a house.

In terms of scarcity and the general opinion of those who’ve played them, several of the amps mentioned already certainly would qualify; If I had to pick one amp to finish out my days with a Hiwatt DR405 would be pretty much the grail for me.

 

The only time I heard a Dumble was at a Robben Ford show I went to at a tiny club in the late '90s. The Dumble sounded just like one would expect a guitar amp to sound like.

He must have been related to Noel Lee.