Dumble Overdrive Special

Howard Alexander Dumble built amplifiers by hand in small numbers from the early 1970s onward, selling them exclusively to musicians he personally approved. No two Dumble amplifiers are identical. Christopher Cross was among the earliest Dumble users — he owned two Dumble amplifiers and used one to record the guitar solo on Ride Like the Wind from his debut album, plugging his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard directly into the amp and recording the solo in one take. His original Dumbles were eventually sold to a Japanese collector. Dumble amplifiers are among the most valuable and sought-after amplifiers in existence, with original units selling for $50,000 to $150,000. Notable users include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, Robben Ford, Eric Clapton, and John Mayer.