5 Best Dumble Amp Clones

Dumble Amps are some of the most expensive boutique amps in existence, and after their maker Howard Dumble passed in January 2022, their value has only increased. 

Many musicians seek to own a dumble amp, but luckily, there are a lot of clones out there and we’ll be looking at a few today.

Here are my top 5 Dumble amp clones:

1. Ceriatone Overtone HRM 100
2. VHT D-Fifty 
3. Fuchs ODS Classic
4. Two Rock Kimock Signature
5. Bludotone Bludo-Drive Dumble Amp Head

This list is not in any particular order of quality, they’re all pretty great amp clones in their own right. Some are more expensive than others and some have drawbacks unique to them. But before we look at the amps…

A Brief History of Dumble amps

Howard Dumble started modifying amps in the late 60s, starting out by playing around with Fender’s Tweed and blackface amplifiers. Before was even 21, he was hired by Mosrite to build a line of Amplifiers for The Ventures.

By the late 1970s, Dumble was building High-gain amps much like the contemporaries of his time, but he wasn’t interested in selling amps in great numbers. 

He was more focused on quality than quantity and this gave him a great reputation as a master amp builder. 

His amps became highly sought after and he would make each amp personally, usually not making more than 3 a year. Because of their rarity and quality, they’re some of the most sought-after amps today.

His amps have been used by famous musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, and Carlos Santana, but despite that, his name never really became a household one like Fender or Vox amps. He was more known by word of mouth among famous musicians.

Despite this, Dumble was revered as a genius by many guitarists for his amp-building abilities. He’s always been a recluse though, and images of him at work were especially rare in the last 30 years of his life. Mostly because he didn’t seem to get out much.

Either way, now you know a little bit more about Dumble and his amps if you found this post and clicked on it out of curiosity while not knowing what a dumble amp even was.

But if you want a deeper dive into what made these amps legendary, you should check out our short documentary on them:

1. Ceriatone Overtone HRM 100

The Ceriatone series is generally considered a pretty decent Dumble clone amp series and the HRM 100 is another variation on the classic high-gain tone of Dumble amps.

The Overtone HRM series is a version of a specific circuit system that makes a small reference to British guitar tones in its design and sound. They’re more aggressive than the non-HRM counterparts, especially when the Preamp Bost is engaged.

The nice thing about this amp is that along with its internal adjustable tone stack, each channel has its own independent Master Volume control, giving you a lot more control over your tone.

Also, Ceriatone also manufactures their own version of the Dumbleator effects loop buffer under the name “C-lator”, which is a great add-on for an amp like this.

Sound Sample:

Specs

Head 

• Dimensions: 21 x 10.5 x 11.35 inches 
• Actual weight: 26kg

Head with C-lator

• Dimensions: 21 x 10.5 x 11.35 inches
• Actual Weight: 29kg

Combo 1×12 

• Dimensions: 21 x 10.5 x 22.75 inches
• Actual Weight: 35kg

Tube specs: 

• Power: 4 x 6L6GC
• Preamp: 3 x 12AmpX7/ECC83
• Rectifier: Solid State

Features:

• High and Low Inputs
• Push-pull Bright switch on the Gain control
• Mid-boost, Deep, and Rock/Jazz toggle switches
• Treble, Middle, Bass EQ (shared between channels)
• Overdrive channel with Drive and Level controls
• Internal Treble, Middle, Bass tone stack trimmers (overdrive channel)
• Separate Master Volume controls for each channel
• Footswitch (channel and Preamp Boost)
• Rear panel OD Trim (fine tunes response of overdrive channel)
• Passive effects loop
• Full/Half Power switch

The Ceriatone comes at a number of different pricing options, starting at the price of the Complete Head Unit for USD 1,670.

It also comes with a couple of Kit options and Add-on parts that you could purchase along with it.

2. VHT D-Fifty

The VHT D-fifty is a 50-watt, hand-wired Dumble amp clone, costing only $849, it’s good value for money.

It’s a single-input amp head with three built-in voicing switches for Bright, Mid Boost, and Jazz/Rock. It comes with three-band EQ, plus a Master, Drive, Level, and Presence control.

It uses three 12AX7 preamp tubes and two Ruby Tubes 6L6GC in the output section. Like the Ceriatone, it also comes with a two-button foot switch to activate the preamp boost and overdrive sections.

Like many Dumble clones, it claims to match closely the sound of the boutique amps that inspired it, and surely it does.

Sound Sample

Specs

• Max output: 50 watts
• Preamp Tubes: 12AX7
• Power Amp Tube: 2x 6L6GC
• Controls for:
  • Volume
  • Bright, Mid Boost, and Rock/Jazz Switches
  • Treble, Middle, Bass
  • Overdrive, Drive, and Boost
  • Master Volume, Presence, and Preamp Boost
• Doesn’t come with a speaker
• The Cabinet is made from Finger-joined Mahogany Plywood
• Cosmetics: Black Vinyl with Wheat Grille Cloth
• 2 button Footswitch included
• Dimensions: 8.5” x 19.5” x 10.25”

VHT seems to have put a lot into the boutique feel of this little tube amp head and it even comes with guides for tone setups to get different sounds out of it. It’s not a necessity for anyone who likes to spend their time finding their sound, but it’s a nice touch.

3. Fuchs Overdrive Supreme Classic

Fuchs amps are some of the best dumble amp clones money can buy, and the Classic is no different. It comes in four varieties: 50-watt and 100-watt each size available as heads or 1×12 combos.

The head holds 6L6 power tubes and a pair of 12AX7 preamp tubes, with two additional preamp tubes driving the effects loop and phase inverter. This solid-state rectifier-equipped amp also comes with a remote controller in a professional-standard metal casing. 

It comes with similar bells and whistles to other Dumble clones, like switches for Overdrive, two boost stages, mid boost, and reverb. The reverb isn’t a classic spring though, but rather a digital chip effect that’s become quite widely used in a lot of reverb and modulation stompboxes.

There are plenty of good things being said about Fuchs amps, but I’ll try to keep the overview on this one short. 

• It’s great both with overdrive and clean tones
• There is immense clarity throughout its range of effects
• The tone controls are push-pull, giving you options from vintage sounds to more aggressive profiles
• It comes with an accent control to alter the amount of negative feedback at higher frequencies
• You can specify the length and level of the reverb
• The effects loop comes with adjustable input and output, compatible with everything from stompboxes to professional line-level audio gear.
• You can even switch between series and parallel effects loops. 

The ODS Classic comes in at a pretty reasonable price of $999 bought brand new. It’s a little pricier than some other clones, but the sheer amount of control you get on this amp justifies every cent.

Sound Sample

Other specs

• 4 x 12AX7 preamp tubes (all models)
• Power Tubes: 4 x 6L6 (100-watt) and 2 x 6L6 (50-watt)
• Dimensions: 100-watt
  • 11.5 x 21 x 8” tall(head)
  • 11.5 x 21 x 17 (mini combo)
  • 8.5×11.5×21’(standard)
• Dimensions: 50-watt
  • 11.5 x 21 x8” tall (head)
  • 11.5 x 21 x 17 “tall (mini combo)
  • 8.5 x 11.5 x 21” (standard)
  • weight: 33lbs/37lbs/38lbs
  • weight: 38lbs/ 42 lbs/ 43 lbs

4. Two Rock Kimock #10

Steve Kimock has made a couple of dumble amp models over the last while and The Two Rock Kimock is one of Steve Kimock’s signature amp model series. Out of this series 10 prototypes were made, each with its own unique mix of sounds.

Two Rocks are quite pricy in the range of Dumble models, though still not coming close to the price of Dumble amps themselves. Costing upwards of 5000 dollars each, these amps are almost as sought after as Dumble’s rare boutique amps.

Partly it’s because they’re also rare. Each Prototype had a limited production of around 25 amps each, and all were seemingly amazing with unique hand-made features.

These amps were built by the two founders of Two Rock, Bill Krinard and Steve Kimock.

Since it wouldn’t make much sense to talk about every single prototype, I will be covering the 10th one, being that it’s the most recent one and because I like its vintage look.

Regardless of which prototype you prefer, they’re all around the same price range and all of great quality.

Owing to the rarity of these amps, you might have a lot of trouble finding any left, most sites turn up with out-of-stock notices.

Sound Sample

Specs

• Channels: 2
• Tube amps: 2 x 6L6
• power: 560 watts
• Output: 4, 8, 16 ohm
• FET Input (foot-switchable
• Treble, middle, and bass tone control
• Bright, Mid, Deep, Dual EQ settings
• Boost, Gain, and Master on each channel
• Solid State Recitifer
• Individually selected components
• each amp is signed off by Steve Kimock personally

5. Bludotone Bludo-Drive 

The Bludo-Drive is known to be one of Bludotone’s best Dumble clones out there, with its hand-built design, made to exacting specifications and tuned to the tastes of the individual player. 

Bludotone offers customization for these amps free of charge, but fair enough, the price tag on it justifies a bit of free service. Starting at $4999, the Bludo-Drive amp series comes with additional features, but even its base model is pretty amazing.

Sound Sample

Specs

• 100W RMS standards
• 50W version available by special request
• 50W version also available with Tube Rectifier
• 6L6 or EL33/6CA7 output tubes (customer’s choice)
• 6V6 option available on 50W version too
• Footswitchable Overdrive
• Footswitchable Preamp Boost
• Footswitchable Mid Boost/FET Bypass
• Available in ’70s, Low-Plate Classic, High-Plate Classic, Low-Plate Skyline, High-plate Skyline, and Ojai Special Voicings
• Custom and Legacy voicings also available by request

Honorable mentions

Singletone

Just look at this beauty:

The best thing? I actually own the one in the picture.

You can check their amp lineup here.

Amplified Nation

If you are looking for a specific Dumble voicing, probably these guys have it.

Welagen

Another premium alternative that can be left out of any list.

Alternatives

Pre amp pedals

If you still like the feeling of a physical object that you can work with, the Malin Preamp Pedal is pretty much the pedal version of a dumble amp. It’s meant to fit into a pedal board and be compatible with the amp you currently have.

It will still set you back a bit, costing $1400 plus shipping fees. It still needs to be connected to a decent amp, but at least you won’t have to buy a brand-new one.

There are a number of other preamp pedals, but perhaps that’s a deeper topic for another article. Either way, these are the alternatives, from best to “worst”.

1. Custom Tones Ethos Overdrive Preamp
2. Shin’s Music Dumboid Twin version
3. OneControl Golden Acorn
4. Mini Mooer Rumble Drive
5. Wampler Euphoria

What’s great about these pedals is that while they can provide a sonic profile resembling a Dumble amp, they also come with a versatility that you won’t find in amp clones. 

Digital alternatives

Digital amps are a relatively new form of interface for guitarists and while many of us still like to think that we have to plug our guitars into that box with the knobs to make them sing, digital amps are proving otherwise.

For a fraction of the cost of a physical amp, digital amps are providing not only the tone but far more variety than physical amps are. I think the main thing holding them back is that people haven’t warmed up to them as much yet.

Most multi-effects digital amps come with a Dumble-style digital amp built-in.

One of the most well-known is the Helix Litigator digital amp. 

It was made with Dumble sounds in mind.

A few other good ones are coming up though:

• Positive Grid BIAS Amp Desktop ‘67 Dumble Clean
• S-Gear/ Scufhamm VST

Aside from the Helix, these two seem to be the best alongside the rest. 

The BIAS Digital amp seems to match the Dumble feel the most, managing to get the lower strings to sound clear better than the other ones, but hey, that’s just my opinion!

Either way, try a digital amp just for the hell of it.

Are Dumble clones worth it?

The thing with original Dumble amps is that it really depends on your taste. I know that a lot of the desire for the amps comes from their rarity, but it has to be noted that they’re also of unique quality. 

I personally don’t think they’re worth $50,000 though. But that’s maybe because I’m used to production line amps.

I’m sure we’re all aware that the only reason they have that pricetag now is that they’re literally never going to be made again, and there are only about 300 in existence, that’s unfathomably rare. 

I don’t even think there are rare pokemon that are that few in number.

Forget the hype and don’t try to be “that guy.” Amps are great, and great tone is an awesome thing, but great amps don’t make great guitar players, practice does. 

Sure, a great guitarist will sound better on a premium amp, but a bad guitar player will still be bad on a $100,000 amp.

So here’s where clones enter the picture. I’d rather be bad on an $850 D-Fifty than on an amp that’s worth as a sports car.

Getting to experience the feel and tone of an unachievable amp for cheaper is always great, and although there might be some extra magic on the original ones, circuitry and electronics are just that.

Could an original ODS be $95k better than a Bludotone replica?

In performance, I doubt it.

For sure, most of the price differences in the market for these amps could be explained by rarity and collectibility as I mentioned earlier.