Special Delivery
Rare and revered, this 1977 Overdrive Special 1x12 combo exemplifies the genius of Alexander Dumble.
BY DAVE HUNTER
IMAGED BY HERITAGE AUCTIONS, HA.COM
THERE’S NO NAME in the guitar-amp world that will command more hushed reverence, or a larger price tag, than Dumble. So rare and exalted are these creations that even the better efforts among a host of copies thereof have become highly acclaimed, while an encounter with the real thing is likely to make even the most stoic guitarist go weak in the knees. So what exactly is a Dumble, and why all the fuss? Let’s take a look.
Alexander Dumble started repairing and modifying amplifiers in California in the 1960s, and built the first of his best-known model, the Overdrive Special, in 1972. The term model is something of a stretch, however, given that every one was custom made and slightly different from the ones before and after it. Each incorporated bespoke changes intended to suit the amplifier to the player who had ordered it, usually done after extensive reference by Dumble himself to the customer’s playing style and sound.