Ben Harper Honors Dumble’s Lost Creation
Dumble: A Life Well Built
For decades, the most cherished piece of gear owned by singer/songwriter Ben Harper has held a secret: so we knew it had to be captured and shared with the world. Renowned amp builder Howard “Alexander” Dumble was known for his meticulous, even monk-like precision and craftsmanship when it came to building the finest guitar amplifiers on earth, and the story behind this one took it from one major California band to another – around the world – and ultimately in the proper hands of Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Ben Harper: and it only took a few decades.
Ben & Dumble: Reviving A Friend’s Last Relic – Decades in the making.
Parking lot meetups. Home Depot shopping sprees. Easy Street breakfast menus favorites…
I’ll never forget the wild day I shared with the Fretboard Journal team, as well as local luthier Isaak Jang and co. along for the ride… in what may have been the most tense amplifier breakdown & reassembly I’ve ever witnessed; the pressure was on and the payoff incredible, in the mission of reviving and honoring one of the finest amplifiers Howard Dumble ever created.
I won’t spoil the details of this incredible tale, here…Give the film a watch, sell your computer – and buy a guitar.
Thank you to Jason Verlinde and the team at Fretboard Journal, and Ben for his generosity, and conviction for his music and dedication to craft.
I hope that this film brings honor to Dumble, and creates a special memory for you, your family, and fans.
Thanks + Cheers,
Ryan
