What kind of maniac brings a Dumble to a guitar retreat – and lets everyone play it? Robben Ford, apparently
What would you do if you were one of the few lucky souls in the world who owned a Dumble amp? Probably not take it to a guitar retreat and let a bunch of strangers plug into it.
Though that’s exactly what Robben Ford did, as session ace Andy Wood reveals in a recent conversation with Rick Beato.
In their chat, Wood recalls the time Ford attended his Woodshed Guitar Experience: a four-day retreat in Crossville, Tennessee that brings together top-tier players and gear-loving guitarists for an immersive, no-frills hangout.
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“It’s a four-day weekend. We hard-limit it to a hundred people, and we bring in five or six of the best guitar players on earth,” says Wood [via Guitar World]. Previous guests have included Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa, and Andy Timmons, with Paul Gilbert and Mark Lettieri on the upcoming September lineup.
The vibe is intentionally relaxed. Think: late-night jams by the lake and live bands instead of backing tracks (“no iPad garbage,” Wood quips). Just “bad dudes from Tennessee” and 100-watt amps roaring into the night.
Still, nothing quite prepared Wood for what happened in the retreat’s second year, when Robben Ford rolled in.
“He’s a sweetheart and a monster player,” says Wood. “He comes in and I was like, ‘Hey, Robben, what kind of amp do you want me to have backline for you?’ And he goes, ‘I’ll bring an amp.’ He shows up with Dumble #102.”
For the uninitiated, Ford’s Dumble #102 isn’t just rare – it’s the stuff of tone legend. Built by the late Alexander “Howard” Dumble, these mythical tube amps were revered for their rich harmonic character and tight dynamic response. Ford’s own unit ranks among the most iconic, alongside those played by Larry Carlton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
That said, what truly made the moment unforgettable wasn’t the amp itself but rather, Ford’s willingness to share it.
“I’m teaching a class and I have my phone in my pocket and it buzzes like, ‘Hey man, Andy, come down to the stage three and see about Robben’s amp,’” he recalls. “I was like, ‘Oh, somebody poured a beer in it!’ I’m stressing out.”
“I get down there, and Robben’s sitting laidback, chill, smiling, and the campers are playing his amp. And I come over to him like, ‘Brother, you don’t have to do this.’ And he’s so sweet. He’s like, ‘No, man. They were all asking about what it felt like, and what it sounded like, so I figured it’d be best to let them play.’”
“That can never happen with 600 people,” Wood continues. “[But] you put 30 people in a room, that can happen. And that’s what it’s all about.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
