Original Gaspedals Dumbbell

[lars]

As far as I can tell, the Gaspedals Dumbbell was the very first boutique pedal that attempted to capture the sound of the Dumble Overdrive Special amp. This was years before that became a thing. And was years before the "transparent overdrive" craze became a thing. I've always wanted one of these original versions with a single volume knob, and finally I have a clone (originals are about impossible to find, and they'll set you back some $600-$700 if you do find one).
So how do they sound? Incredible. I don't usually give any pedals the "always on" treatment, but this thing really does work great in that context. It's touch dynamic to your playing in standard mode. Sometimes you don't realize it's even on, until you turn it off. It really does just make everything sound better. In the boost mode, it's a full-on overdriven tube amp in all of the good ways. It doesn't sound like a distortion pedal on top of an amp. It sounds like an amp.
I'm so glad I finally took the time to build one, though it is a pain since there are no pcbs and only one schematic available for the single knob version. I had to build it on stripboard.
It was worth the effort!

[jessenator]

I haven't messed with "amp" pedals much, but maybe because I've never asked anyone about them; why they exist, because my ignorant take is "wtf do you need an amp person if you already have a good amp? Does it make a bad amp good?" Which is very reductive on my part, but it's what's in my head and why I haven't ever asked. Same reason I've never done preamp perhaps a good thinking about. But they do exist and people use them, so there's something to them.

But your line, " it doesn't sound like a distortion pedal on top of an amp. It sounds like an amp." sums up the appeal.

How does this compare to something like a BJFe Honey Bee? Different circuits obviously, but as far as sound and function. 

[JackSkellington]

Great!
But I have a question. What about the other two knobs? I guess the only one knob is the final master volume. I can't find the single version schematic either.

[lars]

How does this compare to something like a BJFe Honey Bee? Different circuits obviously, but as far as sound and function.

I've never tried a Honey Bee overdrive, but just from what I've read, there may be some similarities to what they're trying to accomplish. The real appeal to me with the single knob Dumbbell is the simplicity of control, and the awesome boost footswitch. That gives you two overdrives in one pedalboard space. The Honey Bee probably sounds fantastic. But what do you do if you suddenly want a little more out of it? Bend over and adjust the gain control in the middle of a song?
Yep.

What about the other two knobs?

Those were no doubt added in the V2 Dumbbell pedals because people always want more knobs. Having a gain knob kind of defeats the purpose of the boost switch. The whole point is to have a pedal that you control with your feet, not your fingers. And does anybody really fiddle with a tone knob all the time? ("let me bend over and adjust the tone before my solo!") No, you set them and forget them.

[jessenator]

But what do you do if you suddenly want a little more out of it? Bend over and adjust the gain control in the middle of a song?
Yep.

Could do a second switched setting like one does with a muff? Not advocating one over the other  just thinking out loud.




But the dumbell seems neat to be able to do that so simply, kind of like a pseudo second channel with the boost switch.