Robben Ford Discussion

Daved · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject: ( }:-Dumble / Zen Relationship

I spoke for awhile with Alfonso the other day and, in the course of our conversation, he and I got to wondering just what EXACTLY it is that you players/users of the Zen pedal actually find so desirably 'Dumblesque" over other pedals.
Any comments?
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Michael · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:21 am Post subject:

No doubt it's all in the name ... after all Robben's required reading is "Zen Guitar". I have mine sitting in front of a Fender Concert 60watt tube in an room at home ... nothing but the guitar/Zen Drive/and amp. I've been adjusting all four knobs to just about every possible combination with the amp set to the clean channel and neutral and rolling thru the various pickup combinations on the ES335, PRS, and a Charvel. Usually I can find a lot of bad spots in pedals, but not the Zen Drive. I do not have any Dumble knowledge other than I know one when I hear it.

Obviously the Zen pedal must be high on Robben's list ... especially when Daved's not around ... he sets it up rather simple to ... I've only seen him fuss with it once up at Grass Valley. The tone he got coming thru the twin was amazing.

PierreL · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:10 am Post subject:

I have the same feeling about the pedal: transparent, very touch responsive, really amp-like, gives a really fat tone yet you can also set it to cut more if that's what you want .
And also, it gives a great sustain without a lot a gain, that's one of the feature I like most.

johan · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:37 am Post subject:

Daved, why don't you ask Robben? Wink

diatonicdude · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:04 am Post subject:

Daved,

Johan is correct (Robben could best answer this)!

As far as I am aware no Dumble sounds exactly alike (think Robben Ford, Santanna, Larry Carlton, John Mayer, SRV, Eric Johnson, Sonny Landreth etc, etc). Some of the sound is down to the individual players style (and other gear), and others to their own Dumble model versions. So the question could be what exactly does a Dumble sound like???? Even Robben's "Dumble" sound has changed over his recordings of the last decade.

The other issue is the terminology/adjectives used to describe the sound.
Having heard a couple up close (Robben's and Larry's; these two are my favourite from the crop) you certainly can't mistake one. For me it is the beautifully chiming cleans, and mild overdriven sound (think the clean tones of "Life Song by RF") and the tight bass/mids that give that beautiful full/smooth horn like tone (think of the solo sound of the same song, or the OD/solo sound of the "Handful of Blues" album). It is these two facets/qualities of sound which I have longed for, and have now achieved with the inclusion of the Zendrive to my gear (thanks Alf!). Out of all his recordings, my own sound is now 99.999999999% (recurring Wink

) identical to "My Time after a While" from keep on running. Wait for it, someone is going to tell me that one was recorded on his Twin Reverb Laughing

.

Lastly, one for Alf. The only improvement to the pedal I would like or can think of, is the ability to switch between two settings, like the Dumble ODS. If you listen to the "Life Song" recording, at the start Robben gets a beautiful chiming tone, with just a pinch of OD. I can get this with the Zendrive. Now, when it comes to the same song's solo, the rich smooth OD tones are there. Again I can dial this in on the Zendrive (and amp). What can't do is achieve this without obviously adjusting the dials of the Zendrive. Switching between the clean & the OD channels of my Boogie does not work as the Zendrive works best with the clean channel.

Daved, does Robben use his guitar and volume pedal to achieve this sonic variation, or is it purely the OD switch for his OD channel on his Dumble?

I hope that helps a little, Alf/Daved. I would love to hear what Robben's spin is on all this. Smile

All the best to you all,

DD
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johan · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:00 am Post subject:

DD, if you ask (beg) Alf I'm sure he can do a double Zendrive (ZenZen). I know he's done a Zenferatu so...

I LOVE the Zendrive but I would like one with a bit more headroom and sprakle. Like if you mix a Zendrive and the Clay Jones OD (yeah, i'm one of the lucky 50). The Zen can be a bit to warm, soft and sweet for certain tones.

bluenote · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:58 am Post subject:

I am fairly new to this forum, but I have heard some of you folks talk about the zen drive before...can you share with me their web site, I would like to read up on them. thanks!
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diatonicdude · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:07 am Post subject:

No problem Bluenote Smile

Check out the following links;

(where to get 'em!)

http://www.hermidaaudio.com/

(for a bit more info/reviews!)

http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Hermida_Audio_Technology/Zendrive-1.html

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?s=43eefa6b145bec2e57493cec4314bc3b&threadid=99871

http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Alfonso_Hermida/Zen_Drive-1.html

I would personally go direct to Alf through his web contact, and ask any questions, if you have any. The guy is so efficient and friendly!

Good luck and enjoy!

Cheer's,

DD
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bluenote · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:32 am Post subject:

THANKS D.D. YOU ROCK!!
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Ian Hurtt · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:35 am Post subject:

johan · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:54 am Post subject:

CJOD has more headroom, more dynamics, rawer. I love it! Nothing else like it.

The Zen is alot smoother, sweeter and more like a regular OD although one of the best ones.

Ian Hurtt · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:21 pm Post subject:

Aeolian · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:35 pm Post subject:

Just got a chance to try a Zendrive. I don't have a Dumble, but I do have what I believe to be a very good Fuchs ODS. I also compared the Zen to my Banzai Fireball II pedal and a couple of other overdrive pedals.

I'm calling Alf tomorrow to order one. This thing sounds and responds more like an amp than anything else I've heard. One telltale thing is the decay of the note. With the Zen, there's none of that fuzztone garbage as the overdrive fades away into clear. The Banzai has a more dramatic response to dynamics, cleaning up very noticably with lighter attack, but the Zen feels more like my Fuchs. More gradual and controllable. It also responds to timbral variation better. A very usable range of gain available too. Not for hard rock, or the saturated "Talk to Your Daughter" sound, but in concert with another overdrive like my Klon or a really cranked amp, I think it would go there. Overall, I think the buzz (internet mania, not the sound of the pedal) with the Zendrive is that you can play it like a great amp. Make every note have it's own personality and meaning. Robben is a master at playing this way, so it's no surprise that he likes it.

I recently found a Digitech Hod Rod distortion for a "Marshall in a box" that can be put in front of a volume pedal for playing rock comp parts at lower volume. The Zendrive is pretty close to a "Fuchs in a box" and I may put it on my pedal board to get that familiar sound at lower levels.
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FordFan · Member Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Posts: 34 Location: New Jersey

So........I have to disagree just a little.........I just got my zendrive friday....I love it. But I don't think it sounds all that great at lower volumes. A little thin(and I thought that was wierd....)I have it going through my 66 blackface vibrolux, and at mid volume is where this pedal starts to come alive. Very touch responsive. One of the best pedals I've ever played....and I've tried just about all the "dumble" pedals out there..........howie......etc....
Get one.....and hurry !!!!