Bodhi Drive

Dumble Amp Tone For Less Than $160,000

 

 

The Bodhi Drive amp sim rack effect module compares to the LovePedal Zendrive, meant to capture the tone of a Dumble amp.

 

Description

The reclusive Mr. Dumble built a fairly small number of amps customized to his buyers' music.  Those fortunate enough to own them seem to feel they are the best-sounding amps ever built.  The asking price for the only one we've seen for sale was about $160,000 some time ago.  Most of us will probably never know what they really sound like, other than hearing studio production recordings on albums.

Of course, anything that popular and expensive will be copied, cloned, and imitated to varying degrees of success.  There are a number of pedals that claim to have the Dumble tone, including the LovePedal Zendrive.  There are a couple of other pedals that have nearly the exact same circuit.  One is the Paul Cochrane Timmy and the other is the Vemuram Jan Ray.  These are all configurations of our Bodhi module.  The Bodhi module is named after the Bodhi Tree, an ancient fig tree in India.  After sitting under the Bodhi Tree for a week, Buddha achieved enlightenment, or "Bodhi".  As his teachings spread from India to China and other parts of Asia, they became known as Zen.

The Love Pedal Zendrive, Paul Cochrane Timmy, and Vemuram Jan Ray pedals all have very similar circuits, yielding similar but different tones.  All provide clean boost to low overdrive, mostly transparent, tone.  They are great for giving you a bit more of what you have, providing some richness to your tone.  A popular use is to boost a tube amp that is clean, but near the edge of break-up, into that creamy low overdrive.  They are all grouped together here for ease of comparison.

 

Configurations

  • Bodhi Drive - compares to LovePedal / Hermida Audio Zendrive.  Dumble simulation.

  • Timhi Drive - compares to Paul Cochrane Timmy.  Transparent boost/overdrive.  Makes your amp sound more like your amp.

  • Janhi Drive - compares to Vemuram Jan Ray.  60's Blackface Fender amp simulation.  Clean boost to mild overdrive.

 

Option/Feature Bodhi Drive Timhi Drive Janhi Drive
Controls Volume, Gain, Tone, Voice Volume, Gain, Treble, Bass, Clipping Volume, Gain, Treble, Bass, Voice
Clipping (2) 2N7000, (2) BAT41, (1) 1N34A (7) 1N4148 with 3-position switch (4) 1N4148
Op Amp OPA2604 JRC4559 LM1458
More Gain option option option
More Bass option option option

 

Options

Usually in the case of relatively simple circuits like this one, there are a wide variety of options to change up the sound.  We do offer some basic options, but you might want to go stock on these configurations if you are interested in their core sound.  The op amps and clipping arrangements are important to the sound in all three configurations.  Of course, options can mean different in a good way, too.

  • Clipping - customize clipping diodes, with or without a switch
  • Op Amp - select a different pin-compatible op amp.  For the Bodhi Drive, some may prefer NE5532, TLC2272, LM833, or AD712
  • More Gain - Change the Gain pot for one with a higher value.  The new pot will still cover the range of the standard pot, but will also add some higher gain settings
  • More Bass - allow more bass into and through the circuit.  May need to turn down Gain a bit if tone starts getting a little flabby.  Not switchable. 

 

Front Panel

  • On/Off indicator LED
  • Volume
  • Gain
  • Tone/Treble
  • Voice/Bass - also changes the gain a bit as you adjust it
  • Voice (Janhi) - tweaks the Gain and Tone
  • Clipping Switch (std on Timhi, optional for others)

 

Rear Panel

  • Audio In
  • Audio Out
  • On/Off Footswitch
  • On/Off Override
  • DC Power
  • DC Power LED

 

Module Width

  •  1.5" standard for Bodhi and Janhi
  • 2.0" standard for Timhi and Bodhi or Janhi with Clipping switch
  • 2.0" left wing available for (4) control Bodhi and Janhi
  • 1.5" right wing available for (4) control Bodhi and Janhi

 

Power Consumption (aprox)

10 - 20mA

 

Base Configurations

Part # Description List Price
MOD-BODHI Bodhi Drive module $219
MOD-TIMHI Timhi Drive module $224
MOD-JANHI Janhi Drive module $224

 

Options

Part # Description List Price
MOPT-BODHI-CLIP Custom Clipping Diodes TBD
MOPT-BODHI-OPAMP Change Op Amp $0 - TBD
MOPT-BODHI-GN More Gain $0
MOPT-BODHI-BASS More Bass $0
MOPT-BODHI-CC Component Changes TBD