1981 Dumble Overdrive Special – Owned by Tom Verlaine & Keith Urban

1981 Dumble Overdrive Special – Owned by Tom Verlaine & Keith Urban

We present one of the most iconic and collectible vintage guitar amplifiers in existence: an original 1981 Dumble Overdrive Special, serial number #0079. This specific amplifier was previously owned and played by Tom Verlaine of Television and later by country music superstar Keith Urban.

The Legacy of Dumble

Handcrafted in California by the late Howard Alexander Dumble, these amplifiers are among the most sought-after in music history. Built in extremely limited numbers and often custom-voiced for elite players, each Dumble amplifier is a singular piece of audio artistry. Following Dumble’s passing in 2022, the rarity and value of these amps have only increased.

In the early years, Dumble focused on modifying Fender Tweed and Blackface-era amps—such as the Deluxe and Super Reverb. The Overdrive Special grew from these foundations, incorporating early Fender-style circuitry. By the 1990s, the design had evolved toward a more Marshall-style layout, featuring EL34 power tubes in place of the traditional 6L6s.

Today, the Dumble Overdrive Special is widely regarded as the holy grail of boutique tube amplifiers, prized for its rich harmonic content, remarkable touch sensitivity, and dynamic tonal response — both in the studio and on stage.

Provenance: Tom Verlaine & Keith Urban

This particular Dumble amp has an exceptional pedigree. Custom-built in October 1981, it was originally owned and extensively used by Tom Verlaine, the visionary frontman of the seminal New York band Television. Verlaine relied on this amp for both live performances and studio recordings throughout the 1980s. Photos of him with this exact amp — clearly visible in the background — are available online.

In 1997, Verlaine sold the amp to Dan Courtenay, owner of Chelsea Guitars in New York City. At the time, Courtenay was drawn not by the Dumble name — which remained under the radar — but by the amp’s extraordinary tone. As word spread among musicians, the amp started gaining a reputation. One pivotal moment came when a Jackson Browne tech recognized it, linking it to a similar model used by Rick Vito. This marked the beginning of growing buzz around the Dumble legacy.

Courtenay kept the amp for nearly 20 years, until Keith Urban, a long-time customer, encountered it in-store with his guitar tech. Struck by its tone, Urban was instantly captivated — and Courtenay eventually agreed to sell.

Urban used this exact amp live, and it is featured in a Rig Rundown on YouTube, where his tech discusses and demos the amplifier. Few amps come with such a well-documented and prestigious history.

Condition, Originality & Tone

• Model: Dumble Overdrive Special

• Serial: 0079

• Build Date: October 15, 1981

• Provenance: Tom Verlaine → Chelsea Guitars → Keith Urban

This amplifier is in excellent working condition and sounds nothing short of phenomenal — easily one of the finest examples we’ve ever encountered. The legendary Dumble clarity, compression, and dynamic range must be heard in person to be fully appreciated.

The amp remains largely original, with a single, thoughtful modification: diodes were added to the FET channel by Dan Courtenay and Harry Colby to prevent fuse blowouts during live use. All key components — including capacitors, resistors, pots, transformers, and speaker — are original. The chrome control plate is clean, with original black lettering and all stock knobs intact. Only two screws are missing from the back panel.

Cosmetically, it shows light wear consistent with professional use — honest aging on the front, back, and sides — a testament to its life on stage and in the studio.