Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
JHS's NOTADÜMBLË V2 Dumble Drive + Box Later Boost is twice the fun!
Key Points
The NOTADÜMBLË V2 is a Dumble Drive with dual footswitches, extra Presence control, and Box Later Boost. Build quality is strong and assembly took under 10 minutes, though the knobs and set-screws were inconsistent.
It sounds marginally better than the original, but remains below the author’s favourite A-Tier and S-Tier Dumble Drives. The boost is comparable to the predecessor’s BBC-1 Boost, while the Blammo TNYDÜMBLË offers similar features in a compact enclosure.
At the stated price of $119, it is exceptional value and a smart, enjoyable project, available from the JHS Pedals Store.
I thought I should do a quick update on the recent V2 NOTADÜMBLË which landed a little over a week or two ago - I had other priority reviews to post first - but I though just a few notes on this one would be a worthy exercise.
I passed up on the NOTAKLÖN - as I tend to favour more full-featured and expanded variants, while I did plump for the original NOTADÜMBLË. I loved the build process, and it’s a decent Dumble Drive, but really only B-Tier overall - compared to all my other favourites. I recently listed out my 6 Favourite Dumble Drives - and they are head and shoulders in tonal quality above both NOTADÜMBLËS.
The new one may be more fully featured, but it’s only marginally better sounding than its predecessor. While I probably enjoyed the build twice as much - no manual needed this time - and the whole thing was fully assembled in under 10 minutes. The fiddliest bit was aligning the knobs. Those knobs aren’t the best quality, and the set-screws are a touch inconsistent. The overall build experience though is really great - with otherwise excellent quality components in the mix - and deft finishing. It’s only the knobs that let down the side a little - but only very marginally.
I like the dual footswitches and the extra Presence control on the Drive side, while the Box Later Boost - is much of a muchness vs the BBC-1 Boost of the predecessor - both those work equally well really. I also acquired the Blammo TNYDÜMBLË back in the day - which is closer in feature set to this new one - but in a compact enclosure - a little dearer too - but then it comes full assembled.
Controls - OVERDRIVE } Volume, Drive, EQ, Presence, Red Footswitch; CLEAN/BOOST } Output, Input, Green Footswitch. Order switch on front edge.
There's much to like about this NOTADÜMBLË V2 - and in can sound decent enough - but it's not quite good enough to sit at or near the top of the Dumble Drive tree. My favourite ones are far more vibrant, with better dynamics and richer textures. But for $119 the NOTADÜMBLË really can't be beat!
I don't think there's anything that comes close at the $119 price point - it's a really smart design. But if you're looking for the very best sound quality for a Dumble Drive - you need to look elsewhere!
The overall experience for the NOTADÜMBLË is amazing, and I thoroughly recommend it - just don't get your hopes up on the quality of its output profile. It is capable of great tones, but it can't match the best A-Tier and S-Tier pedals in my own Dumble Drive capsule collection.
I still think Josh Scott is a genius for introducing this format. While it's not of the same quality as his recent Kilt V2, Violet Distortion, or Morning Glory - which are all S-Tier for me in those respective categories and formats!
I love seeing how people have applied their own designs and upgraded / styled-up those white enclosures, while I'm not sure those pedals are going to be in sufficient rotation for me to warrant any extra treatment.
Still a really great project, and glad I snagged one!
The NOTADÜMBLË V2 is still in stock on the JHS Pedals Store - just $119 - which is exceptional value.
Get it even if it's just for the fun build process! I'm a keen Lego builder myself - and I love piecing things together in this fashion. Props to Josh and the Team for another great roll-out!
Launch Demo
