dumble in a box pedal FUMBLE
SKU: 53310445194
dumble in a box pedal

dumble in a box pedal FUMBLE

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Description

dumble in a box pedal FUMBLEThe Fumble exists because we made the biggest mistake in JHS history. In May of 2025, we released the NOTADMBL our second solderless DIY kit pedal, containing two of the most coveted sounds from the Dumble universe. The overdrive side was correct: a boutique style overdrive built around the lead tone people associate with Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, and Robben Ford. The clean side, however, was supposed to be a reverse engineered copy of the "A Box

The Fumble exists because we made the biggest mistake in JHS history.

In May of 2025, we released the NOTADÜMBLË — our second solderless DIY kit pedal, containing two of the most coveted sounds from the Dumble universe. The overdrive side was correct: a boutique style overdrive built around the lead tone people associate with Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, and Robben Ford. The clean side, however, was supposed to be a reverse engineered copy of the "A Box Later," a buffered effects loop device that Howard Dumble built sometime in the 1980s outside of his amplifier designs. John Mayer owns one of these obscure units and lent it to us. I replicated it, named it Box It Later, and that replica has traveled the world on John's pedalboards consistently since 2021.  I thought I put that circuit in the NOTADÜMBLË as the clean side.

I didn't.

A week after launch, while planning a Short Circuit episode video about the NOTADÜMBLË, I discovered I had used the wrong circuit. The clean side of the NOTADÜMBLË wasn’t the  “A Box Later”– it was something else entirely. Something I had also reverse engineered back in 2019 also for John, and then completely forgotten about. A separate Dumble preamp box that lived in a different archive location in our R&D storage. I had confused the two similar circuits and made a horrible mistake.

I made a video. I told everyone. We sold through the remaining  inventory, discontinued the NOTADÜMBLË V1 after our batch of 15,000 sold out, and refunded anyone who asked to return their unit.

Enter the Fumble.

WHAT THE FUMBLE ACTUALLY IS

The Fumble is a faithful production version of the other circuit I cloned for John: the Dumble BBC-1. Once the NOTADÜMBLË V1 was discontinued, customers started telling us how much they loved that circuit and how they wished it was sold separately. The Fumble is that exact circuit, now in its own compact enclosure with its own self-deprecating name, an $89 price point, and no kit to build.

Here is where the story gets stranger than fiction. While digging back through the original Dumble unit's history, we realized the BBC-1 isn't really a Dumble circuit at all. It's a JFET preamp lifted almost part for part from a Barcus Berry acoustic preamp made in the 1970s — the kind of small utility box that bridged piezo pickups into electric guitar amps in an era when nobody had a modern acoustic preamp. Howard cloned it. Put it in his own enclosure for a handful of local LA players. He then used the same JFET stage inside his amplifiers and called it the FET mode.

Which means the legendary Dumble FET sound — the one inside $200,000 to $400,000 amps — is a clone of a 1970s piezo preamp.

The Fumble is a clone of that clone of that clone. Three generations deep into one of the strangest chains of events in pedal history

WHAT IT DOES

The Fumble has two knobs, true bypass switching, and creates a particularly enhanced clean tone.

OUTPUT is your master volume. Turn it up for more volume.

INPUT is the one that surprises people. It is not a standard gain knob. It attenuates bass and input gain at the front of the circuit simultaneously. Fully right has no cut — consider it a bypass of the control. As you turn the knob to the left, bass and gain are gradually attenuated. Roll it down for a thinner, tighter response. Roll it up for a fuller, louder one. There is almost nothing else on the market that boosts in this way.

Use the Fumble four ways :

1. As a permanent buffer and clean boost at the front of your board. Set the output low, dial the input to taste. It tightens up everything downstream and gives you a sweetener you stop noticing because you never want to turn it off.

2. To slam the front of your overdrives. This is the secret most players miss. We default to stacking gain after gain after gain. Putting a clean JFET boost like this before a Timmy, a King of Tone, a Klon, or a Morning Glory — that's often the better second stage you've been hunting for but just didn't know it.

3. To slam the front of a dirty amp. Tweed, Plexi, anything broken up. The Fumble makes it bigger and more articulate. Roll the input back for a tighter, treble forward attack into a cranked amp.

4. As a solo boost at the end of the chain. Crank the output, set the input where it feels best, hit it for the chorus or the solo. Done.


WHO THIS IS FOR

If you bought the NOTADÜMBLË V1 and loved the clean section, this is what was actually inside it.

If you missed it, this is a beautifully simple JFET clean boost with a control set you won't find anywhere else.

If you've ever paid a lot of money for a Dumble style boost from another builder, you should know the genuine article is simple. Uncomplicated. Affordable. It was always a version of an acoustic guitar preamp from the 70's.

WHO THIS ISN'T FOR

This is not an overdrive or a high gain pedal. If you want the lead tone half of the Dumble equation, you will want the NOTADÜMBLË V2 which updates the V1 with the the proper Box It Later clean section and the overdrive channel – in a single solderless DIY kit with two footswitches, an order toggle, and an added effects loop.

THE NAME

We've had the "Fumble" name and football helmet icon rolling around internally since April 10, 2012. It was originally going to be a Dumble style overdrive in our catalog, but the Moonshine took its place years ago.  We never seriously revisited the Fumble project after then and the icon and rubber hand stamp went into a drawer for fourteen years. When all of this happened in 2025, the name was already there, waiting for the biggest fumble we had ever made as a company. Sometimes the universe hands you the punchline way in advance.

SPECS

True bypass JFET clean boost

Two controls : Input (bass and gain attenuator), Output (master volume)

9V DC center negative, 5mA

Assembled in Kansas City

THIS PEDAL MEASURES 1.96" X 3.93" X 1.21" AND CONSUMES 5mA. DO NOT USE MORE THAN 9VDC CENTER NEGATIVE. DAMAGE MAY OCCUR AND YOUR WARRANTY WILL BE VOIDED.

 

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SKU: 53310445194

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4.1 ★★★★★
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Hanna
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Still The Best Frother Ever!
Color: Black
I love how it is easy to use, how it holds a charge, and how much power it has. I've only charged it once since I got it & I've been using it on a daily basis!!! Though it isn't a long time, I'm happy with it so far! I definitely will recommend it to anyone looking for a great frother. If you are looking for one, look no further! You won't be disappointed! I've read some comments where they found it to be too strong that their drink spilled everywhere. But for me I have not had any incident of spilling over. I have used it both for my coffee and my matcha tea and it worked great without any spilling over. You just have to start with the lowest power and ensure that you have a large enough container to have a room for your frothing. My sister tried to use it recently during her visit to make us matcha tea. However, she experienced spillage all over the cup, because she had used a small cup. Otherwise, she liked it very much and said she will get one when her battery operated one stops working... Another thing I like about the product was the customer service that I had received. When I got my first order which came quickly, it wasn't working after having charged it over 24 hours. It was not turning on at all. I returned it and ordered a replacement which I received within a day or two. This time after charging it for the recommended amount of time, I was a bit skeptical when I turned it on. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it worked like it was supposed to and it has been working ever since having charged it only once so far. I may come back and give an update depending on how it does after 6 months of use, so keep in tune... I don't know if there is a way to write a new entry as a follow up to the old entry, so I'm going to add my follow up comment over here. May 23, 2025 - I love my frother more than I can say in words. It's functionality has not changed a bit from the time I have purchased it. It charge lasts several weeks to few months before I charge it again and the power is still the same. Recently I decided to buy another one for my office use. I like the white color and so tried it but that one wouldn't even turn on. And then I got a gray one to have a different color. That one was much weaker than the black one I own. Then I replaced it with another gray one within few days. I tried it and it was exactly the same as the one I already replaced. So then I decided to go with a black one again hoping that it would be the same as the one I have. The black one did much better than the gray ones in the strength or power of the frother. However, it is weaker than the one I already have been using since last August. While I am not very happy with the quality being inconsistent in all of the ones I have tried including the recent pictures of the black one, I have decided to keep the black one because it is relatively better than the gray ones I tried. What I don't understand is why there is inconsistency in the quality of the same product by the same maker. I am beginning to wonder if the black one I purchased in Augusta last year was anomaly of a quality and a good way. Maybe I lucked out on my older black frother, but I'm unsure if quality is going to get better if I were to order another one. I have a sister who is a pro in making coffee drinks and she was the reason I had ordered this frother to begin with. She uses a battery operated one at this time and I have been thinking about getting her one like mine. While I am still skeptical, I am going to give it a shot and order her one sometime soon. If it doesn't work, I guess we will return it back. But one thing that I am grateful is that I have been able to return every one of those that I have tried recently with no issues. I hope that I don't have to return my most recent purchase in black. I was not even able to review the new purchase because of the item being the same color which is crazy.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2024
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Verified Purchase
R. Cordosi
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Outstanding Frother!
Color: Space Gray
Exceptional! This frother is in another league compared to the cheapo push button frothers. The motor is smooth, quiet and powerful. This has an intuitive thumb dial on top that operates smoothly with a wide range of smooth speed adjustment. It’s gentle enough to froth a little bit of milk for a macchiato and powerful enough to scramble 3 eggs. The head is removable for easy cleaning. It’s also rechargeable. I charged this the day I bought it on April first. I use it at least twice a day. It’s September 26th today and I have yet to recharge it and it’s not showing any signs of needing a charge. One minor quibble is that they give you 2 of the same frother heads. They are built so well, that I don’t imagine it ever wearing out. It would have been nice to get a whisk or something different. Not a deal breaker at all though.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2025
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Verified Purchase
banjo player
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Solid unit
Color: Black
Handheld Mixer/Frother Review A Premium Choice That Transforms Morning Coffee I am thoroughly impressed with this handheld mixer and frother. Each morning, I blend cacao and collagen powder into my coffee, and in the past, I always ended up with stubborn lumps using only a spoon or whisk. I had previously purchased a few inexpensive handheld mixers, but they disappointed me both in price and performance, struggling to mix the powders thoroughly—especially at the bottom of the cup. I came close to abandoning handheld mixers altogether, but decided to give it one last try. After reading countless reviews and carefully comparing models, I opted to invest in a higher-end handheld mixer. The anticipation was high—would this mixer truly distinguish itself from the budget options cluttering my kitchen drawer? From the moment I unboxed it, the difference was clear. The mixer felt substantial in my hand, and the build quality reflected thoughtful engineering. While this model cost roughly twice as much as the cheaper alternatives, it proved to be well worth the investment. Initially, I was concerned about the dial at the top, fearing it might be difficult to control. However, I was pleasantly surprised by its intuitive operation. The unit offers a solid feel, plenty of power, and a versatile range of speeds—from a gentle stir perfect for coffee to an impressively fast setting. I had not previously considered using this mixer as a frother, but as a cappuccino enthusiast, I decided to give it a try. I heated both 2% milk and oat milk to take the chill off, then submerged the mixing wand. Allowing the mixer to rise above the milk introduced air and created a rich, creamy foam—an unbelievable result. My homemade cappuccino now tastes like something from a café. The controls are robust, the construction is reliable, and the power is consistent. Cleanup is effortless, requiring only a quick rinse under the tap. The battery life is also noteworthy, lasting through several uses without losing strength. If you are hesitant to spend a bit more on a quality handheld mixer, I wholeheartedly recommend making the investment. This mixer has become an essential part of my morning routine. Excellent product—well done!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2025
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Verified Purchase
Philip B. Corriveau
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Solid, powerful, rechargeable
Color: Black
Very impressed with its weight, speed and performance. The dial is great
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Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
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Verified Purchase
Chief
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Very nearly the perfect frother for all your basic frothing & mixing needs
Color: Black
There are a lot of middle-of-the-road frothers out there. I've been through a few of them in my recent search for something that could mix and froth well, without taking up any more outlets in my basement kitchen. Of the three Maestri frothers I've tried so far, this one wins the race by a nose. Most recently, these Maestri frothers come in basically three versions: A single-speed @ 8000 RPM, a two-speed @8000/5500 RPM, and this stepless variable-speed version. Aside from that, the only real difference in recent version pack-outs is which attachments they come with. Look over the reviews of the single-speed version and you'll find that while it can and does froth well, it starts at a single, high speed and gets there fast. This makes it pretty easy to spin liquid right out of most common cups and mugs. There is a two-speed version, but it's harder to find, only comes in one color (Grape Purple), and while it's much better than the Maestri single-speed, it still has a couple of quirks that make this variable-speed version win out. This mixes and froths whole milk, half-and-half, or heavy whipping cream, or just about anything else very well. Like all frothers, it takes a little time to learn its nuances and nail down the technique, this will definitely get you there. The best feature of this is easily the speed control. Turn the knob to turn it on at a low speed that's great to get things started, then turn the knob to crank up the speed just enough to do what you need, whether that's mixing or frothing. The low starting speed makes it easy to keep things under control without undue spilling, and the max speed is more than enough to make quick work of getting your froth on. There are really only two complaints I have with this stepless, variable speed version: - I'd really like to have a Press On / Release Off button in addition to the Speed Control knob. More than one time have I gone to turn this off, only to spin the knob the wrong way and crank the speed up to ludicrous, sloshing liquid on the counter. Being able to turn it Off just by letting go of the button would be quick and easy. This configuration would allow using a preferred speed right from the start, while still allowing speed to be adjusted on-the-fly when needed. - Give it a bigger battery. It would cost mere pennies to give this a 2000mAH+ instead of a 1200mAH battery, and I can't think of any reasonable downside to that. - Give the motor a little more torque. It's fairly easy for the current motor, at any speed, to get bogged down in a thick protein powder mix, or when pressing the frother or other attachment a bit too hard into the bottom or side of the frothing container. A bit more "oomph" would prevent that. I really like the overall design and features of thes Maestri frothers better than many other, cheaper versions. This variable-speed version is pretty great as it is and probably the one I would recommend over the single- or two-speed, for most people. But I often find myself using two hands -- one to hold it steady, and the other to turn it on and tweak the knob to the desired speed(s) -- for a device that should arguably need only one hand to use. Just a couple of minor tweaks as noted above would make this the overall best frother of its type that I've used.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2025

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