The Dumkudo is an overdrive pedal built by Toshihiko Tanabe, a pedal maker working in Japan12. It belongs to a family of Dumble-styled overdrives, a category of pedals that aim to reproduce the character of the amplifiers built by Alexander Dumble, long associated with singing blues-rock lead tones2. Premier Guitar called it "one of those seemingly living, breathing pieces of musical gear"2.
What it does
The Dumkudo is the higher gain version of Tanabe's Zenkudo, and it is the variant tuned for single-coil guitars, where the Zenkudo is the humbucker-optimized take on the same Dumble drive idea31. Guitar Pedal X notes that the Dumkudo is generally much more available out in the wild than the Zenkudo, which matters for players hunting one down3.
The top two knobs are for Gain and Volume. Gain sets the amount of overdrive, and Premier Guitar's reviewer found that with Volume, finding the right setting "will put some dynamite in your signal without robbing the guitar or amp of too much character"2. The pedal is multi-voiced, and it is not Tanabe's first overdrive2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the Dumkudo and summed it up as an admirable feat: wider expression, character and responsiveness built into Dumble-styled blues-rock tone, something more alive than the average blues-rock overdrive2.
"Toshihiko Tanabe has accomplished an admirable feat in the Dumkudo by taking the well-trodden territory of Dumble-styled" tone and building in more expression and responsiveness.
Guitar Pedal X, reviewing the Zenkudo side of the family, described the Dumble drive concept as "truly an inspiration machine full of verve and vibrancy"3. The Dumkudo also appeared in That Pedal Show's roundup of D-style pedals, where it was loaned for the demo by Jason Sidwell of Guitar Techniques4.
Dumkudo and Zenkudo side by side
| Dumkudo | Zenkudo | |
|---|---|---|
| Voiced for | Single coils3 | Humbuckers3 |
| Gain | Higher gain version of the Zenkudo1 | Lower gain sibling1 |
| Availability | Generally much more available3 | Harder to find3 |
One circuit detail from the family worth noting: Guitar Pedal X reports that the Gain curve on the Zenkudo and the related May Queen has a Linear B Taper, which shapes how the gain control responds through its rotation5.
Videos
Mike Hermans
La Chaîne Guitare
The Guitar Show
Questions
What is the difference between the Dumkudo and the Zenkudo?
Both are overdrives by Japanese builder Toshihiko Tanabe. The Zenkudo is tuned for humbuckers, while the Dumkudo is the version for single coils and is described as the higher gain version of the Zenkudo. The Dumkudo is also generally easier to find than the Zenkudo.
How much does the Dumkudo cost?
Premier Guitar listed the Dumkudo at a street price of $310, sold direct from the builder. It is a small-production pedal from a single Japanese builder, so availability can vary.
What kind of tone does the Dumkudo go for?
It is a Dumble-styled overdrive, aimed at blues-rock tone. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as offering wider expression, character and responsiveness than the average blues-rock overdrive, and as something more alive than most pedals in that territory.
Sources (5)
- Dumkudo pedal, MusicRadar, 2010-02-18
- Toshihiko Tanabe Dumkudo Overdrive Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-12-21
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-03-26
- Are You Dumble? Seven of the best D-style pedals. And a Boss BD-2, That Pedal Show, 2015-12-18
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-04-17
