Larry Carlton Amp Settings
EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp
Dumble ODS (Overdrive Special) — Dial Settings
SourcedAll values on a 0–10 scale. Adjust by ear — room acoustics and specific amp variants affect the exact position.
Other Guitarists on a Dumble ODS (Overdrive Special)
Choosing the Right Amp
Amp at Every Budget
Getting the Most From Your Amp
- Keep the amp clean and use pedals for drive — the amp's headroom lets the pedals breathe.
- Use reverb generously — Larry Carlton's tone relies on spatial depth.
- Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.
Related Gear
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Head-to-Head Comparisons
FAQ
Larry Carlton Amp Settings — Common Questions
Larry Carlton uses the Dumble ODS (Overdrive Special) with Gain at 5, Bass at 6, Mid at 7, Treble at 6. Dumble Overdrive Special at edge of breakup — warm, vocal, mid-forward. Gibson ES-335 neck pickup. Light compression from the Dumble's natural preamp character. The tone is expressive and dynamic, reacting to pick attack.
Larry Carlton's primary amp is the Dumble ODS (Overdrive Special). At different budgets, similar tones can be achieved with: Fender Blues Junior IV (£500 · Sweet Spot), Fender Blues Junior IV (£1,000 · Pro-Level), Fender Deluxe Reverb (Reissue) (£2,500 · Premium).
Larry Carlton sets Gain to 5 on the Dumble ODS (Overdrive Special). Dumble Overdrive Special at edge of breakup — warm, vocal, mid-forward.
You can get close to Larry Carlton's tone on any amp by focusing on the EQ character rather than specific gain levels. Key: use balanced mids (5–6) as a starting point. Keep the amp clean and drive it with a transparent overdrive pedal. A Boss Katana or Blackstar HT series can approximate the tone at low cost.
For Larry Carlton's EQ signature: Bass 7/10, Mid 5/10, Treble 5/10, Presence 6/10. The tone is characterised as: warm, vocal, sophisticated. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear to your specific amp and room.