Jason Momoa has acquired a legendary piece of music history, the Beach Boys’ Dumble Overdrive Special amplifier, after Trevor Boone of Emerald City Guitars located the rare amp in Kauai, Hawaii, ending a decade-long search. The remarkable find, known as the Jason Momoa Beach Boys Dumble, brings together music heritage and the actor’s deep interest in classic guitar gear for a moment that resonates with collectors and musicians alike.
Uncovering a Legendary Amplifier in Hawaii
After nearly ten years of searching, Trevor Boone finally tracked down the Dumble Overdrive Special commissioned for the Beach Boys in the early 1980s, kept by its previous owner on the shores of Kauai for over 35 years. Boone commented on the rarity of the find and the irony that the amp, with its deep roots in rock history, was discovered so close to the ocean. The amp comes housed in an authentic Beach Boys road case, underscoring its connection to one of America’s most influential bands. Joe Bonamassa, a prominent figure in the guitar world, summed up the discovery’s significance as “What a grail.”
This specific amplifier is one of just three made for the Beach Boys around 1982 or 1983 and was originally wrapped in distinctive white Tolex. To protect the pristine exterior during dozens of tours, the band’s crew covered it with carpet, acknowledging that white vinyl struggled to stay clean on the road. The amp also retains its original receipts, complementing its documented provenance.
How Trevor Boone Tracked the Amp’s History
Boone’s journey to recover this fabled amplifier took time, patience, and discretion. He states,
“I’ve had to keep this long lost Beach Boys amp under wraps for a decade until the owner was ready to let this go and when the call came in I rounded up the shop to head to Kauai to pick this and 20 more amazing items up,”
—Trevor Boone, Emerald City Guitars. The Dumble amplifier’s status as an original ‘grail-era’ ODS and its complete set of documents enhance the story, ensuring its value well beyond mere function or form.
Footage still exists of the Beach Boys using the amp in its white configuration, and later with the carpet added. Boone said he had long envisioned capturing a photo of the amp on a Hawaiian beach, and finally realized it after years of anticipation:
“There are videos where you can see this amp live in original white, as well as carpeted shortly after. I had this photo of The Beach Boys Dumble ON A BEACH in my head for 10 years and it was a special moment to finally get it.”
—Trevor Boone, Emerald City Guitars.
Jason Momoa’s Perspective and Musical Plans
Momoa, already known as an enthusiastic collector of iconic gear—having purchased the first Martin D-28 ever made in 2023—is thrilled with the acquisition and intends to use the amp extensively. He expressed no interest in selling the amp, emphasizing its sentimental value and potential for musical creation:
“There’s a special kind of magic in certain pieces of gear that connects the past to the future,”
—Jason Momoa, Actor and Collector. Momoa also acknowledged Boone’s long-standing role in helping him collect unique guitars:
“Trevor Boone has been part of my guitar journey since my very first instrument, and over the years we’ve tracked down more holy grails than we can count.”
—Jason Momoa, Actor and Collector.
Further describing his attachment, Momoa said,
“But this amplifier carried a different kind of history – one we couldn’t let drift away. Too much heart. Too much story. We had to keep it in the family – and now it’s right where it belongs, ready to keep making music.”
—Jason Momoa, Actor and Collector. He assured that the amp will be active in the studio and on record, not locked away as a trophy piece.
Amp Details: Condition and Studio Plans
When Boone and his team retrieved the amp, they removed the carpet that had protected it through years of touring and storage, revealing marks and glue traces left on the white exterior. The amp bears these signs of decades of use and travel, which Boone and Momoa feel only add to its character and mystique. Its legendary status is further cemented by its use at the Beach Boys’ performance at Live Aid in 1985, a historical moment linked directly to the amp and its unique appearance with the carpet covering.
Momoa expressed excitement to begin recording with the amp almost immediately:
“We’re gonna record in two days,”
he says.
“ÖOF TATATÁ is making the first album, and I was like, ‘You got a Dumble, it’s in Hawaii, it’s rare… Please send it right now. I love it, man. Maybe we’ll clean it someday. But not today. It’s a dirty Dumble.”
—Jason Momoa, Actor and Collector.
Historical Significance and Ongoing Mystique
The amp’s unique lineage, being one of only three produced for the Beach Boys, and its survival for so many years, makes it highly significant to collectors, musicians, and rock historians. Boone hints there may be yet another similar amplifier still unaccounted for—potentially another hidden gem waiting to be uncovered.
Despite curiosity from fellow collectors and fans, Momoa has made it clear that the Jason Momoa Beach Boys Dumble is not for sale now or ever:
“I’m gonna have this motherf***er buried with me!”
—Jason Momoa, Actor and Collector.
This amplifier’s journey, from early Beach Boys tours to Hawaiian beaches, and eventually into Jason Momoa’s studio, bridges musical eras and personalities, intertwining the stories of Howard Dumble, the Beach Boys, Trevor Boone, and Momoa himself. The amp encapsulates decades of music culture, ongoing curiosity among Dumble sleuths, and the shared passion of collectors for preserving musical history.
As Momoa prepares to record new music with ÖOF TATATÁ and this renowned amplifier, its legacy is poised to grow, keeping its story alive for both longtime fans and a new generation of musicians inspired by rock’s past and present.
