Dirty Pool Podcast Ep07 – Davey of Stumblor Mods / The Art of The Pinball Modding

Davey from Stumblor joins Dirty Pool to discuss how one of the most respected names in pinball modding became a quiet powerhouse. Twitch – https://twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball YouTube – https://youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball Instagram – https://instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball Facebook – https://facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball Known for high-end, limited-run mods for machines like Godzilla, Jaws, and Elton John, Stumblor has built a reputation for precision engineering, lighting effects that don’t feel like an afterthought, and an aesthetic that leans more toward sculptural design than simple add-ons. We talk through his full creative process—from initial idea to final shipment—and cover topics like what makes a game “worth modding,” and why some projects never make it out of the prototype phase. Davey also discusses community feedback, and testing challenges. Also included: the origin of the name "Stumblor!" 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:01 - Oops 00:00:07 - Actual Opening 00:00:18 - Davey / Stumblor Mods! 00:02:30 - Are Mod Makers Making Manufacturers Leave Out Components? 00:05:51 - The First Mod... Creature. 00:11:12 - Godzilla. 00:12:58 - The First Pinside Post That Launched Stumblor. 00:16:58 - Stumblor Website Breaks My Audio 00:20:00 - Where The Ideas For Mods Come From 00:20:52 - Elton John Sign 00:25:02 - Where Are You From? 00:26:41- Pin2DMD 00:29:21- PinMAME 00:32:00 - Stumblor Homebrew? 00:35:45 - Customer Emails / Customer Service 00:36:40 - The Customer Is Not Always Right 00:39:40- Tinkering Is Part Of Pinball 00:40:59 - @teppinball Plug and Upcoming Kong Mod / The Process 00:45:36 - Mod Making Is Art and Mechanical 00:48:51- Talking Materials 00:52:41- How to update Stumblor Mods to the new App 00:54:34 - Relationship With @dutchpinball 00:55:45 - What Deeproot Was... 01:01:20 - Manufacturers Not Collaborating With Mod Makers 01:06:46 - Dutch Pinball's Alice 01:08:14 - The Pinwalk and @InBeforetheLock 01:09:00 - How To Get Ahold of @stumblor 01:09:30 - The Raven Joke... 01:12:56 - TNA will take you to town. 01:16:20 - BTTF... 01:18:00 - Evil Dead @SpookyPinball 's Best Game 01:22:30 - 90's Pinball Style 01:23:48 - Where did the name Stumblor come from?? (Of course it's the Simpsons.) 01:27:20 - Next Stumblor Mod? ... Jurassic Park 01:29:20 - Tour of the workshop (Davey's Muted Adventure) 01:29:51- I Poorly Try To Fill In 01:30:46- DAAAVEEEEEEYYY 01:30:57- Schwarzenegger Tour 01:31:20 - Explaining Whats Going On For The Audio Only Podcast Peeps. 01:33:57 - Davey Returns 01:36:20 - Pin2DMD Oversized Mod For Classics 01:39:00 - Logistics for Assembly 01:45:23 - Pinball Is About Memories 01:47:10 - Raid / Outro 01:47:55 - BYE! #StumblorMods #PinballInterview #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballMods #GodzillaPinball #JawsPinball #EltonJohnPinball #PinballDesign #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #PinballMachine #RetroGaming #ModdingMasters #PinballCommunity #CustomPinball #ArcadeCulture #PinballAddict #PinballArt #MakerCulture #LightingDesign #PinballTalk #CultOfTheScoop