You're going to get a bunch of different opinions but at the end of the day it's your nickel and your ears.
You've left out an important factor. What do you intend to use it for? Gigs? Home practice? Impress your friends? Pick up chicks? In any event, I'll start the ball rolling with a general personal opinion.
HarpGear 2: A lot of people seem to like them. Tone and build quality both very good. Standard power rating for practice play. Can be used on gigs in certain situations. Might impress your friends. Unlikely to help with chicks who at best will think it's "cute."
Wezo ME-18: No direct experience but at two grand for a 1x10 contemporary amp that shouldn't be surprising. I would imagine they sound pretty good. The certainly look fantastic. Which is just one of the reasons I wouldn't buy one unless I hit the lottery and just wanted my own personal amp museum. Impossible to take into a dive bar without fear. Should impress friends. Certainly would help with chicks who will figure if you can afford to drop $2000 on that thing you must be rich with plenty left to drop on them.
General opinion: I think in the context of what else you could get for the money they are both over priced. For what the HarpGear2 costs you could buy 3 or 4 Kalamazoos or a Masco with cab with change left over or a vintage Champ, all of which will always be worth what you paid assuming you don't pay over the going rate too much.
If the Wezo is genuinely in the cards you could get a Sonny Jr Super Cruncher or even an Avenger and have arguably the best harp amp in the world bar none. Look at how many pros play a Wezo compared to a Sonny Jr. Some very tasty vintage amps are well within that price range as well. Vintage will usually impress your friends. Vintage should help with chicks and if it doesn't you didn't want her anyway. A Sonny Jr. impresses everyone other than a couple of notorious exceptions. The Avenger will guarantee you chicks because its a big one and pushes enough air to move them where they like to be moved.
"For what the HarpGear2 costs you could buy 3 or 4 Kalamazoos...
A new HarpGear2 is $840 (US), which includes a warranty. I think one of Greg Huemann's restored Kalamazoos is a fair comparison, and when they're in excellent condition they can cost over $400.
I paid $525 for a used HarpGear2 along with several instructional videos and a couple of books. I've seen them selling in the same range a few times since, but they're not nearly as available as the Kalamazoo.
I have two Kalamazoo's. One from Greg (about $340 as I recall, for one with a dinged up cabinet) and one directly off ebay, which I paid about $200 for. I won't play the ebay amp until I get around to having it serviced because it hums too much and it doesn't sound nearly as good as the one Greg restored (which sounds great), so in the end it'll cost at least as much.
Between the Huemann Zoo and the HarpGear2 it's a close call, but they're definitely different. I bought both so I could decide which one I liked best. That was about two years ago, and I still haven't decided. I use the Zoo more because it's already dinged up and I don't care what it looks like anyway.
No question the Zoo was a better value, even compared to the used HarpGear2, but only by about $150 or so.
And I haven't had problems with women hitting on either of them....
HG2 vs Megatone ME-18??? That is an odd choice. The HG2 is a 5-watt Champ clone with one 6V6 tube, and the WEZO is a Masco clone with two 6L6 tubes. This is apples and watermelons.
If your goal is to gig, the WEZO wins hands down.
But I would suggest you consider a 3rd amp whose price falls between the two: The Mission Chicago 32-20. At about $1200 it greatly outperforms the HG2 and is at least equal to the WEZO.
---------- -Rick Davis
Last Edited by on Sep 16, 2012 9:31 AM
I have amps by both companies, but not the exact models, however I can perhaps give you some helpful thoughts, since my MegaTone Wezo-45 and Harpgear Double Trouble are very similar to the models you mentioned.
The cost difference factor between the ME-18 and the HG2 is obvious, no need to rehash that.
Both (my) amps are very well made, however the MegaTone cabinet is built more sturdily - by that I mean like a tank. The HG is not under built, but I wouldn't kick it down a flight of stairs, for example. OTH, the Double Trouble is wonderfully light for it's output, making it much more pleasant to cart around - it's lighter even than my VHT Special 6 which has less power and only a single speaker. You can double check the specs, but I think the ME-18 in any configuration is going to be significantly heavier than the HG2.
The main thing I'd say, based on my experience, is that the new version of the ME-18 would be a much more sonically versatile amp. With the addition of the push/pull volume + tone controls and the corresponding new circuits, the ME-18 now offers about the same amount of sound variety as the Wezo-45, and the Wezo-45 is a VERY versatile amp as harp amps go.
The Double Trouble OTH, which seems to have about the same tonal adjustability as the HG2, is rather limited compared to the MegaTone: At a given volume level the amp gives you a certain amount of break-up, and any more or less than that you will have to provide from the players end via technique and/or mic choice. This is not a bad thing, you can still get great tones from the Harpgear, but if you really like to have clean sound as well as very dirty sound at both ends of the volume dial, you're going to be more limited IMO.
The Wezo Amps are significantly more versatile in this respect and to me at least, I feel like I got 2 amps in one with the Wezo-45, which justified the expense for me. Really this is the thing the stands out from my perspective.
That said, IMO a used HG2 or Double Trouble is extremely hard to beat when it comes to bang for the buck value and performance.
Either way, both my MegaTone and Harpgear amps are fantastic.
Last Edited by on Sep 16, 2012 10:10 AM
I agree with Rick Davis; the amps you cite are in different weight classes. The HG2 is a champ-type of amp, whereas the Wezo is more of a super Princeton Bandmaster class.
Edit: I was under the mistaken impression that "ME-18" meant it had an 18-watt power section. I've edited to correct that error.
The HG2 offers great portability, easy repair-ability, class-A power and the ability to sound over-driven in a small club or through a PA. The downside is that you might be overwhelmed in a loud band.
The Wezo features more control, probably more bottom end, more volume or cleaner tone at the same volume while still offering reasonable portability. Of course, even 30 watts into a single 10-inch speaker may still not be loud enough to compete with loud drummers or guitar players.
Last Edited by on Sep 16, 2012 11:27 AM
I wasn't aware that Gregs Zoos were now going for that much money. However, I just sold a Zoo Model 1 covered in elephant hide Tolex, new leather handle, line out, secured control panel (both ala Greg), extra long 3 prong cord and serviced, all by Bill Webb at Austin Vintage, including both a Weber 10A100 and the original CTS in great condition. Price was $385. I've seen Zoos go on Ebay recently in excellent condition for under $200 and no more than $250. So I stand by my statement that you could buy 3 or 4 for the same money as a new HarpGear2. At worst you could get two and have them extensively upgraded.
Your statement that a used HG2 can be had for $525 illustrates another point I was making. With very very few exceptions a new contemporary amp, which includes either a HargGear or a Wezo, is not worth what one paid for it the minute it's taken out of the box. Any popular vintage model will at worst maintain its value and more often than not increase, as shown by the increase in Heumann Zoos.
I'm kind of semi-retired these days, thus the time to spend on spouting off on this forum, but I spent decades as a working pro. I tend to look at these things from a "what is cost effective" point of view. If one has the cash to just buy whatever you fancy, more power to you, and will you adopt me. But selecting an amp when money is relatively unimportant entails a different set of criteria, especially if one is not going to often expose it to the slings and arrows of outrageous joints.
The HG2 is extremely well built. I wouldn't throw ANY harp amp down a flight of stairs, but I think that an HG2, accidentally dropped and rolled down a light of steps, would survive. Brian Purdy hasn't cut any corners.
that is a seriously tough question!
Last Edited by on Sep 16, 2012 6:20 AM