What would you say is a great harp amp but is a brand or model that is not one you would expect to be such a great harp amp? ---------- Bend it like Ricci - Me
The problematic part of this question is the word "great." There are a few great harp amps but they are all well known. I agree with Ryan about the early silverface Princeton amps and with Iceman about the Silvertone.
There are more good harp amps and some of those may be lesser known.
Then there are zillions of amps out there that are poor amps for blues harp tone. Still, somebody will buy one and swear it sounds great until they get a better amp. We all learn the hard way.
A good harp amp that might be overlooked is the Roland Cube 30. Nice tone, good effects, 30 watts, and rugged. I've seen more than a few players use it in gigs.
I think most of the Roland Cube series could probably fall under the "good" category. Peavey Vypyrs, Fender Mustangs, and Line 6 Spiders probably could as well. ----------
All due respect, I'd much rather use a Roland over a Marshall. We can definitely put any Marshall in the good catagory since there's no real evidence to support it being great for harp.
It does not seem to me that it would sound like a bandmaster.... It has four EL84 tubes instead of two 6L6 / 5881 tubes. It would have more of a chimey guitar tone, I think.
"Then there are zillions of amps out there that are poor amps for blues harp tone. Still, somebody will buy one and swear it sounds great until they get a better amp. We all learn the hard way."
So true...
It also depends on who is blow'n through the amp. Personally I can't stand any of the modeling amps that I have ever tried or listened to other people play. Peavey, Fender, Roland, Line 6, Vox, Marshall and so on. Some are okay but mostly just shit. Maybe only one or two usable settings. Just a waste of money to me. But being a guitar player as well they have a place. Still I would rather play through an all tube amp or a modeling pedal into an all tube amp.
Generally I have found most Silvertones and older Danos to be great harp amps. Also had a Carvin X60 that was great (at the time). Several Sound Projects amps and Magnatones can make for great harp amps.
Last Edited by shbamac on Jun 24, 2013 5:30 PM
The late 70s PRs (as Ryan referred to) i have sometimes seen dissed, but as far as I've been able to discover there is really very little difference in circuits between silverface late, early, and blackface for that matter. I never had the chance to test one in a gig situation, but I tried a Kustom Coupe 36 in the shop and it seemed to have potential. I believe I have read 1 report of someone being happy with it but I don't recall where. I turned my nose up at an AC15 one time, but eventually came around and used it on a recording session. Again, I dunno how gig-friendly it would have been, but I was really happy with the sound quality it delivered. Laney LC 15 I think is a pretty good unit too. Especially for the dough. I'd have one if I didn't already have a silver face PR ----------
I had a Crate 3X10 combo. Very harsh tone, 50 watts, too loud to get any sag. I can't remember if I spent any time re-tubing. Cool looking amp. BTW, also had a Crate 50 head and full stack! They can be had cheap! I sent more time messing with the stack. Just couldn't really get it to sound good for harp. Guitar player bought it and loved it.
"I forgot how light the Sear's Silvertone Twin Twelve was.
It was my first amp..."
Mine, too! I played a Harmony Rocket through it (I think) and later a Gibson SG Jr. that I got for $75 because someone had covered it in sticky purple paint (it was the '60s, after all).
I am currently using a Silvertone 1481 and 1482 my rehearsals at my buddy's studio. They work pretty good and I enjoy using them.
Frankly, I would never use a roland, peavey or a marshall as there are plenty of other alternatives out there that are better. I am interested in some of the newer amps out there like a Vintage 47 Comet or the other amps similar to it. Anyone have experience with these? There are a couple nice ones at eBay at the moment.
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Jun 25, 2013 7:58 AM
i use a bird golden eagle amp 15 watt valve from the 60's sounds great. I would generally agree with Harpaholic about marshall but i think i've got the exception with my 70's marshall lead 30 and its solid state! Got two twelves stacked vertically,loud and dirty - don't know why but it sounds real good!!
If I had a choice of modeling amps, it would be my Vox DA5. Great little amp with a dynamic mic. I take it camping and to the lake where a few of us set up on shore and have a little jam, we just plug into inverter's and we are good to go. Attracts alot of attention. I tried the DA10 and DA20, didn't like them for harp, ended up trading or selling both. They don't make them anymore, and the new ones don't compare IMO
Anyone remember the new Fender amp that Dave Barrett made a video of? Champ XD?
Harp, maybe you mean the super champ xd. Dave B has recommended it as the best bang for buck new amp. Of course, it's a superseded model now. I haven't found many (any!) fans of it as a harp amp, other than DB. Personally haven't tried it but spent some time with a Vibrochamp XD at jams, and I like it. It's a minority view though. I think it's just me. ----------
'60s Vamp. Friend of mine in London has had one for years. He used it a lot in the studio for guitar and I recorded harp using it. Don't know the model. Think it used one EL84 with a 10" speaker. Never heard anything like it until I discovered the Kalamazoo. Very similar. I vaguely remember the original cabinet but it fell apart and my friend turned it into separates with matching cabinets. I played through that set up live and although it was still good he'd made the speaker cab closed back. I prefer the sound of an open back.
He's actually named Vamp in his will to be left to another friend of ours but I've got 2nd dibs. ---------- LSC
Speaking of Roland Amps. I recommend the Roland BC 60. Ive owned one for years. Theyve been discontinued for a while now but if you ever see one go second hand, snap it up. ---------- Big Blind Ray's YouTube Channel The Big Blind Ray Trio
That would appear to be from a previous Roland Cube series, before they got into modelling.
I can tell you that the current Cube 60 can be useful for harp as a preamp, but I wouldn't exactly call it great. The Micro Cube is loved by many harp players for its down-to-earth output and top notch effects, as well as its portability. But the 60, as the name would imply, is a 60W beast. My bandleader has one that he plays his hybrid guitars through on stage, and it suits that purpose well. But with a 60W solid state output and a 12" speaker, you might be hard pressed to fight feedback blowing harp through it. I tried his once, and it was just too much for me.
Looks to me like that one in your pictures is solid state as well, am I wrong?
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jun 27, 2013 10:51 AM
@Jared: this older Roland Cube 60 is a keyboard amp. It will do a nice job if you want a very clean tone. The reverb is just okay. It works great if you're using a Digitech RP or similar to great your tone and you just need to amplify it. If you're looking for Holy Grail harp tone you're probably barkin' up the wrong tree. All the best on your quest! Jay ---------- Music speaks where words fail.
@Harpaholic - No connection with Harmony and no tremelo. There was a loose connection with Vox in that the guy who designed Vamp, later known as Vampower, worked for Vox at one point. He actually did work on the Beatles amps for Shea Stadium. ---------- LSC
their was 2 vamp amps on ebay about 2 weeks ago,think one sold for £300 and the other didn't go cuz it was buy now for £500,always liked the look of them boland amps,you can't beat the 60's british valve amps!
