Rick Davis
2334 posts
Sep 09, 2013
11:29 AM
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Last night Gary Yates brought his Megatone ME-18 amp to the jam. It is a 10+8 with about 30 watts. I was talking to Bruce Collins when Gary was playing and we were both like, "Damn, that sounds good!"
WEZO Megatone amps don't seem to get a lot of love here which is a shame. It might partly be because the prices start at over $2000, but they do sound very good.
Mike Wesolowski is a good guy who is willing to take chances to build fine amps. I've played and examined the amps and they are first rate. Build quality and component selection are excellent.
I was certainly impressed at the jam last night.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Last Edited by Rick Davis on Sep 09, 2013 11:43 AM
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Harpaholic
347 posts
Sep 09, 2013
12:53 PM
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I totally agree with you as far as popularity, with that kind of pricing, it's a limited market.
Not saying there not worth every penny.
Where you able to get a recording of the that Wezo?
How did it cut through?
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Rick Davis
2335 posts
Sep 09, 2013
1:11 PM
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Harpaholic - I didn't get a chance to record, too busy at that point running the jam. I normally record the very last set when I don't have so much going on, and when Nic Clark joins the host band.
The amp has a BIG sound. It cut very well, and has a nice raggedy crunch... a little more crunch that the Mission amps. I didn't hear any feedback. Gary was using a Shaker Mad Cat mic. The whole rig had a pro sound to it.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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HarpNinja
3439 posts
Sep 09, 2013
2:00 PM
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Mike had amps at SPAH '10. I terribly regret not spending more time with them. I did get to hang with Mike, and he is awesome!
They have/had a two channel amp meant for clean and dirty. If I needed to go back to an amp, I'd have to say that would be high on my list!
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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HawkeyeKane
1983 posts
Sep 09, 2013
2:10 PM
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MegaTones are awesome to be sure. Guy I heard in St. Louis last year was playing through an ME-18. Crem de la crem I tell ya. I especially like the look of the Wezo Twin and it's prototype. I'm a sucker for well built stuff with a retro look to it.
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Hawkeye Kane
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blueswannabe
268 posts
Sep 09, 2013
3:55 PM
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When I was shopping around for a custom harp amp, the megatone me-18 was tops on my list. The sound was great and the quality looked first rate. The major drawback for me was the price. It was too high and I couldn't justify it. So I looked at the mission amps. There was at least a $600.00 difference and the mission had lots of options. It seemed like more bang for the buck. When I got my mission amp, I was very pleased with the sound and build quality. I don't regret the decision. Custom harp amps are generally expensive, but chasing amps and then modifying guitar amps has proven more expensive.
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Rick Davis
2336 posts
Sep 09, 2013
4:31 PM
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Blueswannabe, I agree. The Mission 32-20 amp sounds at least as good as the Megatone and as you point out it costs about $600 less. They are both very good custom harp amps.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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6SN7
366 posts
Sep 13, 2013
10:12 AM
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I have admire the Megatone amps from afar for a while after I first discovered DJL Vintage Audio in Greensboro, NC a few years back.
At the time, I was looking to purchase a restored PA amp and their website showed they had done this in the past. I never could find a testimony regarding the PA heads and only one about Megatone Amps except a Dave Barrett video.
I ended up getting a Skip Simmons Masco 17, as there were planty of happy campers with them in the field. It is a great amp, and works well in studios, rehearsals and small gigs, but it is doesn't cut it with a 5 piece band as its overall projection is limited. Not surprising considering its a 18-20 watt amp.
So now I am circling back on the Megatone as the Wezo ME18 is based on the Masco and is 30 watts. While it is expensive, it turns out I have an old Bogen Challenger amp that could be used as a platform to build a Wezo ME18 at a considerable savings.
So, I would like to hear any feedback on the amp or PA head from anybody at the forum.
Rick, you said you have had a chance to play through the Wezo, can you enlighten us on its attributes?
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Sep 13, 2013 10:15 AM
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Rick Davis
2349 posts
Sep 13, 2013
12:46 PM
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6SN7-
I've played two Megatone ME-18 amps: The 10+8 version pictured at the top of this thread, and a 1x10 version. I also owned a vintage Masco ME-18 for several years.
You are correct: The Mascos just do not generate enough volume for a moderately loud stage. That is their only real shortcoming. The Mascos are known for a wonderful deep warm tone and a vintage crunch.
The Megatone ME-18 is significantly bigger sounding. It lacks the deep tone; it is kind of mid-rangey. The character of the amp is a raggedy crunch that I like very much. It cuts well. It's kind of like a monster Champ but with more color in the tone.
If I might add... I've also owned the Mission 32-20 amp for several years. Its circuit design was based partly on my Masco ME-18, in particular the tone stack and paraphase inverter. It is more faithful to the real Masco sound while being at least as loud as the Megatone. It retains the big low end and vintage tone of the Masco with great punch and cut, in a tweed cab.
The 2x10 Mission 32-20 goes for $1280. The 2x10 Megatone ME-18 is $2240. That is $960 more! With that extra money you could buy the Mission Delta Sonic amp too!
Both the Mission and Megatone are fine harp amps offered from skilled, dedicated amp builders. Both have a big pro sound.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Sep 13, 2013 1:01 PM
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6SN7
367 posts
Sep 13, 2013
1:05 PM
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First off, I understand the price differences you outline. But as s I mentioned, I am looking at a PA conversion that will give me a ME18 amp head. That total cost actually puts it in line with the Mission 32-20.
I understand the WEZO volume and tone dials are push pull, that way you can play clean or get that chicago honk. There is also a Pad control and the ability to go half power. Did you get a chance to play around with these features?
By the way, did the amp sit on the floor while played at the jam? I would think a small amp like that would sound best on a chair off the floor.
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Sep 13, 2013 1:07 PM
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Rick Davis
2350 posts
Sep 13, 2013
3:09 PM
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Here is Dan Treanor playing the Megatone ME-18 amp the same night I played it last November:
Yes, I fiddled with the settings until I got a sound I liked. I did not notice a "pad" control. Both times I played them the amp was on the stage floor, as in the photo above.
So, let me understand this... You are going to send a Bogen Challenger amp to Dale Laslie and have him convert it into an ME-18?
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Sep 13, 2013 8:28 PM
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6SN7
368 posts
Sep 14, 2013
4:03 AM
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Thanks for the post.
Yes, a Wezo MW=18, check the website for details/
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Rick Davis
2353 posts
Sep 14, 2013
7:19 AM
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Which Bogen Challenger amp do you have?
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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6SN7
369 posts
Sep 14, 2013
8:11 AM
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Bogen Challenger CH33, w/ a pair of 6L6's, 5U4, and 3-6sn7 tubes.
It has a red chassis w/ a grey metal cover.
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Rick Davis
2354 posts
Sep 14, 2013
10:25 AM
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Cool. Put up a video if you get the conversion done. I'd like to hear it.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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Harpaholic
349 posts
Sep 14, 2013
10:46 AM
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There's a new generation Wezo ME-18 with a pad contol, tone pull voice switch, and a gain boost at the volume control. 'm not sure if any of these features where in the first Gen model?
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