Charles.Doughty
21 posts
Oct 28, 2013
10:38 AM
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So I have outgrown the kalamazoo II that I purchased from Greg Huemann a couple of years ago. Which by the way is a killer amp with great tone for practice and recording but I am in need of some more volume. I've seen lots of cool amps up for grabs on here and I'm doing some research to find the right fit for me. My band plays mostly a mix if early jump blues and I am filling in the horn section on harp so I tend to color my tone a bit on the Chicago honk side with a delay and a Lone Wolf octave. I like the sound I get and it fits with the genre. I would like to be able to hear myself on a festival type setting on stage as well as a backyard party atmosphere without monitors. This amp needs to be loud and versatile and needs to stand up to being transported here and there as well. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
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Kingley
3233 posts
Oct 28, 2013
10:41 AM
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Get a Fender Bassman Reissue or LTD. There's a reason why it's the most popular amp among harp players.
Last Edited by Kingley on Oct 28, 2013 10:42 AM
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FMWoodeye
807 posts
Oct 28, 2013
11:55 AM
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I agree with Kingley....although the Bassman is the only "big" amp I've owned. I use a Lone Wolf octave pedal and digital delay. I haven't tried the LW Reverb through the Bassman yet. The only problem I have with it is dragging it around. I am old with bad knees and other health issues. Have you tried playing through the PA with the aid of pedals?
It's very convenient.
Last Edited by FMWoodeye on Oct 28, 2013 1:00 PM
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MN
284 posts
Oct 28, 2013
1:47 PM
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Charles, What's your price range? Also, are you in the U.S. or another country?
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6SN7
381 posts
Oct 28, 2013
1:48 PM
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I got a Sonny Jr Super Cruncher for sale, interested?
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doctom
10 posts
Oct 28, 2013
2:30 PM
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How do the Harpgear amps compare to the Bassman reissue for volume/tone?
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rbeetsme
1407 posts
Oct 28, 2013
2:46 PM
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Stop looking, buy the Cruncher, be a happy man.
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John95683
126 posts
Oct 28, 2013
4:24 PM
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How much for the Cruncher?
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Charles.Doughty
22 posts
Oct 28, 2013
8:20 PM
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I would like to stay around the $1000 range and I will have to sell some gear to make it happen. Right now I'm just checking out the options and opinions. Which there are many and I am grateful to have a forum like this to connect with all you harp guys.
I'm in Milwuakee, Wisconsin in the US, I have used pedals straight through my pa as well as a line out to the pa which has worked well but I could get washed out in larger venues.
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6SN7
382 posts
Oct 28, 2013
9:20 PM
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I will post the Super Cruncher in the for sale thread, dont want to be a troll!
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Slimharp
19 posts
Oct 29, 2013
7:34 AM
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Charles, first you want to consider an anti-feedback pedal if you are looking for more gain in an amp. Dont cheap out on this. With about $1000.00 to spend the higher end custom amps are out. I would suggest a Fender Bassman or a Fender Blues DeVille. Just because you get a Bassman and pop a mic into it doesnt mean you have a good harp amp. Type of tubes and speakers have a great deal to do with it and the type of mic you are blowing through. Either one, make sure it is Made in USA. I have a early Blues DeVille ( first year 1994 ) with the blue frame alnico speakers 4-10) which is important. I love it because I have a clean channel ( similar to the bassman ) and a drive ( dirty ) channel. With this set up there are many different tones you can get, plus a master volume which enables you to push the drive channel with max volume all the way up and control overall output volume with the master and get good break up. A lot of fun stuff you can do with a DeVille. You can get a good one between $400.00 to $600.00. The earlier the better - USA made.
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harpwrench
709 posts
Oct 29, 2013
8:28 AM
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Super Reverb RI is another good way to go.
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The best you know is usually only as good as the best you've had.
Spiers Custom Harmonicas
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Rick Davis
2610 posts
Oct 29, 2013
9:07 AM
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Charles, if $1000 is your absolute max then an early Fencder Bassman RI is a good choice, but it will be a project. If you have the skill and patience to mod the amp for harp the results can be great. (Really a shame... I sold my monster Bassman RI for $1000 last week.)
If you can go a little more on the price you should consider the Mission Chicago 32-20 2x10 amp. It is very loud with outstanding tone, kind of like a smaller Bassman. Since it is a custom harp amp it is all set up and ready to rock. No mods are needed. Great warranty and service. The price is only $1280.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Oct 29, 2013 9:09 AM
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Bass410man
2 posts
Oct 29, 2013
9:43 AM
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As I understand it there is guy near Toronto that has a mint Mission 2x10 for sale, all you would have to do is go pick it up. I think he was asking $1200 and you wouldn't have to wait 4-6 months for a build.
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Rick Davis
2612 posts
Oct 29, 2013
9:45 AM
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BTW, I noticed there are really no good videos up on YouTube of the Mission 32-20 2x10 amp. I am going to try to rectify that this weekend.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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1847
1245 posts
Oct 29, 2013
11:44 AM
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why does a bassman amp have to be modified?
i have owned both a vintage and a re-issue
i just replaced the 12 ay7 with a 12ax7
12ax7 v1
12ax7 v2
5751 pi
not sure i would consider that a major modifation
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Kingley
3237 posts
Oct 29, 2013
11:48 AM
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I agree with 1847. I have owned two Bassman LTD amps and in both the only thing I did was to change V1 to a 12AY7 and no other mods. They both sounded great.
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Rick Davis
2618 posts
Oct 29, 2013
11:49 AM
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1847, different players have different tastes with the tone of a Bassman. Your system may sound good to you but may sound obnoxious to others. I know when I modded my Bassman I listened to all the advice I could find and ended up with something different than any of the suggestions. It takes time and patience to get it right for your own ear.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Oct 29, 2013 11:59 AM
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Rick Davis
2619 posts
Oct 29, 2013
11:58 AM
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This website has a great section about modding a Bassman RI amp for harp.
Green Bullet Mics
Dave Kott knows his stuff...
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Oct 29, 2013 12:09 PM
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1847
1246 posts
Oct 29, 2013
1:28 PM
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Your system may sound good to you but may sound obnoxious to others.
no... my rig sounds obnoxious to me
it must however sound pretty good to others
cause everyone wants to borrow it.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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HawkeyeKane
2123 posts
Oct 29, 2013
1:41 PM
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"Dave Kott knows his stuff..."
Is he still selling the Fanatic? I've not seen or heard tell of one in a while.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Rick Davis
2620 posts
Oct 29, 2013
1:48 PM
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1847, as you know, opinions on amp tone are all over the place. There is no "right" way to prepare a Bassman for harp. Some might say if you have an early Bassman RI and did not replace the SS rectifier with a vintage tube and installed a bias pot to bias your power tubes cold you missed all the magic. On the other hand I know players who play the amp bone stock. They probably think we are both crazy.
Dave Kott's Green Bullets Mic website was where I really got started when I was modding my Bassman. I didn't end up doing all the exact things he suggested but his experience and ideas are good. I learned a ton about amp tone in the process, which was kind of the point.
With a harp amp like the Mission 32-20 or Megatone ME18 you can get a good idea of the amp's tone before you get involved with it, and you won't have to make any changes.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Oct 29, 2013 1:50 PM
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Rick Davis
2621 posts
Oct 29, 2013
1:52 PM
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Tim, I don't know if he is still building that amp but there is a lot of info about it at the bottom the page I linked to:
Green Bullet Mics
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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1847
1247 posts
Oct 29, 2013
2:05 PM
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when i bought my re issue, the first thing i did was
change out the solid state rectifier
i also changed the 12 ax 7 to a 12 ay7
i do not consider that a major modification
that is how the vintage amp came... so it just seems like common sense. in the end it did not seem to make a huge difference, but if i had to do it all over again
i would do that, just because.
i just put 2 ax7 im my vintage bassman
it works well because i have a kinder antifeedback pedal. i can now turn the amp up to 6 very nice indeed
to me the best mod anyone can make is to keep a bassman pretty much stock, and use that pedal
if you want it super loud use 12ax7
a little less loud two 12ay7s
or even less loud two au 7s
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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1847
1248 posts
Oct 29, 2013
3:42 PM
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wait a minute hold the presses... my amp is modified
i have a bias pot, and i am using 7581 power tubes
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Rick Davis
2626 posts
Oct 29, 2013
3:46 PM
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7581 tubes in a Bassman, really? How does that sound? LOL
at first I thought you meant 7591.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Oct 29, 2013 3:50 PM
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garry
459 posts
Oct 29, 2013
4:57 PM
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@1847: maybe they just borrow it to keep you from playing it.
:-)
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1847
1250 posts
Oct 29, 2013
8:15 PM
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@1847: maybe they just borrow it to keep you from playing it.
well that won't work any longer
i just got my amp back, and it has a hole in the speaker
i not sure if something happened to it while it was on loan
or something i did.
i just know it will be out of commission for a few weeks
also i just turned down an opportunity to buy
the exact same speaker for $50.00, and that they do not make them anymore.
the good news is i have been meaning to have a slew of speakers re-coned
for like....... forever.... so now i have no excuse
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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1847
1253 posts
Oct 30, 2013
8:13 PM
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12ax1
12ax7
5751
7581
7581
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwks7e073ahkcid/2013-10-30%2018%2010%2022.mp4
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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1847
1254 posts
Oct 30, 2013
8:16 PM
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12ax7/7581
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Charles.Doughty
23 posts
Oct 30, 2013
8:44 PM
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What does the bias pot do?
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blueswannabe
331 posts
Oct 31, 2013
4:55 AM
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@Rick, excuse me, what, no good videos of the Mission 32-20 2x10? How about my video? LOL
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Bass410man
3 posts
Oct 31, 2013
6:04 AM
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Now that's what I'm talking about, great videos right there. I think that Mission amp sounds awesome, good playing man.
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1847
1255 posts
Oct 31, 2013
7:46 AM
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What does the bias pot do?
kinda like when you put new spark plugs in a car
you have to adjust the gap for a proper spark
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Rick Davis
2634 posts
Oct 31, 2013
8:10 AM
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Blueswanabe, LOL sorry man! Those vids are great! That's what I'm talkin' about. I was thinking of vids I had produced at the Ziggies jam, and I spaced out these. Nice playing, and it really shows off the tone of the amp. Thanks.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Oct 31, 2013 8:10 AM
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Rick Davis
2635 posts
Oct 31, 2013
8:27 AM
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Charles, a bias potentiometer is like a volume control that varies the idle current in your power tubes. Low bias in some amps will give a saggier, more vintage tone. At least, that is my understanding of what it does.
Adjusting the bias is something that should be done by an experienced tech. The voltages involved can kill you if you make a mistake.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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1847
1257 posts
Oct 31, 2013
8:55 AM
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if it doesn't kill you
it will make you stronger!
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Charles.Doughty
24 posts
Oct 31, 2013
10:10 AM
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I do not intend to try and change anything other than tubes on an amp. My guitar player is a luthier and amp tech and I would ask him to do the heavy handed stuff. He actually told me of an old timer amp technician in St. Louis that would discharge an amp with a screwdriver before working on it. Hah!
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blueswannabe
332 posts
Oct 31, 2013
10:57 AM
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@Rick...when I first read your post I was thinking of Will Farrel's new line in anchor man 2 ("Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat"). LOL
It's all good..thanks.
Maybe you can get Nic Clark to blow through that amp on one of those slow blues that he does. That would be killer. Love to see that.
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1847
1261 posts
Oct 31, 2013
1:54 PM
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at first I thought you meant 7591.
7591 are also great tubes
i use those in my magnatone
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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HawkeyeKane
2133 posts
Oct 31, 2013
2:31 PM
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@Charles
St. Louis eh? You a midwesterner too?
Side funny : the captcha i got when writing this started with the letters "NFBL"....Negative Feedback Loop. LOL!
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Hawkeye Kane
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Rick Davis
2636 posts
Oct 31, 2013
2:54 PM
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1847, I had an original 7591 tube in my 1962 Premier Twin 8. Sounded great.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Charles.Doughty
25 posts
Oct 31, 2013
2:55 PM
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@hawkeye
Yes, I'm in Milwaukee. How about you?
Even spell check acknowledges the need for negative feedback.
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HawkeyeKane
2135 posts
Nov 01, 2013
10:59 AM
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Springfield, IL. Yes....an FIB. :-)
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Hawkeye Kane
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Charles.Doughty
26 posts
Nov 01, 2013
4:53 PM
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@Hawkeye
I'm originally from Massachusetts (Masshole)
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HawkeyeKane
2136 posts
Nov 01, 2013
5:55 PM
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My family has old roots in Southie. Not anymore, but I still have some friends there.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Greg Heumann
2437 posts
Nov 01, 2013
8:08 PM
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Catchin' up on this thread.
There are many ways to skin the cat, but I disagree with this statement: " first you want to consider an anti-feedback pedal if you are looking for more gain in an amp."
It just ain't so.
First of all, if you understand that gain and volume are not the same thing, I don't know ANYBODY who wishes they had MORE gain! But more importantly, if you have an amp like a Bassman, you shouldn't need several hundred $$ of anti-feedback pedal to fix what can be done with $25 worth of tubes.
A Bassman, or ANY OTHER AMP AIMED AT GUITAR PLAYERS has OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH GAIN as delivered by the factory, designed to let guitar players do their best Hendrix impersonation by turning around, facing the amp and getting feedback. But guitar strings and pickups not only have about ΒΌ the output of a harp mic, they are far less efficient at coupling to sound waves. So you NEED a boatload of gain to get feedback. But that works against harp players. You can get ALL THE USABLE VOLUME from an amp without an anti-feedback pedal, and really controllable feedback characteristics, simply by lowering the gain - A LOT - through tube substitution.
I talk about it all the time here. I've also proven it to many people first hand. Most recently, today I gave a lesson to a fellow who has been playing for 40 years and wanted to know what amp and mic he needed to get Gary Smith's tone. He had a Blues Jr. So I gave him a lesson and showed him how he could get that tone from his Blues Jr. That was the technique part. Then I took out V2 and V3 and plugged in 2 12AU7's. Boy did the amp become easier to manage. He was blown away.
Just try it. Its a cheap and rewarding experiment. If you don't like it, I won't be offended if you go back.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
Last Edited by Greg Heumann on Nov 01, 2013 8:12 PM
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1847
1264 posts
Nov 01, 2013
10:28 PM
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I don't know ANYBODY who wishes they had MORE gain!
really?????
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Kingley
3251 posts
Nov 02, 2013
1:50 AM
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I agree with Greg. Changing valves is often the cheapest, quickest and most effective instant fix. In a Bassman try a 12AY7 in V1 and you should be set for harp. If you want to lower the gain more more then I'd suggest trying a 12AU7 in V3 as well. That can give a Bassman great tone and I seem to recall is David Barretts recommended setting. If I had a Bassman now that's what I'd do first and then after a while if I still hankered after more I do the mods recommended by Mark Burness. Then if after that I still want more I'd change two speakers. Always my first port of call though would be to try swapping valves before anything else. I also should mention that generally I'm not a fan of 12AU7's in an amp for harp as i feel that they tend to kill any liveliness in the amp. Leaving it sounding dull and lifeless. The exception to this in my experience is the Bassman. Putting a 12AU7 in V3 is pretty nice in my experience.
I also agree with Joe Spiers about the Super Reverb Reissue. They make very good harp amps. Rick Estrin gigged with an original Super Reverb for about 25 years.
Last Edited by Kingley on Nov 02, 2013 1:51 AM
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Greg Heumann
2441 posts
Nov 02, 2013
9:00 AM
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@1847 - Yes, I meant that. I don't know anyone who wants a harp amp with more gain. More VOLUME, yes. More gain for the same maximum volume? Just makes the amp less playable.
@Kingley - I haven't noticed any lack of liveliness in my Sonny Jr amps (Four-ten, Cruncher, Avenger), Bassman, or Blues Jr - all of which I've used 12AU's in V2 and V3. I DO think it is important to leave a higher gain tube in V1. I like to recommend people START with 12AU's because the change is more subtle than most people would expect. They'll notice that they turn the volume knob up a lot higher but the change in the tone isn't that great. But at least that way the difference is as big as it can be which makes it easier to identify just what it is, and isn't. If it is too much,, then it is a simple matter to pull one of those 12AU's and go with something more intermediate.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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