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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Rare vintage amps for harp
Rare vintage amps for harp
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hohnerjones
51 posts
Jul 14, 2014
8:01 PM
There seem to be a lot of gear savvy players here. I've enjoyed reading about the vintage amps harp players like. What are the rarest vintage amps out there? Am i likely to
ever stumble across one?

Last Edited by hohnerjones on Jul 14, 2014 8:03 PM
HawkeyeKane
2560 posts
Jul 15, 2014
7:48 AM
I'd say one of the rarest and most desirable amps for harp these days is the Danelectro Commando. They were only made for six years, and were also outsourced to Sears and Montgomery Ward under Silvertone and Airline badges. There's been some speculation that it was an amp used by Little Walter, but who knows for sure? If I could have any vintage amp, I'd have a Commando. They pop up on eBay every now and then, but they go for a fair penny just due to their rarity.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam

Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jul 15, 2014 7:49 AM
rbeetsme
1560 posts
Jul 15, 2014
8:48 AM
Any Valco is a good choice. Harp players are particularly fond of the tremotones with the 6X9 and 6X11 speakers. The National Aztec (made by Valco) w/3 speakers is highly desirable. The National Stage Star w/4 speakers is the rarest.

Last Edited by rbeetsme on Jul 15, 2014 8:48 AM
Harpaholic
483 posts
Jul 15, 2014
9:23 AM
Rick is correct, any of the early to mid fifties Nationals.

Models 1210, 1220, 1224, 1202, 1230, 1275, 1212, and the Nationals mentioned. The Stagestar is the model 1280.
In the last year I've seen more Aztecs pop up than Tremotones. The Aztec also came with a 15" speaker.

Supro as well as National made a Tremotone, There is also the Supro Golden Holiday and a model of the Gretch Electromatic which are identical circuits to the Tremotone. Difference in the Gretch is no tremolo, and If I remember right a 10" speaker.

Little Walter mentioned in an interview when asked what amp he was using. He thought it was a National.
Wouldn't surprise me, they where readily available, and I'm pretty sure he would like the tone.

FYI, all the elliptical speakers used in National, Supro, Valco where 6x11 speakers made by Rola. The early ones have a button magnet, and the later square magnets. I prefer the button magnets, but there both equally good.

I'm lucky enough to own a mint all original 1953 Tremotone that was owned by Bharath that I will take to my grave.

Last Edited by Harpaholic on Jul 17, 2014 10:58 AM
Slimharp
356 posts
Jul 15, 2014
9:52 AM
The early Gibsons are also good harp amps, from the late 1940's to the mid 1960's. L.W used a GA-45 T for a while.
Pistolcat
664 posts
Jul 15, 2014
10:10 AM
Where are you located? There is a lot of small obscure amps outside of America that is less known. The baddest harp amp I have ever heard was a Norwegian Vingtor of a not known model :). It has the nickname 'the Norwegian monster'. Arnenym may know more?

The point is that there may be a lot of local brand tube amps in different parts of the world...

Edit: ... That really kicks butt.
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Last Edited by Pistolcat on Jul 15, 2014 11:20 AM
Harpaholic
485 posts
Jul 15, 2014
10:27 AM
Slim, I'm curious when and where LW used a Gibson??

Pistolcat, I agree, especially amps like Dynacord, but obscure/unknown does not mean the same as well known and rare.

Gibson amps are great harp amps but there for sale everywhere all the time. Gibson most likely sold millions where amps like National tens of thousands.

Only the rarest of the rare Gibsons are hard to find, but even some of those have been popping up on ebay recently.

Last Edited by Harpaholic on Jul 15, 2014 11:20 AM
Slimharp
360 posts
Jul 15, 2014
11:48 AM
Harpaholic. I found that info on a site called Gibson Garage. Lots of good info there. Earlier on Gibson did not make huge production runs. I have a 1952 GA-30 in excellent condition, 1-12" 1-8" I think Gibson made like 500 of them. I do see some of the mid 60's for sale once in a while. I love my GA - 30 But, it is 15 Watts and really doesnt cut against Fender Super's and Twins in a band setting. It's really good for a studio amp. I have thought about selling it as I am amp heavy.

At the risk of sounding repetitious, the Memphis Mini by Rick Davis is one of the best sounding amps I have played through. Being single ended point to point Class A wired, it has all the vintage tone you could need. For 5 Watts it is loud and it has a line out. It is just as crunchy as my Gibson. Killer little amp @ $499.00. The Gibson, being an antique, is an amp I dont tend to drag out to gigs all the time.

Last Edited by Slimharp on Jul 15, 2014 12:02 PM
Harpaholic
487 posts
Jul 15, 2014
12:10 PM
I read that about LW, don't know where it came from or if there's any truth to it?

Your right about limited runs of certain models, especially their 4x8 models, but for some reason there have been quite a few showing up on ebay in the last 6 months to a year, maybe the production numbers are inaccurate? Maybe it's coincidental?

I am very happy with what I have.
I would like to own an Aztec and a Soulful someday.

Last Edited by Harpaholic on May 15, 2018 1:05 PM
Slimharp
361 posts
Jul 15, 2014
2:07 PM
Im sure Jacobs used a zillion different amps. Maybe he used the Gibson for 3 gigs, who knows. I would guess due to the economy people are unloading stuff they have had around for a while. As mentioned in Gibson Garage, not that many early ones were made. The GA 30 has an incredible tone for harp. I have had several harp players want to buy it off me. I dont think there are many 30's left, at least not in good working order.
hohnerjones
52 posts
Jul 15, 2014
3:14 PM
I was aware of the Commando, haven't seen one. The National Stage Star was a new one to me. Must be rare, I couldn't find it in my Vintage Guitar Bluebook.I have heard a few old Valcos at some jams. They do sound great. I heard the GA30 was decent, also heard the GA50 wasn't as good, not sure why not, looks similar. Any players here have any of these amps?
Tweedaddict
154 posts
Jul 15, 2014
5:59 PM
My two cents, Having owned numerous stagestars and Aztecs is... COOOOOOL as heck looking! Great blues toned guitar amps, but frankly... MEH... don't blow a wad of cash for a harp amp... not so good.... The tremotone is a killer harp circuit IMHO, but I cannot say the same for the higher powered versions ala Aztec and Stagestar.
rbeetsme
1561 posts
Jul 15, 2014
6:28 PM
If you're looking for a nasty distorted tone, harp players dig low watt amps, small amps like the Fender Champ, Gibson BR-6, Supro Comet, Masco MU-5 and others. I have a terrific little Silvertone (Danelectro built) 1331 1X8 that I stuck a 10" Gibson (CTS) speaker into. But if you want greater volume, bigger bass tone and some guts, the bigger amps like the Fender Bassman and the above mentioned Commando and Stage Star are the ticket. I've heard really good comments about early Fender Pro amps, Bandmasters and Danelectro made 2X12's. These are not that rare, but still pricey for a nice one.
Joe_L
2487 posts
Jul 15, 2014
9:14 PM
I have a pre-WWII, pre Valco, Valco-made amp that is completely bad ass. I recorded some stuff with it once and pulled some great Big Walter Evening Sun kind of time out of it. I've only seen one other one.
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Last Edited by Joe_L on Jul 15, 2014 9:15 PM
Harpaholic
489 posts
Jul 16, 2014
9:34 AM
I personally have not tried the Aztec or Stagestar, but I do know a couple great harp players that would disagree with you on the Aztec for harp. One of them is Mark Grandfield who has owned two or three of them that I know of.

Big tone was selling a StageStar awhile back and claimed it was killer for harp?

Keep in mind that 50-60 year old amps are more than likely operating out of spec. A weak tube, over-spec resistors, leaking filter or mains caps can each
lend a somewhat desirable quality under certain circumstances.

The problem is, the problems are unstable, and the amp gets worse and worse and/or unreliable/ and or unpredictable. Unless every component in the circuit is tested and replaced as needed, they can all sound different.

Last Edited by Harpaholic on Jul 16, 2014 9:39 AM
rbeetsme
1562 posts
Jul 16, 2014
1:57 PM
BTW: The Stage Star is the exact same amp as the Aztec, with an extra speaker. Even the cabinet is the same size. At least, that is what Mr. Valco told me. He also told me harp players are the guys most often searching for them.

Last Edited by rbeetsme on Jul 16, 2014 1:58 PM
Tweedaddict
155 posts
Jul 16, 2014
4:21 PM
Well, again... It's just my opinion man...
And yup,
Stagestar is indeed Aztec circuit and vice versa. Both rare and incredibly cool amps, I just personally don't rate them at all as great 'loud' harp amps.


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