Yeomanthefirst
34 posts
Apr 28, 2015
12:22 AM
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I'm a harmonica player living in England wanting to replace my Fender Champ 600 with battery powered amp for light gigs and street work. I've been in touch with Bob Smicz in the US who is back in the amp producing business. I love the idea of a dual power (battery and mains)amp and he seems like a really nice guy. Before ordering one blind from across the pond, does anyone have experience of his amps for harp? Anyone use one regularly? Sound clips? Suitability for harp? Comparisons with other classic amps? Any comments or thoughts greatly appreciated.
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LSC
724 posts
Apr 28, 2015
10:00 AM
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Not familiar with this amp but looking at what little info is available the concept certainly looks interesting, though a couple of things kind of jumped out.
First thing was the price at $595 US. By the time you add shipping, VAT, and Customs duties, you're looking at over 500 quid even with a weak dollar. That's a pretty heavy investment to take out on the street. Do you know you pay VAT on Customs duties, a tax on a tax?
The other thing is the one I can find on the web is the H, "high gain" version. I'm no electronic guy but this could just be down to the 12ax7 preamp tube. I can't find the spec on the "not an H" version. High gain is not something harmonicas tend to like. Swapping to a lower gain preamp tube is a common mod when dealing with guitar amps used for harp and is no big deal. I also can't find what speaker is used. You may find you end up swapping that out as well. Preamp tubes are relatively cheap. Speakers not so much.
An alternative to consider is the Maxi Mouse. Very popular with harp players on the street. On the off chance you're not familiar, it's a battery/mains powered amp specifically designed for busking, with two channels available and an eq switch for either two instruments or one instrument and a mic.
The first time I saw one was with a busker in Cardiff years and years ago. I actually turned around and went looking for where that great sound was coming from. It took a little while but I found one 2nd hand and loved it. I used to busk in Cardiff, Bath -where I had a license - and various fairs and festivals. Damn thing is brilliant. I sold it when I moved back to the states and wished I hadn't. By great good fortune and the generosity of a man I never met but knew from my writing a column for his online business newsletter I was given another one. I have only used it a couple of times in 10 years but I hang on to it for when the Mrs retires and we hit the road. I know we can roll into pretty much anywhere and I can pick up gas money at a minimum.
The Maxi Mouse has been discontinued for a number of years but often come up 2nd hand. There are two on Ebay right now. This one is the later SMT version and looks to be in great nick. Maxi Mouse With new batteries included not too bad a deal even at $275 Buy It Now. The US power supply is useless in the UK of course but all you need is a UK power supply to charge or run off of mains. Those are pretty cheap.
Besides sounding pretty damn good the Maxi Mouse has two other advantages beyond price. It's considerably lighter than the Smicz and if you ever need to sell it you won't loose much, if any, money and it will be a real easy sell, unlike the Smicz which is relatively unknown in the UK. And thinking about it, I think it would be more robust for street use with it's metal speaker screen and the way the cabinet is designed.
The Roland Cube is another popular choice. I have no experience of it myself but they are I believe readily available in the UK.
Neither of these are tube amps of course but you'd save enough money you could buy a 2nd amp for stage if you wanted. The difference in tone between any of these and a tube amp would be negligible on the street.
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LSC
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LSC
Last Edited by LSC on Apr 28, 2015 10:07 AM
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Yeomanthefirst
35 posts
Apr 28, 2015
11:29 AM
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Hi LSC, many thanks for your very considered and informative response. The cost of the amp and the further cost of importing from the USA into the UK is part of the reason for my post. I hadn't heard of the Maxi Mouse and though of course, I would run into the same import duty problems,(none for sale in the UK) I have checked out the listings, many thanks for the heads up on that one, also. I just loved the idea of a valve, battery powered amp however. I use a Marble Harpwood on stage and might find a tranny a bit irritating after that. But, like you say, on the street it might not be that apparent. And, like you, I plan to busk some of my winter away in sunnier, Continental climes! Thanks for taking so much trouble in your post, LSC
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rainman
178 posts
Apr 29, 2015
8:02 AM
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I would think a batterypack/inverter setup such as the Xantrex 802 1500W Powerpack might be a solution. It's portable on wheels and could be used around the house as well when not busking. My Epiphone Valve Jr. says it consumes 35 watts and my most conservative estimate would be that the power-pack would power this amp for 9+ hours on a charge. Not as portable as the Mouse, but you could broaden your amp choices, put out more sound, and play for a good long time.
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rogonzab
709 posts
Apr 29, 2015
8:32 AM
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You dont need a tube amp to play in (on?) the streets.
Try the Roland MicroCube, or the VoxMini3. Or usa a 12v battery wwhit a 12v-220v (or 110v) adapter.
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
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Yeomanthefirst
36 posts
May 01, 2015
5:46 AM
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Thanks for all your suggestions guys, will check them out. Shame no one has hands on experience of the Smicz though.
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9000
226 posts
May 01, 2015
6:04 AM
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I have a Smicz 110H with a Weber spkr. I've had it for years. It works well on battery power for around 3 hrs and more. I generally play with loud 5 pc bands so I don't use it to often. I took it out recently to sit in with a band: drums, bass, lead guitar and vocalist. I took a Squeal Killer with me that night and it worked surprisingly well as long as the band help to manage the volume a bit. Really great tone. When I bought mine there were very few choices in new good small harp amps. Today there are so many to choose from I think it would be difficult. Bob Smicz is a great guy...will work with you to create the amp you want. Build quality is EXCELLENT. I've never had ANY problems with mine although it doesn't get used a great deal.
All the best on your search!
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
Last Edited by 9000 on May 01, 2015 6:05 AM
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9000
227 posts
May 01, 2015
6:07 AM
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I believe that Rupert Oysler [Seydel USA] has a couple of them. David Fairweather used to post on harp-l. I believe he had one.
Good luck!
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
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