ValleyDuke
55 posts
Jun 26, 2016
8:27 PM
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I live across the street from Guitar Center so I can't resist. This time it's the Fender Rumble 25. Technically a bass amp with 8" speaker, but it has overdrive and sounds good with guitar and harp.
I play with a stick mic, and this amp is failry clean sounding with classic Fender tone. The best part is the port in front. It's like the ultimate closed back (sealed) amp:
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hvyj
3059 posts
Jun 27, 2016
8:10 PM
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Personally, I generally like playing harp through bass amps. For a while my primary amp was an SWR Baby Baby Blue. Among other things, I suspect the larger coupling caps make bass amps more harp friendly.
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ValleyDuke
57 posts
Jun 27, 2016
10:13 PM
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That looks like a great amp, I looked at it online. Cool LED clipping light! I like a 8" or 10" speaker so that would be good for me.
I've been slow to notice the bass amps because they rarely come with overdrive, but I like how they are all closed back. I like that thumpy sound.
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hvyj
3060 posts
Jun 28, 2016
5:04 AM
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Yeah. The SWR BBB also has very sophisticated semi parametric EQ which is useful for tone shaping. And bass amps in general tend to be less feedback prone. Not all bass amps are harp friendly but a lot of them are and generally speaking I like how they sound. Some of them have a contour control which is often pretty useful for harp. Some also have a compression circuit that can be very cool.
IMHO, choosing equipment is not a "one size fits all" proposition. You should select the gear that helps you get the sound YOU are after. Personally, I think a harp friendly bass amp is a great choice. Many players like harp specific amps, but I've never tried a harp specific amp that I liked. So, don't be hesitant about choosing a particular piece of gear just because no one else is using it. If it gives you the sound you are after and functions well under gigging conditions, it is right for you. And you point out certain characteristics of bass amps that you like, so it's apparent that you are excersizing reasoned independent judgement.
Last Edited by hvyj on Jun 28, 2016 5:11 AM
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Thievin' Heathen
777 posts
Jun 28, 2016
5:14 AM
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A little OT..,
I'm real happy with the $40 Peavey TKO 65 I picked up off Craigslist. Lots of EQ knobs (Typical Peavey)and feedback does not seem to be a problem. Put a pedal in front of it and you can get all kinds of sounds & tones.
And then, there's always the Bassman. They're harp friendly.
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hvyj
3062 posts
Jun 28, 2016
5:28 AM
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Speaking of Peavey, these days my primary amp is a Peavey Delta Blues 1x15 and I absolutely love it. Tube down the preamp with AT7 D/W7 AT7 and you can use the boost switch as well as the drive channel both of which are foot switch controllable. Gets louder before feedback than my Super Reverb. Can stay clean or get dirty. Don't know of any other harp player that uses one, but I'm certainly happy with mine.
Last Edited by hvyj on Jun 28, 2016 5:34 AM
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ValleyDuke
58 posts
Jun 28, 2016
7:28 AM
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I traded my little Peavey with 8" speaker to get this amp! I love the distortion sound from Peavey, but it was open back. The Delta Blues looks like a tone monster.
I think I might add my first distortion pedal because I think the Rumble 25 should handle it well. Otherwise, it's all about my cupping, and that's fun, too.
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ValleyDuke
74 posts
Jul 18, 2016
10:01 PM
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Update: I paired this with an Electro Harmonix Bass Soul Food overdrive pedal, and I'm getting some good Bassman sounds. It's like a Baby Bassman - chimey with harmonics. Would be great with a tube mic preamp.
The Bass Soul Food comes with a Blend knob, and -10db pad switch, which is always helpful with mics.
I'm ready to get into a local band and use this!
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