Hello everyone. I am hoping for some opinions and advice. I have the opportunity to purchase a Sonny Jr 410 at what I think is an okay price but I am also interested in the new Harp Train 40. I am assuming that the HT40 is similar to the Harp Train 10 which I have never had the chance to play through. I have a couple of Lone Wolf pedals which I quite like so I am assuming their amps will be of a similar quality. I know the HT40 is brand new but any thoughts on these amps would be greatly appreciated.
The Sonny 4-10 has more onboard adjustability and is closer to a Fender Bassman. It uses a tube rectifier,where the Harp Train uses a solid state-not a big deal,but I prefer the sag of a tube rectifier.
The Harp Train would be easier to transport-being a head with your choice of what cab to use.
Bottom line-depends on how much built in adjustability you want,and how strong your back is-
I'm glad someone noted the ease of moving a head/cabinet setup vs. a combo! I'm a bass player and really pushed for that configuration because of how much easier it is to transport/the flexibility of having multiple cabinet options. Most people seem to be missing that point.
The SJr. stuff is fantastic, and it really nails that Bassman sound. Whichever way you go, you're making a good choice. ---------- --Nathan Heck General Manager, Lone Wolf Blues Co. customerservice@lonewolfblues.com
The Crescent City Harmonica club did a couple of amp comparisons with the prototype HarpTrain 40, my bassman, and my Super Sonny. Here they are for your review.
A note about these videos. The Harp train was the original prototype, and I think there have been some changes made to make it even better. The bassman reissue, which had been flooded during Katrina, had been redone by a good amp tech, and has had a bias pot installed and has been tubed for harp, and has a couple of eminence Legend 1028K speakers on the bottom, and stock on the top, and the SuperSonny is running a weber Coppertop Solid state Rectifier, because I like it that way, and a little hotter V1 ----------
I had previously watched those videos a number of times to try and determine the best sound to me.I even had my wife listen as well! They are so close.
Nathan - I appreciate your honesty. It is no doubt that this helps bring business to your company. The thing I like about the SJ410 (Super Sonny) in those videos is the bottom end. As Harvey said that is a prototype in those videos. Is the final retail version very much different from the prototype in the video?
The Super Sonny sounds the best to me-but the 4-10 and Super Sonny are different amps-to make a 4-10 a Super Sonny ,some mods are required-a different lower back panel,speaker exchange and some other mods,including the copper can rectifier.
Richard43 - Some things to consider, not directly answering your questions.
I would want to at least play the (model of the) amp with a band. Hearing a video of someone else's tone, not knowing what mods were done to the tubes/speakers, and unknown acoustics of the location in the video make blind purchasing a recipe for disappointment. What matters most is your tone through the amp, the sound YOU want to hear so you need a "test drive".
Resale value. Not my first thought when I bought a SJ. Later I found they raise prices when they can and drop the retail price dramatically and absent explanation when they need to move a lot of product. So your used SJ has an unstable resale value. Not good if SJ drops its new price and thereby reduces the value for players trying to sell their used SJ amp. And, SJ service ends for people who buy used SJ amps because Gary Onofrio sees you buying (a used SJ amp) from me as taking bread from his mouth. Harp Train? Too new. Who knows what the resale value will be?
The value of endorsers. If so-and-so plays "X amp", do they endorse after getting the amp for free? Do you only hear them play an amp that was modified or customized for their particular needs? No endorser says it's their favorite free amp. Or that it's not their day-to-day choice.
Speakers. You can change tubes to get more or less gain or sag. Speakers are a larger, and expensive venture. It's easier to find online demonstrations and understand the dynamics of known speakers (Eminence, Weber, Jensen) based on model, vintage, and where manufactured. If all I know is "proprietary speakers" it's not much. Certainly Fender using Jensens would vary (US, Italy, China?). Some may be better for guitar; lack lows; eliminate highs; or might be speaker du jour that helped maximize profit per amp.
Needs or Desires. Are you looking at these amp options because: 1.They're boutique amps and you don't want to be another harp guy with a Bassman? 2. You want the old "brown sound"? 3. You need 40-50 watts to cut through your loud band mates' playing?
So many considerations. Not like "which shoe do you like - this or this?" ---------- BnT
@HarveyHarp...Those videos are very dated ;) The final production model has much more bass response than that prototype, a tone control (in addition to the BALLS) and it puts out much more volume. Honestly, this is the most representative video of the amplifier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS2FDfLDbxk
@Richard43...We should have some good demo videos of the production model up soon. ---------- --Nathan Heck General Manager, Lone Wolf Blues Co. customerservice@lonewolfblues.com
