TahoeMike00
30 posts
Jul 12, 2010
12:52 PM
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I have read and searched the forum about amps etc. Looked at the amps for sale page. Searched the web for reviews/opinions, watched youtube videos ad nauseum. So hence, more confused now than ever.
If you had to choose one amp, and it would be your first amp, what would it be and WHY?
And, would these features be missed if these were not in your amp of choice?
- Portable
- Tube
- CD / MP3 input
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 9:19 PM
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Joe_L
451 posts
Jul 12, 2010
2:24 PM
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It's important to know what one plans on doing with said amp.
I would not buy a Bassman to ever play around the house and I would not take a Champ to play in a bar without additional amplification.
Portable is important. Tubes are good, but I've owned solid state amps. I've never owned an amp with a CD or MP3 input. Based on those qualities, it sounds like you are looking for a practice amp to use around the house. If so, I would get a used tweed Champ clone from a company like Victoria, Harpgear or a Fender 5F1 reissue. I would not buy a new amp.
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toddlgreene
1532 posts
Jul 12, 2010
2:30 PM
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Although I'm getting satisfactory results from my little 5-watt modded Epi V Jr.(mic'd onstage), if money wasn't an issue, I'd probably lean towards a 30-35 watter, such as the Cruncher or maybe that Mission-something portable that packs ample volume if I need to rely on it. I'm done with back-breaking amps. The mp3 input isn't a big deal to me personally-I play out and live most of the time-but it would be cool to have a headphone jack that cancelled out the speaker.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Jul 12, 2010 2:43 PM
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TahoeMike00
31 posts
Jul 12, 2010
2:44 PM
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Oops, should have mentioned intended use.
Practice amp - Garage, house. Maybe jam with friends at some point.
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toddlgreene
1533 posts
Jul 12, 2010
2:47 PM
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I'm happy with what I have, and it would(and does) suit the purposes you state. If I could make one change, it would be to have two 8's, or maybe one 12. I've got a vid or two up on another thread(the Use Me 3rd Position one)-that's the Epi, mic'd.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Jul 12, 2010 2:48 PM
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Jim Harris
29 posts
Jul 12, 2010
2:49 PM
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I'm new too, and started using a Alesis 30W my daughter had for a starter guitar amp. I found it too quiet, so got a deal on eBay for a Line 6 amp, 75W with one 12" speaker. It seems good, but I've not performed any gigs with it, so don't know if it is loud enough to play with amplified guitars and drums. It's plenty loud around the house! I need to close the windows and wait till nobody else is home. :)
It seems like I'd need to go up a level to something with two or more 10-12" speakers and about 150W.
What is realistic to expect for performing?
Last Edited by on Jul 12, 2010 2:51 PM
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Greg Heumann
650 posts
Jul 12, 2010
3:33 PM
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"Practice amp - Garage, house. Maybe jam with friends at some point."
For that purpose, I would have a Kalamazoo, hands down.
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/Greg
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jbone
362 posts
Jul 12, 2010
9:29 PM
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75 watt line 6? that's the big guns there. i would really recommend trying it out live at the house with some friends before taking it out to a jam or gig. that kind of watts with a single 12, unless it's seriously modded, sounds like a feedback beast.
i already have the amp i wish i'd gotten as a first amp. silvertone 1482, 25w, single 12, tremolo, which i use almost never, but it does seem to add warmth to overall tone.
i started with a crate II ss amp and a lapel mic. dry as old bones. added a digi delay to wet it up but never gigged with it. second amp was a fender princeton tremolo, '62 model, single 10, never could get it loud enough for gigs even as a stage monitor.
over many years and many amps- most of which were just not very well suited to harp mic frequencies- i got the silvertone about 8 years ago. got a bassman replica 2 years ago and that amp has changed my life a lot. but the silvertone will always be with me hell or high water.
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Greg Heumann
657 posts
Jul 12, 2010
10:15 PM
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Most of use who have been around the block once or twice have "chased amps" and bought stuff we later regretted. I certainly did. As a beginner I had no useful performance experience nor did I have the mic technique I needed to get good amp'd tone in the first place. Auditioning amps when you can't play very well is impossible to do honestly.
If you can afford a good amp from someone who KNOWS harp amps - do it. Sonny Jr, HarpGear, Meteor, etc.
Have to agree with jbone - a 75W Line 6? Gonna be very tough to control.
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/Greg
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hvyj
448 posts
Jul 12, 2010
10:15 PM
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Playing around the house, jamming with friends, maybe a small gig? I love my Princeton Reverb Reissue for that. 15 watts, one 10" speaker and on board reverb tank.
Loud enough for small gigs and can be played clean or overdriven. Compact and easy to transport. i put a set of Fender tilt back legs on mine and i like how tilting it back opens up the tone. Oh, and I love 10s for harp anyway.
This isn't the rig I usually gig with, but I like it for informal jams with friends and small, lightly amped gigs. Versatile small amp and louder than you would expect for 15 watts.
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Kingley
1322 posts
Jul 12, 2010
10:22 PM
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'65 Blackface Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue.
Because it's the best small - mid sized amp I have ever played by a running mile. It has a wonderful tone and responds perfectly to any change in technique. Down and dirty, fat and greasy, smooth and clean. The Princeton Reverb does it all and then some.
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Paul "Kingley" Routledge
My YouTube Page
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Big Nancy
63 posts
Jul 12, 2010
10:32 PM
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It would be an old Fender 4 x 10 Super! It has the balls to deliver in any club or festival situation, records nice, can be toned down enough to play at home and if in good shape is dependable and consistent. I have seen a lot of people throw good money after bad trading up for power, tone, dependability, what have you... the Super is a good value. Draw back... it is heavy... but then, welcome to blues!
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Jim Harris
30 posts
Jul 12, 2010
10:34 PM
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jbone and Greg -- "hard to control" as in too much feedback at higher volume, too loud overall, or impedance problems? Or just the electronic design?
What is considered a good configuration of speakers and power for live performing? Or should I be looking to mic a small amp through a PA system (if available)?
Big Nancy -- That looks really substantial. :) I just checked eBay -- those go for a good chunk of change -- from $1100 to near $2500! Yikes. The one I saw was 45W x four 10" speakers.
Last Edited by on Jul 12, 2010 10:56 PM
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LittleJoeSamson
345 posts
Jul 12, 2010
11:50 PM
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@ TahoeMike00 : Given your parameters, try a Blackheart BH-15 Handsome Devil. Then , swap out the tinny sounding Chinese tubes.
The 7W/15W switch is a fun feature.
The Epi Jr. has many advocates, too.
Quite a few threads on the Fender Pro Jr. versus the Blues Jr.
You might want to check them out.
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MP
680 posts
Jul 13, 2010
1:14 AM
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1970 fender princeton,no reverb.
if i need something bigger,like a bassman, i just borrow it in trade for tweaking the owners harps.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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hvyj
449 posts
Jul 13, 2010
4:14 AM
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There is a Reissue of the Fender Super Reverb in current production. The Super Reverb was the amp that Paul Butterfield used.
P.S. added after reading Adam's post: This is a big amp that moves A LOT of air (4 tens). If it's re-tubed properly, guitar players will ask you to turn down. I agree w/Adam about it not being an optimum choice for a first amp. I have one and it's NOT something I use for playing at home or informal jams with friends.
@MP As I understand it, Butterfield did use a Twin sometimes in the early days,(sometimes paired with a Princeton Reverb a la Jeff Beck), and I've heard that at one point used a Randall tube/solid state hybrid. But, I believe later he mostly used a Super Reverb. If you plug a 545 into the DRY channel of a Super, the sound is unmistakably Butterfieldish.
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 10:45 AM
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MP
684 posts
Jul 13, 2010
4:23 AM
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didn't he mainly use a twin?
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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kudzurunner
1652 posts
Jul 13, 2010
4:29 AM
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Nancy! A blackface Super as your FIRST amp!? Say goodbye to 1) your spinal health; 2) peaceful domestic relations; 3) friendships with your neighbors.
No!! Don't do it, Mike. Great amp, sure: I owned one. In fact, I bought it from somebody Nancy would know: Trip Henderson. But it's not what I would start with. For me the sound was too dry, unless you cranked it up into the stratosphere.
I made a lot of mistakes on harp amps, early on. One of my first amps was a Peavey 50, with a solid state preamp and tube power amp. It fed back in a terrible way and finally died. Then an Ampeg Rocket with a 15" speaker (not the original, which was a 12"), which is what I used on HARLEM BLUES paired with a Mouse. Not a bad little amp, but not ideal.
If it were me, doing it all over again, I'd start with a HarpGear2. It's small enough to be truly portable--you can fly with it; it's built to be incredibly durable; and it is loud enough that you can play a certain number of gigs unmiked. You can get a howling little sound out of it. It's expensive, but it's worth the money.
But I'll second those who think that Fender Princetons are the way to go.
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 4:31 AM
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boris_plotnikov
156 posts
Jul 13, 2010
4:50 AM
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My current pedal rig (full version, now Carbon Copy instead of HarpdelaY, small portable version) sounds perfect to big solid state amps, a bit better than into big tube amps, and clearly better than small tube amps.
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Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 4:52 AM
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waltertore
770 posts
Jul 13, 2010
5:09 AM
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I will add to the princeton reverb vote. I have one and use it as a guitar amp 99.9% of the time because I play harp acoustically but it will double for either guitar or harp, and will have a high resale value. They are built well and not to big or heavy. The tone out of it will sound as good as most any amp. If you need to go louder, the club most likely will have a PA to mic it. Walter
here is an amplified harp song going through the princeton reverb with a shure 57 mic
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 5:09 AM
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HarpNinja
544 posts
Jul 13, 2010
5:16 AM
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I gig and am in love with my HG50 1210. It isn't a 4x10, but I've never had a problem getting a huge sound. I do gig, however. At home, it works ok on 2...it actually sounds good, but I could surely use something smaller.
Small Amp:
HG2
Kalamazoo
Silverface Champ
Medium:
HG Double Trouble
Princeton Reverb
Pro Jr.
Large Amp:
HG50
Bassman RI
Super Reverb
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Mike
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 5:17 AM
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Greg Heumann
658 posts
Jul 13, 2010
9:15 AM
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@Jim re" bone and Greg -- "hard to control" as in too much feedback at higher volume"
Yes. Typically guitar amps are set up with way too much gain to be harp friendly. Often they can be re-tubed to correct this - not sure about the Line 6. Also, in my experience, the combination of 1 speaker and a lot of power makes the amp very "stiff" - it will have a sweet spot but when you play more quietly it won't be heard and when you play louder it will be harsh.
Here's the best analogy I can give you:
Imagine if you had a car with a powerful motor (maybe you do), but the gas pedal only moved 1/4" between idle and full throttle. It wouldn’t have any more power than the same car with a “normal” gas pedal, it would just have a hair trigger and be very hard to drive smoothly. That's what playing an amp with too much gain is like. When you can only get the volume knob on your amp to 1.5 or 2 before feedback, it is very “touchy” too. Reducing the amp’s gain is like increasing the travel of the gas pedal, so that maybe there's 6 inches of travel between idle and full throttle. This will place maximum volume before feedback at, say, 7 on the volume knob instead of 2. The transition between no feedback and feedback will be “softer” – much less sudden, so you usually can get a little more volume before feedback. But more importantly, your amp will be much easier to drive.
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/Greg
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bluzlvr
389 posts
Jul 13, 2010
1:11 PM
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This is an interesting question.
I'm currently ampless after going through hard times (except for my Micro Cube and my Little Smokey).
Used to alternate between a Bassman RI and a 1960 Fender Concert.
After hearing so many positive reviews, I think I'm going to have to set my sights on the HarpGear.
The Fender Super was my first major guitar amp, but I never thought to try playing harp through it.
That sucker was HEAVY!
All the non re-issue Supers I've heard since then seem to vary greatly.
A friend of mine bought one a few years ago and it was the best sounding Super I've ever heard.
Sounded great for guitar and when I plugged a JT30 into it one day and played some harp through it it sounded well... super!
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myspace
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 1:13 PM
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Big Nancy
64 posts
Jul 13, 2010
5:06 PM
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I guess you guys missed my point... buy one amp!
I am of the opinion that there doesn't need to be a first second third... that is where the money is lost. Save your money , go big the first time... and get something that will stay with you in all situations.
Put it on wheels!
And if you did go black face... which you don't have to do... it would definitely hold its resale value if you decided to dump it.
Mine have very good reverb... and I know they vary but you could always look around for a reverb unit to add later.
I hold firm to my belief in the Super and the Princeton... the larger Fenders especially because of those feedback problems with smaller amps.
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Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 5:08 PM
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strawwoodclaw
79 posts
Jul 13, 2010
9:12 PM
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I think the mid sized Cruncher or Meteor amp are good middle ground, they wont break your back when carrying them, they overdrive quicker than the bigger amps without bringing your house down & they have plenty of power & a line out. or if money is a issue buy a valco or Premier vintage amp the new amps try there best to sound like these
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TahoeMike00
34 posts
Jul 13, 2010
9:37 PM
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What - no votes for the Pignose 7-100? Or Mouse? :-)
Lots of good info, thanks everyone. Plenty to chew on.
@Adam - points well taken, for sure!
@Greg - I like your explanation on gain. Good stuff.
@kingley - "Down and dirty, fat and greasy, smooth and clean." I LOVE it!
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Greg Heumann
659 posts
Jul 13, 2010
10:11 PM
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Agree with Big Nancy that if you can afford it, but the amp of your life first. You'll save a lot of dough. I would buy a Sonny Jr Avenger. Rockin' good amp and a huge amount of amp for the money. It also, somewhat amazingly, sounds really good at very low volumes.
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/Greg
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bluesnut
162 posts
Jul 13, 2010
11:00 PM
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I have purchased SJR 4x10 and a HG2 2x8 based on reveiws on this site and the harmony and what ever I can get on line. Tools made for the job are allways a good choice. I know I made good choices on both. The HG2 is a dream to carry around. The SJR is one heavy sombitch and stairs, yikes, but the tone holy cow. You get what you pay for.
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MP
686 posts
Jul 13, 2010
11:24 PM
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everyone was away, so i plugged in the 1970 princeton and messed around for an hour.
it was first amp i bought new-on layaway- anyone remember layaway? it would be a good idea to implement it again with the economy the way it is.
anyway, it is essentially a blackface because because CBS didn't mess with the circuitry till 1972.
i didn't get reverb because it was about $30 more and then my amp would have cost a little over $200.
that first one is long gone, but i picked up it's twin 10 years ago.
it's all original and in extremely good shape for something 40 years old that i was riding trains with and loading into vans.
i love it!!!
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2010 11:26 PM
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bluemoose
238 posts
Jul 14, 2010
10:42 AM
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I'm with strawwoodclaw (is that some variation on rockpaperscissors?)
Nearly everyone was away from the jam last night. Only 4 or 5 of our regular audience crowd and a drummer and standup bass player to round out the 2 hosts on guitar.
I got called up as I was walking through the door. Got to play the two long sets 'til midnight with my SJR Cruncher. It ain't light, but it's managable (and it just fits in my classic Mini :) but man...the tone and the balls on this thing, even at sane volumes, is unbelievable. Even our little first pos Hank set sounded great.
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DeakHarp
96 posts
Jul 15, 2010
2:56 AM
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My 59 RI with 2 u7 and 1 x7 5881 5u4 .. Small rooms my volum control on my mic 1/4 turn is a little bassy but i deal with it .. but wide open i love it ......I add a little reverp with my holy grail + i got in London ... W usa power & uk power ....and i jump the channels from lo gain bright to high gain normal ...
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N.O.D.
34 posts
Jul 15, 2010
5:26 AM
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If you had to choose one amp
You Guys got it to good Bro's Downunder not much of a choice going down in the way of Vintage Tube Amps:(
i started out with a 5-watt Legacy an Epiphone VJ Clone,then i Bought a Fender Blues Junior of my Bro Cheap $500 Bucks, to play for a while but had intensions to mod it down the track,
It's a USA Mod so i had to change the Transformer get a 240 volt tranny,so i got all the gear together first so i could strip rip and replace, see if i could get me a fancy custom amp Happening:)
i got the 240 volt tranny and a Multi tap 4 8 16 ohms
parts used to date
Mercury Transformers
10 inch GB Celstion 35 watt
Ruby Tube Reverb Tank
lower gain Tubes
custom wireing
I had a friend do the elecrical work
He overlayed the wires from the trannys by 90 degs
i asked him if he was being neat he said no it helps reduce the hum from the trannys,
he then cut every female wire fitting of every wire
and solderd directly to the male spade fittings on the cercuit Board saying they should never be used he hates them saying swear word Ken Mass Produced Poo:(
so the only thing i got left now is the original cab and Fender Cercuit board but not for long,
in the next 4 or 5 weeks i will be working on a custom cab to fit 2 x 8 Vintage Australian Magnavox speakers in made from solid wood not sure yet could be Pine Possibly Oak Tasmainian Oak sounds good right now,
I have a Harp Gear HG2 this was made avaliable to me in Australia via a MBH Forum Bro from his friend in Melbourn $750 this was a great deal a massive saving
of over $200+ smackers,
and was most impressed when i found out it used Mercury Trannys came with a Pine Cab and Weber speaker but i reckon it could have been a 10 inch hay but i got plans for it later:)
i wanted a Harp only other than my Fender BJ this was made avaliable with the info from MBH Bro's about these amps all i can say it's an investment in tone and well worth the money i spent:)
so to choose a Amp Harp Gear would be first
i allso had to see what the Hipe about Pignose Amps was all about so i been haveing a lot of fun lately with my Pig and Dynamic Shaker:)
so whats next you ask well i been looking at geting a Vintage amp 5 watts ,been looking at all types Masco Kalamazoo,Harmony,Valvco think i may have to talk to greg later on:)
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OOPS!!!
Did i just Fart i got G.A.S.
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5F6H
247 posts
Jul 15, 2010
5:53 AM
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Just one amp...if you're going to play out & aren't worried about the weight (55lb-ish), tweed bassman style amp. They can be played quietly, but if you are going to play with a drummer using sticks, it will do the job. Normally too loud for home use, but then so is just about any amp with an output measured in W. There is also more info available to harp players on this amp than any other, it can be tweaked & upgraded as necessary, as time money allow, or you can go straight for a harp specific version from Victoria/ SJr/etc if funds allow. Can be a handful for a first amp, because you're going to want to keep playing it to get comfortable with it.
A small <5W amp is great for recording...maybe for jamming in the garage/at home too (assuming band mates aren't bringing 100W Marshalls) if you live in detatched house & have sympathetic neighbours. Can be too loud for home use if you have neighbours through an adjoining wall. A line out is a great option & can be used on stage...as long as you have access to & monitoring capabilities. For a first amp, I think something like this just about has the edge.
But neither will outlive their usefulness. In fact, I don't think one amp will really cover ALL situations optimally. It's more the "first amp" part of the OP that swings it for me.
Last Edited by on Jul 15, 2010 9:09 AM
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TahoeMike00
36 posts
Jul 15, 2010
1:26 PM
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@5F6H
Good point - *First* amp.
I think I am going to make a spreadsheet to start comparing amps and features. And price.
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Buzadero
486 posts
Jul 15, 2010
2:13 PM
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If you are in fact in the Tahoe area, you're more than welcome to make a trip a bit north and test drive some of my little (and, big for that matter) amps.
I'm up towards Lake Almanor.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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TahoeMike00
39 posts
Jul 15, 2010
3:14 PM
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@ Buzadero
Very generous offer, thanks very much.
But I am actually in Folsom. (NOT the prison) lol.
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rbeetsme
291 posts
Jul 15, 2010
3:52 PM
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Ditto Joe. It would be the Champ. I'd miss the others, but I could live with the Champ.
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LittleJoeSamson
352 posts
Jul 15, 2010
4:32 PM
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For myself, the 1960 Rocket ( Noble ) does so much in such a compact package, that it has become my "Go-To" amp.
Sounds like a much bigger unit...cuts right through the mix even with shredders on stage. ( Last night, I had it facing backwards, and the gitslinger asked me to dial it down. Eventually had to move it on the other side. ) Can be bluesy/fuzzy with tone @ 1, or clean and snappy by simply dialing the tone to 3.
I put in milspec 6SL7WGT's in pre-amp, 6V6GTY's for power, and a Bendix 6106 for the rectifier ( although a rare Matsushita 5CG4 sounds good, too ).
If I had to pick only ONE amp, this would be the one to gig with. It's just loud enough, but it can always be mic'ed ( only had to do this once ).
The Blackheart is nice and has a warm tone. I use it for more jazzy, folksy stuff.
My 1941 Gibson EH-125 is choice for Blues...and every other harp player wants to try it when I bring it out on rare occasions. I use it primarily for recording.
The Traynor YGL-III, Mark 3 is the concert beast. Sounds good with 2X12's but only after considerable modding ( and some proprietary customizing ).
85 Pounds keeps it in garage most of the time.
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slobie
21 posts
Jul 15, 2010
7:12 PM
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i have been using a fat dog 4a and its a great amp . its a 4 x 10 with around 30 watts and the sound is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! This would be my choice.
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Cisco
151 posts
Jul 15, 2010
7:35 PM
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The Sonny Jr Cruncher. Light but with 35 watts of crunchy power, a line out, and it sounds great at low volume too. Tried lots of different amps:HarpGear, Fender 57 champ and Deluxe, Super Reverb and Bassman. Nothing touches the overall usability of the Cruncher - in my opinion!!
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harmonicajoe
9 posts
Jul 16, 2010
5:18 PM
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I have this little Supro 606 from the 60's with a ten inch speaker and that is asolutely my favorite amp. But when it comes to playing onstage with guitars and drums and all that, the Fender 4x10 Bassman reissue I bought 20 years ago still rocks it.
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chromaticblues
154 posts
Jul 17, 2010
5:09 AM
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Littlejoe that is probably the best amp listed here!
Try a vt-229 RCA Tung-sol or I use a Raytheon that was cheaper than some of the other ones, but sounded better than any 6sl7 I tried.
I read that forties and early fifties tung-sols are just as good as any military version. Although I have four and they do sound great, but all are a little noisy! I don't know! Just thought I'd tell you about the VT-229 though. If your happy with a 6sl7WGT you will love the 229!!!
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LittleJoeSamson
355 posts
Jul 17, 2010
1:14 PM
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@ chromaticblues... yeah, I do have a sweet Sylvania VT-229 that I pair up with a 6SL7WGT that seems to boost the tremolo. I picked up an RCA VT-229 for cheap, but it's microphonic. A slight amount is almost musical and chimey...but this one was like ringing a bell every time something moved on stage. I might try putting damper rings on it and see if there is any improvement.
I have five of the 6SL7WGT's, so it's not like I'm at a loss for good tone.
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MP
728 posts
Jul 17, 2010
4:56 PM
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supros are cool!
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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Mojokane
97 posts
Jul 19, 2010
2:24 AM
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There are three or four...for different venues.
All of which I often share with my best pal MP, anytime he wants.
He is the only cat I'll loan my amps too. He is an amazing player, as you guys know. And he's real good with tuning harps, too.
What a load off my mind. And at reasonable rates, too. Actually having the luxury of someone able to tune them, is a blessing.
Here goes.
And MP can chime in anytime.
All of the ones in the collection pix are great amps.
I even have a Cordovox Leslie sittin quietly on the right hand side of the photo.
Of little use, in most places, but a very cool sound, if you need a vintage tone tremelo, or chorus reverb, nonetheless.
And all of em sound great. but these are the flavors of the month.
Small- Kalamazoo Model One, with a 2X12 partial open back cab. Real crunch, lots of bottom, more than the stock 10 by far) and beautiful tone.
 
Medium - Either a Princeton (non reverb),with an Ibanez CD10 Echo...or, an Admiral mono( I forget the model number) with (2) EL84's,(1)5Y3, and (1)12AX7...really cooks with 12" Rola. Amazing little 14 watt dynamo.
Alot of bottom, and mid range bark. Sorta, like a big brother to the Zoo, with a little more of everything.
 
Big - 59Bassman RI..I just played one last, in a bigger than I'm used to venue. I was amazed and captivated!
I tubed it down with an AU's and one AX, and it holds back the feedback pretty well, without losing it's sweet spot.
Then, if i had to, the Bogen CHA33. I tubed it down, too. And it roars like nothing I've heard. I put together a cab with 4X10's. And the Bogen had incredible tone!!
The kind we all search for. Beter for guitar, but tubed down a little, it is fine.
Fender Pro?
I believe the Bogen is very similar to the early Pro.
The hard part is finding the right speaker combo to make it sound good.
It's so hard because the Bogen Is real loud...and will feedback easy. but once you get that Bogen sweet spot....watch out!
Now I "hear" what the fuss is about, with the 59Bassman RI. Mine is an early 90's (90-91) one of the first. I put a bias pot in and had it looked over by an amp dude..
If you are having trouble dialing in your Re-issue, don't give up...it's worth the effort to do your research and find out how....
The Bassman is tricky, too. I got lucky last night..
We even mic'd it through the P.A. Which made it fill the room even better.
All round choice for gigging with an amp. The ROla Admiral 12 combo...can buy em...gotta make em! And just mic it when it's not loud enough...to rise above the rest...But the Bassman is King.
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2010 2:32 AM
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chromaticblues
156 posts
Jul 19, 2010
4:49 AM
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@LittleJoe
Thats to bad your RCA's ring! Those are suppose to be magical tubes!! Yeah it can be tough buing tubes. You never know what your going to get! I bought 8 different tubes and had 4 already of the 6sl7 type. I put one in let it warm up for five minutes with out playing. Then play softly at first then let it rip. Anyone that hasn't done comparison tests like this would be amazed at the difference between one tube to the next. It's not cheap finding that tube that is just right for your amp, man is it worth it!
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Mojokane
98 posts
Jul 19, 2010
11:18 AM
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sorry about the big pix...any tips on how to reduce it.I'll look into it, too.
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MP
733 posts
Jul 19, 2010
4:15 PM
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remember i found the two 12s on the side of the road in the rain? the cabinet fell apart and you put the speakers in the snakeskin cab for the kalamazoo model one.
i never thought it would work. man..was i wrong! that thing is sweet.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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RyanMortos
730 posts
Jul 19, 2010
5:36 PM
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I'm a little late but, oh well.
Coming from someone who hasn't been playing long and only has bought one amp these are the two I would consider:
The HarpGear Rock Bottom (which I bought and think kicks butt but then again I've only ever played it in my basement & only a handful of times in the last few months)
The other amp I would have gotten had I patience would have been a Kalamazoo from Greg's list.
I've played publicly a few times and every time I was using someone else's mic & amp, haha.
Actually my thoughts on the subject look a lot like HarpNinja's.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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LittleJoeSamson
358 posts
Jul 19, 2010
9:01 PM
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Mark...I LOVE stories like that ! 2- 12's in the rain ?
Plus, that K-zoo looks sharp in Python !
I found a Vox Jaguar garbaged out in the snow back in Wisconsin. Didn't play any keys then, so I turned it for a Franklin to a buddy that did. Now, wish I kept it.
Somewhere here may be my recount of how I acquired the 1941 Gibson EH-125. If not in the search option, I'll have to relate to you. Quite the tale.
[ FYI...the EH-125 is the same model used in the movie "Cadillac Records" as Muddy Waters first amp. It has to be the one Kim Wilson owns. ]
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