alliag
16 posts
May 03, 2011
3:44 PM
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I'm on the search for a good reliable amp. Had a new blues Junior and was not happy with the tone. Im looking for a medium sized tweed amp that is know for delivering a decent tone. My blues junior sounded very hollow. I like the sound harmony amps produce but they don't have enough output. Price range is 500-800$. Any suggestions would be great thanks!
Andrew
Last Edited by on May 03, 2011 3:45 PM
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joshnat
140 posts
May 03, 2011
4:00 PM
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I've got a '61 or '62 Silvertone 1474, which was the original Twin Twelve combo. This one has been modded with Allen-branded Emminence 10" speakers which took some of the flubbiness out of the sound. It's 2x25W but bridgeable, so you can play it at full 50W if you like. Sounds really good. I bought it to be my main gigging amp, but shortly after a friend offered a handwired Kendrick Bassman repro. It's right in your pricerange (a little below, actually), depending on where you are (I'm in Boston). Let me know if you want a Skype demo...that's how I bought it from the guy who shipped it to me from Portland, OR!
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Last Edited by on May 03, 2011 4:01 PM
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Joe_L
1228 posts
May 03, 2011
4:15 PM
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Hi alliag - Did you search the archives? This question has been answered about a hundred times. There is no consensus on what makes a good harp amp. You'll have to provide additional detail on what you are looking for and where you plan on using it.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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hvyj
1386 posts
May 03, 2011
5:00 PM
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I had a Blues Junior. I sold it to buy a Princeton Reverb Reissue when the PRRI first came out. No regrets.
Both amps are 15 watts. I think the PRRI gets louder before feedback and has more "punch" and better depth of tone than the BJ. Also much better reverb. It isn't a "tweed" sound, though. But I like the sound of the PRRI and find it to be a versatile and very reliable amp.
Last Edited by on May 03, 2011 5:02 PM
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Diggsblues
765 posts
May 04, 2011
8:26 AM
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I can appreciate looking for the perfect amp.
I kind of don't have the amp luxury most of the time
since I'm playing at jams and it's either the pa or
someone's guitar amp. I usually just bring my akg dm 500 mic and my boss octave pedal.
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Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind
How you doin'
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harmonicanick
1170 posts
May 04, 2011
9:52 AM
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Hey Alliag, I'm the same as Diggs, go to a lot of jams and just pa it.
However, I have a blues junior modded and it sounds pretty good and I can carry it!
If I were to say to you the best sounding amp IMHO it is the Fender Bassman re-issue, awesome, but they are too heavy for me, good luck in your search.
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HarpNinja
1417 posts
May 04, 2011
10:22 AM
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Big amp - Fender Bassman
Medium amp - HarpGear Double Trouble or Princeton Reverb
Small amp - VHT Special 6 or HarpGear Champ
All of those can be had used for your budget.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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toddg
42 posts
May 04, 2011
3:29 PM
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Or just buy my Harpgear HG 50 at 999 , I can't believe it's still not sold .It's fatter sounding then my 63 concert !!
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bluzmn
17 posts
May 06, 2011
1:05 PM
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Whenever I get the chance, I commend (and recommend) the Fat Dog 1A harp amp. Fat Dog amps are woefully underhyped, and are IMHO one of the best harp - specific amps available. I have a Fat Dog 1A, which is a single - ended class A amp, getting 10-12 watts from one 6L6 or 5881 tube. As its name suggests, it gets a fat, greasy sound, nothing like a Fender, because it isn't a Fender clone. It has a 12" Jensen speaker, and it's only $500! Robby, the person who makes them, is a really nice guy, very helpful. He also makes a Model 2A, which is basically 2 Model 1As in stereo, through two 10" or 12" speakers. I'm really excited about the fact that he's now offering amp kits; I've started saving my pennies for a Model 2A kit!
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LittleBubba
57 posts
May 06, 2011
2:50 PM
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You can buy an amp based on "common denominator" recommendations, and you'll probably be happy. But, the only way to get an amp that you know you'll like is to play through 'em.
If you have a big music store you can get to, go there with whatever mic and/or effects pedal you like to use, and try a bunch of 'em out.
I'm shy, so I go to places that have practice or "try-out" rooms where I can push the volumes on tube amps and drive 'em a little, without botherin' everybody else in the store.
If you like crunchy, dirty sounding blues harp, any eq'ing should be done with the bass up, and the mids and trebles barely off the bottom, if at all. If they're amps with fx circuits, try 'em on the straight tube circuit and with the fx tied in ( I never use the fx loops ).
Everybody's got their opinions, but your ears are the only ones that count, so play through some.
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jimr
13 posts
May 06, 2011
3:46 PM
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I am selling a great sounding 5F6A Bassman circuit 4x10 combo that I tweaked for harmonica. Price is $700 plus shipping. See site below.
Jim R
https://sites.google.com/site/jimdramps/
Last Edited by on May 06, 2011 3:47 PM
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