I'm considering getting one of these: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GUITAR-AMP-CLASS-5-WATT-ALL-VALVE-BRAND-NEW-BWM-CHIMP-/260793039182?pt=AU_Amplifiers&hash=item3cb879f94e
as a first amp. from the research i have done it looks like it would be a good harp amp. 6L6 and 12 AXL tubes and JJ seems to be a reputable brand. the 2.6W mode and attenuator would probably be useful to me too, and the di out looks like a good idea. to the best of my knowlege they are only avaliable in australia and the uk. i can get a vht special 6 for about the same price, looks like they are very similar amps but the BWM has a few extra gadgets and looks better. i'll almost certainly buy one of these two amps this week so any advice would be appreciated. in particular if anyone has blown harp through a big white monkey amp thier input would be appreciated. i have read all of the recent threads about the vht but i can't try either amp. i also have no practical knowlege about amps only what i have read on this forum.
There are some statements in the BWM blurb that are concerning, they don't sound terribly credible. Yes, the attenuator may be useful, but a resistive attenuator can be made for the VHT for a few dollars, the VHT has better access to components, so if any mods changes were entertained they'd be easier to install. Testimonials suggest that the VHT is pretty well good to go straight off the bat. I would be reluctant to buy any amp fitted with anti-microphony devices...everyone else can buy quiet JJ 12AX7s so it suggests that there is something wrong with the BWM amp's design/execution if they need additional devices to make them work properly.
---------- www.myspace.com/markburness
Last Edited by on Oct 10, 2011 7:25 AM
VHT is a a much better choice. Ebay pics of the Monkey amp show it to be PCB construction with board mounted tube sockets and pots, inferior to the VHT hand wired circuit board with chassis mounted sockets and pots. Also, many list members have experience with the VHT and find it to be an excellent budget amp. I have modified the VHT for harp and describe the mods on a web page. https://sites.google.com/site/jimdramps/home/vht
thanks for your advice everyone, i'll go with the VHT.
@99 i considered that but i'm in australia and he doesn't ship internationally for amps. it would be a fair way out of my budget by the time i got it here anyway.
@jimr, lsb, kingley harpninja and others thanks for going to the effort recently regarding this amp, it made my research a lot easier.
