Does anybody here have some experience with Marble Amps from the netherlands. I'd love to order an HarpGear, however local product with shipping and service seems to be a pre?
I have a Marble Max, which I think is a fine fine amp. It's light enough that I carry it to the odd jam, and for medium sized gigs I used twin it with a Pro Junior. It's quite loud for 7.5W and more importantly has a thick punchy sound.
There's a clip somewhere on the internets that I can find and embed if you're interested in a demo of me playing the Max at a jam - I'm an intermediate player so I'm not sure if that's the right comparison.
I don't know how they directly compare with HarpGear though I am contemplating changing the Junior for an HG2
I bought my Marble Max new in 2003. In all that time, the only trouble I've had was a burned out pilot light. The amp has great tone and is REALLY loud for its size. I've gigged with it in almost every setting, from a duo, to a 10-piece band with horns and keys (sometimes miked, sometimes using the line-out).
They didn't offer it when I bought mine, but if I were buying again today, I might opt for a 10" speaker instead of the 8.
Still: No complaints. I'll give up my Max when they pry it out of my cold dead fingers. :-)
Have alook at my vids of me playing with the Kilborn Alley Blues Band - the title is Russ - Oxharp after 4.5 years and is on this page.
I am playing through a Marble Max at volume 6 approx maybe 6.5 but man is that a sweet Amp.
I could not get it any louder due to feedback and I was very close to the amp.
I have had it about three years and it had never let me down and is a great recording amp and is very loud for its size.
It has limitations in that it does not quite cut it in a band with 2 guitars but is fine for normal use.
You can of course mic it up and I have used the line out at a local Jam a few times.
Because it is only an 8-inch speaker the stage sound does not project enough of a natural tone into the room and you are at the mercy of the soundman at the pa.
So I bought a Fender Bassman 59 RI and that takes care of the natural stage volume without micing up the amp.
The Max does not push enough air for me and the Bassman can be too loud for small and med rooms.
I am currently looking for a Fender Pro Junior to modify and at 15watts I think that will be ideal for most jams and small to med rooms. The Bassman is really for festivals and outdoors in my opinion.
If you are in the UK you could come and have a go with my gear. That is an open invitation to any other guys.
Hope that helps.
Here is a vid of a pro junior modified for harp and it is definately loud enough.
---------- Oxharp
Last Edited by on Dec 01, 2011 10:02 AM
I have used Marble Max for several years now. It sounds terrific and is really easy to carry with you. The minus is that with a band you really have to mic it even if in rather small venues - otherwise you'll get feedback problems. Usually this isn't a problem because it is easy to mic it, but if you have a sound man that doesn't understand anything but heavy metal - you are screwed... :)
If you have the money, use Max where you can + some bigger amp on the venues where it's not enough. I haven't personally used the line out even once so at least for me it isn't really relevant feature...
Thanks so much guys, really helping, Dutch as I am,
Is it possible to do it with one amp, there's a couple of bigger amps, harpwood, harpmaster. However to big an amp in a small setup is not good either is it?
So should I buy two? I mean, I can afford it, bud it hurts like a m.....
And if so then go for a max and biggest one?
I just want a, serie, good amp which I can use in a small room and for a bigger gig, if we ever get there..........and Im working my ass of to get tone, so yes tone is very important to me.
So the question would be does a bigger amp generate fat tone at lower volumes? Or is that exactly the problem as oxharp described needing 2 amps?
@oxharp, I might take you up on that! thanks,
Last Edited by on Dec 01, 2011 2:13 PM
If money is not an object, call Sony Jr. and order and Avenger. I just received mine a few weeks back. This amp can do it all. It sounds just a good at low volumes as it does at high volumes. It really cuts through the mix if you crank it up.
Or you could order Harp Commander to use in bigger venues - it goes through PA so no problems with feedback... I haven't tried that out myself but perhaps somebody else has experiences?
drop me a message at r.vander.vegt@home.nl I'm Dutch too and own a few amps (Marble Max, Fox Roadster MkI and a Super Sonny), so you can drop in and compare.... ---------- Skinny Dog
