Looking for a new amp to go with the lush green bullet I just shelled out on, my guitar amp is a hot rod deluxe, far to hot for harp, the feedback is mad.
SO. The vintage route or a harp specific? I was thinking marble or a harpgear? budget will be about £800
I just bought a Kalamazoo model 2 less than a week ago and it's great. Whenever I have the chance I play with it even if it't only for 5 min and with the line out I could go through a PA if I ever play out of the house. The other thing to consider if you don't buy localy is shipping and duty fees which could take a part of your budget. ---------- Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Isaac Asimov
Do you play guitar too? You CAN make the Hotrod more harp friendly by reducing the gain with tube substitution - but you can't optimize it for both harp and guitar. ---------- /Greg
I agree that a Hot Rod Deluxe is too much power for harp.....on it's own...
But one thing you might consider is a Kinder AFB+ anti-feedback unit. I was talking with Rick Davis earlier today, and with his, he managed to crank his Bassman up to a 9 on the volume and get feedback-free results much to his giddy delight.
But if you wanna have separate amps for harp and guitar, I can definitely understand that. I'll second, third, fourth, and fifth the vote on the Kalamazoo Model Two. It's really the best small vintage amp you can hope to find for harp. Greg here won't steer you wrong if you buy one of his, though the shipping will be astronomical. But if your budget is 800 quid, might not be out of the question for you. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2012 11:03 AM
Ok. @timeistight I do both, but for playing at home I have a nifty champ 600 reissue. When playing out with harp, guitars bass and drums are unsurprisingly the order of the day. @Oxharp thanks for the offer, but im looking for something a tad larger, I prefer an un-miked amp if at all possible, too much faff. Kingley, would the princeton un-modded? Cause that would make a great recording amp for guitar. @greg yes im a guitarist too, the extra gain comes in handy for this pop-punk band i often play with so id rather leave it as is. Do you sell the kalamazoos then? what's the cost/UK shipping?
Jfllr1 - I wouldn't even bother trying to use a Hot Rod Deluxe for harp or getting a Kinder AFB or any other kind of pedal. Simply because it's not a good amp for harp at all. Personally if I had £800 I'd either go for the Fender Princeton or a used Fender '59 Bassman Reissue/LTD, Super Reverb, Concert. All of those are great for harp. I wouldn't go the boutique route either. Simply because you'll get more map for your money buying a good used amp. What I would definitely not do is rush into buying any amp. Get out and try as many as you can using your mic(s) and see which "flavour" you prefer.
"Kingley, would the princeton un-modded? Cause that would make a great recording amp for guitar."
Yes just simply swap V1 for a 12AY7 if you feel you need to for harp. Although it's not necessary by any means. FWIW In my opinion the '65 Princeton Reverb Reissue is the best amp I have ever used for harp and I have played through a LOT of amps.
Sound advice form Kingley, was curious to know if all these, "harp specific," boutique companies (harpgear, marble, meteor, sonny jr et al) were worth it in terms of quality, value retention etc. the Princeton is attractive I have to say. Would never use the hot rod, one big speaker and too much gain. Where can one go to try out a large number of affordable used amps though.. ---------- "Blow as thou pleaseth"
Well a lot of music shops stock the Bassman, Super Reverb and Princeton. So that's easy. As for other amps just ask around local harp players and see what they have and ask if you blow through it to see what it's like. If possible try to record yourself playing through each amp, so you can listen to it at leisure and decide what you like and don't. Just remember to make a note which amp is which.
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2012 11:31 AM
Pawn shops can be a decent place to look for a harp-worthy amp as well. You'll have to hunt and peck, trying each one out, but I know several harp players who've found oddball tube amps at pawn shops that they've fallen in love with.
Another one you might consider, though I don't think anyone here has tried it yet, is Fender's new Pawn Shop Series amp, the Excelsior. Their promo vid shows a harp player blowing through one, and it sounds great there at any rate. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
I think a lot of the question is how loud you want to be. The Marble Max, Harp Gear 2, Kalamzoo or VHT Special 6 are all going to be in the same volume range as your champ 600. They're all better amps and frienfly for harp but still that's the class of amp you're talking about.
The Princeton is a step up from there, volume wise. Closer to your hot rod deluxe, although not quite as loud.
The Bassmans (Bassmen?), Super Reverbs, HG50s, etc. are up at the top end of what most people would consider a usable volume for harmonica.
If you have an underpowered amp whose tone you love, you can always try micing (or line-outing) it through the PA, but if your bandmates are loud, you still might have problems hearing yourself.
Princeton Reverb Reissue is a great harp amp. No mods or tube substitutions necessary.
Super Reverb Reissue is also a great harp amp, but tube swaps are necessary. Don't need to mic the SRRI unless you are on a really big stage.
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2012 12:16 PM
The only amp I own now is a VHT Special 6. I mostly just play straight into the PA these days using a 545SD or whatever vocal mic is available. I'd buy another Princeton in a heartbeat though if I had the money.
@jfll1: I recently shipped an amp to Spain - shipping was $330. Maybe I misunderstand, but if you want to perform with a full band, the Kalamazoo may not be your best choice. The issue will be hearing yourself on stage. With a mic and/or line out, AND a cooperative sound guy, it will sound great out front, but there is a limit to how much of you you can have in the monitors before feedback becomes an issue. You really do need a sound guy who is paying attention and willing to make adjustments for you during the performance.
There's no question a Kalamazoo has awesome tone for harp - but it is still a 5-8W single 10" speaker amp. The only gigs I do with mine (and I don't have the luxury of counting on a sound guy) are small coffee shop/pizza joint gigs - i.e. with a band that can really control its volume. It is also great for recording, of course.
I still swear by "plenty of power and plenty of speaker" for uncontrolled settings like jams, or performing with my band in larger venues or outdoors. ---------- /Greg
@Jflr1: Go into the #2 input. I put the bass on 10, the reverb on 3 and keep the treble off, but YMMV.
Now, I use a mic with a volume control and turn the volume down on the mic so i can turn the amp up to 5 or 6 or maybe 7 -- the best "sweet spot" will depend on what mic you use.
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2012 1:48 PM
