rbeetsme
1086 posts
Jan 28, 2013
6:36 AM
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I spotted a National (Valco) PA this weekend at a flea market. This thing was big, head was maybe 20X12X10 inches, lots of tubes, inputs, knobs. 2 speaker towers 5 1/2 feet tall, closed back. Grey tolex with red stripe on towers. Anyone have any experience with these? Seller wasn't giving it away, just curious. Couldn't find anything about it online.
Last Edited by on Jan 28, 2013 6:36 AM
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LSC
360 posts
Jan 28, 2013
10:10 AM
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Have no experience of their PA heads. I can tell you National was the top of the line for Valco. Construction of their combo line was superb as was tone, though takes some tube tweaking for harp.
I have a National 1622TR with 2x8" Jensens on board. It's a wonderful recording amp for both guitar and harmonica. The reverb rather sucks but the tremelo is to die for. For harp I pulled the reverb/tremelo tube and also swapped the 12ax7 for a 12at7. The amp was pretty unusable for harp before that. After the swap it's pretty spiffy. Tonewise a cross between a Champ and a Zoo with a few steroid injections. Could benefit from a Kinder in front but unfortunately I sold mine to help pay for another amp.
From the sound of it what you're looking at could be awesome with some tweaks, though rather impractical for gigging. I had a Masco 25n with original 12" speaker cabs which was the best sounding harp amp I ever owned but totally impractical. I ended up selling it. One of very few regrets but necessary at the time.
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LSC
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Rick Davis
1234 posts
Jan 28, 2013
10:54 AM
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Rick, I would have bought it just to tinker with it and sell it later.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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rbeetsme
1087 posts
Jan 28, 2013
11:04 AM
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I'm wondering how it sounds as a PA?
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