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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Amplifier Kit Recoomendations
Amplifier Kit Recoomendations
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Zadozica
252 posts
Mar 03, 2013
5:41 PM
Does anyone have any recommendations for an amplifier kit that works well for harmonica, is under 20 watts and,has tone, gain and volume controls?
puri
41 posts
Mar 03, 2013
10:55 PM
I've posted the link for weber's 5f2h twice and it disappeared both times! Anyway, that's my recommendation.
SuperBee
978 posts
Mar 04, 2013
4:10 AM
I'd love to build that amp.
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Rick Davis
1389 posts
Mar 04, 2013
7:49 AM
I owned and gigged the 5F2H for a year or so. Great amp (yes, it had to be mic'ed up), but it does not have a gain control, which is one thing Zadozica asks for. You usually don't see gain controls on tube amps meant for blues harp.

The Weber 5F2H amp was originally designed by Bruce Collins of Mission Amps. In fact, he and I met when I had questions about the circuit and the people at Weber told me to contact him.

No matter what Weber tells you, the amp makes only about 10 watts. It has very nice tone. It looks like a pretty easy build... I bought mine already built up by Tungsten Amps.

Mine was in snakeskin tolex... badass.

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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Last Edited by Rick Davis on Mar 04, 2013 7:58 AM
MJ
586 posts
Mar 04, 2013
8:26 AM
Like Rick says , there is not often a gain control (Master volume) on harp amps. I built a Super-charged Champ kit from STF electronics a few years ago. STF has nice kits for reasonable prices with good tech support from Pat Bunn. The supercharged -Camp has a Master volume setup. I found that once I dialed in the gain I wanted, I rarely ever changed it. As a result I began installing a double cathode bypass boost in the amps I now build. It gives me 4 different "looks", which for me s more than enough.
http://www.stf-electronics.com/
Zadozica
253 posts
Mar 04, 2013
9:02 AM
The big boys are commenting.....! Thank you very much.

However, that amp is a little expensive and complicated for me.

I am thinking more along the line of a hobby kit that comes with a pre-amp (fetzer or peppermill valve type thing) and costs under $50.

This would be my first amp and I want to ease into it slowly. Also, I can drop the gain requirement.
Rick Davis
1391 posts
Mar 04, 2013
11:06 AM
LOL. I have a video of my friend Dex ("Jakarta Slim") playing through a Fender '57 Mini Twin. I'll put it up here a little later.

=====================

Here it is:



$59.99 at Guitar Center

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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar

Last Edited by Rick Davis on Mar 04, 2013 11:08 AM
HawkeyeKane
1524 posts
Mar 05, 2013
7:00 AM
They aren't kits...but both the Bugera V5 and the Peavey VK Royal 8 have gain controls on them. They're also both EL84 amps which some harp players have no love for. But there you have it. Two different compact 5-watters that are out there and available.
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Hawkeye Kane


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