Ash Tele
1 post
Nov 11, 2019
3:59 PM
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Hi all,
I am stuck on deciding what to do regarding getting a Harp amp. Here are my choices...
1. VHT Special 6; hand wired tube amp.
2. Roland Street; Modelling but has built in echo and reverb.
3. Get nothing, my AC15C1 is as good as it gets.
4. Something I haven't considered yet.
I plan on mostly using it for recording although I do play harp on a couple songs playing out. Up until now I have just played it clean into a vocal mic. That works but I am interested in expanding my repertoire and would like to be able to get that dirty Chicago blues sound but without hauling a mountain of extra gear around.
I've seen a lot of positive comments on the VHT for harp. It will deliver that classic break up but doesn't have any onboard effects. The Roland has the effects but I'm not sure it sounds as good as the VHT. Either would be easier to move around than the AC15.
The VHT is 1x10, 6 watts class A 6v6. The Roland has 2x6.5 neodymium speakers. It is 2.5 watts x 2 solid state. I don't mind the solid state part. It's a question of tone, volume, feedback, which is more giggable, etc.
I'm leaning towards the Vht because I suspect it will hold up better on a noisy stage where the Roland would be a better busking rig.
I appreciate your words of wisdom helping me make this choice.
Last Edited by Ash Tele on Nov 11, 2019 5:33 PM
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snowman
511 posts
Nov 11, 2019
7:11 PM
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I've been using my Epiphone valve junior combo more lately live--I bought a piggy back line out box—so I use my Epiphone for stage and front of house---meaning its loud enough on stage for me to hear as well as foh to hear----Ive micd it as well--- works fine that way----just prefer line out
Now I can mic it for recording or line out for recording---its light and gives Chicago dirt--
Here is epiphone
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Epiphone/Vintage-Valve-Jr-1X8-5W-Class-A-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp-115525914.gc?source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=CjwKCAiAqqTuBRBAEiwA7B66hacHMpv4Q5y8nAR4FhH4IPIXuUgrSL7T6zuOcYidojFRrR1HbXfj6RoC1NYQAvD_BwE
(7893 Characters Left)
Here is piggyback
http://thesquealkiller.com/the-piggy-back/
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SuperBee
6286 posts
Nov 11, 2019
7:27 PM
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if you only wanted it to record, you could probably do as well with a virtual amp model.
i have only had one experience with an AC15. it was in the recording studio, and i was avoiding it. the engineer suggested it a couple times but i was sure it would be a problem, so i was bent on using smaller amps. i don't remember exactly why, but probably some last minute re-tracking, i was called in and didn't have an amp with me, so i used the Vox. Those tracks turned out as my favourites.
The Roland is a good practical amp. I can't see myself with one, but if i was likely to play the sort of situations where it would be appropriate, maybe i would. i believe they are very reliable. i agree with your assessment that its the top choice here as a busker amp.
i don't have a VHT. i have several amps of similar power but most have 8" speakers. The 10" is a good thing. i play one gig where an amp of that size would probably be great but mostly an amp like that has proven to be too small for most applications. Ive taken to using a Princeton Reverb but that's probably in the zone with your AC15 in terms of weight
Blues Jr is pretty popular choice in that low-midrange
VHT is probably the most popular amp I've seen here. what i mean is that when it came on the scene and people had time to check it out, it created a very big stir. They were very cheap and that 10" speaker put them into Kalamazoo territory. Prior to that wed had the epiphone valve jr craze but the VHT had the bigger speaker and it seemed universally agreed this was the best cheap harp amp seen for a long time.
i dunno what they go for now
they seem to have been fairly reliable. i'm still waiting for the reports of breakdowns to come in. i predicted they would be failing all over, but at this point i think i can say i was wrong about that.
it would be good if you could do a test drive before you buy, but if you get one at the right price you can always move it on if it doesn't suit
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jbone
3055 posts
Nov 11, 2019
9:56 PM
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I've recorded with several amps over the years and also with no amp and let the sound guy deal with effects to dress it up just a bit.
I've been in studio with Fender Blues Deluxe, bad choice, Princeton with 10" tremolo, decent choice, Vibro Champ, good for low volume recording if you like the round brown sound, Silvertone 1482 12w single 12" speaker, pretty good choice.
Simplest is no amp. Most times I've used a Shure CM bullet but once a nice crystal bullet, once a Shure 585 with good mids but not much lows.
Mot people have a cousin who has every software known to man that they can use for tweaking recording. Personally we like to have our recorded stuff as close to live as possible.
Out live with a band my voice is the exact opposite of what a harp needs so I must have a good vocal mic and a harp rig or dedicated harp mic to p.a., like a Shaker Dynamic.
----------
Music and travel destroy prejudice.
Reverbnation
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Ash Tele
2 posts
Nov 12, 2019
8:42 AM
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Hi all,
Thanks for the ideas and suggestions! I decided to go for the VHT. The Epiphone looked super cool but I think the VHT will work out better on a noisy stage.
I like the idea of the preamp but I do play harp in a band on occasion and really want the amp to work for that.
jbone, I do a lot of recording. I'm like you, I try to stick with a philosophy that I am capturing a performance. Even if I'm multi-tracking.
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snowman
512 posts
Nov 12, 2019
11:08 AM
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Id still think about making or getting a line out------its a great option -----helps for fast set up live------and u can still mic if desired
All these little amps have a lot of mods available---found a couple for future reference
https://sites.google.com/site/jimdramps/home/vht
https://www.google.com/search?q=mods+for+vht+amps+for+harmonica&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS704US704&oq=mods+for+VHT+amp+for+harmonica&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j33.18880j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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agarner
63 posts
Nov 12, 2019
7:00 PM
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I play through an Epiphone Valve Jr. It was $90 used and does the trick. People say it sounds good. Out of circulation new though, so its not always easy to find.
I played a Roland the other day at Guitar Center. It sounded really digital. It is a cool amp, but definitely a processed sound. I also tried a Bugera V5. Pretty good sound, and it has a 1 watt feature.
I've not played the VHT, but it seems sweet. Also check out the Stage 5 Memphis Mini amp. I know its a modded chinese amp, but it does sound good on the videos. Its about the same price as the VHT but modded for harp.
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SuperBee
6290 posts
Nov 13, 2019
5:49 AM
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I’ve owned 3 Valve Jr amps. I currently own 2. One is a combo, the other a head.
I was a terror for modifying everything. One of my VJ amps is really good, fitted with the alnicomagnet blues harp mod.
The other has the lone wolf mod.
The lone wolf thing is a particular sound which I think gets a bit tedious after a while. Too dirty too soon for me. I keep meaning to change it but I have more important projects and no shortage of small amps.
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Ash Tele
3 posts
Nov 13, 2019
4:35 PM
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I will definitely look into the line out.
I have a friend who has a Valve jr. M curious now. I'll definitely have to give it a test drive.
I should be getting my VHT tomorrow.
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Ash Tele
4 posts
Nov 14, 2019
4:18 PM
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I got it today. All I gotta say is...
Yahooooeeee!
Yup, it was that good.
Perfect for harp and great for guitar too.
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harpoon_man
272 posts
Nov 15, 2019
11:27 AM
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Congrats on the VHT! I had one years ago, and my only regret (besides selling it) was that I didn't experiment with other speakers in it as the stock speaker left something to be desired. I posted a couple of youtube videos playing this amp - look under YouTube user "Hophead75 " if you're interested.
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Ash Tele
5 posts
Nov 15, 2019
3:18 PM
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The speaker is okay. I mean it's a standard bright Fender like speaker but I know what you mean. A greenback or similar would probably sound more interesting in this amp.
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