SMOKEY
23 posts
Apr 09, 2010
12:30 AM
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Hey folks,
I'm going to be picking up my first amp for harp and I am wondering what you guys with experience might have to say about this:
I have about $500 bucks to go to an amp.
I can pick up a 66' "blackface" Champ in super clean cond. and have $50 bucks left over OR
I can order up a Harp Gear Rock Bottom for $525 advertised OR
I can pick up a Valve JR. Half stack or combo for $100-200 bucks. and have money left over for either mods, delay pedals, lonewolf tone+ pedal....
WHat do you guys think I should do? Vintage with tube rectifier, dedicated harp amp with SS rectifier, valve jr for super cheap with options for upgrades or pedals?!
PS, I like the butterfield sound, thick horn like tone with a little hair on it. I'll be most likely using an EV 623 Mic. I am in a jam band and we will most likely start gigging in a few months. I'm sure mic'ing the amp will be a must. Thanks
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5F6H
58 posts
Apr 09, 2010
1:40 AM
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If the champ is fully serviced (good tubes, new filter cap, the right speaker @ 4ohms) then it might be a goer, otherwise your spare $50 won't cover a service.
All things considered, THE HG Rock Bottom looks the best bet, all new, no servicing, already has a line out. The PA may have effects that can be applied to the lined out signal.
The V Jr route is really only viable if you are going to do the work, you will have no warranty, if you spend your available cash and have something that doesn't work, what will you do? On the other hand, if you are a competent tech, or have one locally, it could work out well...but I guess if that was the case you would have already made your decision.
Last Edited by on Apr 09, 2010 1:41 AM
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toddlgreene
1177 posts
Apr 09, 2010
5:09 AM
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Randy Landry himself will do the Epi mod for 75 bucks, but there'd be shipping to pay as well to/from Ponchatoula, LA. I love mine. If I had 500-600 to spend on an amp alone, I probably would have gotten a Rock Bottom or something else, simply because I had the money to do so. Randy lives an hour from me and is in our harmonica club, so it just made sense for me. Many folks(several on here)have done his mods and can vouch for them. In the end, with a modded Epi, you'll have an EL84 amp that sounds as good as an EL84 amp can. The others aren't EL84-the tubes break up differently. They sound great in a different way. I think the EL84 amps get 'dirty' earlier than 6v6, etc.
If you're in no hurry to buy an amp, and happen to be coming to Hill Country in Mississippi next month, you can try many amps firsthand and let your ears be the judge. I 'll have my little Epi, Adam will have his HG2(or is his a 1?), and there will be lots of others!
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Apr 09, 2010 5:14 AM
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HarpNinja
354 posts
Apr 09, 2010
5:12 AM
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Just the the Rockbottom. You won't have to screw around with any fixes, mods, tube swaps, speakers, etc. The biggest plus, IMO is the 10" speaker. You can really tailor your needs with that. I'd personally be interested in a Weber 10F125.
The Champ won't be as loud, although it will sound great. You'll for sure want a different speaker than stock and who knows what shape the insides are in.
The Epi won't sound as good at the RB and you'll probably pump more money in for mods, etc.
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HarpNinja
355 posts
Apr 09, 2010
5:14 AM
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Oh yeah, the Champ will probably go up in resale IF you keep it original and in great shape. You might flip it some day for a bit more than what you spent. However, the RB will surely hold its value in the harp world and you'll make nearly all your money back. The Epi will go down in value.
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toddlgreene
1178 posts
Apr 09, 2010
5:21 AM
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I've also heard and read good things about the Fat Dog amps. He makes one for 500, I believe. Might be worth considering.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
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eharp
615 posts
Apr 09, 2010
5:30 AM
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i dont know why more folks dont go this route. i guess because it is like hunter says," they might be scared."
i tried it and wish i hadnt spent money on other things.
http://hunterharp.com/ampset3.html
or there is this-
http://hunterharp.com/ampset1.html
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Johnster
58 posts
Apr 09, 2010
5:31 AM
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Get the Rock Bottom, no contest for all the reasons above, and you'll be dealing with Brian Purdy who is a top notch quality guy.
No competition in my mind.
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toddlgreene
1179 posts
Apr 09, 2010
5:50 AM
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In your situation(jam band-I also belong to a quasi-jam band) and with your budget, get the RockBottom, and borrow a guitarist's effects to experiment with. Save some gig money, then get your own effects. Any decent sound guy(and/or most p.a.'s)can punch in some reverb on your channel at the very least. No muss, no fuss, a warranty to boot.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Apr 09, 2010 6:10 AM
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Nastyolddog
521 posts
Apr 09, 2010
7:10 AM
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Hi Bro i was convinced by MBH members to Buy a Harp Gear amp HG-2,
If Asked i would say get the Rock Bottom,
Go to Youtube search Harp Gear Rock Bottom,
MBH member Zhin Has a Demo of his RB.
What i wanna Know is why did the RB get as 10"
and my HG-2 has got a 8":)
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Harpaholic
14 posts
Apr 09, 2010
7:49 AM
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Fatdog 1A
More Wattage(15 watts) in the same price range, with a line out, Hi and Lo Z inputs. It's a killer amp with any mic!
Here's Joe Filisko blowing through the 1A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cux84KPAdGs
Last Edited by on Apr 09, 2010 7:50 AM
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528hemi
81 posts
Apr 09, 2010
4:31 PM
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Harpaholic,
I was told the Fatdog 1A is 4.5 watts Not 15 watts.
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bluesnut
147 posts
Apr 10, 2010
12:40 AM
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I have a HG1 and it's worth the money and you will have more time to play and not deal with up grades. HGs don't need them.
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joshnat
45 posts
Apr 10, 2010
7:50 AM
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I have a Fatdog 2A and there's no way the 1A is 15 watts. Which is not to say it doesn't sound good and is a great value.
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Harpaholic
15 posts
Apr 10, 2010
8:04 AM
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528Hemi, you may be right? I thought it was 15 because it runs on a single 6L6, which doesn't necessarily mean it's 15 watts. I actually used the amp at a casino gig with a full band with two guitarists with the amp unmiced. We didn't play real loud, but we had to be heard in a huge open area where all the tables and slots are. It cut perfectly, and I could hear myself on stage. It uses a 12" speaker which sounds as good as an 8" or 10", but a lot better projection.
The amp sounds killer at any volume. I've owned a HG1, it needs miced pretty much all the time due to the 8" speaker. It's a champ on steriods!
I don't care what you buy, it's just my two cents.
I don't understand why most of the harpgear demos are done in a huge open convention hall, that's not a realistic demo.
If you can, try em before you buyem
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barbequebob
687 posts
Apr 10, 2010
10:07 AM
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Any Fender Champ, if you keep it in good condition, is always gonna go up in value. I have a '65 Champ that I bought in 1983 for $65, and they only had it in the store less than 3 hours from when it was part of at trade in deal.
I haven't checked for value recently on Ebay, but I know these are now going for far more money than a Pro Junior or Blues Junior is going for now.
Oh Yeah, and it still works like a charm. I use it mainly for recording.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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apskarp
159 posts
Apr 10, 2010
11:36 AM
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I would buy a dedicated harp amp. (Well, I actually did.)
The simple reason for that is that you'll get something that is designed to be used with the harp. People like Brian Purdy have worked for years to improve their amps to sound great with harps. They have been improving little details here and there and they will continue to do so if people buy their stuff.
Of course, if you have a taste for some specific tone that can be achieved with some guitar/bass amp (+mods) that is a different thing, then you will buy that.
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Joe_L
150 posts
Apr 10, 2010
5:27 PM
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A person doesn't have to mod an amp for harp. Players were playing through PA's and guitar amps for years before people started modifying them. In fact, a lot of truly great harp players of the past played through some really lousy gear.
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Nastyolddog
527 posts
Apr 10, 2010
5:45 PM
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Ok i buy a Fender Blues Junior got it cheap AUS $500
mod it for Harp,
Ruby Tube Reverb Tank
10"GB Celestion
Mercury Transormers 1x Multi Tap
strip all Spade Fittings solder direct to Board twist transformer wires together 90%overlay to ruduce Humming,
Parts costs AUS $400
no Labour costs,still cheap compared to Buying a standard new BJ from the music stor,
Well My BJ sounds great for all the mods Done to it,
but see it wasn't untill i bought the HG2 that i found out i was just fooling myself thinking i got a great amp,
But the truth is my HG2 Shits on my Modded BJ
go for it Bro you wast that money:)
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bluesnut
148 posts
Apr 10, 2010
6:29 PM
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OOps, I actually have an HG2. I Payed extra for mine so I could get the Green and blond double trouble cabnet with 2x8" speakers and the same guts as the HG2. Damn good amp!
Thanks Brian Purdy
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Ev630
238 posts
Apr 10, 2010
9:18 PM
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Joe Filisko sounds great on that Fat Dog. I'd go that amp with the 12 before getting an HG with an 8.
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5F6H
60 posts
Apr 12, 2010
1:10 AM
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The Rock Bottom comes with a 10" not an 8".
Last Edited by on Apr 12, 2010 6:09 AM
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krisalis
19 posts
Apr 12, 2010
1:53 AM
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I haven't got around to modding my epi valve junior yet, just changed the tubes. Thought the PA guy would need to mike it when I gigged with it for the first time, but he didn't. OK, it wasn't that big a room, but it cut through the drums just fine with the 12"cab. My advice is, if you're still trying stuff out to get your sound, then why spend 3x as much? The epi sounds really punchy and horn-like, I love it for butterfield covers.
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SMOKEY
24 posts
Apr 12, 2010
2:42 AM
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Its 2:30 am, I just got back from a little jam with my new band. The guitarist just so happened to have a stock epiphone valve jr combo and an extra sure sm57 that I could use. I don't know if the mic was wired for high impedence or not but I plugged into the amp and I was totally amazed, it sounded pretty darn good!I'm not a seasoned pro and I havn't really spent time with lots of quality amps and stuff, but to my ears and most importantly, the ears of everyone in that place, it sounded good. Good enough I think to save money and go with the epiphone half stack. I'm sure it will do me just fine while I build my chops and put in work.
Of course I had to mic the little amp and even then I could not hear my self on stage, but I'm sure if I angled it and put it on a chair or something I would have been able to hear myself better. MAN the drummer was going nuts on the cymbals and I can't hear a thing at the moment.
What an amazing night, I was soooo nervous being up on stage!
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krisalis
20 posts
Apr 12, 2010
4:55 AM
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I tried both and preferred the head and cab to the combo. It's a lovely speaker for harp, and puts out some serious noise with just the 5w.
I would bet that even if you did one day move up to a $500 amp, you would keep the valve junior as a backup - so to me the resale value is immaterial (although un-modded ones go on ebay for more than i paid at the shop incidentally).
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apskarp
160 posts
Apr 12, 2010
5:40 AM
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I have also tried out the Valve Jr and I liked it a lot. I'm sure it is very good amp to start with and if you will be moving to more expensive amps, you'll get most of the money back if you sell it - how much can the price decline if you pay just 150$? :)
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