Howdy Campers, I'm hoping to get some imput on peoples experiences with the "Kinder AFB" http://www.kinderinstruments.com/afb+.htm
I own a Sonny Jr. 4x8. It runs somewhere around 20 watts. Bought it in 96-97 and it's a totally reliable/wonderfull amp...I'm very happy with it except when it comes to stage volume in some scenarios. I tend to run two "AT's" instead of an "AY/AT" (stock setup). That setup seems to be the loudest option. I generally play a jt-30 or a shure 545 if I need a little more volume, allthough I prefer the tone of the jt-30. If I trust the soundman at a gig, I mic the amp,but a harmonica friendly soundman isn't always the case...and then you have open stages where volumes are hit or miss.
I was wondering if those of you who own a Kinder, feel that you can milk a little more volume out of your amp before feedback. I feel like I need just a "little bit mo'" and I could get by with my setup.
Some of you will suggest getting a louder amp. If I was in better financial shape, I wouldn't hesitate to do that. I would love to keep the 4x8 and get something like a "Cruncher" etc. As well, I dont know if there is much of a market for selling a 4x8 Sonny Jr. being that most people don't seem to care for them much except in low volume scenarios or recording. So...the question remains. Do you get much more usable volume when using a Kinder AFB?
After trying several other solutions (fixed the problems some of the time) I ended up buying the AFB and found it to totally eliminate my feedback problems. It definitely let me crank up more.
Those Sonny Jr 4x8 amps were capable of putting out closer to 35 watts,depending on tubes and biasing. The Cruncher is also rated around 35 watts-the AFB should work well with the 4X8 setup. The Cruncher will carry further into the house,but an AFB will allow more volume,with less feedback. A GZ34 rectifier tube will give you more wattage-I'm assuming you are running a 5Y3 currently.
Last Edited by on Sep 05, 2010 1:18 PM
Still there's only so far you can go. I have a Cruncher, and an Avenger (and had a Super Sonny 4x10) which I sold. The latter amps are MUCH louder on stage. ---------- /Greg
i also own this amp you could talk to sonny the info papers that come with it tell you how to really crank it up but you do get more feed back so the afb should do the trick fatdog makes a 410 for about a 1000 with just a tone and vol control like our sj and lance of dj and the hitman great harp player i met had the second sj but used a fatdog on the cd 2x10 check there web i dont know much so i like simple amps also seems like a greenbullet with cm get more bass out of these then the jts ok my two cents
i would like to ask greg some things if you dont mind a little ot i know you get to hear all kinds of amps and you use the sj why do you prefer them and why did you sell the 4 ten and at spah did you hear the mega tone and what did you think of it please if you dont mind i will ask at later time about your mics thanks much
CBH- I sold the 4-10 so I could buy the Avenger. If I had room to keep it I would have, and if I had it to do over again I'd have kept it and sold the cruncher - but I sold it to Joe who's digging it so I'm happy and he's happy and I'm happy he's happy.
I did hear the Wezo amps at SPAH - I thought they sounded very good and I like Mike and Dale. The new TWIN is very cool - two footswitchable channels that, unlike any guitar amp, are both actually usable for harp.
Why did I go with SJ? I bought the 410 6 years ago. It got me my first gigs. Since then I've gotten to know Gary. He is an odd guy, but I can tell you this - he is passionate about his amps, he has always been honest with me and always immediately responsive with customer support type questions, and the guy knows tone like nobody else I know. If he says he has something better, he does.
Of course it all comes down to personal taste but I have always really, really liked his amps. BTW I do not use an AFB and I don't have a problem with feedback with his amps. ---------- /Greg
greg thanks for reply the 4x8 sj is the only amp i own now never a feedback problem until i put in the highwatt tubes but have never tried a afb went back to the lower watts i like this amp but some times seems it needs more bottom bty where is ol bosey
Here I am Captain. I was away from the computer for a bit...being that I actually don't own one...hah.
I switch back and forth between 5881's and 6L6's,and for the most part use two AT's. As well I generally use a GZ34. It seems the more output you get out of the amp, the colder it sounds...allthough I like the "punch/bottom end" you get out of an AT for the inverter.
I would think an "AFB" would allow me to get a little more warmth and volume out of the "hotter" tube setup. Feed back isn't an issue unless I'm really trying to crank the amp up,or if I'm using a 545. Allthough I havent had really good luck with a CR element at higher volumes.
its fun at the open mics but sometimes gets out of control loud i would like to know if you get afb and crank up what it sounded like its like a differant amp with the tube change
I have a Kinder AFB unit and have only used it 4-5 times and I don't see that it does a thing. That's only MY EXPERIENCE, now, (before the guns open up on me.) But again it's true I use a Shure 58 with one of those Lone Wolf volume controls stuck on the end of it, so I am in control at all times. And I rarely do jams and I never sit in unless I am called up by the leader and then I use whatever he's got working. On my own shows I use a Fender Blues Deville reissue with one power tube removed and preamp tubes changed to AT7's. Feedback doesn't show its ugly face often with that setup. I found that the Kinder AFB didn't help me at all, just something else to carry around. If anyone wants to buy this Kinder AFB unit from me, they can get a good deal. I guess it has it's place...lots of them in use. email me at: dbush7@bellsouth.net (don't know if I'm supposed to hustle for sale stuff on this thread. No malice intended) regards, JoeLee
Last Edited by on Sep 05, 2010 6:31 PM
this is kinda funny when i was lookin for a harp amp went to see kim play thought he would be playin an sj 4x8 said he would but it was a fender pro 1x15 al blake was there asked him said he had one to an sj 4x8 and loved it but it wasnt loud enough for kim i think he must have hundreds of amps
joeleebush: I'm interested. I just need to save up some cash. I might be contacting you soon just to touch base.
I really appreciate all the input folks. I dont post much on this forum, but I lurk alot...especially in the archives. I've learned quite a bit of technical info in these parts. Thanks to Adam, as well as all the knowledgable characters that make this site such a good source of information.
Well, an SJ1 is not voiced as fat as it could be, but if you really want to address that, then you have to commit to running pretty much one combination of tubes and turning the amp's volume knob instead of playing with different rectifiers, etc. I don't know if there's much resale value in an SJ1 being original inside anymore, especially if the amp worked better for harp in practical terms after modification.
Here's a video of my modified SJ1, and not with my favorite mic either, just a cheap-a$$ Superlux mic that's short on bottom end and long on midrange. There is an AFB+ used here, but in transparent mode, not far enough to affect tone or kill feedback--only enough to let me relax about the mic's volume knob (not that it really helped this vocal :). Plus a Danecho that's free to work correctly here since the AFB+ is buffering the mic. Nonetheless, I think you can tell this amp doesn't sound like a stock SJ1 anymore:
Modification details on request--it's not really complicated at all since the SJ1 is such a simple circuit, but I do feel compelled to explain the rationale for each mod.
I just got my kinder AFB 2 days ago. I plugged it into my 1953 champ and it only took about 30 seconds to set it up.I tried other anti feed back devices such as a sabine SL820 and totally prefer johns manual to the sabines which was like reading a rocket science manual and had to send the unit back as it was completely worthless for getting rid of feedback. I found the instructions on johns unit to be quite adequate and I could crank up my champ all the way to 12 with NO feedback at all using my vintage green bullit. Then I plugged it into my 1959 gibson maestro, 14 watts into 4X8" speakers and could get way more volume than I ever was prior to the AFB plus the tone was awesome. Thanks John for building such a great unit.
Hey htown- I would be interested in the mods-I recently purchased a Sonny 1,and was looking at doing the Sonny approved Allen transformer upgrade-much appreciated!!
