Amp Replacement

Jeffrey Spoor · Amp Replacement

Lately I've been toying with the idea of selling my custom handmade Bassman, in hopes of getting back a little cash and finding something smaller. The Bassman just idles on "3" at the volumes I play at. The 'zoo's are probably a bit underpowered for what I'll be asking of it, unless it's mic'd.

Any ideas on a nice 20-watt amp that doesn't break the bank, but keeps pace with the guitar player?

And, if you're in the market for a pristine amp, with a custom chassis built by Dave Kott, blue frame Alnico's, and a Mojo cabinet, give me a shout. I'll take $1600 for it.

vibrolux56

I've played primarlily through a blackface deluxe reverb for about 25yrs, and can't imagine life without it, unfortunately the price for these amps has gotten way out of hand. The early silverface ones are the same amp, and more affordable. I also have a 1960 gibson GA-30 ( 1-12"/ 1-8") 15 watts, one of the best sounding amps for harp or guitar, that I've owned. There are lots of tweed deluxe clones that fall in that same power range, I played through one a buddy of mine built a few months back and was amazed at how loud it was, my old 56 vibrolux has the tone, but once there's a guitar and some drums, it just doesn't cut it. I've seen Kim Wilson play through deluxe reverbs, with a full band,in a medium size room, and sound fantastic. J D

jbone

if you're not averse to peavey, i had very good luck with the delta blues 210. it's one of the amps i wished i could have kept but finances just wouldn't allow it at the time. a tube swap got me plenty of volume. speaker swap would have sealed the deal tone-wise i think.

jlemko

I picked up a Harpgear Double Trouble. It's a nice sounding amp. It's about half the size of a Bassman. 18 watts and 2x8 Weber alnicos.

Mike67

+1 on the DT. I have the 1x12 combo. I had an audition this last weekend with a band that was drums, guitar, B3, bass, and sax. It was more than enough. I got compliments from the band about by tone. Two of the guys do a weekly jam and they have quite a few blowers there.

I had a prior audition with a band whose guitar player had a Fender Twin...again the DT kept up just fine at what they considered gig volumes...the guitar player plays harp too and he really dug it. The rest of the band kept giving him a hard time for not sounding like that. They offered me a spot, but he called me back the next day saying he didn't want to be a harp band. I guess the amp psyched him out! Wink

If the band with the B3 takes me, I'd be in the market for something between the DT and Bassman. Any thoughts beside the Mini-Meat or Cruncher? If the money is good, I'm going to rationalize the Cruncher. If we're only playing a little, I can't spend that kinda dough. I am looking for 30-35w and multiple speakers. I have the Kinder AFB too.

Mike

Jeffrey Spoor

Listening with interest. Keep the suggestions coming! I've been told by more than one person to keep my Bassman. It's good advice. I should have learned my lesson by now, having bought, sold, and lost money on a dozen P.A.'s over the years. But I still want a new amp. The Harpgear stuff looks very good. Pretty pricey still.

Greg, how hard would it be to modify your Kalamazoo amps to include a line out?

Jaybird

Tim, I have built two Kalamazoo Model 2 and one Model one from scratch. Adding a line out is easy. You can also use the second (Right hand) low impedance input jack as a line out.
I own a number of smaller harp amps and the Gibson Les Paul Jr. will keep up nicely with most small room venues. I also might suggest a Princeton Reverb. I have one that really is a great harp amp and its 12 watts is plenty loud. Hang onto the Bassman.

Mike67

Yeah, I guess a handmade Bassman is a pretty sweet deal. FWIW, if I had the money I'd get the Cruncher....that would work just about anywhere the Bassman could at better than idle speeds. I am still trying to sell my Ltd. I was going to keep it to play with a big band until I realized that they all used very small amps, and they didn't want me in their band.

I simply have no use for it. Getting one of those used in the future would still be pretty easy. It isn't like I am selling a vintage amp. If it were handmade, ie a real expensive amp, I might hold onto it.

vibrolux56

Hey Tim-- Dave Kott tells me he can make a 'blues junior' into one of the toughest little harp amps around! I heard he makes a great 'bassman' style amp too! J D

Jeffrey Spoor

He does do a mean Bassman - I've got one!!! Yeah, the modded Blues Junior is on my short list. He told me about his way back. I remembered it last week. Could be fun!

dennis

Well they ain't exactly small and they ain't exactly cheap but i just sold my prize Kinder 2 10'' Soulful amp and ordered a Mini-Meteor for a tonal change. I had the Soulful for nearly a year and it never let me down in either tone or volume while on stage. I'd love to hear that modded Bassman some time if you have any sound files. It sure looks seductive on Dave's website. I presume it's expensive. I'd love to hear the modded Jr. too. I love trying out these new mid sized iconic amps, e.g., Soulful, Mini-Meat, etc. and watching guitar players I'm on stage with hear a harp coming through those tubes with as much body as a guitar. dennis [ http://www.myspace.com/blowintheblueurl]

Jeffrey Spoor

It was about the same price as a Sonny Jr., about $1700. Dave did the chassis and I bought the cabinet, tubes, & speakers and did the final assembly. I've got a bunch of sound files on the mics page of my site, but they're all mixed together, with some of the older ones done through a re-tubed Blues Deluxe. The cool thing about Dave's amp is he is especially hip to the CM sound and sets input impedance to match. Sonny's amps, I believe, are set up for crystals but can be modded for CM's.

gheumann

gheumann

Tim -

Couple of things.

1) Ain't no substitute for 4 10's. There just isn't, if you like that sound. The Cruncher has the closest sound to a 4x10 I've heard, but it still doesn't fill a room as well.

2) Sonny Jr amps have one of the 4 inputs set up at 5Mohm impedance for crystals. The rest are all 1M ohm - and work just fine with CM's. (Actually, a CM is very happy through 5M as well - it just doesn't need it. I prefer a CM though the Sonny Jr anyway.

3) 18 watts and 2 8's vs 45 watts and 4 10's is just as different as can be - has to come back to what your goals and priorities are. If you're happy with your 4x10 and are looking for a SECOND amp I'd say go for the Double Trouble because it is more different from the 4x10 in size, weight and tone than the Cruncher would be. The Cruncher IS a little smaller and lighter than the 4x10, but, especially after he changed from 2 speakers to 3, not that much. Both guys do great work.

1bluzboy

I haven't heard it yet, but I'm seriously considering the Mini-Meteor. I don't often play gigs that require 4x10"s, and when I need more volume, I use a brown Fender "Super". I really love the sound of my '54 Premier 50 (although I'd love to try a Kalamazoo), and use it wherever I can. I usually mic it with a Shure 565SH. In the last month, I've had a lot of players come up to me to check out just what the little amp with the big sound is.

I've heard nothing but good stuff about the Mini-Meat, and despite the fact that the most I've paid for any of my amps is $200, I'd really love to try a "harp specific" design. If I could bring myself to sell my "Super", I'd be using the proceeds to fund the Meteor.

dennis

Yea I ordered a Mini Meat from Scott about a week ago and really look forward to plugging it in. d