Re: Amp Questions

[Andrew Wimhurst <awimhurst@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You can't really go wrong with a Fender tweed amp or a brownface amp 
(or copies of the same). With the right mic you don't even need to mess 
with the tube set up.

I've played through a few vintage tweeds and they usually sound great 
for harp (except maybe the Harvard which is clean). Champs and 
Princetons sound phenomenal of course. I used to have a '63 Concert 
that was great for harp without any tube swaps (but heavy!).

I currently have three knock-offs of tweed amps, built by Greg Powis at 
www.retrosound.com.au; a champ, a deluxe and a super. The champ sounds 
great with most any mic - probably best with a black label CR element 
Shure silver bullet. The Deluxe sounds best with a mid 50's CR green 
bullet and tube swaps but also with a Turner DX I just got from Tom 
Ellis and no tube swaps (thanks Tom!). The Super sounds, well... super. 
It now has matched TungSol 5881 and that really made the sound a lot 
sweeter - it loves my 1940's Astatic model A and the Turner. Tube swaps 
aren't important on the Super because the tone controls are very 
interactive. You can crank it up or keep the volume down and wind up 
the treble and bass to get it clipping at low volume.

If you don't have access to vintage tweed, I'd recommend checking out 
Victoria, Clark and Retrosound because it's the next best thing. 
(Actually the build quality and tweaking is often better...) Of course 
it will take some playing and gigging for the speakers to wear in and 
get that mojo - and you should spend decent $$$ on the better NOS tubes 
- - but if you want good harp tone you can't go wrong.

Cheers
Andrew

PS. To the other Andrew - thanks for the Kim Wilson review. I can't 
wait to score a copy...

On Friday, June 20, 2003, at 12:01 PM, harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
wrote:

>> Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 22:14:45 -0400
>> From: "George Brooks" <gbrooks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: Amps question
>>
>> Jp Pagan has the keys to the candy store.  I would try the Victoria 
>> Bassman
>> first, but I would also try the Victoria 50212, which is Victoria's 
>> copy of
>> the rare low-powered Tweed Twin.  On my one trip to Chicago (to take
>> harmonica lessons!), I sat in with a blues band and played through 
>> one of
>> these amps.  I thought it was great.  If you try it, please let us 
>> know what
>> you think.
>>
>> I spent part of one afternoon checking out the amps section of the PRS
>> (guitars) web forum.  Some of the amps listed in Jp Pagan's post are
>> considered by guitar players to be the very hottest boutique 
>> amps-de-jour.
>> How they work for harp I have no idea.  Many might be high-gain 
>> designs, and
>> therefore less suitable.  But what an opportunity!  I would try as 
>> many as
>> time permits.
>>
>> George