Re: Perfect harp amp

["M. N." <mnessmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Of course there is no harp amp that's "perfect" for everyone. I can say, 
though, that I've settled on an arsenal that's perfect for my sound and 
situation.
I have a small Champ-like Marble Max amp from FNS Technology, a Dutch amp 
maker. This little sucker has one 8" speaker, a tone knob and a volume knob. 
It pumps out more volume than a Fender Pro Junior and I have virtually no 
feedback problems. The nice thing about this amp is that is is richer and 
bassier than most amps this size, which often do that one 
screaming-overdrive sound wonderfully, but nothing else. I've used the Max 
for jams and duo gigs, but also for big gigs - miked, of course - with a 
large band (horns, keys, two guitars, etc.). I used it at an outdoor 
festival on the same stage where, the day before, James Montgomery played 
with Johnny Winter. Montgomery used a Twin Reverb provided by the promoter. 
Knowing that, I was really intimidated setting up my dinky little Marble 
Max. But once I'd sound checked to ensure I was getting enough sound coming 
back at me through the stage monitors, it wailed. I got a lot of compliments 
on my sound. I also used my Max sitting in with the Kinsey Report when they 
played here in Prague. I had to laugh before the concert when I looked at 
the stage and, from left to right, there was the keyboard player's cab and 
Leslie, the guitarist's jumbo Marshall stack, the drum kit, the bass 
player's huge cab, and finally my itty bitty Marble Max with an SM-57 jammed 
in front of it! Again, though, I was able to hear myself via the stage 
monitors and I got a lot of nice compliments from the Kinsey brothers.
As to the other part of my amp "arsenal," when my Max is too heavy to tote 
around (LOL!) I take my Harp Commander instead. As I've written here before, 
I love the sound of this thing. I love that I can use the HC through a PA 
and sound "amped," no matter which mic I choose (I've used it with all my 
mics: SM57, SM58, 545S, JT-30 w/ Shure CR element, EV re10). And I love that 
the Harp Commander fits in a shaving kit along with a mic, cords and harps.
Living in a big city and not owning a car, I get to and from all gigs via 
the bus, subway and/or tram, so lugging around a huge amp is out of the 
question. I honestly don't know that I'd ever even consider going back to a 
4x10 amp that weighs 50+ pounds. With the Max and Harp Commander, I've got 
tone to the bone on the go.
MN

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