[Harp-L] Re: bassman mods

[SONNYTONE@xxxxxxx]

Just to elaborate a bit, I designed my manual with the mindset that my  
customer may not know a tube from a resistor, so making it as humanly simple as  
possible, and yet still give them the ability to understand what, why, and how,  
took me 3 years to develop. To think of dropping resistors, cathodes, etc., 
for  the novice is just way out there. And remember virtually every tech is 
used to  working on amps for guitar, so unless they are a PRO player, and can 
actually  emulate Big Walter or Little Walter's basic tone, how do they modify an 
amp for  harp. By theory, or by what someone else's Theory is. Then we come 
to the Amp go  Round, my favorite term, drop up to a grand on building an amp 
or buying one and  trying to modify it, then lose money selling it to get 
something else, until low  and behold, you have spent close to that 2 grand and 
still don't have a plug in  a play bonified harp amp. Not everyone can afford it, 
nor justify it, I  understand that. But there is a reason that I have sold 
close to a thousand harp  amps worldwide, from Tasmania to Japan and all parts 
inbetween, reputation and  trust of what I do. After the thousands of vintage 
amps I LOST money on during  my experimental years, I personally feel to have 
something like this manual plus  every tube needed plus spares included in the 
final price is something you won't  find or just being able to plug in and 
play. Sure we could give a basic  starting point, but no other reference to why, 
what or how to adjust for every  room situation, mic, personal playing style 
that is offered with personal harp  player's customer service. All these things 
factor into the price, my time  making the product, and availability after 
the sale. And NO, not everyone will  be able to push tone out of an amp if it is 
not there in themselves to begin  with, but that is where I refer to Dave 
Barrett's superb instructional series,  so as you grow, the amp will allow you to 
grow with it. You will sound the same  through ANY amp in the beginning, mine 
just allows more headroom and tone, but  trust me, I have had beginners over 
the house and know what goes in, comes out.  The amp is a lifetime investment, 
over 50 years at my selling price it is  THIRTEEN CENTS a day. I didn't do 
that calculation, one of my customers that  does sales did, I thought it was 
pretty cool, considering what some spend on  extraneous items, just a thought. I 
have sent people towards used reissue  bassmans if that truly was all they 
needed, and at times, gave them a starting  tube setup, but that is where it 
would have to end. Five minutes of someone's  time adds up with a business, job, 
life, and my loyalty is always to my  customers who can get me all the time. 
This is just to further explain what  comes with a thought out, customized harp 
amp from us, I will never push anyone  into a sale, and as I said, have 
referred out whenever I felt it was right for  the person calling or emailing. Trust 
me, I know the HarpL guys love what they  do, and most will never buy my amp 
due to price, this is just my perspective on  what seems like a simple 
question, basic harp setup. This could go on forever,  with everyone's personal 
opinion, I have to get back to work. Be well.  SJ