Re: [Harp-L] The loud drunk guitar player

["Bob Blunn" <bblunn@xxxxxxx>]

I know there's a lot of boutique amps out there tailored for harp use, and 
for those that can afford them that's great.  But I think my best amp is the 
SLM Crate GT50 which I bought used for $200.  And, it is loud enough to 
compete with the obnoxiously loud guitarists for most bar jams.

For harp I've played through the PA and a few different amps over the years. 
Being a guitar player I'm also familiar with the "louder is better" group of 
players out there.  Back in the '80's hair metal day's harder, faster, 
louder was the name of the game.  I admit to owning an obscenely loud Peavey 
amp that I couldn't turn up past 3 in any club venue.  It was built like a 
tank, (weighed like one too!), and would deliver over 90dBs at 10 feet at 
its rated output.  Waay too loud!!!  (Enough to cause permanent ear damage.) 
I purchased it to keep up with the guys I played with who could afford a 
dual Marshall stack and played them turned all the way up... Luckily I gave 
up the dreams of rock stardom early enough to save my ears from damage due 
to the amp.

I've a few different tube amps that I now use for harp and guitar - (12, 30, 
& 50 watt amps)  I've a 12W class AB Fender Champ 12 with numerous mods to 
tone it for harp which works well for smaller venues.  If I'm going to a a 
bigger place I'll take my SLM Crate GT50 with 5751's instead of 12AX7's - 
For harp it puts out more than enough volume to keep up with a guitarist 
playing through a Fender Deluxe or Bassman. For guitar it need the 12AX7's 
to keep up.  For in-between volume levels I've a VOX VR30.  If I want to get 
really, really loud I've an old 4x10 Kustom Kasino Club-L solid state 100W 
amp.

Jam On!!!
-B²