[Harp-L] RE: Polytone amp for harp

[John Kally <jkally3@xxxxxxx>]

Hi,
Not like I'm any kind of expert, but I can share a little experience  
as I used to use a mini-brute ( I had one with a 10", one with a 12",  
and eventually one with a 15)  as my main amp for casuals/jams when my  
other amp was a 70s Twin Reverb and just too much for most places.  
I've always thought those are best for chromatic/clean jazz kind of  
players (which would not be me) or maybe harmonica trios?  You  
probably know, the line  was designed by a jazz accordionist who was  
going for clean with a good range, compact size and then  Jazz  
guitarists have adopted them as their own.  Lots of headroom, for  
sure. If you get one with a red "distortion" knob, keep that thing off  
as it's pretty harsh. Anyway, for a blues amp I didn't think much of  
it, tried some pedals with it and didn't seem to help much.  I did  
find these to be really reliable.  Anyway, now I use old Fender tube  
stuff as it seems to suit me better, and also I've been able to afford  
that stuff . All the polytones I had, I got  used and cheap, in an era  
before there were a lot more choices in inexpensive decent  small  
amps.  Anyway, that's my take, FWIW.