[Harp-L] Tweed amp request

[Big Steve Blues <bigsteveblues@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all; long-time reader, first-time poster.

I'm a fairly trad chicago-style player. I have an Astatic DN shell with a
Shure CM, a Hohner Roadhouse JT30 that is actually not a bad-sounding
backup, although a bit on the lower side, volume-wise. I am awaiting
delivery of a Monarch (Argonne, Primo, blah, blah) "Big Walter"-style
crystal mic. I also have a couple of dynamic stick mics and a ceramic stick.
That's just to let you know where I'm coming from, tone-wise. I play Lee
Oskars and have always been complimented on my tone, both acoustically and
amplified, even when I have had to play super-cheap harps because they were
all I could afford.

I am the owner of a Valve Junior with a Jensen Mod 8 and an AU7 in the
preamp. Decent tone, esp. with lower-key harps, but not nearly enough volume
before the distortion gets way too smoothed-out and creamy for my tastes.

I am soon to possess a stock Kalamazoo Model 2. I have heard nothing but
good things about them and almost nothing but good samples of them.

All that was to say that I need something UNDER $1000 that will give me
punch, volume (5 piece electric band... pretty loud; not overly so, but
loud) and that "ripping speaker" tone that is so associated with
Chicago/trad electric blues.

I have looked at several Fender-clone tweed amps, such as the 5F2A
Princeton, the Pro and the Bandmaster. I have liked the sound of the
Princeton with a 12... any thoughts on wattage? stage volume?

I have also heard many samples of the HarpGear HG2 and Double Trouble. I
don't know if the DT is right for me tonally speaking, and I don't know if
the HG2 is going to be loud enough on stage.

My biggest issue is always the bass response... I have heard some small amps
that had really nice tone ALONE and at low volume, but put in the mix with a
band, there was never enough mid cut and bass "oomph" for me.

Suggestions?

Oh, and if anyone knows someone that needs a decent little inexpensive
beginner/intermediate rig, I'd sell the VJ and the JT30 as a set. Throw a
delay or a reverb in there and it's quite serviceable, just not what a
gigging semi-pro needs.

Swing It,

Big Steve

P.S. Is there any merit to the idea of running the Kalamazoo and the VJ or
some other smaller amp together with a splitter? How would the frequencies
of two amps complement and boost or cancel each other?