Re: [Harp-L] Re: Amp for both harp and guitar

["Tom Muck" <tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't think such a beast exists, but your best bet is to get something 
that sounds good for harp, and then use an EQ pedal or other boost pedal to 
boost the guitar signal into the cleaner harp amp. If you get an amp that 
was made to sound good for guitar, it will feedback with a harp mic, unless 
you change the preamp tubes for lower gain tubes, which might not always 
work well with different amps. As long as you don't need them both for the 
same song, it can work out. Just kick off the pedal when you plug the mic 
into the cord or use an A/B switch between the two. I wouldn't plug them 
both in at the same time. The preamp tubes essentially boost the signal 
going to the power tubes, so that is easily duplicated for guitar with a 
boost pedal. I've used old tube power amps before with no preamp stage and 
just a boost pedal and they sound fine for guitar.

I would look for something hand wired, rather than a factory-built amp, as 
the factory-built amps use circuit boards that are not very durable and 
won't last. With a hand-wired amp, if a part goes bad you just swap it out. 
With a printed circuit board, a little excess vibration can destroy the amp.

I'm in the same boat. I recently bought a Sonny Junior 410 that is an 
amazing harp amp, but sounds great for guitar as well.

Tom Muck


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Vivona" <ravivona@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 9:02 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Re: Amp for both harp and guitar


> OK, maybe a further clarification. I typically play in small to medium
> clubs, so a 100w
> twin would be a little overkill, but thanks for the info! If only I played
> big venues and
> had a roadie (85 lbs, yikes!).
>
> > Charlie Musselwhite played as a co-headliner at the 2009 Greeley  Blues
> > Jam, he used a two channel Fender red knob Twin, aka the 'Evil  Twin'.
> Had
> > both his harp mic & guitar plugged into it, sounded  great!  It's 100
> watts of
> > pure evil.  One large caveat; it's  a true beast, weighs 85 pounds...