[Harp-L] Sonny Jr Super Cruncher Upgrade, from another happy customer

[Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've known Gary Onofrio (aka Sonny Jr.) since I bought my original  
Four-Ten amp from him 5 years ago or so, after meeting and hearing him  
at one of Dave Barrett's Harmonica Masterclass events. He taught an  
amp clinic at that session and I was impressed by how well he knew his  
stuff. I had bought a few amps before that, not knowing what I was  
doing - wasted my money. THIS amp was The One. It made me sound  
better, got me my first gigs, and taught me a lot about how to get  
great tone.

A few years later he told me he had come up with a wonderful mid-size  
amp called the Cruncher. Around that time I was starting to gig a lot,  
and I wanted a backup amp- so I bought it. Gary was right - it was an  
awesome amp with killer tone.  With the line-out into the house sound  
system, it was the house amp for our San Francisco area pro jam for a  
few years, and no harp player ever complained about "having" to play  
through it.

Fast forward another year or more - Gary told me he figured out how to  
make the Sonny Jr Four-Ten even better. How could that be possible?  
But I took his word for it and upgraded that amp to the Super Sonny.  
Damn if he wasn't right again. The amp was even better than before -  
more cut and projection and still room-filling, jammer-guitar-crushing  
volume- I LOVED that amp (still do.)  Fast forward again - he came out  
with the Avenger - his best work yet, he said. How could anything bet  
better than my Super Sonny? And after agonizing about parting with my  
Super Sonny to fund the Avenger purchase, I went for it. Right again -  
just a killer amp. Gary just can't help himself. He is BEYOND  
obsessive when he comes to continually improving his designs.

As much as I loved the Cruncher I found I was only using it for gigs  
with my own band, or where I knew I could count on sound reinforcement  
- because in other situations it might not be loud enough. Evidently  
other people mentioned this to Gary too. Knowing Gary, he probably  
lost sleep over it, and then spent countless hours tryin' stuff like  
he always does - and came out with the Super Cruncher - an upgrade  
that can be applied to any Cruncher. Well I installed the upgrade this  
week, a significant part of which is a MONSTER output transformer. And  
I got to play through it last night, and listen to several other  
accomplished players play through it too. All I can say is WOW! It  
sounds much bigger than it is. Louder than it was, better projection,  
great bass, easily approachable and soft feedback threshold, stunning  
tone and crunch when you want it.  All the players (and even a few  
guitar players) went out of their way to tell me how great it was.

So I've learned through many experiences to trust that when Gary says  
something is better, it simply is. He doesn't blow smoke. And I want  
to thank him publicly for his outstanding support over the years. In  
all these transactions and various emails and phone calls in between,  
he has never failed to answer a call or an email within 24 hours -  
usually less. EVER. He has earned my 100% confidence and trust. Gary  
knows harp tone like nobody's business. I LOVE his amps. I know there  
are other good amps out there - I know and respect many of the  
builders. Wish I could play all of them. All I know is that with a  
track record like this I have no reason to switch. These are simply  
outstanding amps.

If you own a Cruncher, DO the Super Cruncher upgrade. You will lose  
nothing and gain a lot. If you don't, and are in the market for an  
amp, know that you don't have to mess around chasing amp after amp,  
spending more after the purchase to "upgrade" it trying to make it  
right - save your time and money and just get one of these. If you  
can't get good tone out of one of Gary's amps, you will KNOW that it  
ain't the amp - which is a wonderful motivator to teach you how to  
improve your own technique. Of course, a BlowsMeAway mic can help you  
sound your best... ;)

Gary didn't know I was going to write this. He certainly didn't ask me  
to, nor do we have any commercial relationship. Just wanted to spread  
the word about Gary, his amps and the Super Cruncher.


/Greg

http://www.blowsmeaway.com
http://www.bluestateband.net
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/duracool/id343874731