[Harp-L] Re: Fender Excelsior

[BluzeHarp@xxxxxxx]

A microphone client showed up with an  Excelsior a few weeks back.  I had 
hoped it would be a winner,  but regardless of control settings or the 
various mic's  we utilized I thought is was crunchy to the point of  being 
obnoxious, and that it lacked any of the subtle overtones  which typically 
characterize a 'good' harp amp.  Probably works  just fine for some styles of 
guitar, but the best harp  friendly mod is probably to chuck it under a bus.
 
I think it would cost more to make it even half right than  buying a better 
sounding amp to begin with.  That said,  there will always be more than one 
person who likes the sound and  who will get a pleasant result, just that 
it  certainly wasn't my cup of tea.  I know that it's  inexpensive, and it 
might get louder than some other budget minded offerings,  but my opinion is 
that you'd be better of with a the 6 watt VHT, an  Epiphone Valve Jr, or for 
a bit more dough one of the older  Kalamazoo's which Greg Heumann so nicely 
refurbishes.
 
Perhaps once it's been around for longer and several qualified  amp tech's 
have taken a stab at it then a modification roadmap will begin  to emerge.  
If someone eventually manages to wring better tone  from one I'd love to 
hear some properly recorded before and  after clips.
 
Christopher Richards
Twin Tone Microphones
Harmonicaplanet  .com