Re: [Harp-L] Substitute for tweed champ

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Barry Bean wrote:
<I've been out of the scene for several years, playing only the 
<occasional sit in and studio gigs, but I'm starting to pick up a few 
<more harp gigs. I have a great 6X8 Sonny Jr Bassman clone amp that's 
<great for big rooms or battling obnoxious guitarists, but I've been 
<using my mid-50s tweed champ for gigs with a decent sound man or small 
<rooms.
<Unfortunately, it's beginning to pick up a few crackles it didn't used 
<to have, and a quick check of prices show it's worth a whole lot more 
<than the $250 I paid for it in 1990 or so.
<So I'm thinking I should set it aside with my 54 Les Paul amp for studio 
<use only and get something a little newer and more easily replaceable 
<for gigs. 

Responses so far have focused on the choices for a traditional tube amp, and all of the stuff proposed so far along those lines will work.

I propose that you consider picking up a Digitech RP device--RP155/255/355/500--and couple it with a moderately sized keyboard amp.  You can get a used RP255 in good or better condition for less than $100; a decent keyboard amp (one with at least a 10" speaker) will run you in the neighborhood of $250 new; and my patch set for the 255 will run you another $30. If you've got access to a PA for your gigs, you can skip the keyboard amp and run the RP straight to the PA.  In terms of sheer grunt, a keyboard amp in that price range will put you in the neighborhood of a Fender Blues Jr, i.e. loud enough for a band playing a room with 80 people or so in it, and of course a PA is usually the loudest amp in the room, wherever the room is.

This setup is much more flexible than a traditional amped setup, and it produces convincing amped blues sounds as well as a lot of other stuff. You can find audio and video of players using it at http://hunterharp.com/store.   As an added bonus, the RP can be used as an FX device with any amp you choose to couple it with; the delays and reverbs are especially nice for blues players, and are easily the equal of dedicated FX costing as much as an RP.  

Thanks, Richard Hunter 



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