HARP AMPS
Basically, there are a few specific tube amps for
harmonica players.
However, there are many guitar amps that may or
may not have been modified for use with a microphone in playing harmonica. Some
useful information, links and a classic harp amp mini-primer can be found atAmptone.
I regularly use the following amps:
- Binson (italian
brand; 10 Watt; class A; 1 10-inch vintage Fender speaker; made in the 60')
- Fender Blues Jr.
(tweed coverage; 15 Watt; class A; 1 12-inch Eminence speaker; customized by
Massimo Sutera - basically he turned the pre-amp schematic to the tween
specifications - a lot more clean; no more gain switch, it acts as a bright
switch instead; one spared 12 AX7 serving the reverb circuit !! - stand-by
switch added)
- Supro (Valco) 1690
(USA vintage; 40 Watt; class AB; 2x12-inches vintage Fender speakers; killer
tone)
- Fender Bassman RI 1959
(USA; 40 Watt; 4x10-inches alnico speakers; great
tone)
- Marble Max
(NL; 6 Watt; class A; 1x8-inches Weber speaker; currently my favourite)
Two other amps which I am finding useful are the Pignoses:
- the little pig has a gut tone and is now my current racehorse at the rehearsals; the tone is there but you need a vocal style mic, my preferred is the Shure SM 58; with this mic I can
crank the pig knob at 270°.
- the 40 W, professional Pignose is an enigmatic amp; at the beginning it was almost unusable; the suggested tube swapping (12AT preamp tubes) slightly improved the situation; then I reached the beautiful Steve Ahola web site and every answer was there; highly suggested for the harper who owns a solder iron.