I always enjoy seeing what Rob at Buffalo Amps has come up with next.
I am a big fan of the Lectrolab’s especially the 600 line. These are powerful little amps with those intriguing Lectrolab tweaks that make the amps unique. These amps have made great harp amps as well as good guitar amps with a clean deep tonality, described as dark and full.
Although Rob is trying to sell his amps to the discerning harmonica crowd, these amps should go over big with guitar players who are looking for an alternative to the the glassy and nasal 59 deluxe clones that you see everywhere. The Lectrolab tone begs for a good vintage Gibson hum-bucker pick up, almost as much as an old Shure Controlled Reluctance.
Although originally a mellow 6V6 amp, with 12AX7s, Rob offers his usual variety of preamp and power tubes to customize the tone of the amp with the player’s needs. I am a big advocate of the EF86 replacing multiple preamp stages for harp like in VOX and Premier amps and I bet that Rob could come up with something for an EF86 in no time.
Although I didn’t originally offer the EF86 preamp tube nor is it on my website just yet, I can however customize the preamp circuit if needed for this particular pentode tube. Another great pentode preamp tube is the 5879. Unfortunately the 5879 is only available as a NOS tube. I hope that one day JJ, EH or Tung Sol will bring this tube back into production.
The 5879 is what voices the more familiar Gibson GA40 and GA90 amplifiers. Both of these amps are monster harp amps! Contact me at my home page of Buffaloamps.com and I’ll be happy to discuss with you on building a customized amp I have to offer.
Although I didn’t originally offer the EF86 preamp tube nor is it on my website just yet, I can however customize the preamp circuit if needed for this particular pentode tube. Another great pentode preamp tube is the 5879. Unfortunately the 5879 is only available as a NOS tube. I hope that one day JJ, EH or Tung Sol will bring this tube back into production.
The 5879 is what voices the more familiar Gibson GA40 and GA90 amplifiers. Both of these amps are monster harp amps! Contact me at my home page of Buffaloamps.com and I’ll be happy to discuss with you on building a customized amp I have to offer.
Oh….I forgot to mention. I’m now offering optional reverb on the ‘Labtone amps. Prices vary.
Does anyone know what has happened to Rob from Buffalo ? I ordered an amp in May 2007, paid a 30% deposit and all that’s happened since is some intermittent email traffic back and forth where he apologizes and says it will be “just a little longer”. Now even that has stopped, he’s not responding to me. His blog hasn’t been updated for a while either.
I’m live in Australia so it’s really frustrating, can anyone shed any light ?