Harp Amps - Harmonica Amplifiers

10 Steps to Becoming a Harmonica Super Star

2008-05-09T10:41:00.000-05:00

I've been fooling around with creating web pages on Squidoo. This one is called How to Become a Harmonica Super Star. It is a list of the steps that you need to follow to really learn how to play harp.

10 Steps to Becoming a Harmonica Super Star on Squidoo

Squidoo allows you to make a nice web page that's good for a short lesson or an interesting article. It is good for a band to make a nice profile page and any number of things. The advantage is that Squidoo pays you to create a page by giving you a good chunk of the advertising revenue. It does not have the kiddie type features of MySpace or other social networking sites. It is more business oriented, concentrating on pages the are useful. If you interested in trying this yourself, click on the link above, and sign up.

The Gear used by Jimi Hendrix

2008-05-07T12:11:00.000-05:00

My friend Bobby from Yonkers (we call him Video Bobby because he video tapes our jam sessions) has two Marshall Speaker cabinets that he bought from an estate sale. They have the JHE (Jimi Hendrix Experience) logo on them and are marked serial number #2 and #4. He's been offered $500,000 for the pair, but Bobby lives the music of Hendrix and has every note the Jimi ever played down to perfection. He isn't selling. Another friend has a guitar that he bought at a flea market that can be traced by serial number to Jimi. When they Jam at a local home, they sound pretty damn good.

The link above is to Gibson article on the gear that Jimi Hendrix used. Fascinating stuff, although no harp content.

Build your own effects clone.

2008-05-07T12:02:00.000-05:00

I know there are a bunch of you out there that want to build their own effects pedals. I am ordering the Ping Pong delay kit from BuildYourOwnClone.com. At $100 it is more expensive than the cheap delays coming out of China, but more advanced than some of the more expensive delays available at your corner music store.

Check out the YouTube of their tremolo kit. Tremolo is something that works for surf and early rock, but never seems to fit with blues. I love the demo, though.

Summmer Jam at Renegades Bar & Grill

2008-05-05T14:34:00.000-05:00

Dave Lampert writes that the Jam at Renegades Bar & Grill, Burnsville, MN is now on every Wed all summer long. It begins at 8:00 and goes until the last dog is hung (usually between 12 and 1).

Savage Audio,maker of Savage Amplifiers, Tim Ellis of Ellis's Drum shop, and LaVonne's music have teamed up to sponsor the Wednesday Night Jam at Renegade's by providing a new Glas 30, a new drum kit built for the jam, and two brand spanking new Fender Highway One guitars...a Strat and a Tele for all to use and enjoy...Come on down and check 'em out.

Dave writes:

In other news we have just received word that we are On the lineup at the Omaha Blues and Jazz Festival on July 5th of this year and will be at another club on the 6th in the area. We will announce the club soon. There are several and we are trying to get the best fit...You can monitor this and all dates at the calendar on the website through the link below.

We will be in LaCrosse again this weekend at Nighthawks Taproom and look forward to seeing our friends in the area both Friday and Saturday.

One of the First Premier Amps?

2008-04-22T10:25:00.003-05:00

This showed up on eBay. It is a very early (1946-1948) Premier amp. I am guessing the date from the fact that it uses 7C5 tubes instead of the 6V6. The 7C5 is a locking tube designed for use in things like car radios and other applications where the tubes might shake loose.

Premier used these "loctal" tubes on their Model "O" and the very early Model 50s. Since these are all 1948 or earlier amps, I guess that this unknown model Premier is from the same time frame. The Field Coil speaker also dates it very early. After around 1950 Alnico magnets were easy enough to get for speakers so Field Coils speakers were not used. The grill clothe is similar to the mid 1940s Model "O", as well.

By the way, it is usually a no-brainer to replace the Field Coil speaker with a better sounding modern speaker. All you have to do is put a resistor across the speaker power lead to keep the transformer happy. (Don't throw out the vintage speaker in case some day you want to restore the amp to its original configuration.)

OK, here you have a VERY old Premier harp amp. I'm guessing early 50s. It's not working, but I think all it needs is some new filter caps which I am including, as well as two complete sets of NOS tubes. It runs on 2 x 7C5 (locatal version of 6V6) power tubes, a 5Y4 rectifier and 7N7 and 6SJ7 pre-amp tubes. It has a 10 inch Emerson field coil speaker that looks like it needs a recone to me (Ted Weber & co. will do that fairly inexpensively). It also has a 'clicker' tone knob and a regular volume control. I also have a schematic for this somewhere which I'll throw in. I snagged this as a project for our harp player, but before I could get anyone to help me restore it he got a Gibson harp amp he loves. Anyway, this would probably be a real sweet harp mp with just a quick cap job and $60 speaker recone. It's all original except i did change the power cord and clip the 'death' cap. And the handle was missing when i got it.

Blues Harp Amps

2008-04-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

Blues Harp Amps has some nice blogging on my favorite subject. Check out the old gibson and JT-30 that he has for sale. He's practically giving it away!

Amp Show 2008

2008-04-04T12:34:00.003-05:00

Coming up Saturday, May 10, 2008 the 2008 Amp Show will be coming to Piscataway, N.J.

There may be a couple of good harp amps. This show did not have much in the way of vintage gear or boxes of junk to pick through in previous years. If you go bring a JT-30 and and a harp and plug into a few amps and see how they stack up harp-wise.

Demo, compare, and evaluate, Exotic Boutique, Custom, Prototype, and Production models at Real World‚ levels. Test the amps, cabinets, speakers, effects, and pickups, that make up the classic, vintage, and the cutting edge of the electrified instrument world.

Over 45 exhibitors including: 65amps, Ark, AXL, Celestion, Egnater, Electro Harmonix, Fender, Fuchs, Goodsell, GoodTone, Hermida Audio, Line 6 Madd Professor, Marshall, Pure 64, Sommatone, Top Hat, Tube Wonder, Two Rock, Vox and more.

"TONE WIZARDS" forum discussion with Q&A & more TBA.

GoodTone’s "AMP BIASING CLINIC" • "Pedalboard From Hell"

40+ demo rooms where you can plug in and play at real world levels, the most exotic
boutique and finest production bass and guitar amps, pedals, and pickups available.

Vintage Hi-Fi Equipment EXPO

2008-04-04T12:34:00.000-05:00

Vacuum Tube Valley is having there Vintage Hi-Fi Equipment EXPO staring this June. The dates are June 1, July 27, September 28, and October 28.

Location is Blue Lakes Lodge, Hwy 20, Blue Lakes, CA.

Located in Northern California.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view and purchase rare, museum and collector quality vintage tube hi-fi amps, tuners, receivers, preamps, speakers, books, parts and tubes. Thousands of items.

Masters TVA30 tube guitar amplifier class A 30 watt

2008-04-02T21:25:00.000-05:00

Masters TVA30 tube guitar amplifier class A 30 watt

Masters has just released their new TVA30 - It's all class A and with the proper preamp tubes should be a solid harp amp. It has 4-EL84/6BQ5 and 3-12AX7 preamp tubes with a clean channel (for harp) and an overdrive channel for when your guitar friends borrow it. The 4 power tubes should give it a good bit of sound and this might be good for those medium to large venues.

The list price is $899 which is damn good for an all tube all point to point hand wired amp.

Riffs and Licks - Sweet, small and crunchy

2008-03-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

Ken Ficara scored a sweet Fender Champ "600 amp". Not the repro but the real thing. Check his blog post about his experience.

He bought this at a place called RetroFit that has some amazing old amps on sale. They are about the same or below some of the wild eBay prices that I've seen lately, and these are all clean and worked over by a tech before they sell them.

Riffs and Licks - Sweet, small and crunchy

Metasonix - G-1000 Guitar Amplifier

2008-01-21T09:40:00.000-05:00

Not Work Safe!!!!! Interesting tube amp head with an awful name.

Harp players already feel enough pain from their equipment, so the name of this might or might not be appropriate.

Vacuum Tube Modules for Electronic Music by Metasonix - G-1000 Guitar Amplifier

Harp Amp Taste Test is Back

2007-11-05T16:03:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, I started kicking around the idea of a Harp Amp Taste Test. I've been gathering email addresses for a while, but I never got anywhere with the idea. The project needed more of a leader than I was willing to be. Since good ideas never die, a local harp player, Dennis Moriarty, came up with the same idea totally independently. Where I dropped the ball, Dennis found a completely new ball and is running with it.

Here's what has been discussed so far.

Sometime in the next few months, in a venue to be named, somewhere in or near New York City, there will be a row of cool amps and a pile of great mics available for testing. There will be a great blues band to back up us harp players. Hopefully it will be in a bar so they’ll be cold beer and free spicy wings to keep us powered up. It will probably be on a weekend.

The Place: Dennis is looking for a good place to hold the Taste Test in New York City. I have spoken with some people up here in the burbs, and got some definite maybes.

The Time: I am thinking a Sunday afternoon, possibly going on into the evening. This is slow time for some bars. I think the sooner the better. It would be nice if this could be done soon.

The Amps: Dennis has some connections with amp builders and has some amps promised. I have a bunch of vintage amps and I will bring what I can fit in the truck. The idea is to bring smaller amps rather than large ones. Harp players generally sound better on the lower wattage amps and since there will be many amps and many people playing, we don't really want to hear a stack of Marshalls.

Mics: I will bring mics. I have a few hundred vintage mics and I will bring a nice variety of styles and elements.

Players: I have heard from some surprisingly famous players who have wanted to be notified when the taste test happens. I don't know how many will show up.

So let me or Dennis know that you are interested and watch this space. With any kind of luck this will happen!

Contact Dennis Moriarity at http://www.myspace.com/blowintheblues

Contact me by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

Last, I have to take credit for the name Harp Amp Taste Test. It's about all I can take credit for except moral support and an email list.

Buffalo Amps Labtone

2007-10-29T11:19:00.000-05:00

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.

Amp Tech - DJL Vintage Audio

2007-09-26T15:14:00.000-05:00

One of the hardest thing to find in these modern times is a good tube amp tech. A friend turned me on to DLJ services in Greensboro, NC. Being a displaced tar heel myself, I was glad to find this place. Dale Laslie works fixing all kinds high tech equipment, but his first love is old tube amps and PAs. I have a couple of old Mascos here that I can't get going and I think that I'll ship them down to the land of my birth for a good going over.

DJL Vintage Audio Page

Wezo's Big Ass Speaker Cabinet

2007-09-24T21:50:00.000-05:00

I talked to Mike "Wezo" Wesolowski about the passing of Gary Primich. He turned me on to his myspace page and the biggest ugly ass speaker cabinet that I've ever seen used for harp. He says he's experimenting with various combinations of speakers and will eventually publish the results.

MySpace.com - Wezo - 52 - Male - WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - www.myspace.com/harpwezo

RCA Tube Date Codes

2007-09-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

Ludwell Sibley created a very complete list of the date codes on tubes. This is compiled from numerous sources and might go away, so save a copy of the pdf on your hard disk for future reference.

DATE CODES FOR RCA-MADE TUBES

Brown's Blues 2007

2007-09-14T09:59:00.000-05:00

Chris Brown just emailed me about his up and coming Blues Benefit. Last year it was a real fantastic time. It costs $25, but it goes to a good cause. There's a some cheesy video from Brown's Blues 2006

Chris wrote:

It looks like I'm gonna try another benefit! This year's event will be held at the beautiful Palaia Winery, Sunday Sept.30 from 2-7pm. they have a huge stage nestled right amongst the grapes in front of the same creek and mountain from last year's benefit. hopefully we'll have no rain at this time of year! Palaia Vineyard is located six miles north of the Woodbury commons outlet on rte 32 in highland mills n.y. Food will be available from Mamma Theresa, great Italian!!!

Tickets are again only $25, children and dog's free.

Music this year will range from bluegrass to R&B to straight up blues. Carlos Colina, Pat Jones and Gil Cruz will be making a return, as will a slew of special guests under the moniker " Willie Blood's Bucket of Blues" I hope that you can make it. The setting is incredible with professional lights, sound and stage!

I might be talked into bring some amps and mics. Email if you are coming and we'll see what we can set up for tasting.

Hugo Gernsback - Amp Builder's Guide

2007-08-31T13:36:00.000-05:00

Hugo Gernsback is best known for inventing the phrase "Science Fiction". He started publishing SF stories in his electronics magazines in the 1920s. He spent his lifetime making science and electronics easy for beginners and whole generations of amplifier builders have used his easy introductions to get started.

I found his reprint of Amplifier's Builder's Guide online. It is a short booklet that gives the basics of Amplifier design. It also gives several easy amps to build. If you want to build your own amps, then this little booklet is where to start.

Download it and print it out today. It's free!

Laboga - Guitar amplifiers

2007-08-30T11:19:00.000-05:00

Billy "Harp" Hamilton, who is gigging in Slovakia these days (Central Europe is the new Chicago!), turned me on to these Polish made amps that he says sound great. Looking at the specs, you can see that there is some great potential there. They have to be loud mothers with those tube lineups.

Billy, by the way, has lost his Green Bullet and is not that happy with the new Blues Blaster and doesn't want to play through the PA. If anyone around Bratislava has a good harp mic that he wants to sell cheap, you should contact Billy through his web page.

Laboga - Guitar amplifiers

Guitar Amp and Effects Schematics Archive

2007-08-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

I bought a CD of amp schematics at a flea market about 10 years ago and I've been using it ever since. The schematics were probably originally stolen from Schematics Heaven, but the last time I looked they were down. I just copied the files to my hard drive, wrapped some html around them and set them here. I hope someone finds them useful.

Guitar Amp and Effects Schematics Archive

Samson - Zoom - H2

2007-08-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

A while ago I borrowed a Samson Zoom H4 for some recording and I did not want to give it back. The zoom works very well and is the best low end professional recorder for the price. It could record 4 tracks, although I was recording in stereo (I was making a demo CD for a friend's band).

I just saw where Samson is coming out this August with a stereo version of the Zoom H4 called the Samson Zoom H2. This is a great recorder for most purposes. The best thing is the price. The H4 is available for around $300 or a bit less most places. The Zoom H2 is already advertised at $199 and as low as $180 at one place. I expect that it will go even lower by the end of the year.

Why do I need this? I can think of a number of reasons. It is easier to use and has more storage than a mini-disc or a tape recorder. There is no tape hiss. It stores files as MP3 or WAV files so if you want to edit your music with Garage Band or Audacity, there is no messing with cables and transferring to digital media. It has a high quality microphones built in, not like the crappy little overly compressed mics in most tape recorders. You can still use a studio mic and mixer with it if you want. It is perfect for practicing. You can record yourself and then play back right away to critique your playing.

A few years ago I searched for a good digital media recorder and couldn't find one. Now there are a dozen priced at about $1000. The Zoom H2 is the first professional quality recorder that is priced so that even cash strapped musicians can consider buying one.

Samson - Zoom - H2

Bill Perry Passes

2007-07-18T20:19:00.000-05:00

My old friend Bro Perry passed at his home. I grew up in Nyack and went to school with a bunch of Perry cousins and kin including Bill, known as Bro to his friends. Bill was amazingly talented. I first heard him play in his Hendrix cover band Isabella at a grungy bar at the outskirts of the West Nyack Dump about 30 years ago. I remember him bringing down the house with his version of Red House. He went on to do the music of Jimi in a Broadway show and then, after 20 years of doing rock and blues he was discovered for the great talent that he was.
He has been doing the "chitlin circuit" and I saw him a few times at local clubs, but not as often as I wish now I had.

Bro suffered from diabetes and other health problems. I heard that he fell and his manager found him, but it was too late.

Bill Berry at Blind Pig

Premier Amplifier Knobs

2007-07-02T08:42:00.000-05:00

I collect premier harp amps and often I get them without knobs. I have accumulated a few spares from guitar shows and online auctions and I have paid anywhere from $3 to $7 for a knob. I was recently outbid on this set of knobs. I wanted them mainly because I don't have any yellow knobs. The knobs went for $12 each - $60 including postage.

Things, as ever, are getting out of hand.

Tubeopedia -A Vacuum Tube wiki

2007-06-28T09:46:00.000-05:00

A Vacuum Tube wiki

If you are not familiar with wikis or wikipedia, then you might be a little confused at first at Tubeopedia. A wiki is a roll-your-own website that is designed to be developed and added to by its users. Wikis are only as successful as the people who use it and add to it. Wikis are also susceptible to abuse by spammers.

Tubeopedia looks should be a good place for finding information about all aspects of vacuum tubes. If it can attract some interested and dedicated people who want to add to it, it will flourish and grow. My experiences with wikis have been mixed. Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't.

Check out Tubeopedia and see if there is something you can contribute, even if it's just a spell check or a minor point.

Premier Guitar - Direct Box

2007-06-23T18:19:00.000-05:00

I've been surfing through the articles at Premier Guitar Magazine and I found some neat stuff for harp players. This discussion of direct box opened my eyes to some interesting facts. This stuff applies to harp players as much as guitarists and the article is well written. Now I am thinking about getting a direct box to check out.

Premier Guitar - Speaking Directly - Jul 2007 - Premier Guitar magazine.