Amp Comparison

Amp Comparison
Looking at all of the choices for amplifiers out there today, both new and vintage, it can be challenging to decide on a rig that meets your needs. At the 2010 San Jose Harmonica Masterclass Workshop we gathered 26 tube amplifiers known for sounding good for the harp and gave them all a taste test. I was joined by tone monsters Gary Smith and Dennis Gruenling. In this test we try small, medium and large amps and speak about some important elements of using them on the bandstand. Below is the list of amps we tested in order of appearance. There are plenty of other great sounding amps that we could have included, but this is what I, the artists and students coming to the class could come up with... no amp was included or excluded for any reason other than this is what we could get our hands on. Thanks to everyone for bringing the amps in!

AMPS (Listed in order of appearance)
Masco, Model: 3311 - Newcomb speaker cabinet, 15" speaker & cone - Jon Harl
Kalamazoo, Model: 1, 5 watts, 10" speaker - David Barrett
Kalamazoo, Model: 2, 5 watts, 10" speaker - Jon Harl
Supro, Model: Chicago 51, 5 watts, 10" speaker - David Barrett
Epiphone Head & Cab (New) - Speaker changed to Jensen Alnico - Gary Smith
Kalamazoo (New) - 7 watts, 8" Jensen Alnico - Joseph M. Goforth
Fender Champ Clone (New) - 5 watts, 8" speaker - Joe Lempkowski
Fender, Model: Pro Junior, 15 watts, Alnico 10" - Gary Smith
Fender, Model: Super Champ XD (New), 10" speaker - David Barrett
Fender, Model: Princeton (1959), 5 watt, 10" Speaker - Mark Overman
Fender, Model: Princeton Reverb (1967), 12 watts, 10" speaker
Meteor, Model: Mini Meat, 20 & 30 watts choice, 1x10" & 2x8" speakers - Joe Lempkowski
Kalamazoo (New), 17 watts, 2x10" alnico - Joseph M. Goforth
Sonny Junior, Model: 1, 4x8" speakers - Kinya Pollard
Victoria, Model: Duel Professional (New), 2x10" - Gary Smith
Fender, Model: Vibroverb (New), 30 watts, 2x10" speakers - David Croall
Egnator, 0-20 watts, 1x10" & 1x12" Jenson - Gary Smith
Meteor, 50 watts, 2x10" & 1x12" speakers - Jim Johnson
MegaTone, Model: WEZO-45, 45 watts, 2x10" & Cabinet 2x12" - David Barrett
Sonny Jr, Model: Cruncher, 1x12" alnico Weber & 1x8" alnico Weber, 1x8" Ceramic - Gary Smith
Fender, Model: Bassman, 45 watts, Early 1990's Reissue (Eminance speakers) - Kinya Pollard
Fender, Model: Bassman, 45 watts, Early 1990's Reissue with vintage P10R speakers - Mark Overman
Sonny Jr, Model: 4x10, 45 watts, 4x10" speakers - Dennis Low
Harp King, Model 4x10, 70 Watts, 4x10" speakers - Mark Overman
Harp King, Model 6x10, 100 Watts, 6x10" speakers - Mark Overman
Fender, Model: Super Reverb, 75 watts, 4x10" (Paul Butterfield's actual amp!) - Kinya Pollard