Vintage PA Head Chronicles
In this series (updated over time), I'll show you my collection of vintage tube PA heads, as well as share my journey into learning more about them. I sell my amps from time to time, so keep an eye on my Reverb Shop.
When an amplifier is called a "combo amp," the head (what provides the amplification of your harmonica mic signal) and speaker cabinet, are combined into one unit (think Fender Bassman). When using a head, the amplifier is a stand-alone unit, and can be plugged into any speaker cabinet of your choosing (commonly with a 1x10" speaker, 2x10", 2x12", or 4x10"), which makes it very versatile.
PA stands for Public Address—what we know of as a PA System (used to amplify an entire band for a show). Vintage PA heads are smaller than the mammoth PA systems that we use today, and are popular among guitarists and harmonica players because of their portability. These heads not only have a very cool vintage aesthetic, they can sound amazing. Not all heads are suitable for the harmonica, and most need work if in original condition (capacitors need replacing). In some cases, modification is needed to realize a head's true potential.
Within this series we'll take the learning journey together.
Here are links to the lessons and people I mention in this series...
2) Interview with Skip Simmons
3) DJL Vintage Audio and MegaTone Amps (Blogspot MegaTone ME18, 10 Years Retrospective)
4) Check out the podcast that got me reinvigorated in collecting vintage equipment The Truth About Vintage Amps
