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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
small recording/gig amp - Traynor DG15
small recording/gig amp - Traynor DG15
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Randy G. Blues
13 posts
May 06, 2009
10:24 AM
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Been sort of looking around for a smaller amp for smaller gigs. For large(r) venues I have a Genz Benz BP30 which I have re-tubed for harp and it sounds great, but a 50 pound amp does not always fit on small stages, and for recording in a small garage with three other guys including a full drum set makes it difficult to fit that monster in. With a 57 yar-old back it is also a handful to move around, even with a cart.. ANYWAY....
Been looking for a small amp for gigging and recording. Our guitar player plays through a pair of Vox 15R amps (for stereo), and for the money they are nice. I will try one out for harp tonight, but have been looking around for what else is available. I found the Traynor DG15R for about $139 shipped. Was wondering if anyone here has tried that amp for harp? It has some nice features that I think would make it better suited for harp including:
- Clean and boost channel
- electronic analog tube emulation.
- High and lo level inputs
- separate gain on boost channel
- separate volume on each channel as well as master volume
- 10" instead of 8" speaker
- and a two year transferrable warranty.
Not as big of a deal for me:
- 3 level EQ (I have a 10 band EQ stomp box)
- spring reverb (have Rocktron Cyborg reverb)
So been looking for someone who has actually tried it. A year or so ago I had a Cube60 and did not like it for its lack of harp tone but mostly for the feedback problems.
All opinions welcome...
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Oisin
235 posts
May 06, 2009
3:09 PM
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Hey Randy I've had a look on the Traynor site and read the blurb about this amp. It sounds a bit like the Vox valvetronix range in that it's a solid state amp with a tube-type pre-amp (although the Vox actually has a valve pre-amp).
I have a Vox Valvetronix 50W 2 x 12 and use it alot for harp but although it models the 4 x 10 Bassman quite well it doesn't give that tone you get with all valve amps.Although I think only a harp player would be able to tell the difference.
There are a number of small valve amps available like the fender champion 600 and the Epiphone valve Jr that would give you a much better tone.
Sorry I can't give you a specific opinion on this actual amp.
The best thing to do is take a harp and your best mic to a music store and have a go on as many amps as you can.
Oisin
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Randy G. Blues
14 posts
May 06, 2009
11:05 PM
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Thank you for the reply. I looked at the Vox Valvetronix, but the Harmony Central user reviews had too many complaints on reliability, IMO. I liked the Traynor because it didn't have the modeling electronics making it (theoretically0 more dependable. It does have a two year warranty that is transferable. The Epiphone Jr is a possibility. I did play one about a year ago, and they do give good bluesy tone, but it seems that was about all they did. My wife just told me to bid on an old Kalamazoo and sell my Genz Benz. Not going to happen. If anything I would get a Sonny Jr or Similar... just as soon as that money tree starts to blossom... Still searching... anyone want to trade an amp for an '89 Taurus with a blown head gasket? Anyone? didn't think so....
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Oisin
239 posts
May 07, 2009
2:29 AM
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Some day your amp will come, oh yes. Have you had a look at this..
http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/info_00063315.html
I think Randy, this could be the amp for you. It's probably much cheaper in the US than here. One of the guys on the forum (Zhin) has one but I think he's bypassed the effects. If you ask on a new thread I'm sure he can give you an idea of what it's like.
Oisin
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zonkyeah
5 posts
May 07, 2009
10:38 AM
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How bout the Harp gear 2 or the Rock bottom? I've got the HG35 and I love it, yeah they cost a little more but tone,tone,tone and I'm not even getting paid to say that..
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Randy G. Blues
15 posts
May 07, 2009
1:19 PM
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Looks like this is going to be another of my "quests." I am now leaning towards selling the Genz Benz and getting a dedicated harp amp...
The Rock Bottom or Harp Gear 2 are both tempting at this point. Going to have to get a bigger Sheckle jar! Work has been quite slow, so until things pick up I think it is going to have to be a waiting game.
Two weeks from tomorrow we play pour first live gig, and it is out of doors, so this will be a real test of what I can get out of the Genz Benz...
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zonkyeah
8 posts
May 07, 2009
1:38 PM
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Good luck on your live gig and on your amp quest!!!!!
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ortrigger
11 posts
May 07, 2009
1:41 PM
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Oisin, That amp is not much more than a glorified Valve Jr. Randy, I think that your best bet would be to keep using the Genz Benz until you have enough money to sell it and get the dedicated harp amp.
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Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
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Greg Heumann
28 posts
May 07, 2009
2:08 PM
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One word. Kalamazoo. Nothing like 'em, still a great value.
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/Greg
http://www.BlowMeAway.com
http://www.BlueStateBand.net
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Randy G. Blues
16 posts
May 09, 2009
12:43 PM
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ortrigger- I agree. The Epiphones are not the quality amp I am looking for.
The GB I have is an awesome amp- just more than I need. I am pretty sure (think [hope])I can get $800 for it without too much difficulty, and so am leaning towards a HarpGear amp- possibly the Double Trouble, but the HG2 also looks like a good investment. The fact that they are designed for harp is good, as well as their weight- the HG2 is 17 pounds and the Double Trouble is only 23 lbs. The GB BP-112 is 52 lbs.
Originally, when looking for an amp, I was considering a Sonny Jr., and while these are quality amps, they are larger and heavier than I want at this point (let alone need). I did play one at Dave Barrett's MasterClass last year, and while they sound great, it's more than I need. I believe that I read that Brian at HG use to work for Sonny, or am I mistaken...?
Now, where did I leave my memory....? :-/
While on the subject of amps, and how much do you need, I ran across this page in my digital wanderings:
Amplifier Myths, Fantasies, and Facts at RockDog Amp Repairs in Australia:
http://www.rockdog.com.au/amplifier myths.htm
It's an awesome educational opportunity for anyone without a solid background in this area, and it eliminates a lot of myths about amplification.
Things I have learned, and maybe sharing will possibly help those shopping for a first amp:
1 - you don't need that much power. 5 to 15 is sufficient. If 15 watts is not loud enough for you, have your hearing or the amp checked. To double the usable volume that a 15 watt amp puts out, you will need around 150 watts. Still need more volume for larger venues? Use the PA system of the place. Just be sure that the amp has a line out that preferably does not defeat the speaker.
2 - just because your guitar playing buddy says an amp is great does not mean it will work out of the box for harp. Most guitar amps are made for guitar and are a pain to get working properly with a microphone plugged into them unless you enjoy feedback. Ask anyone who has tested a Fender amp with a microphone. Plan on getting new, lower-gain preamp tubes and experimenting, and get it in writing that changing the tubes will not void the warranty.
3 - 45 pounds seems light when you pick it up for three seconds at the display area of the music store, but try carrying the thing around three laps in the store. Then think about dong that at the END of a gig.
4 - Most (not all, but most) music store employees know nothing about playing harp through an amp. Keep that in mind when shopping. Anyone who has shopped at Guitar Center will verify that fact.
Still learning.. When I stop learning, please send flowers to my widow...
"You don't play the blues to makeyourself feel better. You play teh blues to make other people feel worse."
- B. G. Murphy
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Randy G. Blues
18 posts
May 19, 2009
9:03 AM
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This past weekend I was invited to a surprise party for a good friend. I talked to the lady putting the party together and we got to talking music. She said she had a friend who played guitar, so of course I offered to play at the arty if he was willing. He called me, we talked for a while, and hit it off fairly well.
I hauled the Genz Benz to the party and since we played outside it was a great chance to check things out before the Friday show our group is doing. The GB BP30 line has switches that choose between 2 or 4 output tubes, and another that switches from pentode to triode mode on the output tubes., giving the choice of 30, 15, or 7.5 watts. I played it at 7.5 for the party and didn't use half of that power. At the end, most of the guests had departed, and so I flipped it into 30 watt mode, turned up the volume, and played a riff or two. WOW! What an amp! A lady sitting about 50 feet away jumped at the first note (sorry..). With the change I made in preamp tubes I can push the gain all the way up without feedback and the sound breaks up really nice and gritty.
The party jam worked out very nice. The guitar player brought two little amps, using the second to sing through. The hostess stated that there were lots of positive comments about our playing, and some acquaintances of mine stated that they had no idea I played harmonica! I even played one song (that the guitar player wrote) in straight harp, something I rarely do (I almost always play in 2nd or 3rd position).
If it wasn't for the size of the GB (20" x 22" x 12") and its weight (53 pounds) I wouldn't have started this thread. There are bigger and heavier amps, to be sure, but the BP 30 certainly is not the best choice for small venues or small stages at open mic situations (not to mention for a guy with a marginal back). In the meantime I want a small amp for the above named situations, but don't have the cash for a Harp Gear or similar.
So I have been watching eBay, and while it would be tempting to find a Kalamazoo I could afford, I can't, so I found and bought an Epiphone Electar Tube 10 at a good price (under $100 delivered). It has separate gain and volume and has line out so I can use it at our rehearsals if I choose or into the PA at louder venues. We shall see if it works for me, but at least it will be a back saver for the time being, and even if I sell it down the line I won't lose much if anything. It already has an upgraded speaker, so I am saved that expense... I hope. If it sounds as good for blues harp as some seem to state in user reviews I just may end up building a pine, 210 vertical case for it (like the Harp Gear Double Trouble).
After I get a chance to play the Tube 10 for a while I will post a new thread of my experience with it.
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