HarpNinja
628 posts
Sep 16, 2010
2:32 PM
|
I just started blogging on the VHT and there will be TONS more to come.
The VHT Special 6 is a fantastic small amp that works great with harp.
http://playingtheharmonica.blogspot.com/
----------
Mike
Last Edited by on Sep 16, 2010 2:34 PM
|
HarpNinja
629 posts
Sep 16, 2010
2:34 PM
|
I should have a direct link in my sig now too.
----------
Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
|
BAG
8 posts
Sep 16, 2010
4:09 PM
|
Where'd you pick up the VHT? Somewhere here in MN?
|
HarpNinja
631 posts
Sep 17, 2010
6:12 AM
|
I ordered it on a whim from Rich's Music Exchange. It shipped from NY. It is a pretty sweet amp for the whole cranked 6v6 thing.
----------
Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
|
upstate
11 posts
Sep 17, 2010
7:08 AM
|
can you get it to sound good in the low power mode at a lower volume
|
HarpNinja
632 posts
Sep 17, 2010
7:27 AM
|
Yeah. Obviously it sounds different, but the 3w mode is pretty slick. You might have to turn the tone control up. The boost is way more useful in 3w mode.
----------
Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
|
gmacleod15
82 posts
Sep 19, 2010
6:49 PM
|
Anyyone else using this amp? Any comments as I am looking for something better for harp than my blues Jr.
----------
MBH member since 2009-03-24
|
Joe_L
647 posts
Sep 19, 2010
6:57 PM
|
Please define the term, "better".
----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
|
HarpNinja
635 posts
Sep 19, 2010
7:00 PM
|
I ran the amp with a full band, live, yesterday. It was a rock gig and the drummer hit fairly hard. Unless the band was playing at our loudest level, it was loud enough. It was miked FOH, so no issues there, but a monitor mix would have been nice. In a blues band, it would have been loud enough.
It doesn't work as well with pedals as my HG50. The tone is there with the VHT, but I can't say for 100% you couldn't get a Blues Jr or Pro Jr louder. I'd say it is on par with a Super Champ XD, but being a class A amp it maybe doesn't have as much cut.
However, the stock speaker is very flat and does cut some highs - similar to the 8F125 I had in a Vibro Champ.
----------
Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
|
gmacleod15
83 posts
Sep 20, 2010
7:21 PM
|
@Joe L
I guess by better is that I am looking for a sound that I haven't been able to produce through the blues Jr. I am looking for a dirty sound that seems just out of reach with the blues Jr and my green bullet and CM element.
I mostly play at home or if I'm lucky with a few friends. I have played on stage only once as there is limited access to blues jams where I live. Therefore I don't need big power.
From reading this fourm over the past months it would seem that most people say that small amps with 6v6 output tubes are more harp friendly. The vht is such an amp and seems to be similar to the HG2 but at less than half the cost.
I realize that I am still a beginner at amplified harp and don't have a full skill set yet but I would like to try something new without breaking the bank.
I can get a vht delivered to my area in Canada for about $340
----------
MBH member since 2009-03-24
|
toddlgreene
1806 posts
Sep 20, 2010
7:32 PM
|
gm-some el84 amps are 'harp friendly' as well. There is a difference in the sound, but a 6v6 is not 'friendlier' than an el84.
----------
Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
|
Joe_L
655 posts
Sep 20, 2010
10:34 PM
|
Since you are going to use the amp for practice or jamming with friends, your Blues Jr should be good enough.
----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
|
LittleJoeSamson
505 posts
Mar 09, 2011
2:15 AM
|
I picked up a new VHT s-6 today thru my music school.
Pulled the back and swapped tubes. Put a RCA 5751 in the pre-amp, and a Sylvania 6V6-GTY as power tube.
The sucker CRANKS. An absolute TONE BEAST !
I first had it connected to my Blackheart 12 cab. Sounded good, but the head to cab resulted in cutoff to the 10" combo speaker.
I pulled the speaker cab and ran straight but miced to PA.
Other harpers +++ and other musicians more than positive.
|
LSB
19 posts
Mar 09, 2011
2:38 PM
|
Yeah, nice little amps, I am digging mine. Have some old USA tubes (6v6 and 12ax7) and a Ramrod speaker for it coming in a few days. Looking forward to getting those installed, although I'd like to get a good 5751 to try out on it as well. Regardless, even stock, awfully good bang for the buck.
|
Matzen
49 posts
Mar 09, 2011
3:40 PM
|
I ordered mine through www.andysguitars.com for $185 including shipping. It sounded very good right out of the box! I swapped the tubes for a "JJ 6V6S" and a "JAN 5751" and now it sounds great! I'm thinking about swapping out the speaker for an "Eminence Lil' Buddy" and maybe trying out some of the mods available at the "Alnicomagnet" Ebay store. I am not in any hurry tho, as the amp sounds just fine the way it is(to my ears anyway). By the way, I've been blowing through a vintage "CM" "Green Bullet".
Last Edited by on Mar 09, 2011 5:03 PM
|
bluzlvr
419 posts
Mar 10, 2011
2:15 PM
|
Just curious. Has anybody played guitar through one of these?
I was wondering if I could use the same amp for both guitar and harp.
----------
myspace
|
Matzen
50 posts
Mar 10, 2011
3:13 PM
|
@bluzlvr
I played guitar through a stock one and it sounded good.
----------
|
joshnat
117 posts
Mar 11, 2011
11:37 AM
|
Just FYI, check your local craigslist if you're interested in this amp. I've seen two go up in the last week, probably because the Ultra is out and people want to trade up. I've got an original Special 6 that I bought new, but the slightly used ones appearing are making me think about running two in parallel for performance...
----------
|
LittleJoeSamson
510 posts
Mar 11, 2011
12:40 PM
|
So, have others done tube swaps ?
I know the voicing will be most influenced by the pre-amp, and I am satisfied with the sub of the RCA 5751 for that purpose.
My question is concerning the 6V6 power tube, because I have quite the collection of various 6V6GT, 6V6GTA, ( RCA's, GE's, CBS Hytron's, Raytheon's from the 50's and 60's )and 6V6GTY ( Sylvania, GE, Raytheon late 60's ) . The only one I have tried so far is one of the Sylvy GTY's. I think I will try the GE and Raytheon GTY's next, perhaps saving the RCA's from the 50's last as they are so prized by Fender Tweed players.
Anyone else done this ? What did you find ?
|
toddlgreene
2699 posts
Mar 11, 2011
2:46 PM
|
Damnit, y'all are giving me GAS! I might have to sell my modded Epi for one of these, or trade for one.
----------
Todd
Eudora and Deep Soul
|
AV8R
135 posts
Mar 11, 2011
6:42 PM
|
Does anyone like it enough to leave it stock?
----------
|
HarpNinja
1199 posts
Mar 11, 2011
7:49 PM
|
It is a great buy even if bone stock, imo. The last thing to replace is the speaker. The stock 12ax7 is fine. The 6v6 maybe isn't going to last a long time?
Next to my ultimate57, best gear purchase ever.
----------
Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Updated 2/24/11
|
LittleJoeSamson
517 posts
Mar 14, 2011
6:32 PM
|
Hit a slight speed bump while gigging Saturday night during a benefit for our drummer and his son's LT medical expenses.
I had the VHT Sp-6, sat it on a milk crate, and miced it to the PA. Full band with an extra guitar. First part of the show, the amp performed flawlessly. But as the night wore on, and the volume increased, I turned up to be heard, and some nasty clipping was noticeable.
I delayed pulling the back and doing tech on Sunday in consideration of neioghbors. So, I went to work today. Amp sounded fine with the 12AY7, but as long as I had it open and on the bench I tested several other variants. An Arcturus 6211 was the most musical, but with no crunch. It would be fine for jazz or the like. A Mullard 7247/12DW7 had more punch and would be fine, but I also prefer it as use for a phase inverter in other rigs. The tube that truly outperformed, though, was a milspec GE 6829, rated as a 12AT7,( Greg H. mentioned an AT as a sub on another thread ), but with a mu of 47...so inbetween an AT ( 60 ) and an AY ( 44 ).
On a whim, I tested a 1952 greyglass CBS/Hytron 6V6GT. Even growlier, but I keep the boost off on the hi setting, Tone @ 11, Vol @ 2-3.
We''ll see how it works tomorrow at the jam.
|
LSB
24 posts
Mar 16, 2011
6:34 PM
|
@bluzlvr - Sounds ok for guitar, but kinda dark IMO, at least with my epi les paul. Might sound better with a strat. Wouldn't be my first choice as a guitar amp I don't think, but workable, if you need an amp for guitar and harp. Think I'd probably try the new VHT special 6.....custom is it? The one with the 12" speaker built in line out, etc., if I was going to be playing more guitar through the amp.
@AV8R - I was happy with mine stock, but I am not a long time harp player, nor do I gig, so take my opinions fwiw, which ain't much, lol.
Anyway, I could have easily left the amp the way it was and been satisfied at this point in my playing. The only reason I decided to swap the tubes and speaker is because someone offered me the parts used for a fair price, and then curiosity got the better of me.
I do feel the Amp sounds smoother and a fuller with the upgrades, but I wouldn't say the improvement was radical. To my ear, the speaker actually made more difference than the tubes, which surprised me. Worth the few bucks extra I paid for the tubes and speaker, but not needed, at least for my purposes.
@LittleJoeSampson- Man, you got a lotta tubes to experiment with there, nice! Be interested to hear how that latest tube worked at volume in the jam.
|
LittleJoeSamson
520 posts
Mar 17, 2011
12:26 AM
|
@LSB I didn't have a fair test last night, as there were about six other harpers that showed up and also some horns that filled the stage. So, my time was limited and there wa plenty of peripheral noise. Hard to hear above the blur.
I also hooked up a 12" cab, using the combo as a head only. Not as good as anticipated.
Back home today, remembered I had one 1947 RCA 12AX7's ( one of the first made ) . It has long black plates...about 50% more than later and modern production. Trying it out at home produced some ambient hum, but no feedback with volume @ 3:00 w/boost and tone @ 9:00 . Lo input, 6W setting. I don't think it will require micing. Sounded fine with the 6V6GT CBS greyglass, but I'm a consummate noodler, so I swapped in a powerful 1949 Raytheon Blackglass 6V6GT.
Holy Samolians ! It's a frickin' Chicago TONE BEAST ! It went from the Wonder Bar to Kingston Mines, or Theresa's Lounge ( back in the day ).
Now, I've got to look around for a Sylvania 12AD7 that I know I put somewhere.
That or go Sherlocking for a 12DF7.
I might flip out the RCA Command 5751 from the Blackheart and try it. I have an extra 'ordinary' RCA 5751.
For a box / stock " grab & go " rig for harp...It don't get much better than this.
( I ran into THE sound guy around here over the weekend, and he was scrambling for a stack for Molly Hatchett. I almost offered my gear, then went stupid. No amount of $$$ is worth replacing gear you like. Not for cats you don't know, or can't track down. Evidently, they had no backline.
Was heading to buy tickets. Went home instead. HA! )
|
Sneakin
1 post
Sep 14, 2011
7:53 AM
|
Hi,
I'm going to jump in here as I recently purchased a modified VHT from Alcomagnet on Ebay. It sounds great, fat tone for its size. I pepper things up with a bit of delay and blow through a Shure 545. I've been blowing through a Bassman 59 re-issue for the past 7 years and I love it, however, this little amp is great. Just started a duo and the 59 is too big, this amp is ideal, however, I have yet to gig with my full band but this mod has a line out to the PA so should be fine.
Cheers
Paul
|
Philmore1313
3 posts
Sep 06, 2012
10:33 AM
|
OK guys... question.
I love my s6. Had it for about 1 yr. Newer tubes in at this point. Lately, however, I'm getting a bad connection buzz and loud crackle from the 6v6. Every time I touch the tube, it recreates the buzz/rattle. I've tightened the screws and thought I narrowed the bracket a bit. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone have a fix? Got 3 big shows this weekend.
|
Cole
13 posts
Sep 06, 2012
5:30 PM
|
curious, anyone run a Tone Tubby speaker in one of these yet? I got a 16ohm 10" dying to get inside a VHT. Originally bought it for my Vox AC4... but the cab wasn't deep enough (even with the dust cover off).
----------
Cole Stevens
www.colestevens.net
|
blueswannabe
151 posts
Sep 07, 2012
6:56 AM
|
I swapped out the tubes in my VHT and replaced the stock seapker with the Eminence Lil' Buddy, and that was it. I made no modifcations to the circuit and it sounds great. I would love to purchase a mod kit that Rick was thinking of offering but I don't think that is going to happen.
|
Cole
14 posts
Sep 13, 2012
6:34 PM
|
Just took delivery today on the VHT Special 6. Played through it stock and it sounded pretty good OOTB. Pulled it apart and switched out speakers and put in the original red tone tubby. I could hear a remarkable difference... fatter/warmer.
I looked through my tube collection and thought I had an EV 6V6, but not. I had abox with a label 5751... but alas it was empty. I guess I'll have to place an order for some tubes.
----------
Cole Stevens
www.colestevens.net
Last Edited by on Sep 13, 2012 6:35 PM
|
