jonsparrow
635 posts
Jul 21, 2009
5:25 PM
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so now that im workin i wanna save for a nicer amp. i want a harpgear. but...i donno wether to get a hg2 or hg50. hg2 sounds good but i realy like the bass that you get from the hg50. but would that be too much for home? do have have to have the volume cranked for it to sound good? or will it sound good at a low volume? also i dont wanna spend $700 on an hg2 an have it be only a little better then my valve jr. of course the hg2 will be better but is it realy worth the money? see now the hg50 would be a major step up from the valve jr where the hg2 is still just a 5watt amp. the hg2 has that more of a crunch dry distorted sound an the hg50 has more of a soft wet deep punch sound. if that makes any sense. i just dont wanna be disapointed if i settle for the lesser of the two. an i dont wanna get one that i would only wanna turn on once a week cause its too loud. does it have to be super loud or can it be low an still get a good sound? also it cant hurt to have the hg50 if i ever gig.
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MrVerylongusername
431 posts
Jul 21, 2009
6:13 PM
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I never play my Bassman RI at home. To get it to sound good I'd have the noise pollution police round in a flash. HG50 would be the same.
Like you say - if you ever get gigging it's a good amp. Can you really justify it now? I don't know. 5W is plenty for home and recording.
You've really got bad GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) ;-)
You have top notch harps, a mic to die for (sooooo jealous!) and a good enough tube amp.
Ask yourself why you want the amp. With what you already have you should get killer tone. If you're not happy with your tone, I honestly don't think the amp is the problem. Bigger is not better. Bigger is just louder for bigger venues.
Also I would never buy an amp unless I could play through one first. Compressed web audio and lo-fi youtube sound really aren't a good way to compare gear. You need to be in the room with the amp cranked so you can feel it.
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2009 6:16 PM
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jonsparrow
638 posts
Jul 21, 2009
7:05 PM
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thanks. ya thats a good point MR.V. like im happy with my tone but to know that there is something that could make it sound the slightest bit better makes me feel like mine isnt good enough. dont get my wrong i love my valve jr to death. but im a strong believer in the "you get what you pay for" saying, so i wanna know how great it could be to have a harpgear. but i guess i dont NEED one any time soon. maybe ill just get a nice delay pedal.
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Jaybird803
29 posts
Jul 21, 2009
7:27 PM
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jon, Consider learning how to build your own 5F1 hap amp. That is how the Harpgear got off the ground. I have gone through dozens of amplifiers over the past few years, a Epiphone Valve Jr. included. I learned how to build an amp, and now the only ones that I will use as a "go to" amp are the ones that I have built and tweeked to my own design and taste. If you are going to spend the kind of money that a great amp costs, spend it for good parts and the knowledge you will gain. The time it takes to think through and build an amp of this sort will also delay the time between wanting another piece of gear (lol). I have a 5F1 with and 8" Weber for home and open mic jams and a 5F1 with 2x10 Webers for slightly larger venues where a little more volume is needed. With these I can enjoy playing , be heard , and be practical also.
I still have many of my other amps to play with now and then.
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jonsparrow
640 posts
Jul 21, 2009
7:56 PM
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i dont know anything about building electronics though. i know basic stuff. but when it comes to picking diods an compacitors an all that stuff im clueless. is there a good online guide some where? iv seen schematics for fender tube amps online but i donno what to do with that.
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Kingley
262 posts
Jul 21, 2009
9:26 PM
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The HarpGear HG2 is the best small amp around.
If you want to build a 5F1 then why not try something like the Marsh 5F1 kit. That way all the parts and a schematic are included.
Regarding whether a HarpGear HG50 is to big, well it depends on what you're plans are. If you plan to go gigging then no it's not really overkill.
But if you're goal is home use then yes it probably is a little excessive.
The middle ground is a HarpGear Double Trouble which is a killer amp with 2X8 weber speakers and has 18 watts and of course a line out feature. That is the only amp I currently use for gigs. John Nemeth also uses one and loves it, as do a lot of other people.
For me as I live in an flat (apartment) it was the obvious choice. It has more than enough power to gig any small - mid sized venue.
For bigger rooms I either use the line out feature or mic it up.
It's extremely portable. It's around the same width as the HG2 / Epiphone Valve Jr / Fender Pro Jr and is approximately twice the height and weighs around 20-25lbs
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2009 9:29 PM
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jonsparrow
641 posts
Jul 21, 2009
9:55 PM
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hmmm the double trouble is lookin real temping. an the price is only a little more then the hg2. but then if i pay a little more for the hg35 ill get the bass an trebble control. but i could allways just get a pedal for that.
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Greg Heumann
104 posts
Jul 21, 2009
10:10 PM
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One word: Kalamazoo.
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/Greg
http://www.BlowsMeAway.com
http://www.BlueStateBand.net
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jonsparrow
642 posts
Jul 21, 2009
11:36 PM
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ehh
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Kingley
263 posts
Jul 21, 2009
11:44 PM
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A Kalamazoo is an old 5 watt valve (tube) amp that is a popular harp amp.
Greg does a great job of fixing them up.
A lot of people have a "Zoo" from Greg and are very happy with them.
To my ear though the HG2 is still a better amp although it is more expensive than a reconditioned Kalamazoo.
Here's a link to a Kalamazoo being used by my friend David Berntson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqkqcZ6io_8
For what it's worth, David recently upgraded to a HarpGear Double Trouble. I think he might still use the Kalamazoo for small duo gigs but I'm not sure.
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2009 11:53 PM
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jonsparrow
643 posts
Jul 22, 2009
12:31 AM
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that zoo sounds nice. im lookin for more of a fatter sound though with some nice bass. i think im gonna go for the double trouble. im likeing the sound from what i heard on clips. it realy does sound like its in the middle of the hg2 an hg50. plus the fact that John Nemeth uses it is a big plus cause im a big fan of his music. maybe in like 2 or 3 months i should have the money saved up if i dont spend anything besides bills.
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Kingley
264 posts
Jul 22, 2009
12:58 AM
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The Double Trouble is a great choice Jon.
I don't think you can go wrong with any HarpGear amp.
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Jaybird803
30 posts
Jul 22, 2009
7:46 AM
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Jon, If you could learn to play harp, then you can learn how to build a harp amp. The time taken to learn a skill is time not spent spending money you don't have on something you have never might have. (Sounds like a good theme for the blues)
I own a Kalamazoo or three. One model two that I purchased off Ebay, and a model 2 and two model 1's that I built as clones. The first model two clone I built I did by opening up the one I bought and making a clone, or copy of what i saw. That is one way to learn. Greg is right when saying that the Kalamazoo is a good harp amp. I still play mine on occasion. My 5f1 has 2 boost switches that give me a few options for tone and volume. Mr.V is right on when advising to play something yourself before laying out big bucks. Every ear has its own sweet spot, and a clip on the screen is not always a true indication of what you may get. However it is not often you will see a Harpgear in person and have a chance to play through it. Brian makes some really good amps so you would be getting real quality if you would buy one. Don't let that money burn a hole in your pocket. Some of my favorite amps have only a volume control, the real tone comes from the circuit, and most importantly, from you.
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