Cisco
6 posts
Aug 23, 2009
9:02 AM
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Yesterday I finally purchased a slightly used 59 Bassman LTD. I changed V1 to 12AU7 and V2 to 12AY7 and it sounds great using a 69 Shure Green Bullet. Now I would like to hear from others what they have found to be optimum specific settings for great tone.
What input do you plug into?
Do you jumper the channels and which ones?
What are your volume/s normally set to (I know room dynamics plays into this)Do you use both volume controls even though you're plugged into just one and how different are the settings?
What are your bass, treble and middle set to?
Any presence?
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Oisin
299 posts
Aug 23, 2009
9:14 AM
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Hey Cisco...here's what James Cotton uses...
http://www.harpamps.com/2008/08/cotton-amp-settings.html
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Kingley
327 posts
Aug 23, 2009
9:18 AM
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I don't have a Bassman LTD anymore as I prefer smaller amps.
But when I did it was set up this way:
V1=12AY7 - V212AX7 - V3 12AX7 - 6L6GC - 6L6GC - GZ34
I plugged into the normal channel and used input 1
Normal Volume = 3 = Bright volume = 6 - Presence =9 - Bass = 7 - Middle = 2 - Treble = 2
Sometimes I would jump the channels but mostly just play straight into normal 1.
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harmonicanick
346 posts
Aug 23, 2009
9:43 AM
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Kingley,
What is your rig now please in detail?
Nick
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Kingley
328 posts
Aug 23, 2009
9:59 AM
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Nick,
I use a HarpGear Double Trouble.
Tone on 2 - Volume as high as I can get it (usually around 6-7).
I use either an Astatic JT30 with CM (99A86) element, an Astatic T3 with CM (99A86) element. Sometimes I'll use a Shure 545SD or an Ev RE10 mic.
I also use a Boss DM-2 (analog delay)
Settings are: Repeats on 8 O'clock - Echo on 8 O'clock - Intensity on 11 O'clock
If I'm using the Shure 545SD then I put the amps tone on 10 and the volume around 5.
John Nemeth uses that setting and it kills with that tone setting.
Last Edited by on Aug 23, 2009 10:09 AM
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harmonicanick
348 posts
Aug 23, 2009
10:46 AM
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I presume you bought it direct from HG in states import?
How much in english and how long did it take please?
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Kingley
329 posts
Aug 23, 2009
11:05 AM
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Yes direct from Brian Purdy at HarpGear.
They are currently $1015USD approx £615GBP, then you have a UK customs charge which I seem to recall is around £60GBP.
It took about three weeks in total to arrive.
Although it was here in a week from the States.
UK customs held it for two weeks whilst they sent me a bill for the customs charges.
I have to say that I have played many different amps over the years vintage and new and the HarpGear is the best amp I have ever played.
Brian Purdy is a great guy to deal with.
In my opinion just under £700GBP for a hand built harp specific amp is a great price.
Nick if your anywhere near Lancashire and want to hear one. I'm playing at the Hop Pocket in Chorley on Sept 3rd. Gig starts around 9pm
Last Edited by on Aug 23, 2009 11:09 AM
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harmonicanick
349 posts
Aug 24, 2009
1:02 AM
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Kingley,
Thanks for the info.
Play well at the 'Hop Pocket', I won't see you, it's too far, I live in Bristol.
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walterharp
29 posts
Aug 24, 2009
10:34 AM
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I tend to use the treble a bit higher than the settings listed above to get the cut. Also, the bass a bit lower because it really accentuates the low frequency sounds created by breathing and that can be a distracting sound.
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Oxharp
93 posts
Aug 24, 2009
11:53 AM
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Hi Cisco,
There is a really interesting My space site you should look at. Its by a guy in the UK who plays Harp and is also a Brilliant Amp tech.
You should read the blog on The Fender tweed ‘59 Bassman 5F6A reissue it may give you more ideas.
He modified my Bassman and I have never looked back.
the link is :
http://www.myspace.com/markburness
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Kingley
331 posts
Aug 24, 2009
12:27 PM
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Yes I agree with Oxharp.
Check out Mark Burness for anything to do with harp amps. The man is a certifiable genius!
Mark is probably one of the best amp techs in the world for modding harp amps
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Cisco
7 posts
Aug 24, 2009
1:01 PM
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Thanks Oxharp & Kingly for getting this thread back to it's original subject and for the great link to mark Burness. Luckily I already do mods to Fender Hot Rod amps for guitar players so I'll have no problems modifying circuits.
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Kingley
332 posts
Aug 24, 2009
1:23 PM
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Cisco,
Mark is a real stand up kind of guy.
He's on a number of forums. You'll usually find him over on either the Weber or Lone Wolf blues forums.
Just send him an email and he'll most likely send you a list of mods for your Bassman LTD.
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walterharp
30 posts
Aug 24, 2009
2:02 PM
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I can vouch for Mark, he is the one who advised my on my choice of mods for the 5f6a Weber kit I put together, and if you already do mods, you will be able to get some excellent info from him.
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Bluzdude46
124 posts
Aug 24, 2009
11:41 PM
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I use the same tube setup normal channel vol 4-6 bass 6 mid 3 treble 2-3 presence 3 I was also told that dialing the volume on the bright channel effects the normal channel for some reason so you should turn that up to 3 also. I have no idea why
I use CM white label bullets or an American D4T The D4T is a bit brighter and cleaner. Alot depends on the room and I also use an airline wireless which adds to the compression a bit also I use an inexpensive danelectro delay. Best rig I've ever had and that includes my old vin 65 Princeton reverb which I had to be careful of feedback. I still love the sound out of my modded Epi VJr just not loud enough to use with the guitarists I play with
Last Edited by on Aug 24, 2009 11:57 PM
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walterharp
31 posts
Aug 25, 2009
6:12 AM
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The bright channel is too bright for most harps, the easy mod here is to simply clip the cap that bridges it, then you have two channels and can use a short guitar effects cord to bridge the channels, that gives a fatter tone. Or unbridged, you can have two different microphones with correct volume set if you want to switch in a gig (e.g. from a bullet to a clean shure sm57 for example)
Even unbridged the bright control influences tone, just play through and try it plugged into channel 1 and turn channel 2 volume up and down.
In general, the more you play with the volume and tone in practice or alone, the better off you are in live situations because then you can quickly adjust your tone and volume to the situation.
One thing, in general, if it is not going to be a loud gig, this amp does not sound good at lower volumes, so use a smaller one for that situation.
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