Saw this this morning on utube. I had two thoughts:
1) How nice that they let someone else create a market for harmonica amps, then charge in, undercutting everyone else.
2) Where can I get one? If it's really 100$ like he says, then I could actually afford an amp. Right now I have a solid state guitar practice amp. A little shrill if not amped into the pa.
I actually thought it sounded great, I was a little skeptical at first and then he started playing and I was kind of amazed. Did he really say these were going to be around $100? Holy crap, I'll take 3.I understand your concern about "undercutting" the competition, but there will always be a market for great boutique amps, especially larger amps for using on the bandstand. As long as they have fair labor practices(although it's hard to understand how they could make a tube amp for such a low cost) and they make a quality product then I would have no problems purchasing their amp. Like I said, if these are ethically produced, then you can't fault them for figuring out a way to produce a good quality product for a low cost (this isn't exactly walmart we're talking about). I hope they keep us updated and I also hope they'll be available soon, I'd love to try one.
It sounds sweet to me! It's gonna be a branding issue-isn't the Epiphone Valve Jr made in China? Sells like hotcakes. LiSheng might not be any more Chinese than the Epi, but many folks, especially in the U.S., won't give it a shot because of the name. I'll keep my eyes out for this. ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Don't bet on it guys. Friend of mine bought it, tried it and returned it. The amp does not have the "chicago sound". its alright for acoustic playing, but if its the dirty sound you are after, do reconnsider.
Another China made amp is the Haeley Benton GA5. If you buy it outside of EU, it cost something like 65Euros.
So, that video wasn't accurate? Sounded sweet to me, and all that tone isn't from that mic alone. Did your friend get the Blues 50? How good of an amplified player is your friend? Not knocking him, just curious. I looked on the company site, and it's not even shown, but they do have the other '50' model. ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2010 7:50 AM
Harpsucker's vids are a great and reliable resource for what lots of gear is capable of. I'm thinking Ethan's buddy doesn't have a prototype. ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Toddlgreene is right, my friend got his after listerning to their audio clip. The one he got was the production model, cost about US$130. Kingley, yes, its the same one, think they only launched one. The amp is made in such a way that it has no feedback, regardless of the mic you use. Think that's one of the reason it has no gain either.
I think it sounded sweet. The harley benton is made in china and is copy of the valve jr ( you can even see vjr on the pcb )and it sounds great for harp. A gain knob isn't needed in a single ended amp and if it doesn't feedback then that says its been designed well. I'd like to have a listen and have a look at the schematic
I don't understand how your friend could have tried this amp. The video says that it's a prototype and it's the first one they've made. So unless this video was shot a long time ago and wasn't posted until just now, then I don't see how he could have recieved a production model. You said your friend purchased this after listening to an audio clip, you must not be refering to this video since it was only posted yesterday, is there another sound clip somewhere? I looked through their whole website and I didn't see it listed there. I just don't understand how your friend could possibly have purchased and tried this amp, the guy who has the prototype just posted today that he didn't know when these would be available for sale. I'm thinking either you or your friend is mistaken, but if you have evidence to the contrary, I'd be happy to admit my mistake.
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2010 2:38 PM
anyone know the link to there website i did search of the name but didnt come up with anything,Is it just basically a valve jr with harp friendy tubes? im curious as to when they will be avaible
My Hohner HooDoo 5 watt has made in China stenciled on the back of it. The video does sound good either way. The HooDoo don't sound like the one demoed though. Mike
I have owned three Chinese built amps, two of which I still have. The ones I still have are;
1. Rocktronic Tube 30. I've had this for appx. 18 months and bought it new off Ebay for £117. 00. 2x12ax7 and 2x6l6gc tubes, 12" speaker, Hi & Lo inputs, 3 way graphic, boost button, gain & master volume and prescence control. The cabinet is all ply with a tweed covering. The tweed covering is the only thing that has got a bit tatty, around the bottom of the amp. These amps were retailing for £169.00 when I bought mine and even at this price I think they were good value. The amp has been 100% reliable and while guitarists don't like it much (the usual comment is that it does not have enough sustain)I like the sound for harp and it is loud enough for larger gigs without having to mic. it.
2. A Harley Benton GA5. This was bought from Thomann for £66.00. 1 12ax7 and 1 EL84. 8" speaker, volume and tone control. This has to be the best value amp you can buy. It is in fact an Epiphone Valve Jnr. in a different cabinet with a tone control added. I didn't think much of the tone control and so fitted an Alnicomagnet "Brownface" kit (cost £11.99) which can also easily be fitted to the Epiphone. Pound for pound I honestly don't think that there is anything on the market to beat this little amp. The finish, in blond tolex, is very good indeed. The cabinet is all ply and it has a really nice leather handle though it is quite hefty for a 5W AT 10.5 kilos. If this amp was lost or stolen I would straight away buy another. The sound? I call this amp my baby Bassman.
now for the one I no longer own:
A Hayden Peacemaker 40w. 2x12ax7, 2 EL84, 12" speaker, twin channel, digital reverb & chorus and 4 way footswitch. Finished in blond tolex with gold fittings and two leather handles. This amp looked beautiful and was bought off Ebay 2nd hand for £150.00, it looked brand new. I desperatly wanted this amp to be THE ONE 'cos it looked so fantastic. Unfortunately, when you played a harp through it the sound was awful. Feedback was totally uncontrolable and the tone was all treble. I eventually sold it on to a guitarist who loved the sound and he refers to it as his poor mans Messa Boogie.
The point of all this is that all the Chinese amps I have owned have been IMO very well put together and reliable. The fact that one of them was not much good for harp is neither here or there, it worked well for guitar which it was made for. I hope that the LiSheng makes it to the market and i can't wait to try one.
p.s If anyone wants to ramble on about worker exploitation in China don't forget that both Peavey and Fender have amps manufactured there as well as Hohner.
Hi, I am from China and would like to provide some info on this amp. This amp was co-developed by Lisheng and the harmonica webiste chinaharp.com, which is one of the major (I think, the largest) online harmonica retailer and internet forum in China. Harpsucer's video was more than a month ago, at this time, this amp is already in production and on sale for the price of 800 RMB yuan, which is about $130. It is no secret that many amps are made in China, the amp companies provide only design and branding. What Lisheng has done is that they started doing their own designs. More competition is always a good thing.
Disclaimer: I am not related to the manufacturer or the designers, though I am a member of their forum and that's where I learned about the amp.
That'a pretty decent-sounding cab, too, Rick. Ran a Bogen 14w thru one with an re10, and got some serious tone and bottom end out it. ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
