Here's Gary's post from HARP-L: "For my own personal reasons I am selling the last of the Super Sonny's for a ridiculous $1200.. Whatever anyone paid before, a month ago, this is a tremendous amp and I must sell them. This is much less than they cost me to build, whoever gets lucky and contacts me, go for it. Peter was trying to help, he has been a wonderful customer and person. I know what everyone paid, I just have to do this. SJ"
This is insanely cheap for one of the best harp amps on the planet. I paid $2300 many years ago. No regrets, period.
They won't last long at this price and won't depreciate from here. If I were you (and you know who you are) I would snap this up in a heartbeat.
Bought mine a few weeks ago when the price was $1495 and I don't regret even paying that price. It's an awesome amp with so many tonal possibilities and crunch to die for.
Interesting - I have an HG50 and used to own an SJ 410. Both great amps, but different sounding when driven hard. Wouldn't call it clean myself.. all subjective I guess.
Well the original SJ 410 doesn't sound like the Super Sonny. My pro harp buddy here in town has had 3 SJ410s and he says that the Super is a totally different beast. We bought our SS's the same day a couple weeks ago.
Last Edited by on Jan 30, 2010 2:30 PM
HOLY COW! I bought mine 5 years ago. The Super Sonny 4X10 is the same amp with a couple of mods, I bought the mod last spring, offers a little more adjustability and yes it breaks up sooner. The mod is user installed and can be put back in 30 minutes, if your slow. Really, with tube swapping and a little audio know-how you can make these amps sound like anything you want, Built to last too. If I had the money I'd buy 2 or 3 and hang onto them a couple of years. At this price I'll be tempted to pick up another, stereo!
It appears the Super Sonnys' are gone. The Cruncher is still in production and getting killer reviews everywhere. I wonder what Gary has up his sleeve next?
Have you actually heard these amps personally, side by side?
Without doing so, PLEASE understand you just can't draw a valid conclusion by listening over the internet. They ARE both great amps - but unless you've heard them played by the same player with the same mic in the same room, you just can't say one is better than the other. Maybe you can't say that ANYWAY - you can say they're DIFFERENT and articulate the differences. ---------- /Greg
I am fortunate to have heard the amps side by side same room, same mic, same player. These pics were taken at my house. Go to www.suncoastharmonicaclub.org
Click on Photo galleries. Go to page 3. Click on "2nd annual HarpGear amp taste test." On the 2nd page of that album pic 23 and 27. The big amps of the meeting.
Last Edited by on Jan 31, 2010 4:11 PM
I don't know if Greg would agree with me, but I have always found the Sonny Jr.'s have that classic sound, but to me the bigger HarpGear's are more or less amps that are more accepting to pedals/effects, etc.
I agree Zack. That's why I said that to me the HarpGear amps are basically clean - in their circuitry but the speakers handle the majority of the overdrive tone. With the Sonny Jr amps the amp circuitry contributes to the overdrive tone before the speakers get to the point of overdrive. So I also agree that the HarpGear amps are way better if you want to run multiple effects pedals. They are both great amps with different personalities for different uses. These are my impressions from owning a HarpGear Hp50 1210 and a Super Sonny. I like them both for what they are - each a very unique tool.
Ahhh that's what you mean! Honestly, turning up a HarpGear to four and getting that overdrive isn't so awesome at all times, I like how I can shape it so much via effects.
That's why I have a 3/6/9db attenuator built into my Clark Piedmont. I can get that Bassman tone at most any size gig without offending the pensioners.
Have you actually heard these amps personally, side by side?
Without doing so, PLEASE understand you just can't draw a valid conclusion by listening over the internet. They ARE both great amps - but unless you've heard them played by the same player with the same mic in the same room, you just can't say one is better than the other. Maybe you can't say that ANYWAY - you can say they're DIFFERENT and articulate the differences. "
yes i realize this, but im not a famous harp player nor do i hang out with any, so chances are i will never hear a test like that, so my choice has to go by what i hear on the internet. like zack said i also think the sonny amp has more of a classic sound to it.
also im not waiting for the chance that one day maybe i might be some where that some one is playing something on those two amps with the same mic in the same room to make my choice on which one to get.
there both great amps, but based on what i have heard i want a harpgear. even if i wasnt to get an hg50 i would still buy a harpgear, wether it be a hg35, double trouble, hg2 what ever. its just what i want. i have heard a hg2 and a hg50 a few times in person.
by the way i never said one was better then the other. i said i LIKE the sound of the harpgear better. and i can say that cause i know what i like. ----------
Last Edited by on Jan 31, 2010 10:32 PM
Hi Bro's i just decided to go with a Harpgear-2 Haven't done it yet got sell some gear i listend to a few YT clips Dennis Gruenling was very impresive,,with the helpfull information my thread Harp gear Should i,,my decision was swayed to go this way the biggest factor in my decision is the components that drive the amp,,and it's construction real wood cabinet Mercury transformers Electrical componants ie Caps & Speaker not the sound to the ear But Dennis Kicks some But in the YT Demo my Secret Hero,,Can any one tell me whats Driveibng these amps and there construction or where can i find the iinfo mentioned above Thanks Bro's
Mate, I'll give the guy your email and he can talk to you direct. It's nice and minty apparently and the price in AUD is lower than the export model on the site, plus you won't have the international postage hassles.
EDIT: If I was you I'd delete your email from your post now. Don't want any spammers grabbing at they trawl the web and sending you junk mail.
cheers Drew
Last Edited by on Feb 01, 2010 12:44 AM
Ev639 thanks Bro i will do the deal i won't wast Ya Bro's time,,I'm with ya on the postage saveings thats why i should buy it if amps are over 16kg customs Bungs on $250 I'm On reel me in..
yeah, I would say the HG50 1210 is a little more receptive to effects than the SJ. I don't run a huge rack of pedals - just a couple of Lone Wolfs and a Kinder AFB - but it reponds very well to these and my Ultimate 545 in terms of tone. The SJ amps are a little more 'middy' sounding to my ears and seem to work best with bullet mics, which is not so much my thing.
Last Edited by on Feb 01, 2010 1:42 AM
,,Yo 630 Bro all the info i got from my MBH Bra on the GH2 and my secret hero doing his thing got me,,and the quilty parts there assembled with as i mentioned above,,and thanks Bro you allso with a killer deal i can't refuse Thanks Big Time..
Hey Nasty - I am a total amp junkie, with a cupboard full of tweed fillies. I have a Harpgear amp and they are beautifully made - GREAT tweed job and build quality - and heaps of usable tone...
Yo 630 i got GAS allso Bro it's ok,,I won't have to sell my Fender now,,Im going to get my Bro to turm my Epiphone 5-watt into a spring reverb tank for my new toy..My Problem is Microphones Shure Bullets..
I gotta tell ya, that Super Sonny sounds awesome! A Meteor sounds, similar. Really, all the harp amps out there sound really good. I've found in MY experience of hearing amps that the Sonny Jr. amps are for that classic sound, the Meteor is like a classic sound on steroids, and the HarpGear's (the bigger ones, at least) are more of a cleaner amp that accept pedals. All good amps. I would like to hear more about those Wezo amps, though. They look cool, but I can't find much on how they sound.
Last Edited by on Feb 01, 2010 4:07 AM
Last Edited by on Feb 01, 2010 8:43 AM