look for new amp, need help...

[haden olmsted]

Hey guys,

In my pursuit of a new, lighter, more jazz oriented amp I have come across a few decent options. So far I have found the Evans RE200, ZT Lunchbox Acoustic, AER Compact 60, Fender Blues Junior, and the Egnater Tweaker to my liking. All seem like great buys to me but Im not sure which has the most bang for its buck (for me that is). I need something that is light enough to take anywhere, say even on the subway/metro trains, something that will be cool for combo gigs in restaurants and coffee shops, that is also sufficient enough to play in a big band. Some of these amps while small, are still somewhat heavy (over 30lbs) but if the tone and features are there, then i can suck it up. I probably wont be able to test a lot of these myself so let me know you personal experience and if you know of any cool review videos, thanks guys.

[Jake Hanlon]

Henriksen Jazzamps are amazing solid state 5band EQ amps that I've been using now for the last year now and I'm totally in love with it. Highly highly recommended.

[docbop]

Since trying the ZT Lunchbox I've been a fan. Plus they open up so much if you add an extension speaker if you need to cover a large room. Small price and size good deal to me.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

This thread has some recorded clips to compare ZTs: lunchbox alone versus lunchbox plus cabinet, and lunchbox versus club.

A ZT question. Luchbox vs Club - Telecaster Guitar Forum

My take is that I like the sound of the club the best of the three. It has "girth" and sounds the jazziest of the three. The lunchbox sounds like it is EQed more narrowly, but that may help it cut through in an ensemble. Adding the cabinet seems to split the difference.

BTW, if you're looking for a bit of a bargain in new equipment, Henriksen is selling off their older heads. They're the same as the current models except for reverb, and the reverb on the newer models isn't anything you couldn't beat with a reverb pedal you really liked. Plus, they throw in a gig bag and free shipping: Henriksen Guitar Amplifier: compact, solid state, small, inexpensive, powerful guitar amplifier

[wizard3739]

I second Jake's thoughts about the Henriksen amp, the 5-band eq makes a big difference. The Henriksen was my second-choice after the Acoustic Image head because the AI amp (2-channel) had a mic input, great for duo with a vocalist.

wiz

[docbop]

I'm going to get the ZT Acoustic Lunchbox it is voiced differently than the regular Lunchbox and sounds good with an archtop. Plus the added second channel and real reverb.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I notice the OP's guitar is a PRS Custom 24:



Not exactly a "jazz box". Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I wonder if the more modern, cleaner, more acoustic sounding amps like a henriksen are a good match. Comments?

[haden olmsted]

I do play a PRS custom 24, however I also have a gretsch 6120am on order, should be here in a few weeks. Also not the jazziest guitar but i wanted something that had a little different 'tude then most of those standard jazz guitars. ill probably be using that for a lot of stuff.
I've known about the henriksen amps for a little while. A buddy of mine has one here at my school and he gets great sound out of it, but its just not my bag really. Looking for something a little different, although not completely ruling it out of the equation.

I really dig the ZT lunchbox acoustic because of its size. I hate having to lug my heavy mesa f30 around campus, but that amp does get good tone. As of right now im really looking into the evans RE200. It seems to package everything im looking for reasonably well together, just worried about its larger price tag.

Keep the responses coming guys I really appreciate it!

[NSJ]

In the span of the past few years, I've gone through a Polytone Minibrute IV, Fender Twin, Phil Jones Cub, ZT Lunch box--but two years ago, I got a Henriksen Jazz Amp Convertible. And it was game, set and match--as far as laminated jazz boxes go. It's really amazing!!! (hey, if its good enough for Jim Hall and Bobby Broom, little schmos like me have no complaints ) And I can lug it all over my shoulder in a bag--both amp, cab and pedals. And the guitar in it's own gig bag, too. I think that's pretty small and movable.

I'm still very fond of the Twin, I must admit. But can't "lug" thar bugger anywhere.

I think the higher EQ frequency settings on the Henriksen would be more suitable for a solid body. Even at wide open settings, I'm not sure the mid rangy jazz arch tops are able to access those frequencies.

[AZanshin]

From the recommendation from this page the ZT Club sounds like a perfect little amp.

Plus wouldn't an acoustic amp sound dead on a electric archtop unless it has an floater.

[bluemood]

1+ for the ZT amp the club 12 ...ZT is doing a $75, rebate until 10 /30.

[AZanshin]

Zt Acoustic Luchbox Sounds Kinda Dead

YouTube Video

ZT Luchbox

YouTube Video

While The ZT CLub on the other hand

YouTube Video

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

One consitent thing across those videos is that Billy Penn is a wiggle-stick addict! I liked the club the best there, for the warm, full tone.

[AZanshin]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

One consitent thing across those videos is that Billy Penn is a wiggle-stick addict! I liked the club the best there, for the warm, full tone.

My Sentiments Exactly. Lool @ the wiggle stick comment

[JohnW400]

I really didn't like any of them. Wiggle stick or not

[docbop]

I listened to those videos then listen to a bunch of his others and decided the sound on all his videos are bright and scooped. So I wouldn't use those as a reference on the ZT amps. Check one out in person for $250 they are a lot of amp.

Only reason I'm not interested in the Club is I have DRRI already.

[Bill C]

Originally Posted by haden olmsted

I do play a PRS custom 24, however I also have a gretsch 6120am on order, should be here in a few weeks. Also not the jazziest guitar but i wanted something that had a little different 'tude then most of those standard jazz guitars. ill probably be using that for a lot of stuff.
I've known about the henriksen amps for a little while. A buddy of mine has one here at my school and he gets great sound out of it, but its just not my bag really. Looking for something a little different, although not completely ruling it out of the equation.

I really dig the ZT lunchbox acoustic because of its size. I hate having to lug my heavy mesa f30 around campus, but that amp does get good tone. As of right now im really looking into the evans RE200. It seems to package everything im looking for reasonably well together, just worried about its larger price tag.

Keep the responses coming guys I really appreciate it!

The RE200 is my favourite jazz guitar amp. I prefer it to the Jazzamp 10-R, the Megabrute and the Cub, which are the other jazz amps I've spent some time with. The build quality is great and there's a real richness to the sound. Check out the Sound Pure video demos on the Evans site - they give a really good idea of the Evans sound imo.

[AZanshin]

The Evans RE200 Sounds Nice But Expensive

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

Evans RE200 Guitar Amplifier Combo | RE-200 amp | Soundpure.com

[mambosun]

I do agree with previous comments. The ZT's sound far too bright to me , too hifi-like.
I'm too looking for an portable amp which would be a perfect match to my Gregg Bennett archtop, and my priorities are deep, dark, lush tone.
I've tried some amps with reasonably good acoustic sounds such as the SR Jam 150 but that's definitively not "mi jamon serrano".
I recently tried a Fender Deluxe VM which was just OK but equiped with too many useless features (I currently own & use 8 effect pedals)
My benchmark is a vintage SF Princeton Reverb I borrowed from a friend which has eveything I want; problem it's not for sale..

So my question to experienced users: which alternative candidates that won't break my bank account nor my back?
For exemple, could a Bugera V22 be a valid option?

[riovine]

Originally Posted by Bill C

The RE200 is my favourite jazz guitar amp. I prefer it to the Jazzamp 10-R, the Megabrute and the Cub, which are the other jazz amps I've spent some time with. The build quality is great and there's a real richness to the sound. Check out the Sound Pure video demos on the Evans site - they give a really good idea of the Evans sound imo.

+1 on the Evans RE200, I've gone thorough several polytones, fenders, AER and even some older model Evans, for me the RE200 is by far my sweet spot on tone, power & portability.

[JohnW400]

Now that Evans sound great! Very informative video too

[RonD]

Seeing as how we're on the subject, any comments on the Henriksen 110 vs. 112?

[Tom Karol]

Originally Posted by RonD

Seeing as how we're on the subject, any comments on the Henriksen 110 vs. 112?

Good question! I have a 112 - had it for over a year - and I'm thrilled with it. But I've never tried the 110. The 110 was tempting due to its smaller size and lower weight (price, power, and features are identical), but I knew that I prefered a 12 to a 10. Anyway, I've never encountered a negative comment on the 112, but while the assessments I've seen of the 110 are generally highly positive, there have been a few people who have had trouble bonding with it. You see used 110's for sale periodically, but rarely a 112. And it also seems that nobody doesn't like the Convertible (110, but separate head and cabinet - they've just come out with a new version). Last thing: Henriksen has a special right now on their Website on non-reverb heads they apparently found components for while reorganizing their warehouse - $399 includes a gig bag and free shipping; if you already have a cabinet you like, that would be a great deal.

[mangotango]

While we are on this subject....Tom, given the amps that you have/had, it would seem that your sonic sensibilities seem fairly similar to my own. So. I'd appreciate your take on this.

I bought a Henriksen Jazzamp 110 off ebay a little while back. When I originally (a while back) tried the 112 amp in a shop, I used my guitar which at the time had on it Thomastik GB roundwound 12's. Liked the sound very much. Shortly after, however, while using the Roland, I went back to my standard Thomastik flatwound Swing 12's.

When I first got the Henriksen, with the flats on my guitar, I found myself turning the higher frequency controls up more and more, pretty much maxing the upper mids. Still wasn't getting what I felt was the best out of it, and so returned to the Benson 12's. I now have a better sound to my ear, having declared that I would never again go back to roundwounds - it seems more natural and alive.

So, does the Henriksen give that much darker a sound? Or had I just been accustomed to the (more rock biased?) voicing of the Roland Cube 60 (especially the modelled channel)? I really can't believe that the change was that dramatic, but clearly it makes a big difference - was that your experience?

Whichever way, I'm really pleased with the sound I have now and will stick with it -for a while at least.

[mr. beaumont]

I have both a henriksen head (which I use with a redstone RS-8 cabinet) and a lunchbox.

I find both voiced heavy on the midrange, which I beleive is the natural characteristic of the guitars I plug into them. I am able to get plenty of bass and volume with the 8" speaker and the henriksen head. The lunchbox lacks a little bass, but it's fine for ensemble playing (I prefer the henriksen for solo gigging)

The ZT is great for portability and I actually use it out a lot, but the Henriksen is a much more tweakable, and overall better amplifier.

[Tom Karol]

Interesting question! First of all, to go back to my earlier assertion, I think the problem may be with the stock speaker/cabinet configuration. I think the amp's response is pretty flat, and the Eminence Beta (PA) speakers are flatter than typical guitar speakers. There was an Australian guy - Robin N... - on the TDPRI who felt his 110 sounded too dark and so installed a Weber Ceramic California 10 and was very pleased with the increased presence. Personally, I've never bonded with an amp with a single 10; 2-10's - that's another story, but also another weight category! Now, back to my experience with the 112:

I think the 112 has plenty of sizzle (or perhaps 'punch' would be more accurate) for a jazz amp, moreso than the Polytones I owned a long time ago I think, but maybe not as much as an Evans(?) Let me review how I use it. I have 3 electric guitars; all of them are strung with round-wound 11's. I also have a VOX ToneLab ST, a ZT Club, and Henriksen's outboard tweeter.

I don't normally use the JazzAmp with the Tele. (I normally use the Club plus the ToneLab.) But when I do, I cut the 300 Hz knob to about 10:30 and boost the 1 kHz and 3 kHz knobs to about 3:00. To me this sort of simulates a more typical 'guitar' amp's response. When I add the ToneLab and the tweeter, I set everything flat except for the 10 kHz knob which I roll back to 10:30 - otherwize the processed sounds can be too fizzy. Without the ToneLab it works OK for clean Country and Blues; with the ToneLab, it works quite well for Rock, but I don't want to use it that way - I feel like I'm violating its integrity.

With my 335 clone strictly for Jazz (amp alone, no ToneLab/no tweeter), I generally roll back the 100 Hz and 300 Hz knobs just a tiny bit and sometimes boost the 3 kHz knob a tiny bit as well - depends on the room and the volume.

With my hybrid, I set the amp basically flat, and use it alone, with the tweeter, and/or with the ToneLab depending on the musical context.

I use the Club with the Tele plus the ToneLab for Rock and minus the ToneLab for Blues. I reluctantly sold a Rivera to buy the Henriksen, but I still had a Cube 60. After getting the Henriksen and the ToneLab, I no longer wanted or needed the Cube 60, so I sold that too. But after testing the Club (and realizing that I really needed to own more than one amp), I bought it; it's small, light, and loud ... and it sounds good.

Hope that helps!

[spiral]

Originally Posted by mambosun

My benchmark is a vintage SF Princeton Reverb I borrowed from a friend which has eveything I want; problem it's not for sale.

What is wrong with the reissues? I own one, as well as a vintage DR, and like both equally. the Princeton Reverb Reissue has 2 issues which are easily solved: speaker board rattles (replace with better plywood, or add crossbrace), and lowend is a little flubby (install Bill M. custom output transformer). I was happy with the amp stock as well. Even if you go vintage, the Princeton is not that much more than the reissue. I'm a fan. Is the issue that Princetons are very rare in Europe?

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Forum member MrBeaumont has raved here about his vintage non-reverb Princeton. The non-reverb model stays clean up to 10 -- sounds like a jazz machine!

[spiral]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Forum member MrBeaumont has raved here about his vintage non-reverb Princeton. The non-reverb model stays clean up to 10 -- sounds like a jazz machine!

He is why i bought mine--though with reverb. I think it is against the Geneva Convention to buy a Fender amp without reverb.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by spiral

He is why i bought mine--though with reverb. I think it is against the Geneva Convention to buy a Fender amp without reverb.

Hah! Going without reverb saves some bucks, too. Compare the graphs:

Blackface non-reverb: Amp Guide » Fender*Princeton (Blackface)
Blackface reverb: Amp Guide » Fender*Princeton Reverb (Blackface)