Older Henriksen JazzAmp 10 - Keeper?

[LJP]

I got this older Henriksen JazzAmp 10 (age unknown) for about $700. Sounds nice! Am I missing anything tone wise by not opting for a new one, Bud or Blu?

[rtt]

This is JUST AN OPINION: A freind had the amp pictured here years ago and it was a pain trying to get a sound we liked out of it. (Close to a tube amp sound). He ended up selling it and bought something more suitable for his needs. One of our frineds bought this amp and uses it to this day. He loves it and swears by it. He gets the sound he's looking for.

I recently bought a Blu 6 and i have to say, it sounds great and beats lugging around an old viborlux.

Ultimately, everything is in the eye of the beholder. This is the right amp for someone, without a doubt.

This probably isn't too helpful but I thought id add my 2 cents. I also have spoken to the guy that makes these amps. He's extremely helpful and insightful. It seems to me he stands by all of his products which is really refreshing.

[lammie200]

The OP should email Henriksen and ask questions. He will probably take your amp back and give you decent trade money if you want something new. He did that with me and I got a new Blu 10. He was also taking old Polytones in as well for trade money. That said if you like what you have I say stay put. Amps are amps. The only reason I can see to trade up is if you are having problems.

[dconeill]

... I got this older Henriksen JazzAmp 10 (age unknown) for about $700. Sounds nice! Am I missing anything tone wise by not opting for a new one, Bud or Blu?

If you like the sound of the amp, what difference does it make?
If you don't like the sound of the amp, what difference does it make?
If you can't tell whether you like or don't like the sound of the amp, that requires a different set of questions.

[garybaldy]

If you like the sound of the amp, what difference does it make?
If you don't like the sound of the amp, what difference does it make?
If you can't tell whether you like or don't like the sound of the amp, that requires a different set of questions.

I have never owned an Henriksen but, out of interest, I would like to know the answer to the OP's question. I hope someone here knows. Thanks.

[Gitterbug]

These Henriksens have a place in the history of jazz guitar amplification. Why they haven't earned a status similar to Polytone's beats me. What happened between these and the first generation Bud was a step or two in the wrong direction. Yours looks like a pristine sample. The price can be discussed, but if you like the sound, no regrets. A future classic.

[lammie200]

I have never owned an Henriksen but, out of interest, I would like to know the answer to the OP's question. I hope someone here knows. Thanks.

First off, I don’t know about the Bud. I have a Blu. I can tell you that the Jazz amp and the Blu amp probably have the exact same larger speakers even though they are years apart in manufacture. I don’t use the Bluetooth feature so that is one difference. But probably the main difference is what typically happens with aging amps. The capacitors will start failing, so that is a reason to upgrade versus repair. I know the circuitry has differences, but I didn’t find much sonic differences taking the aging capacitors out of the equation.

[Stringswinger]

I have a Bud, a Blu and I had an older Henriksen. I do think that the newer Class D Henriksens run cooler, have better (and more useable) EQ and may be slightly warmer (tone wise, that is). But the older models are still fine jazz guitar amps.

[LJP]

These Henriksens have a place in the history of jazz guitar amplification. Why they haven't earned a status similar to Polytone's beats me. What happened between these and the first generation Bud was a step or two in the wrong direction. Yours looks like a pristine sample. The price can be discussed, but if you like the sound, no regrets. A future classic.

What wrong direction steps are you thinking of?

[Gitterbug]

What wrong direction steps are you thinking of?

It's difficult to reconstruct a timeline of product launches and discontinuations from my neck of the woods. I had a second-gen Convertible (separate head and 10" cab) from 2008 onwards. Liked it a lot despite some mechanical rather than electrical noise. What happened thereafter is a bit hazy.

In 2014 Henriksen launched a two-channel Jazzamp head which apparently did not fly. They were also making combos for Benedetto for some time; again, not a huge success. Quilter and DV Mark came to the market with lightweight amps around the same time and stole some of the limelight. It was the Buds and Blus that saved the company, especially the 2nd gen versions with the substantially lighter IcePower technology inside. Kudos to Peter Henriksen for what he has achieved!

[Alter]

I had this old model for years, it did fine for jazz guitar gigs. I don't own the new Henriksens but i've played one, it seems a bit better, but way more expensive. If the price was right, i'd be happy with the old model.

I mean, just the cabinet is brilliant. I have a copy of it, using an Eminence Beta speaker (same as Henriksens that is), and it sounds stellar both for jazz guitar and bass.