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In practical terms, and I've made this point before, the Bud gives you a wider range of tonal manipulation frequencies, with the Bud's ~7kHz control useful for trimming pickup noise or other hiss / electrical lighting noise, without altering basic tone, while the Blu offers a little more midrange manipulation precision with that 760 Hz filler frequency. The difference in bass control frequencies is nominal but still audible. Certainly knob-twiddling and your ear will let you get great results from either.
Originally Posted by dconeill
Where the difference in center frequencies for the tone stack must be accounted for is when you hear a player using one of the amps whose tone you'd like to emulate or duplicate, and who gives you knob settings according to the text labels as a favor. In that case, if you are using the other amp, those knob settings will not result in the same tone you were hoping to reference. I am not sure why Henriksen did this, since they claim both amps sound the same and they have made no comment on this controls difference in their marketing and technical explanations.
Otherwise, twiddling will get you where you want to go, either case.
Phil
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03-16-2026 08:25 PM
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Rob, Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
That's OK - you can play. I can analyze and understand (sometimes) data all day long, but I don't play well. Better to be able to play.
The main things to take away from those graphs is (1) that the Bud and Blu are NOT the same apart from the number of channels, although they're close; and (2) the Bud's controls are better suited as a small PA/FRFR with their broader frequency control range, while the Blu's controls are probably more useful for guitar (only) than the Bud's.
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So that's with the knobs set flat? I wonder what the graph would be for my 3 knob Polytones. Originally Posted by dconeill
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No, the vertical lines (orange or blue) only shows the centerpoints of the tone controls. The tone control range would show something like a parabola draped over the line, with the vertical line as the centerline of the parabola. Originally Posted by garybaldy
The underlying multicolored graphs show the frequency responses of various guitars with no tone-altering applied; these underlying graphs serve only to show where the energy of a guitar exists relative to frequency.
For the image as I created it but for your Polytone, you'd have to know the centerpoints of your tone controls; then you'd draw a vertical line onto the graph for each center frequency. Say, for example, that one of your tone controls had a center frequency of 200 Hz - then adjusting the knob would alter the frequency response of the amp around that frequency and thereby would alter the sound of your guitar through the amp.
There's more to it than that, of course. You might be able to get a bit of a handle on what I'm trying to describe by reading up on parametric equalizers. But recognize that in a typical guitar amp circuit you can't change the shape of the parabola surrounding the centerpoint, nor can you adjust the centerpoint, you can only adjust the amplitude of the parabola.
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Great guitar and great amp. Congratulations Rob! Always great to hear that you’re playing!
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Cheers, Juan. I’m feeling a bit more hopeful than I have done in a couple of years. I seem to have a complete psychological block regarding classical guitar or lute playing, but am really enjoying archtop playing, so am focused on that. It’s just great to be playing again, warts and all.
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CONGRATS on a lovely looking Pisano 880. I've got one too and really like it. The magnetic TRC is clever and practical. Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
cheers
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Cheers, Mike, though mine is the 680 with its mahogany back and sides. Both great guitars.
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oops i read that...my buddy had the mahogany version and it was even better, i thought! Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
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Rob,
I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch. At 62 yrs of age, I was forced to start to a new career. I sort of re-invented myself. But I’ve neglected the forum and many of my buddies here.
I am SO GLAD you are on the mend and the equipment part of this has you re-engaged. There are certain things that should never change about this forum and your prominence here is atop my list. I am so glad you are getting better and strong again. Your class and elegance has encouraged me a lot on this forum. Stay the course bro.
One thing I can say about your guitar is I have a really close friend here who knew the great John Pisano really, really well. And I’ve seen my friend play with and speak to Mr Pisano many many times. And each time, John had his signature guitar in his hands, making beautiful music with it right up to the end. You did good with that guitar.
I wish I knew more about some of the things you asked. But I’m just a regular dude who is still learning.
Great seeing active again!
Joe D
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62? You're just a young fella, Joe! I'm 66 now, retired and loving life. I have good toys to play with, good books to read, a local river for constitutional and spirit-lifting walks, and the most wonderful wife and daughter imaginable. Life is good, AND I'm beginning to play again. And on top - or atop, as you say - of all that, my friend Joe D has graced me his presence! Yes, sir, life is good!
John Pisano was a great player, with as far as I can tell no 'starman' ego to get in the way. He played with the very best, and understood archtop guitars. Eastman did him proud. I'm very lucky to have the two archtop guitars I have.
See you around, Joe. I need you here!
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