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Hello all, I recently purchased an used Polytone Mini Brute III (15" speaker, no reverb) on ebay and Im very disappointed it sounds like a cheap amp, nothing is broken, it works properly but... my guitar is an Eastman AR 805ce with a Kent Armstrong pickup. I though that this amp should give a dry and dark sound Jim Hall style or so, that kind of tone I like.
How can I get a better jazz sound? Reverb pedal? Booster? EQ? replacing the speaker?
If someone can help me.
Thanks
Jesús
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03-06-2012 02:17 AM
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is the amp working properly ? is there static when you move the knobs ? did you take the back off to have a look? electrical contact cleaner can do wonders ( I know it sounds silly) do you know if the speaker has been changed? I have a good amp tech I trust that I take the vintage stuff too and have him go over to check out make sure everything is as it should be.
it could have been in a damp basement for years and need the contacts cleaned.
I have dropped amps off to him and a day and 40 bucks later they sound better. " I replaced a dry soldier here and a cap there all fine now" I have no idea what he is talking about but it works
these are solid state but that does not mean they dont meed maintained now and again
I dont know where you live but if it were me I would try to get a consult
I have the same amp with reverb and its pretty great sounding
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I own two Polytone Minibrute III amps and I get the jazz sound I'm looking for from both of them.
Originally Posted by Jysus
The most likely possibilities are:
1. The amp IS NOT working properly and needs repair.
2. The guitar is broken and needs repair.
3. You aren't setting your guitar and amp tone controls properly.
4. The sound you have in mind really isn't "the jazz sound" and you simply don't like how Polytones sound.
I'm going to assume that your definition of "the jazz sound" is sufficiently similar to mine that #4 above doesn't apply...but it has to be considered.
As to #3 above...my approach with any guitar is to use only the neck pickup (if it has two pickups); set the guitar's tone control at full treble and make all tonal adjustments at the amp, and; adjust volume so that the guitar's volume pot can be set at nearly full volume with just a little range left to adjust between rhythm and soloing.
As far as #1 & #2 above are concerned...the only thing I can suggest is to compare the amp and the guitar with other amps and guitars to determine the culprit, and then have whichever is causing the problem repaired...and there is no way to tell which it might be from the info presented.
A lot of people prefer other amplifiers, but enough jazzers (both hacks like me and highly regarded professionals) have gotten along with Polytones and their sound that I think you can be assured the problem you report isn't inherent to the MBIII model.Last edited by cjm; 03-06-2012 at 01:21 PM.
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Yes to various comments above but, er, ahhh, um... the Polytone WAS a cheap amp. That was always kind of the point of them - clean, light, loud and cheap. Originally Posted by Jysus
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Well, they're not too cheap brand new...but boy oh boy, can you get a deal used.
I'd be really surprised if everything is working properly on the amp and guitar and you still can't get that "Jim Hall" tone.
Try setting the EQ flat.
If it has the slider switch, put it in the middle, not the "Low" or "high" positions.
Don't use the "Sonic Circuit."
Run the guitar's volume a little less than 10. Then, adjust the EQ. If it sounds too bright, try adding mids before subtracting highs. If it's too boomy (which is a real possibility with the 15"), cut some bass.
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Heh, Jeff, hence my use of the past tense.
But I do love them - I have several Polytones from @1978 - 1982:
- a Babybrute
- a 101
- a 104
and a 90's? Taurus baby-thingy, which is nowhere near as nice as the older ones. And I used to have an @1980 Mini-brute w/15" speaker, that was great.
Oh, I also owned a pretty cool all-tube Polytone Fusion for awhile, which I assume was built for Polytone by someone else. And I still own a Polytone Improv I, Polytone Improv II, and Polytone electric bass - all great, all built for Polytone in Japan @1980.
Carry on....
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Polytones are CHEAP?!
RETAIL PRICE LIST
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Old, used ones are cheap, at least in the USA and Canada.
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Yup, got mine in a trade with a guy for painting Cinderella on the wall in his daughter's bedroom...I would have charged him $250...
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Polytones are so much cheaper used in the US than in the UE (well even new). There's a chance the OP just doesn't like the amp's sound, I played an old one once that I liked but I have played several recent ones that honestly didn't liked at all - with exceptions of one with a different speaker and the Mega Brutes (8 speaker) which I did like.
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Thanks for the answers, finally I decided to replace the speaker because
I didn´t find the sound I wish, some recomendations for 15" models?
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Eminence Commonwealth 4 ohm or Eminence Kappa-15C (also 4 ohm) Originally Posted by Jysus
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Maybe the Jensen Neo? Never tried one though.
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I have a jensen neo, in a 66 blackface fender bassman in a single custom combo. It was in when I bought it and was sure I was going to change it as I really like weber alnico speakers 9and have a couple in a box). Have had it a month or so and hadn't thought about it until I saw this...so I guess its fine.
I know 2 other touring players who use them and swear by them. it does keep it nice and light also
it has a nice clean sound that does not really jump ouy at you as being there like some speakers do. I mean that in a good way. Takes pedals well and I would have to say I have run multiple instruments thru it and all work/ sound good.
I think it would be a excellent choice for a polytone
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Edit: I never tried the 15 one, I have the 12 in the jazzmaster ultralight cab and like it a lot.
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So, if I buy an Eminence Big Beng (8 Ohms) to replace the original speaker (3 Ohms I think), how much volume can I lose?
Is it very audible the difference?
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I have a jazzmaster ultralight that I plug at 2 ohms, 4 ohms and 8 ohms. You really loose volume as ohms increase - I compensate that with a clean boost.
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Originally Posted by fauves
+1
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Finally my new speaker arrived, Eminence Legend 1518 (8 Ohms), incredible change. More powerr than before.
I didnt lose any volume, now the Polytone sounds big and warmth with great basses.
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now the Polytone sounds big and warmth with great basses.[/quote]
That's good to hear. I know the late, great Joe Pass liked using Polytone amps.
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What would Jysus play?
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"That's good to hear. I know the late, great Joe Pass liked using Polytone amps"
Actually I think someone who knew Joe Pass here on the forum clearly said Joe Pass used Polytones because of their portability mainly (if I remember correctly)
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[quote=jorgemg1984;214727]"That's good to hear. I know the late, great Joe Pass liked using Polytone amps"
"Actually I think someone who knew Joe Pass here on the forum clearly said Joe Pass used Polytones because of their portability mainly (if I remember correctly)"
That's right. In Guitar Player magazine April 1976 Joe Pass confirms it.
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