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I just received my Mambo 8 Wedge.
Initial impression: this thing is tiny! It is not much bigger than my ZT Lunchbox (they are literally side by side right now) being the same width but about 1.4 times as deep and 1.3 times as high. It's light enough to carry without any bother. With the wedge feature and its small footprint, this will easily fit into any kook and/or cranny. Basically, if you can fit a ZT lunchbox there, then the Mambo 8 will fit...and it will tilt back to get the sound up to ear level at close distances.
Sound is good - better than the ZT obviously - but I will have to get it hooked up to my jazzbox in my practice space to get a better sense. I will jam with a grand piano, sax and others on the weekend and obviously this will be my weapon of choice, so will report back after that and some woodshedding on the weekend.
Reverb is pretty nice, but I'm no reverb connaisseur.
Damn I feel spoiled with my Holst laminate and Mambo amp. Both builders are also terrific guys!
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01-18-2013 06:39 PM
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I have had a couple correspondences with Jon on the Wedge 10 and am very close to placing an order.
Can anyone provide more comments regarding a direct comparrison to the Henricksen JazzAmp? I saw Jorge commented that a more comprehensive review is to come. I have a 1x10" JazzAmp. That is great but as eluded to in this thread, like many I find I prefer it with a little extra EQ and an outboard reverb. The reverb inside the JazzAmp isn't terrible but its a preset that I find very metallic so I use a pedal. In all my amp gets me 85%-90% of the way there but there are a few things that keep me looking.
I would buy a Mambo to put it head to head against my JazzAmp. I really want to be able to shed all pedals and have a simple lightweigh Guitar > Cable > Amp solution.
I am looking for the Mambo to provde slightly better EQ (I find myself really having to sweep some of the controls), a little warmer/sweeter sound (the JazzAmp is very good but leans a bit to the dry side that I have to warm up with tone controls on an outboard reverb), and something with better reverb (to the point where it isn't so metallic).
In all I think my slight issues are just with the reverb and EQ and my desire to be able to be satisfied without pedals. I would really like to hear comments on the defaul reverb.
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As I said I will do a full review in early February. It's impossible until then... But I can give you a small comparison because I have both.
1) Reverb: the Henriksen's reverb is hedious. Needing or not reverb is a person's choice, even in jazz most recorded gutiar tones have reverb because of the natural lack of sustain of the instrument. Henriksen should have put a decent reverb in there, the ones who don't like it just don't use it. The reverb on the Mambo is indeed the same chip but instead of being in fixed mode Jon gives you the full chip if you want - this means two reverb programs and control over level, decay and filters. It's still far from the HOF reverbs but it gives you a pretty nice and musical reverb. A firend just put a BYOC Reverb 2 in the Henriksen for me, I will compare it with the Mambo full chip tomorrow.
2) Cabinet design is much superior in the Mambo, the 10 wedge sounds less boxy and has more dispersion than the Henriksen 12 did. These days I use both heads with Jon's cabs which I recommend as much as the amp itself.
3) The eq is very efficient on the Mambo, bass and treble, specially bass - which is so crucial with archtops. With the Henriksen you can't kill all the "woof" sound with the 100hz knob. I would say Henriksen wins on the mids because it has low mids and high mids. The high mids are not perfectly voiced because you cannot kill all the ice-pick... I plan to mod the 100hz and 1K knobs one of these days honestly. I suggested Jon to implment low-mids and high-mids controls, it would be perfect.
4) The Mambo has a gain and master control. These means no need for a clean boost... I always like to hit these ultra clean amps with some boost to warm them up, these way you don't need to. With everything flat, even in pure mode, the Mambo is warmer and more balanced than the Henriksenm which can feel a little PA dry sometimes. It's very similar to old Polytones but more open and clear I would say.
So... I like the mambo more. They are not that different but the small differences make the Mambo much superior... and it's 200€ cheaper in Europe. I think a version 2.0 with the BYOC Reverb 2 (for which I have high hopes), two mid controls and two new features Jon is designing (will not reveal) would make this amp simply the best "jazz amp" on earth.
What pedals do you use these days?
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The mambo's reverb is very nice. I only put it around 8:30.
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>>I am looking for the Mambo to provde slightly better EQ (I find myself really having to sweep some of the controls), a little warmer/sweeter sound (the JazzAmp is very good but leans a bit to the dry side that I have to warm up with tone controls on an outboard reverb), and something with better reverb (to the point where it isn't so metallic).>>
While waiting for Jorge's review, maybe I can comment - I used the 10" Hendriksen Jazzamp for a few years, and currently have a Mambo cube 10" as well as a head. In my opinion, the mambo does everything you are looking for - the class D power amp sound is noticeably sweeter ( I have had several comments to that effect), the centre points on the EQ are just right and need little tweaking if any, and the reverb is quite useable as opposed the the Jazzamp's reverb, which I disliked.
I believe the Mambo does use the same reverb chip as the Jazzamp, but with a different implementation. The Mambo has a decent hall sound that, while not in the nanoverb class, is pretty good. I knew the late Bud Hendriksen (by email) , who was a great bloke but who seemed to resist reverb with quite a passion and ( I guess) settled for the most minimal reverb he could get away with. He was a most generous man who sent me an early experimental reverb to try, for free - I hadn't the heart to say that it sounded like a metallic room echo. We were due to meet up in London, but sadly he died prematurely. Anyway my point is that I believe the Jazzamp reverb was meant by the designer to sound very minimal.
The Mambo has a punch and projection which I found that the Jazzamp couldn't manage, and the Mambo's internal build quality is quite obsessive.
Chris
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Thanks folks, I think my interest is peaked to the point where I am going to pull the trigger. Being in the US I am going to lose a little on import duty and shipping but I suppose thats nothing different than those abroad hoping to try US amps they can't get their hands on locally.
To get something that functions and sounds just right is worth (to me) the occasional wash you take flipping gear. Coming from boutique tube amps and transitioning out of blues to Jazz I have developed a preference for SS amps. These amps seem like complete bargains compared with the likes of Carr and Two-Rock amps (which I've since sold).
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If you do pull the trigger don't forget to ask for the reverb mods, I am sure Jon will do them.
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Thanks all for your help. I have sent an inquiry to Jon regarding the reverb implementation and options just to get more information. Like coolvinny above, I usually only put a touch of reverb to give me some ambience but I would like to do so without sacrificing the tone. The JazzAmp is ok if you add it just a hair below "ambience" to the point where you can't quite tell if its there (until you switch it off). For this its fine and I imagine this is how Bud intended the JazzAmp to be used not being a reverb enthusiest (one of those controls meant to dial until you hear it then back it off until you can't quite tell its there).
Also I find reverb needs at home and playing out to be vastly different. I play mostly at home (fairly deal living room with no good natural sound) I want something that just sweetens up the sound in my living room. When I play out however indoors I tend to do that [dial reverb back until you can't quite tell its there] thing or not at all depending on the room. For outdoor patios and such however I find reverb more neccesary.
Anyways - awaiting response and options from Jon. So long as the built in reverb can add a little room ambience without getting in the way of the sound I might be ok. With that, live vs home applications of reverb vary.
Thanks all - you are very helpful
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Don't have to add anything about the mambo. Pedalwise I found that many of the TC electronics presets are lacking and that there are much better Toneprints available.
For me:
HOF - Soren Anderson Toneprint on spring reverb setting is MUCH better than the spring reverb preset
Flashback - Dan Huff Tape delay is awesome
Corona - Dann Huff chorus
That is all very subjective of course, but these three do sound like I like it, lush, warm and (not too) "wet" without getting fuzzy.
In trms of Eq I am totally happy with the ParaEq and to "Fenderize" an amp I really like the Barber Barb.E.Q. - it is subtle, very transparent and at least in my book it sounds better than the Boss oder Tech21 pedals.
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It's the same chip, the FV-1. The thing is Henriksen puts the decay stock very short and when you increase level you get a slapback effect that messes a lot with your clean tone - that's way is so useful to have a decay control, so you can have a natural trail. It's actually so easy to change it, as Jon does, that I don't understand why they don't do it... just replace a resistor with a pot and put a switch to have access to both reverbs on the chip. Anyway...
If you just want that, the Mambo with "my" reverb mods will work just great!
Frank I am happy to see you're so happy about your eq pedals since I was one of the instigators. I like the stock tape on the Flashback and the stock Church on the Hof but I agree the toneprints are where the mojo is... the beautiful reverb is the best reverb I have ever heard and I have some sort of tape delay toneprint I love too. The spring toneprints are also much better than the stock one...
Important edit: My henriksen has different op amps which has improved both fidelity and the eq range I believe. So many of my comments might not be true for the stock version.Last edited by jorgemg1984; 01-22-2013 at 07:10 PM.
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The reverb on the Mambo absolutely does not change the overall tone quality in any kind of detrimental way.
Overall I am very happy with my Wedge 8. The notes have real "muscle" to them. Jon was very accommodating w.r.t. my requested modifications (none of which affect the general sound quality - my mod was a convenience matter). I'm loving the portability. It fits in a Filson zippered tote bag (14" x 14" x 7") along with cables and sheet music to make for a very portable little package....that is the same bag I used to transport my ZT Lunchbox, so for an extra 5 lbs I'm very happy to have the Mambo in there instead. That's it for my 'review'. I think the rest of the posts speak for themself with respect to these fine amps. I plan to buy a second Mambo to keep exclusively at home since I jam out of the house several times a week and set-up/tear down time gets annoying very fast...is that enough of an endorsement?
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Hi coolvinny,
which guitars do you play with your Mambo?
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16" x 2.25" laminate archtop with built in humbucker primarily, then a little bit with a jazz tele.
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Yes Jorge, that is true. I learned a lot from you on these subjects - thanks a lot!
Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
I am actually not all that crazy about the "beautiful reverb" in the HOF. Tastes are just different. There is something about a nice spring reverb that just gets me. I can't really explain it. For delay it is got to be a tape delay. Digital sounds way too cold for my taste. I like the Dann Huff Toneprint quite a bit better than the tape delay default in the flashback. I think it would be great if Tc electronics would allow us to override their defaults. The way it is on has to pick one of the TonePrint, which is a pitty if one likes to switch between several.
... Anyways, I did not mean to derail the thread. I am looking forward to your reviews on the Mambo!
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I've ordered a Mambo 10 Wedge with some reverb mods, Thanks Jorge for the tips otherwise I wouldn't have known.
Lead time is currently about 3 weeks plus shipping transit.
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I do hope it meets your expectations... sometimes I hesitate on giving advice because we all like different things and have different expectations But given your reverb needs description I am POSITIVE Jon's reverb will meet your demands and it's much superior to the Henriksen's. As I said the only thing I would add to the amp is two mids, otherwise it's excellent.
I sincerely hope you like it and please tell us when you have it.
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First let me explain the delay. It was caused by 1) my amp had a problem a few day after arrival. Jon contacted his power amp supplier and it turns out they had some defective units and forgot to tell their customers... so amp back to the UK to have a new power amp and back to me. Everything is great now and Jon was just excellent trough the whole process and everything got resolved pretty quickly. 2) I wanted to spend some time with the amp and avoid rush reviews 3) I had exams in the Conservatory the whole month
So.. I actually don't have much to say, had the amp for a good time now, done some jams and yesterday my first gig with it. Sounds very very good, warm and natural. My mids complaint was actually not very clever, I forgot in these eqs the treble acts as both sparkle and high mids so it works great for taming the first two strings. The reverb (with "my" mods) is also pretty good! Oh and the cab design .. these small cabs are much less beamy and more open and disperse than the previous closed back ported jazz cabs I had tried before. The only thing that don't convince me 100% are the Beta speakers... they sound much better than in the Henriksen but still if I find some used 10 EVs I might go for them, By the way these amp sounds just unbelievable trough my big 1x12 closed back EV Dr Z cab...
So I am very pleased, It's much more natural sounding than the Henriksen and the eq works lie a charm, specially for bass taming which is so important with archtops and pafs. I recorded the gig, I am waiting for my bandmates to allow it to go online, as soon as they allow it I will publish them. It's recorded with an Zoom H2 and I am using delay, reverb and external eq with the amp flat (sometimes it's easier for me to control the eq from the pedalboard). I plan to record an arrangement I did of "Prelude to a Kiss" for solo guitar without any pedals soon (but with some reverb from the amp of course)
Cheers,
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thanks for the reviews, however, Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
Could you explain better this sentence:"The high mids are not perfectly voiced because you cannot kill all the ice-pick.."
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I finally used my Mambo 8 Wedge during big band tonight in a large music rehearsal room. It sounded fantastic - absolutely clear and warm, and the juice was there when I wanted to cut through or solo. It sounds so much better than the beast of a Peavey 2 x 12 amp the rehearsal room has lying around and which I've used in the past, particularly when comping due to the clarity.
And when rehearsal was over I threw it in my tote bag, put it over my shoulder, and meandered to the car with my guitar in hand without even realizing I was carrying my amp too.
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To me there's a harshness on the high strings on the Henriksen that you cannot dial out (to my ears and taste of course). An EV and a not beamy cab like my 1x12 Dr Z help a lot but it's still there. The 1k knob should take care of it but it doesn't... A good parametric eq kills it in 2 seconds. But if you don't hear it don't worry Originally Posted by Jazz_175
This video is a good example of the sound I am mentioning
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I understand that much depends on "taste and ears", Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
To me there's a harshness on the high strings on the Henriksen that you cannot dial out (to my ears and taste of course). An EV and a not beamy cab like my 1x12 Dr Z help a lot but it's still there. The 1k knob should take care of it but it doesn't... A good parametric eq kills it in 2 seconds. But if you don't hear it don't worry This video is a good example of the sound I am mentioning
however it seems strange to me to describe as harshness what you get from the high strings of a guitar when plugged into a Henriksen.
In the case of the video you posted it might be the pickups that are super 58 on that Ibanez JSM. Those pickups are a bit on the bright side. Also one should check how he adjusted the tone knobs.
When I plug a Gibson 335 or a 175 I don't hear that harshness, or at least it doesn't sound that way to my ears,
even if I put the amp's treble knobs all the way up.
I'd like to know what other Henriksen owners think about this aspect. Otherwise it's a waste of time discussing on how an amp sounds if some important details are not addressed.
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Tom's comment intrigued me, so I looked up the frequency responses of the beta 10 ( used in the Jazzamp 10 and the Mambo 10) and the Beta 12 ( used in the Jazzamp 12).
Very interesting - the 10" beta has a big response dip of about 5db ( we can all hear that..) at around 700hz ..meaning not too for up the top E string, whereas the Beta 12 ( and the Beta 8 I think) is virtually flat response.
So, the beta 10 speaker is going to thin out the tone on the top strings..it's not a linear speaker, although it has fat bass.
I'm a big fan ( along with Jorge) of EV speakers - they have a reputation for being trebly, but they sure are linear along that part of the spectrum - the 'fat' notes around F, G & A on the top string. I even put one in my Mambo 10, improving what is already a killer amp. Only snag is the extra 6 lb or so..
ChrisLast edited by Franz 1997; 02-01-2013 at 12:40 PM. Reason: spelling
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I have thought about putting other mambo clips up, but honestly they can be misleading- guitar, strings, settings etc ( and playing!) make so much difference. I put the 8" clip up cos I was astonished at how well the amp recorded. I think it's really important to try the amps if possible - there is a demo mambo amp available, and AERs are around to try out in many places.
I think they are different animals - both 8', but there the similarity ends. The AER Compact is made as an acoustic guitar amp., the Mambo is intended for electric jazz guitar. Chalk & Cheese IMO.
Incidentally AER do make an electric guitar amp, not that I have tried it. ""Cheeky D" I think.
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sure, different players, guitars, strings, rooms, etc can make much difference, but any presentation of the amp should be better than no clips at all, especially for us that dont live in UK. Originally Posted by Franz 1997
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I you can not say Mambo or AER is the best.You have to try them in different situations.
I like AER in studio/very quiet amp with clean sound/.Good for nylon strings guitars and not bad with arch-tops with floating pick ups.
Mambo is more to the Polytone I think.That is good for electric and arch-tops...I think.
Very interesting is Mambo head.
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