Henriksen 110 or Tube Amp?

**Groyniad** · 10-23-2015, 07:14 PM

excluding a twin reverb (because of weight)

can i get some expert help deciding on a tube amp? i've always played ss - and now have a henriksen 110 that i love. (i've used the usual suspects - aer; polytone; acoustic image - and i prefer the henriksen) but after getting a great new electric archtop i'm thinking it might be much better to use it with a good old fashioned tube based amp. i know nothing about them however.

the sound island offerings seem very tempting.

either the 15 watt or the 50 - not sure

Vintage Sound Amplifiers | VS112-JZ 50 Jazz Guitar Tube Amplifier | SOUNDISLANDMUSIC.COM

but maybe a fender deluxe or some other moderately heavy fender classic? mostly small venues - often no drummer trios. standard fare.

thanks in advance

**coolvinny** · 10-23-2015, 08:24 PM

Tubes are nice but don't write off Mambo if you're often playing drummerless. I went from Mambo to tubes and back to Mambo. Drummerless, I really don't think you can beat the Mambo 8...I also use mambo with drums but if it's loud-ish I use my mambo head with an RE cab.

Some say Mambo are one trick ponies but I disagree. The gain knob provides quite a tonal spectrum, and is especially useful with carved top/mounted HB set ups. With laminates, higher gain settings sounds ok but not ideal. I can basically get a tube amp vibe with my Mambo.

Having said all that, if you're gonna go tubes then you can't beat Soundisland's selections, nor their service.

**Jonathan0996** · 10-23-2015, 08:30 PM

From what you're saying I think you'd be happy with the sound of a Fender Deluxe Reverb. If that amp is in your budget and you're ok with the weight (42 lbs), I think you should check one out. At 22 watts, it's enough for drummerless trios in small venues. If you're going to play with a drummer in bigger venues, I think you'll want more power.

If you're looking for a tube sound, I'd steer clear of AER, Polytone and Acoustic Image. They're great amps, but they're about as far as you can get from a tube amp sound. A Henriksen gets closer to a tube amp sound, but if a tube sound is what you hear in your head then I'd go for the real deal.

I agree that the Vintage Sound amp seems intriguing, but I don't know anything about them. The videos sound very good, but it's very hard to tell from a video how an amp will perform on real world gigs. However, if Bernstein and Stowell are endorsing them they probably don't suck. At 38 lbs it's lighter than a Deluxe Reverb, and at 50 watts it has twice the wattage. Of course, it also twice the price. That amp should be enough for gigs with drummers as long as things don't get too crazy. There are other nice tube amps in that price range. Jack Zucker swears by the Gries 35. It might be worth checking out too.

Good luck with your search. I hope you find a sound you love.

**Eric Rowland** · 10-23-2015, 10:35 PM

I used to have the Vintage 15 and it is an excellent amp. It has that perfect warm, sweet sound that's just right for archtop jazz guitar. The Accutronics reverb is simply excellent and you get the dwell and presence controls for further enhancement. If you like the blackface Fender sound, then you will like this amp. I enjoyed it while I had mine. Michael at Sound Island is a great guy to deal with as well.

**Groyniad** · 10-24-2015, 08:22 AM

thanks everyone!

the reason i prefer the henriksen to the other ss amps is that it has a thicker chewier sound than they do - more like tubes i think.

it gives me way more wattage than the vintage 15 so i could always use the henriksen for louder gigs - that's right isn't it?

when i've spoken to michael at sound island i've been as impressed as everyone else with his expertise etc. - i'm just wondering whether a modern boutique homage to a princeton or one of the real things is the best way to go. part of the concern is that the modern re-issue fender deluxe or tweed may be nowhere near as good as the original amps - and that michael's vintage amps may be...

thanks again - i really appreciate your time and expertise

**Groyniad** · 10-24-2015, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by coolvinny

Tubes are nice but don't write off Mambo if you're often playing drummerless. I went from Mambo to tubes and back to Mambo. Drummerless, I really don't think you can beat the Mambo 8...I also use mambo with drums but if it's loud-ish I use my mambo head with an RE cab.

Some say Mambo are one trick ponies but I disagree. The gain knob provides quite a tonal spectrum, and is especially useful with carved top/mounted HB set ups. With laminates, higher gain settings sounds ok but not ideal. I can basically get a tube amp vibe with my Mambo.

Having said all that, if you're gonna go tubes then you can't beat Soundisland's selections, nor their service.

hi there!

so you like the 8'' cab - that's interesting. i've heard people saying its the best size for the guitar - do you prefer it to the 10'' or is it a portability thing...

and - do you know what the henrkisens sound like? just wondering if you know them and prefer the mambo to them...

thanks!

**Franz 1997** · 10-24-2015, 09:07 AM

I've been also using the mambo 8 recently ( and I've had all the mambo models going..). Part of the reason the 8's sound so good is the speaker response curve; the eminence beta 8 has a very flat response curve, with no mid dips, unlike the beta 10 and the beta 12, and with very solid bass. If you're interested you can see the charts on the eminence site.

The famous polytone 8" baby brute also used a similar speaker in a small cabinet.

The Hendriksens are ( now) very good amps, although early models had hum issues. Worth noting that they also use eminence beta speakers. Personally I prefer the mambo, but they are certainly in the same ball park. In the UK, the Hendriksen will be significantly more expensive.

Like CoolVinny above, I have tried many tube amps for jazz, but concluded that for me, SS is preferred, especially with a carved top. But it's a question of taste, so "YMMV', as they say. Try it and see.

**mad dog** · 10-24-2015, 12:38 PM

Haven't had SS in awhile ... hoping to try a Quilter Mach 2 head soon.

In the meantime, just spent some time playing my Heritage H575 through two likely candidates. The Gries 20 is essentially a one-channel deluxe reverb. !x12. A bit lower voltage to the tubes than a DR, but it basically is that sound, plus a very effective master volume and superior reverb. Right next to it, a Fender EC Tremolux, looks like a tweed tremolux but is rather different. 14 watts, fixed bias, ceramic speaker. Both amps have 6v6s.

The Gries 20 - just like a good deluxe reverb - is a do it all amp. Enough power for even a rather loud stage. Lovely sounds, a clear, pretty clean amp. The master volume, rolled off a bit, is the secret sauce. I can get this gentle "push" to the sound on the heritage, by adding in a bit more volume at the guitar. More a dynamic edge than overdrive. Less volume at the guitar, or higher on the master, cleaner.

The EC Tremolux has a different clean. Thicker in the middle. It's a little harder to keep the Heritage clean on neck p/u only as volume goes up. I roll the amp tone knob higher - which adds treble and gain - don't roll of the guitar neck tone knob as much as I can with the Gries. It's a classic tweed sound. A rich clean, goes quickly to edge and overdrive as volume goes up.

I'm a newbie still on jazz, so this is guesswork only. My pick for gigging a guitar like the the H575 would be the Gries 20, or any similar DR type amp. The format is so flexible, always seems to sound good. If the gig is too loud for the Gries, not sure I'd want to play a guitar like the Heritage anyway. Anything else, a DR type would be perfect.

For a bit lower volume - for when you want a fatter sound without going too loud - the smaller tweed amp would be sweet.

Just my taste ... it's pretty hard to beat a 6v6 amp for anything remotely jazzy.
MD

**silverfoxx** · 10-24-2015, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Groyniad

hi there!

so you like the 8'' cab - that's interesting. i've heard people saying its the best size for the guitar - do you prefer it to the 10'' or is it a portability thing...

and - do you know what the henriksens sound like? just wondering if you know them and prefer the mambo to them...

thanks!

Can I add some confusion to this , after a suggestion ( from Franz ) I had a new Mambo cab built by Jon Shaw.
The difference is that has 2x 8" eminence speakers, half open back cab.. It is remarkable good, although not as portable
as my Mambo 12 , I put an Evans AH through it and the tone quality and output is surprisingly superior to the
Raezers Edge 12ER . I shall soon be put the Henriksen 12ER and RE cab both for sale as they are now redundant.
I will acquire instead an AER compact for use with Flat tops
Having said this the Henriksen does work very well with Archtops. but personally prefer the Mambo to it.

**artcore** · 10-24-2015, 05:03 PM

you could buy a 300 dollar fender mustang and mess around with that to get a, almost fender twin....why spend 2k?

**kid335** · 10-24-2015, 05:18 PM

Groynaid,
I own a newer model Henriksen 1x12. I use it for my L5 Wesmo and Comins Concert. With my Big Sky for reverb, I really couldn't ask for more out of a SS amp. As good as it is, there really isn't anything like an L5 through a Twin. Like you, the weight issue is a non-starter for me.

I decided to try a Port City Pearl 50 watt head with a 1x12 over-sized cabinet, which I should receive this week. I'm really hoping that it scratches that Twin itch. I will let you know how it works out.

**Jazz_175** · 10-25-2015, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by kid335

Groynaid,
I own a newer model Henriksen 1x12.

So is it the one now named 312?

**David B** · 10-25-2015, 03:01 PM

Groyniad,
I would advise picking up a second-hand Deluxe Reverb on eBay UK (they turn up regularly) - if you don't like it, it's easy to sell and you probably won't be out of pocket.

The reissue Fender amps sound fine. My own reissue Deluxe Reverb has been borrowed and used by Peter Bernstein, Lage Lund, Jonathan Kreisberg, Howard Alden, Brad Shepik, Gilad Hekselman and just this afternoon, Sheryl Bailey. They don't worry about reissue vs original.

**coolvinny** · 10-25-2015, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Groyniad

hi there!

so you like the 8'' cab - that's interesting. i've heard people saying its the best size for the guitar - do you prefer it to the 10'' or is it a portability thing...

and - do you know what the henrkisens sound like? just wondering if you know them and prefer the mambo to them...

thanks!

I think 8's sound great and it is indeed my favorite speaker size for jazz combo work. I've never played a Mambo 10 but I have used my Mambo head to power a 10" cab, and I don't think it really sounds "better" just a bit bigger. Bigger is not necessarily better, and sometimes it's worse! (being too loud is very rude)

I also like Henriksen - I have an old 1-channel head. It sounds very good with my RE6 cab, for some reason not very good with my RE10.

**kid335** · 10-25-2015, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Jazz_175

So is it the one now named 312?

Maybe mine isn't so recent. I received mine a few months ago and didn't realize that he came out with a new jazzamp since. I'm intrigued.

**Jabberwocky** · 10-26-2015, 01:01 PM

Groyniad, since you are in the UK you would do well to check out Jesse's Lazy J amps, especially since you mentioned thick and chewy. Lazy J Projects, Lazy J 20, Lazy J 40, Lazy J 80, Lazy J Cruiser, boutique amps and pedals .

But hey, people say that about me all the time.

**Groyniad** · 10-27-2015, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Groyniad, since you are in the UK you would do well to check out Jesse's Lazy J amps, especially since you mentioned thick and chewy. Lazy J Projects, Lazy J 20, Lazy J 40, Lazy J 80, Lazy J Cruiser, boutique amps and pedals .

But hey, people say that about me all the time.

thanks for the tip man!

**AlainJazz** · 10-28-2015, 03:24 PM

For arch tops, I like SS amps. I have a Henriksen Jazzamp 110ER head and cabinet, and I also have a Mambo 10. Both are really great amps. I've had many tube amps over the years, but sold all of them except a small silverface deluxe that I still use whenever I'm playing anything but Jazz.