Who *Doesn't* Like The Henriksen Bud?

[markesquire]

I've been fascinated by Henriksen amps for a long time and am considering a Bud Ten, but I've never been able to play one in person, and I'm wary to buy without trying one first (on the hook for return shipping). I've listened to a lot of clips, and Mr. Beaumont here even recorded a quick sample for me, but because Henriksen amps have such a wide range of EQ, it's hard to tell without being in person. Ultimately, I'm after a powerful clean amp that produces a very "electric" guitar-amp sound, not an acoustic-amp or PA sound.

Has anyone tried but disliked the Henriksen Bud, and if so, why? I've only really heard of one person's experience disliking the Bud (I didn't bond with the Henriksen Bud at all, Help me pick an amp).

My general fear is that the Bud will not achieve my desired electric-guitar-amp sound (which cut off high frequencies after a certain point) because it was designed to also serve as an acoustic amp and PA for vocals (which require full and extended high frequencies). There are mixed reviews on whether the Bud's acoustic/PA capabilities come at the sacrifice of electric guitar sounds, but I hear enough of those opinions to make me wary of ordering one sight-unseen.

Here is what I'm *NOT* looking for: absolutely incredible playing on an amazing guitar, but through an AER amp that sounds much more acoustic than electric to my ear:

Here are some examples of the same song with a much more electric tone -- is Henriksen capable of this?

Unknown amp, very electric plugged-in sound

This player said he plays a Polytone, also very electric:

This is a Quilter 101 Reverb recorded directly:

At the end of the day, I really like the form factor of the Bud 10 - an all-in-one combo with what appears to be very flexible EQ, but only if it sounds like a distinctly "electric" guitar amp.

[Stringswinger]

I have a Blu 10 (a one channel version of the Bud 10) and have owned many amps over the years (Polytone, AER, Acoustic Image, Fender, Mesa, Musicman, Marshall, Vox, Roland and some others), so my thoughts might be helpful.

I like both the Fender tube sound and the Polytone solid state sound for jazz guitar. I think both are electric guitar sounds, not amplified acoustic guitar sounds (which to me is just a PA sound in any case). The Henriksen does the Polytone sound very well but does not do the Fender sound. With the built in tweeter and the wide ranging EQ controls, it does a great job as an acoustic amplifier as well (and IMO, no acoustic amplifier is perfect in any case). The Quilter combos are better at getting the Fender sound from a solid state small combo and the Fender Tonemaster is even better in that regard as they mimic the overdriven nature of a Fender tube amp in a solid state format.

I have long ago abandoned Polytones due to their age and inherent unreliability (plus they are heavy compared to modern offerings). I keep a Fender tube amp in the arsenal (a vintage blackface Princeton...I do not want to carry anything heavier). I still have an Acoustic image Clarus and some Raezer's Edge cabs (This is pretty much backup stuff for me at this point) but my two main gigging amps for the last few years have been my Henriksens (I have a Blu 6 and a Blu 10). I am quite pleased with the tone, weight and reliability of the Henriksens and so they are my recommendation. Hope that helps!

[markesquire]

Thanks, Stringswinger. Does your Blu 10 sound more like the first (AER) clip from my original post, or more like the last three?

[omphalopsychos]

I sold Stringwinger his blu so I can comment here. The henriksen definitely has a more electric tone, not an acoustic tone. It has an extended range speaker and a tweeter, but you can disable the tweeter and you can also filter out frequencies above 7k. Personally, I don't think that the henriksen amps are capable of the full range acoustic tone of AERs. They are more specialized for jazz guitar sounds, a la Polytone.

This is an accurate representation of the sound that comes out of the henriksen:

Obviously, if you are in the room playing a hollow body guitar, you are always going to hear the guitar in addition to the amp. In that sense, every amplified archtop will sound acoustic through any amp.


The other thing that I think the henriksen amps don't excel at is the Fender clean tube amp sound. The Henriksen sound has more midrange, less treble peak, a quicker response, and less compression/saturation. Quilters, in contrast, are designed to sound like tube amps with a more scooped midrange, more compression, and a frequency peak in the trebles.

[Stringswinger]

Thanks, Stringswinger. Does your Blu 10 sound more like the first (AER) clip from my original post, or more like the last three?

The Henriksen sounds more like the second two clips. It does not sound like an AER, nor does it sound like a Quilter.

[Stringswinger]

I sold Stringwinger his blu so I can comment here. The henriksen definitely has a more electric tone. It has an extended range speaker and a tweeter, but you can disable the tweeter and you can also filter out frequencies above 7k.

Personally, I don't think that the henriksen amps are capable of the full range acoustic tone of AERs. They are more specialized for jazz guitar sounds, a la Polytone.


The other thing that I think the henriksen amps don't excel at is the Fender clean tube amp sound. The Henriksen sound has more midrange, less treble peak, a quicker response, and less compression/saturation. Quilters, in contrast, are designed to sound like tube amps with a more scooped midrange, more compression, and a frequency peak in the trebles.

I think the smaller Henriksen (6) does a better job as an acoustic amp than the bigger one (10). I had an AER Compact 60 at the same time as a Blu 6. The tone is different, but the Blu 6 does function very well (better than the Blu 10) as an acoustic amp.

[omphalopsychos]

I think the smaller Henriksen (6) does a better job as an acoustic amp than the bigger one (10). I had an AER Compact 60 at the same time as a Blu 6. The tone is different, but the Blu 6 does function very well (better than the Blu 10) as an acoustic amp.

I agree with that. I had a 6" bud back in the day too.

[mickmac]

The Bud is probably too clean for you. Try a"Little Jazz" and see if it doesn,t get the "jazz electric " sound you want Mickmac

[Len R]

I started with a Bud 6, went to a Jazz Amp 10, and ended with a Bud 12. An L5 with humbuckers through an Bud 12 is the perfect electric guitar sound to my ears, and since I got it in June 2020 my other amps (solid state and tube) gather dust. Floating pickups also sound fabulous through it. There is a fair bit of commentary on the Bud 6 and 10, but I've not seen any discussion of the Bud 12, perhaps because on Pete's website his menu of amps does not list it. I don't know if he still makes it. The EQ options are substantial and I'm sure you'd be able to dial in whatever tone you are looking for.

Good luck with the search!

Len

[dconeill]

I have an original Bud (6" speaker, maybe 2nd variant of the model?) and it doesn't really sound very electric to me, which is consistent with others' comments that the 6 is a good acoustic amp. (I also have an Evans 80, and a Peavey Bandit for when I just have to rock out.)

I have found, however, that using a Joyo American Sound (JF14?) at low settings with the Bud makes it sound very clean-Fendery, or at least a long way toward Fender territory. Using the Bud with a Heritage Sweet 16 with a Kent Armstrong floating PAF and the Joyo, I can switch between a very acoustic sound from the Bud and a sound reminiscent of a Fender Deluxe. I'm not obsessive enough to have done a detailed comparison of the Joyo/Bud with an actual Fender amp, but I find it to be a pleasing sound.

[Chazmo]

I have both an original Bud 6 and a DV Mark setup--Micro 50 head, 2x8 cab--and I agree with Mickmac above. OP would be happier with a DV Mark head/cab or Little Jazz for a more electric tone.

Ironically, I love the sound in the first video with the AER. I guess I have to get one of those now too!

[silverfoxx]

I think the smaller Henriksen (6) does a better job as an acoustic amp than the bigger one (10). I had an AER Compact 60 at the same time as a Blu 6. The tone is different, but the Blu 6 does function very well (better than the Blu 10) as an acoustic amp.

I

I;ll take that on a tad, my Blu 6 , (which you recommended to me_) outshines the Forte also , which is a disappointment
the next best for me is the Clarus & RE cab or Fender Vibrolux. the Mesa Boogie mark 5 rig is good provided iyou are
built like Arnold Schwarzenegger

[Litterick]

I really wanted a Bud until I heard this comparison with a PRRI. I suppose the Bud was built for archtops and semis, not solids.

[Woody Sound]

Have you considered a Quilter combo? I have a Bud 6, two Quilter MicroPros, the 8" and 12". Different animals The Q's do verything from clean to nasty. If you're looking for small and light, the 8" should do you fine. Or the 12 HD. You can usually get one on Reverb for a lot less than new. Also, see their new Aviator.

Quilter Labs

[rpjazzguitar]

I really wanted a Bud until I heard this comparison with a PRRI. I suppose the Bud was built for archtops and semis, not solids.

Both sound great. Nice playing.

[Litterick]

I thought the Bud sounded rather muffled.

[Herbie]

I have no experience on Buds, they are about non-existent here in Northern Europe.

But You asked about Quilters and Polytones too and I have the Quilter Tone Block 202. It has a powerful voicing switch which can make the amp sound very Fendery from very Polytony.

I’m sorry that my playing and recording skills are not good enough to make a video or anything about it but I have not played my Polytone Mini Brute IV almost at all since the TB202 came to house.

In fact I have two of TB202s, one in a 10” closed back combo and one in 12” open back combo.

Good luck in Your quest!

[Fusionshred]

The comments here are generally consistent with my experiences as well. The Bud/Blu 6 is a very specific sound. If that is the sound you're after, it's fantastic. In a direct comparison between a Blu 6 and a Fender Blues Deluxe, the Blu sounded nothing like the Fender, no matter what I did to the EQ. It sounded great; but, if a Fender electric guitar amp sound is what you're after, it's not the correct choice.

The closest you'll get to the general sound of a Fender tube amp-type sound is going to be a Quilter (the Tone Block 202R is a great choice) through a nice speaker.

IF you are looking for something in between that scooped Fender clean tone and a more traditional jazz guitar tone (think Polytone), take a look at the Raezer's Edge Luna 200R. They are affordable, high-quality heads or combos, with the EQ in the right place for electric guitar (particularly the treble control). They can get you a dark, Jimmy Bruno tone or a brighter electric tone with a fair amount of ease and a lot of flexibility in the mids, as well as active treble and bass control. I just receive a Luna 200R open-back 12 combo, and it's very impressive. The boost control not only adds power (volume) but also interacts with the preamp to produce a slight increase in harmonic content which pushes the way a tube amp does (not overdrive) and gives you a tubey FEEL. This is the sound many associate with "electric jazz guitar."

[sgosnell]

I'm pretty sure all the amps mentioned have tone controls, and the ones on my Little Jazz are very effective. They give a wide variety of tones, from somewhat sparkly to very dark, and are easily adjusted.

[jazzgtrl4]

I have a Bud 6, Bud 10, and Forte...used the bud 10 last night on a solo job where i needed a little more volume and i was out side..there was a sound guy there at this corporate event and he had a full system with QSCs and i sent him a line out of the Bud 10..man it was glorious!.

i could have just brought the Bud 6 and done that as well..But man that Bud 10 is killer, i sometimes forget cause i just grab the Six and go.

[burchyk]

There are a few factors that influence if one likes the sound of solid state amps.

a. Headroom and dynamics. There is little compression in the solid state amps and that can feel unnatural if you're used to tube amps. One way to experience that is to plug into a bass combo, most are solid state. If you like the low end clarity, transients, and enjoy the dynamics keep reading.

b. Frequency response tends to be wider and flatter than the tube amps. This can be both preamp and the speaker. Try to listen to some speaker clips to be able to differentiate one from the other. Check frequency response graphs, I find that the ones that extend or exaggerate the top end above 5k tend to introduce some "straight into PA" type of brittle treble that can be very hard to remove. The Eminence Beta does not do that from what I recall. Tube amps can compress the transients make the treble more pleasing.

c. Cabinet design. I have a strong preference when it comes to closed vs open back. You might as well.

d. Volume / tone relationship. Solid state are usually much more consistent in tone at different volumes than the tube. If you play at low volume often then non-master volume tube amps can be a bit underwhelming and may need creative tweaking. On the other hand turning solid state up does not make it richer/warmer. But then if you need to play louder still your tube amp may not be able to stay as clean as you'd like and ruin your gig.

e. Reverb. Good tube driven spring reverb is hard to emulate. I prefer plate and room algorithms from pedals which makes this an easier choice for me.

Hope this helps you make a more informed decision.

[andreshum]

I really wanted a Bud until I heard this comparison with a PRRI. I suppose the Bud was built for archtops and semis, not solids.

Here’s the another comparison, DV12, Bud10, PRRI

[sgosnell]

The settings on the last demo are pretty far from what I would use, but that's neither here nor there. All three amps sounded pretty similar, so I suppose the moral of the story is that amp settings can create similar tones from dissimilar amps.