Longbeard Lil Jake- REVIEW

**JazzIsGood** · 08-29-2022, 11:56 PM

I bought a Longbeard Lil Jake and there's not much info on the internet so I'm gonna write this up.

20 watts, class AB all tube
Hand wired, point to point wiring, 12 inch speaker (ted weber signature)
It's got reverb, tremolo, and the usual stuff. The controls are just like a Fender Princeton. There's a few extras on the back, a reverb attenuator and "loose/tight" switch.

The whole idea of it is to be sort of like a Princeton but with more volume, more headroom, and a bit more wattage. A guy is making these by hand in the midwest and it takes 8 weeks to get one.

I have a Princeton 65 reissue (12 watt), a Twin 65 reissue, and a few others. I was in the market for a Fender Deluxe. The blackface tone works best for me, the Twin is too big for some gigs, and the Princeton has not done well for me when I bring it on gigs with drummers. It doesn't have the muscle, I end up cranking it and it gets too distorted for straight ahead jazz.

I saw the Longbeard, looked into it, decided to take the plunge and try it out. I bought it used, so I was able to try it and decide rather than order it and wait 8 weeks. At 20 watts it's very close to a Fender Deluxe. I have a close friend who repairs amps and guitars, he is always ranting about how new amps are not as good, the printed circuit boards can break and then you throw it in the trash, the only good amps are point to point wired, like old Fenders, Bad Cat, Matchless and stuff like that. So I figured why not check it out.

I bought this Longbeard Lil Jake, brought it home, and put it a room with 4 other amps and 3 guitars to compare.

Gibson super 400 with Alnico 5 single coil pickups
Gibson L5 with PAF humbuckers
Fender Strat Plus with Lace Sensors (i dont play this guitar much but its good for a test)

Vox AC15 (early 00s reissue)
Fender Twin (reissue 1965)
Fender Princeton (reissue 1965 12 watt)
Polytone MiniBrute 2

The results were that this Longbeard Lil Jake blows away EVERY ONE of these other amps. It is WAY BETTER than the Fender stuff. It is more responsive, with a richer more complex tone. It's got way more headroom than the Princeton. The reverb sounds better, the tremolo sounds better. Everything just sounds better. I think it's hard to describe amp tones with words, but my opinion is that this amp is a huge improvement in my tone compared to the other amps. Just for laughs I cranked it to 10 and plugged in the Strat. I was instantly transformed into Stevie Ray Vaughn. I had to unplug the guitar to return to my mortal form.

I was planning to sell the vox (haven't played it since the rock days) and also the Polytone. I've had the Polytone Mini Brute 2 about a month and I really don't like it. I was planning to bring it to open jams since it is loud AF and easy to carry. But it just bums me out to play through that thing. Maybe it's just for jazz wizards who can make anything sound good, that's not me, I'm kinda average and I need good tone.

Now I'm actually considering selling the Twin, the Princeton, and the Vox and just keeping the Longbeard. I'd use the Longbeard for everything all the time, and keep the Polytone as an absolute last resort if the Longbeard is in the shop. I know the Polytone will never break down on me. I just can't see myself wanting to play these Fender amps anymore after playing the Longbeard Lil Jake. It's everything the Fender is supposed to be and more.

So there you have it, some random guy in Waterloo is in his garage kicking Fender's butt. If you are thinking of ordering one I would say DO IT...DO IT NOW. It's probably a tough choice to play one sight unseen and wait 8 weeks for it but in this case you will not regret it.

**marcwhy** · 08-30-2022, 07:30 AM

Congrats on the new amp -- sounds like a winner!

**Hammertone** · 08-30-2022, 04:12 PM

Up here we have the Princeton Whisperer. He does PR amps, some with 35 watts / 12" speaker. Having sold one to an esteemed member, I missed it enough to get another one.

**bluejaybill** · 08-30-2022, 09:03 PM

Congrats on the new amp!

It looks very similar to my current favorite, a Fat Jimmy Gigmaster 20. I suspect the soul control on yours is a negative feedback control, which mine has in the form of a "Jimmy" control.

And Louis Electric makes the Columbia in that size.

They seem to hit the sweet spot for amp size and still have the big tone.

Enjoy it!

**citizenk74** · 08-31-2022, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

Up here we have the Princeton Whisperer. He does PR amps with 35 watts / 12" speaker. Having sold one to one of our esteemed members, I missed it enough to get another one.

Can attest. The Luckhurst is stone cold amazing! Thanks, Hammertone!