"vht 6 special" vs "harpgear 2"
Hi Skip,
I'm hunting for my 1st amp (on a budget), won't go for the smokey 'couse I want to work on my tone, not trick it with a distorted sound.
I would really appriciate your opinion over the vht 6 special (I know on internet is possible to find everithing, but to ask someone trusted is a privilege I'm glad to have)
The VHT not only has very impressive review, but in the opinion of Rick Davis (http://bluesharpamps.blogspot.com) who reviewed quiete a few amps, it is not only as good as the HG2 out of the box
-quote: "The VHT Special 6 amp is by far the best small harp amp"
but with inexpensive mods it may even sound better
-quote: "There are 5-watt harp amps from boutique builders, such as the fine Harpgear HG2. The HG2 is priced at $820. The modified VHT Special 6 amp sounds as good or better, at a fraction of the price"
Since the VHT not only cost less ($ 199,00) then the Fender David encourage beginner to start with, not only have a double line IN (which the fender have not) to practice with jam tracks, but it seems may sound as good as a very expensive boutique amp, I'm wondering what do you think about it (too good to seems true)
I'll keep in mind the vintage arena is your kingdom for the next time, no question I trust David opinion, it just happen that the VHT 6 special is a very new amp on the market, newer then the video David mentioned the Fender as entry level amp I bealive (which has not the best tone, but at good price), will be great if that new cheaper amp will be a better choice.
Will stay tuned... maybe David will mention it if he will happen to try one
Dario- Well, I'm always happy to try to answer any amp question- not just about vintage gear. The problem is that I rarely see new amps and wouldn't want to say anything unless I know what I'm talking about!
Skip Simmons
Hello,
Could you please tell me which VHT 6 special it is as there are a few different models. I'm looking at buying the Harpgear 2, but I just saw your thread. I'm wondering what alterations need to be done to the VHT 6. If it is better than the HG 2 then, for the price, it's definitely the way to go. Any demo videos of a harp player playing through a VHT 6?
I am looking for my new amp and I am waiting for information just like ycastella.
Would be great if for one time the cheaper option was the better one.
Hello Everyone- Thanks for writing. I would say:
I don't really know which VHT Special 6 is "best."
I would try to listen to several opinions about what to buy, not just one.
Don't buy anything that requires mods. Mods cost money.
You need to realize that some amps cost more because they are built better or use better-quality parts. Something that is "cheaper" is cheaper for a reason.
Be sure to spend as much time practicing as you spend trying to decide which (inexpensive) amp is "best"!
Skip Simmons
I expect to spend much time practicing and zero time deciding which amp is the best, that's why I ask for info.
Which harp?
Which mic?
Which amp?
Which shirt? Which trousers?
Simple is the way to save time, and time is the real money.
I trust pro,s. You tell me go for the fender champ and I will go. My time is for learning licks no for net searches.
Thanks Skip.
Sergio- Good one! Remember that an amp is just there to inspire you to play. ANY small amp will provide good "homework" as you learn to get the best tone from it.
Dave B has taught an awful lot of people how to get started, any suggestions from him would be gold.
Skip
I normally don't see all of these posts, but happened upon yours. The Fender Super Champ XD is a GREAT value. It has some great affects, is a nice size and sounds pretty good (not killer, but pretty good... you can't expect gold for the price of tin). A vintage Kalamazoo is a very good sounding classic amp (no affects) for the $. If you want a GREAT sounding amp get a 1950's tube amp... Supro, Gibson, etc. (again, no affects) or Princeton Reverb (Silver Face... 1980 or earlier).
I completely agree with Skip... try what you can find in your area, there's SO MANY elements that affect the sound of an amp (especially the mic you use and YOU as a player). There may be other new cheap-decent amps out there, but it's a waste of time trying to keep up with them... they will always in the end be sub-par to a classic amp or purpose-built harp amp. If you want to have a guarantee that a classic amp will sound great when you get it, buy it from a respected dealer like Skip... everything I've played that came from Skip (and I've played his work in many countries) was gold... that's why I asked him to be on the site... I have only heard 100% good things about his work and amps. For new, go for the MegaTone series. It all gets down to $ in the end (the hunt, which will cost you many amps to find the "right" on), but save up and it will be a happy day when you have enough cash. Have fun with the search. The rule of thumb is that you will never find the perfect amp... Gary Smith comes in with a new amp every three months (don't tell his wife). So, make a decision... live with this... have fun with the amp... and fully expect to find something you like better down the road.
Thank you all for your feedback. Since I'm in Australia, I don't have as much choice as you guys have in the US for amps. I'll take your advice and forever will be searching for the "Atlantis" of the the Blues Harp (perfect tone) in an amp! Maybe Garry Smith can teach us a thing or two besides the harp, on how to get new gear without the boss knowing!
By the way, Dave, thanks for the lessons. I'm fairly new to Harmonica, and there are no harp teachers where I live. Your online lessons are great. I'm enjoying every minute of it. Just a thought... but maybe one day, some of you guys might come to one of our Blues Fests here in Oz.
Thanks again.
https://sites.google.com/site/jimdramps/home/vht
http://www.frugalguitarist.com/search.aspx?q=vht%20special%206%20amp%20r...
http://www.greenbulletmics.com/
For anyone looking to get into a VHT Spec 6 Combo:
The links above will give you a ton of info on that amp. and it is totally mod friendly or you can just change tubes or play it out of the box. Rick Davis loves the amp! I bought one and love it. Can't beat the price point at $214 total including shipping and tax at Guitar Center.
The Green Bullet site gives a great tutorial on tubes.
This amp is going to grow in the harp community.
Good luck
In the Netherlands a few harpplayers also bought a VHT 6 and are very fond of it.
The price/performance ratio is excellent.
Not the amp of choice for the bandstand, but for studying and "livingroom" performances ...
I agree VHT special 6 is a great harmonica amp. Even out of the box it sounds great but to keep price low vht used cheap tubes and speaker. So I changed the speaker to an eminence lil buddy and change both tubes to JJ 6v6 and tungsol 12ax7. As of now the VHT special 6 cost $239 stock but with the better parts $350. I put my amp next to a harp gear 2 and I liked the sound of mine better but not by much. The harp gear is made much better but also cost more than 700 bucks I think. If you have a lot of money Harp Gear makes some of the best amps for harmonica in my opinion but VHT with some mods sounds as good if not better. But better build quality goes to the harp Gear for sure. Update...stock speaker isn't as bad as reported so if you don't want to spend the 70 bucks extra for the lil buddy keep the stock one and just change the tubes if you want. The VHT is so easy to mod I love it because I like to tinker plus I have put it next to vintage champs and kalamazoos and prefer the vht sound because its louder and fuller. But don't take my word for it go listen for yourself you may like something different. Update its 2014 I still own the VHT but I purchased a memphis mini amp which is made for harmonica for $500 when I bought mine but I purchased one of the first #48 to be exact. It beats the VHT and has a true line out to get the great tone through a PA http://www.memphisbluesamps.com/.
I to have a VHT Special 6 and I love it, I moded mine with the alincomagnet kit, and put in a 10" eminence blue frame. The thing is killer, and as loud as my 2x10, but just a fantastic tone, with a really nice break-up when you want it. Just make sure you get the Special 6 and not the special 6 Ultra that has 2 6V6 tubes it doesn't sound as nice as the single 6V6 in the regular Special 6, it is basically an old champ circuit, with the single power tube like the champ had.
I haven't listened to the ultra but ya I had an vintage champ which died on me a few months back I like my vht special better. I love it I love I just love it my favorite little amp of all time once I fixed it up but even out of the box its a sweet harmonica amp.
I have one of these ( the special 6 head with only 1 6v6 powertube ) on the way and will share my experience. I also plan on doing some modding to it. Probably the alnicomagnetkit.
Well I have had my VHT special 6 a couple years now. Speakers that I tried the Emenance lil buddy and eminence ram rod. They both make great rplacements for harmonica. Change the cheap chinese tubes if you buy one of these. I changed the 12ax7 to a 5751 tube to reduce feedback unless you have a squeal killer. As for the 6v6 tube a JJ or tungsol or whatever you prefer. I just got the new terminator pedal from lonewolf so now sometimes I use both my amps the vht and the memphis mini at the same time.
i picked up a vht special 6 about 3 months ago for 100 dollars, and like it for harp. I just purchased the alnicomagnet mod kit today, should be here in a couple weeks. When I get it installed i will try to record some audio so people can hear how it sounds. I will be using one of greg heumann's wood mics with a cm element, so that should give people a prettty good idea of what to expect. I hear with the mods the amp is pretty hot already, so I might have to get a lower output tube to control feedback. I am no expert and fairly new on this site, so we'll see how it goes.
I also have a epiphone valve jr head that i tried to do the lone wolf mods on, but it has a few issues. If someone wants it, pay for shipping and it's yours. I can explain what the issue is, and maybe it will be an easy fix.
Hello Dario- Well, I would say to go with what Dave Barrett says. That guy has probably helped more people learn to play than anyone on the planet, and is an expert at getting new harp players off to a great start.
Of course you know I'm a vintage amp guy, so let me just mention that you can still find Fender Champs from the seventies for $400 or less.
Skip Simmons