Vintage Blues Harmonica Amplifier Museum 

The Harmonica Masterclass Company has cataloged an extensive collection of harmonica amplifiers for you to see.  These amplifiers vary from rare vintage pieces to new amplifiers available in today's market.  This listing is compiled by volunteer Eric Besanko (thanks Eric!); any comments can be emailed directly to him at ebesanko@cinci.rr.com. If you wish to contact him about the site, please stipulate in the subject part of your e-mail message "About Harmonica Masterclass Amplifier Museum" so that he doesn't mistake your e-mail for junk mail and delete it.  The goal of this page is to gather and share as much information on harmonica amplifiers as possible.  If you have good pictures of your amp(s) that you would like to share (that are different from the amps presented below) please email us.  If you're looking for a mic and amp to play, but don't know much about playing amplified, look at Using Mics & Amps for a starter course.


David Barrett uses and recommends the Sonny Jr. 4x10 ('59 Style Bassman).
Information about this amp can be found at t http://www.sonnyjr.com/.



New! Detailed booklet of how to use amplifiers for harmonica by David Barrett - More Info

Picture(s): DANELECTRO AMPS	Description: Manufacturer, Model & Description
	Danelectro Commando (1956)  Speaker Config: 8x8" Rola 10710 alnicos. Wattage: 25w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 4x6V6, 6SJ7, 6SN7 and 2x12AX7s sub'ed with 12AU7s Mod's: 100% original except NOS tubes and handle. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com Purchased new in 1956 by "Daddy O" Tuffy in upstate NY, this is the legendary 2 piece, 4x6V6, 8x8" amp that some claim (or speculate!) is the type Little Walter regularly used on many classic recordings and on the road!  Truth or legend, this Dano model dates back to 1952...An awesome looking and incredible sounding amp for harp! Tone: Based on the toneful rip/cut and warm horn-like effect from this amp, it is certainly possible that Walter used one of these rare amps to get his recognizable Chess sound - The One! Mic Preferred with this Amp: Shure Model 52 Dynamic chrome bullet through a 2-tone 50's Premier reverb unit.
FENDER AMPS
	Fender Bassman (1955) Speaker Config: 4xJensen P10R Wattage: 40w Tube Setup: 2x5U4s, 2x5881s, 12AX7s and 12AY7 Mod's: 100% original except replaced/re-coned P10Rs, re-tweed and grounded cord. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - The 2 input version of the narrow panel Bassman is not as loud as the more famous 4-hole version from '59&'60 - Similar circuit to the low-power narrow panel Fender Twin with plenty of gain and beautiful tone at much lower volumes than it's younger 4x10 brothers…versatile! Tone: There is a reason the original 4x10 tweeds are so desirable…you can't go wrong with the late '50s Fender Bassman tone! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '50s Shure 707a Olive Bullet with R7 element. Reader Troy provides this information, “I love your website! I thought I would share the fact that if you pull one of the rectifier tubes in a 55 Bassman you can increase the sag. My source for this is "A Desktop Reference of Hip Vintage Guitar Amps" by Gerald Weber page 48.”
	Fender Super (1956)  Speaker Config: 2x10" Jensen P10Rs sub'ed with NOS Jensen 10J11s. Wattage: 35w Tube Setup: 5U4, 2x6L6, 12AX7s sub'ed with 12AY7s Mod's: Recovered, re-capped and grounded power cord Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com This is the early "narrow panel" version of Fender Dual Professional 2x10" amp of the 40's. Almost identical circuit/amp section as the 1x15" Pro and 3x10" Bandmaster. Tone: Like the narrow panel  Pro and Bandmaster, this amp is very bright/crisp - With the Jensen/Viking 10J11s, this amp cooks at 2 and shreds at 5! Mic Preferred with this Amp: 50s Shure CR Green Bullet
	Fender Pro (1959) Speaker Config: Jensen P15N Wattage: 35w Tube Setup: 5U4, 2x5881, 12AX7s sub'ed w/ 12AY7s Mod's: Replaced NOS P15N, recovered and re-capped  to original spec's. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com Workhorse amp that honks at all levels - Perfect size/tone/volume for mid-sized clubs! Tone: Very bright with surprising crunch when pushed - Likes airtight mic cup! Mic Preferred with this Amp: 40's Astatic JT31 Chrome Spokesman with original MC101 crystal element.
	Fender Bassman ('59) Speaker Config: 4xJensen P10R Wattage: 40w Tube Setup: GZ34, 2x5881, 12AX7s and 12AY7 Mod's: 100% original except replacement P10R, fresh caps and grounded cord. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - Like so many others, this amp was painted black and later stripped - Too bad. Tone: Cleanest tweed Bassman I've ever heard up to 4, then tone gets fat/loud fast. Everything you've heard [about the Bassman] is true! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '50s Shure 707a Olive Bullet with R7 element.
	Fender Deluxe (1960)  Speaker Config: Jensen P12R Wattage: 12w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6V6,  2x12AX7s sub'ed w/ 12AY7s Mod's: Recovered, re-capped and re-coned to original Fender spec's. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - Tweed Deluxe is the Swiss Army Knife of tone - This originally belonged to a country player from the Johnny Paycheck school of honky-tonk. Thankfully all the right parts are available due to the reissue market! Tone: Crispy-fat at all volume - Tweed Fenderosity requires no reverb/delay for great sustain! Mic Preferred with this Amp: 50's Astatic JT30 Spokesman with original crystal element.
	Fender Twin (1960) Speaker Config: 2x12" Jensen P12N sub'ed w/RIs Wattage: 80w Tube Setup: 4x6L6, 12AX7, 12AY7, 12AU7 Mod's: Re-tweed, reissue P12Ns and handle - Otherwise original  Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com This is the last of the hi-powered tweed amps soon to be replaced with the equally cool white/oxblood Twins - These are loud, toneful amps not suited for small rooms or faint of heart! Tone: Solid state rectifier eliminates sag - This amp responds immediately with crackling bite and goose bump bass, killer with big chromatic chords! Mic Preferred with this Amp: NOS 60s Shure 440 Silver Bullet
	Fender Princeton (1960) Speaker Config: Oxford 8EV-29 Wattage: 6w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 6V6, 12AX7s Mod's: 100 Original except recovered tweed, handle, grounded cord. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com -- WOW! This small single-ended class A amp is the big brother to the tweed Champ and blows its little brother away with harp. Class A amps w/ 8" speakers rule and here's the proof! Tone: Walter Jacobs amp-tone in a tiny box - You Better Watch Yourself! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '50s Shure 707a Olive Bullet with R7 element.
	Fender Super (1960) Speaker Config: 2 Jensen P10Q Wattage: 40w Tube Setup: GZ34, 2x6L6, 12AX7s (sub'ed w 12AU7s) Mod's: Replace handle - Otherwise original Owner's Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - Used on '60s television show "Midwestern Hayride." Tone: Clean, glassy sound with great tremolo feature - Players need deep, resonant tone to make brown face Fenders honk! Mic Preferred with this Amp: Late '40s, white Shure 520 with original CR element.
	Fender Champ (1964) Speaker Config: Oxford 8EV-29 Wattage: 5w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 6V6, 12AX7 Mod's: All original Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com Great big sound...itty bitty package - 1964 is the absolute end of the original tweed era Fender amps! Tone: Very crunchy and bright from class A circuit, single knob control and 8" speaker! Mic Preferred with this Amp: 50s Shure 707a Olive Bullet with R7 element.
GIBSON
	Gibson GA20 (1955) Speaker Config: Jensen P12R Wattage: 12w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6V6, 12AY7s Mod's: 100% original expect replaced power transformer & handle Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - This is the Gibson version of Fender's popular mid-'50s wide panel Deluxe amp - Not as loud as the competition but extremely warm and thick tone with harp. If I want a bit more crunch at a gig, I'll stack this on a GA90 or GA55 for a tower of tone! Tone: Thick and throaty with harp, this is the little tone-brother the classic GA40 Les Paul amp. Mic Preferred with this Amp: Mojo Hand Deco-grill bullet mic w/MC-151 element thru a Boss RV2 rev/delay pedal.
	Gibson GA30/'55 Maestro ('58) Speaker Config: Jensen P12R and P8R Wattage: 15w (?) Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6L6, 12AY7, 6SQ7 and 5879s Mod's: Hot rodded 55' Maestro chassis with oversize power tranny to accommodate 6L6s. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - A tone Frankenstein - This mutt really barks! Tone: Loud enough for small club shows and less sensitive to feedback than a standard Maestro - I like the speaker set with this circuit. Mic Preferred with this Amp: '39 Shure 5E Chrome Bullet with dynamic element and hi-z transformer.
	Gibson GA40 Les Paul Model ('55) Speaker Config: Jensen P12Q Wattage: 14w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6V6, 12AY7, 6SQ7 and 5879s Mod's: 100% original expect replaced handle Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - This must be where the term "brown tone" came from - Very similar circuit to the 4x8" Maestro Tone: Thick, crisp sound with classic Gibson tube sag - These amps don't ring like a tweed Fender but the tradeoff is well worth it! Mic Preferred with this Amp: "Specially Designed for Recording" Shure Brown bullet w/ R7 element.
	Gibson GA55 (1955) Speaker Config: 2xJensen P12Qs Wattage: 20w Tube Setup: 5V4, 2x6L6, 2x12AY7s Mod's: All original except handle Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com Like its next of kin, the GA55V, the mid '50s Gibson twin twelve amp was way underpowered and really works well for a heavy blues sound - This is the rarest of the big box buffalo grain, 2-tone Gibsons...very few survive in playable condition! Tone: Thick and warm at all volumes - NOT loud for a 2x12 amp. Mic Preferred with this Amp: '40s Shure "Specially Designed for Recording" Brownie w/ R7 element thru 2-tone Premier 90 reverb unit.
	Gibson GA77 (1955) Speaker Config: Jensen P15N Wattage: 22w Tube Setup: 5V4, 2x6L6, 6J5, 6SN7, 2x12AY7s Mod's: All original except fresh caps, handle & white reflecto-strip! Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com The 1955 GA77 was the workhorse of Gibson's mid-50's "widepanel" amp line - Lots of these were built with several different preamp configurations but always with the solid gold P15N and actual buffalo hide! Tone: Extra saggy & crunchy with plenty of volume to gig - A well-broken-in P15N is great for harp tone! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '40s Shure "Specially Designed for Recording" Brownie w/ R7 element thru 2-tone Premier 90 reverb unit
	Gibson GA55V (1956) Speaker Config: 2xJensen P12Qs Wattage: 30w Tube Setup: 5V4, 2x6L6, 6SC7, 12AY7s, 6SL7, 6SN7, 6J5 Mod's: Replace handle - Otherwise original Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com The wide-panel, Buffalo-Grained "Twin" with vibrato was the top of the Gibson guitar amp line in the mid '50s - Very few were made, even fewer survive! Tone: Rumbling, thick tone with bags 'o sag - Classic 2x12 lo-power tone! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '40s Shure "Specially Designed for Recording" Brownie w/ R7 element thru 2-tone Premier 90 reverb unit.
	Gibson GA90 (1957) Speaker Config: 6 Jensen 8J11 Wattage: 30w Tube Setup: 5V4, 2x5881, 6SN7s, 5879s, 12AU7 Mod's: Purchased new in 1957 w/ triple neck steel guitar. Tone: Mic Preferred with this Amp: Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com Tone: Very thick with soft attack at any volume - Likes a little tube delay or reverb to really sing!  Mic Preferred with this Amp: "Specially Designed for Recording" Brownie w/ R7 element thru 2-tone Premier 90 reverb unit
	Gibson BR-6F (1952) Speaker Config: 10" Rola Field Coil Wattage: 10 Clean Watts (RMS) Tube Setup: 6SJ7, 6SN7, 2-6V6, 5y3 Mod's: Input padding disabled; 2.2k added COMMON TO BOTH SCREENS; coupling caps changed to Sprague 715P; negative feedback disabled; 40uF at first filter. Tone: Nice and fat, barky, not honky. Mic Preferred with this Amp: 'The Shaker' Owner's Name & Comments: Provided by Keith Robb of Grand Rapids Michigan
	Gibson Maestro GA45 (1958) Speaker Config: 4xJensen 8J11s Wattage: 14w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6V6, 12AY7, 6SQ7 and 5879s Mod's: 100% original except fresh caps and grounded cord. Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - Black & snakeskin covering with piping and matching gold frame Jensens - Move over Lawrence Welk! Tone: These are great amps for studio or rehearsal settings - I've played through several variations ('55-'60) and all have a very creamy/corkish tone with tremolo that never works! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '50s gray Shure 707a with R7 element
	Gibson GA 5 Skylark (1959) Speaker Config: Jensen 8J11 Wattage: 5w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 6V6, 12AX7 Mod's: All original including vinyl cover Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com Great sounding  & cool looking Class A amp - Still has the original music store tag in place! Tone: Thick and bright very similar to a Champ Mic Preferred with this Amp: '50s gray Shure 707a with R7 element.
PREMIER
	Premier Model 50 (1959) Speaker Config: 8" CTS 7002-2 Alnico Wattage: 7w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 6L6, 12AX7 Mod's: Replaced handle - otherwise original Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com The smallest of the Premier amp line from the '50s. Class A amp with single 6L6 power tube, 2-tone wood-grain and red radio knobs - Sounds as cool as it looks! Tone: Darker & a little more volume than a tweed Champ - Wow! Mic Preferred with this Amp: 40's brown Astatic W80 Spokesman with replaced MC127 ceramic element.
	Premier 120 (1962) Speaker Config: Jensen C12Q Wattage: 12 Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6V6, 12AX7s Mod's: 100% original except replaced handle Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - Premier amps have never gotten the respect they deserve - Mainly found on the east coast, this one came to me by way of Martha's Vineyard. Tone: Chocolate milk thick at all volumes - Excellent tremolo channel! With matching reverb unit thru the tremolo channel, this is a great setup for chromatic tone in studio or rehearsal! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '40s Shure "Specially Designed for Recording" Brownie w/ R7 element thru 2-tone Premier 90 reverb unit.
SILVERTONE
	Silvertone 1432 (1959) Speaker Config: 12" Tube Setup: 2-ax7's, 2-6v6's, a 6au6 and a 6x5gt recto.... Mod's: All original Owner's Name & Comments: Mike Tone: killer tone....no mods....all original everything!!  best harp tone going. not that loud, but great studio or mic'd. Mic Preferred with this Amp: Early 60s JT30----seems to be best with it....my 40's cr/ev605 combo mic also rips it up to it. I don't really care what mic ya use, its got great tone with anything!
	Silvertone 1474 Twin Twelve (1962) Speaker Config: 2 x Jensen P12Qs Wattage: 60 w Tube Setup: 5U4, 4x6L6s, 6AU6, 12AX7s Mod's: All original Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com Danelectro-made, hi-powered Twin amp with trem and reverb is loud and very toneful - Not roadworthy due to cab/chassis construction but great in a studio/club setting with plenty of headroom! Tone: Dark and smoky with slow, saggy attack - Excellent tone/headroom/$ ratio! Mic Preferred with this Amp: NOS 60s Shure 440 Silver Bullet.
	Silvertone 1482 (1962) Speaker Config: 12" CTS alnico Wattage: 12 w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6V6, 12AX7s Mod's: All original Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com A clean example of the smaller Dano-made private label amps as sold at Sears & Roebuck -  Montgomery Ward and other catalog retailers also sold similar amps under various non-Danelectro brands. Tone: Tons of overdrive at all volumes - Hard to beat for good all-tube tone on a budget! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '50s gray Shure 707a with R7 element.
Other
	Magnatone - Model 415 Clio (1962) Speaker Config: 4x8" Oxford 8JB-28s Wattage: 25w Tube Setup: 6CA4, 2x6973s, 12AU7 and 6EU7 Mod's: 100% original Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - Originally designed for bass and accordion, this mid-sized Maggie from the Estey era does an incredible job for harp! Very unusual tube line up, simple volume/tone controls, compact size, big headroom and 25w of power make this a great amp for clubs and blues jams! Tone: An excellent choice with chromatic - Loud, clear and hornlike…High Fidelity! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '50s Chrome Turner BX with NOS MC-151 element thru brown '62 Premier reverb unit.
	Supro 500R Reverb Unit (1963) Tube setup: 5Y3GT, 6DR7, 6EU7 Mods: All original, including tubes, except fresh cap and 3 prong cord Owner’s Name and Comments: Aaron - This reverb unit literally sat around for 40 years. Original tubes were barely used, if at all. Near-mint condition.  Seems to work best with my Sonny Jr. modded ’59 RI Bassman.  Reverb tank itself is a high-impedance tank, so I will have a difficult time replacing it. Tone: Good sounding, warm reverb.  Does not beat a Fender reverb for sound, but does for rarity and originality (IMHO).  Two control knobs: 1) intensity  2) normal, treble, bass (cuts highs or lows).
	Kalamazoo - Model 1 (1965) Speaker Config: Separate Cab 2X12" Alnico Speaker (make unknown) Wattage: maybe 8 or 10w Tube Setup:6X4 full wave rectifier, 12AX7/ECC83/7025 (dual triode) preamp, 6BQ5/EL84 output tube 6X4 full wave rectifier Mod's: 100% original? Amplifier - new caps and NOS tubes. Owner's Name & Comments: tantalune125@aol.com Original 5 watt amp, which sounds like 15 watts through the alnico 12's. A matching pair @ 6.9 ohm. They were left for dead on the street in the rain one night. Fate is a funny thing. Not a scratch, rip, tear,.... nor rust, water mark, or wear....like new!? Master guitar builder and surfboard shaper, Ellis Bourbonne, made the cabs and tolexed snake skin. The famous "chassis flaw," by the input jack, was eliminated when designing the mini cab for the amp. A little over the top with the snake skin. It fits right in around here. Tone: This amazing combination tone hurricane shuts down my Fender Princeton, and all the low wattage tube amps I have ever played. It has me mesmerized, til I start to laugh, at how it kills no matter what mic play. I can't believe how fat and crunchy this things is! Mic Preferred with this Amp: Astatic "Biscuit" with a Brush crystal. or a Shure 520 with a CM...you can't go wrong.
	Premier Club (1965) Speaker Config: Jensen c15n  Owner's Name & Comments: Mike This is my gigging amp, it's balls to the walls and moves about 30+ watts through that 15.  I rarely mic this one.
Custom Amps
	Sonny Jr. - SJ1A (1998) Speaker Config: 4x8" Sonny Jrs by Pyle Wattage: 25w Tube Setup: 5Y3, 2x6L6, 12AU7, 12AT7 Mod's: Original Owner's Name & Comments: Very touch sensitive and toneful Class A special by harp amp designer/builder Gary Onofrio - Incredible workmanship and attention to every detail! Nothing else sounds or plays like it except its big bro, the 6x8 SJr2! Tone: Rips and cuts like a street fighter with a straight razor - Nails the fat McCain "Steady" tone at any volume! Mic Preferred with this Amp: '60s chrome EV 638 Dynamic
	Sonny Jr. - SJ2A (1998) Speaker Config: 6x8" Sonny Jr.'s by Pyle Wattage: 50w Tube Setup: GZ34, 4x6L6, 12AU7, 12AT7 Mod's: Original Owner's Name & Comments: Conquroot@AOL.com - King size Class A harp amp by designers/builders Gary Onofrio & Cotton Amps - Like the SJr1, every aspect of this amp from the components, construction, cosmetics and playability is top shelf! If you want Chicago-style tone at big stage volume, respect the Sonny Jr. 2 big sound! Tone: The Tone at every volume level - LOUD! Mic Preferred with this Amp: Late '50s Model 520 CM Shure Green Bullet.

I hope you enjoyed this journey into blues harmonica amplifier heaven.  If you saw any mistakes or would like to add specs to any amps, please email us. 

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