Lone Wolf Harp Train 10

[wyredmusic]

After spending 15 years and a lot of money on amps and mics, I finally found an amp that delivers the sound I've been looking for.

I got a Harp Train 10 Monday afternoon (yesterday) from Wilson Music. I played it Monday night. This is the freakin ticket. Up against, bass, drums, trumpet, keyboards and 2-3 guitars, nobody mic’ed and I’ve got head room.

I’ve been playing harp for 14-15 years now. I’m not a professional, but I have my moments.

On the electric sound, I’ve been buying mics and tube amps for just as many years. As I new player, I was always looking for the best sound and tone, to make up for any weaknesses in playing skill. I never found an amp I was totally excited about. I’ve been using an Ampex 2010 lately until the Harp Train 10.

I’ve probably bought and sold over 2 dozen amps, from 40s Masco MAP-17, to 60s kalamazoo Model 2 and Bass 30, to Valcos, Sano, Fenders, Crates, Silvertone, Ampex, Alamo and a few others. I’ve had most of them repaired as well, and subsequently sold at a loss. Mics, I can’t count the number of mics, I’ve tried, from early EV, bullets and 545s and 57s.

Seriously, nothing comes close to the sound you want until The Harp Train 10 and the mic I’m using is a 545.

Save yourself years of searching and wasted investment and get 1 or 2 of these amps.

This amp is loud, for 8 watts, the speaker is very efficient. I’m thinking 2 of these would be the cats ass.

I haven’t tried the line out, so I’m not sure what the pa will hear. I do have a harp attack pedal, that I took out of the loop for the Harp Train 10, perhaps it’s too much signal modification, but sounded much better without the pedal.

I don't know about reliability yet, but compared to a 50 year old dinosaur amp, I'll bet on the the Harp Train 10.

[Rick]

I love his pedals.   Thanks for the review, Wyred.

[Rick]

Although it's funny, when I listen to the various demos of the amp, I don't really like the sound. Everyone plays it with the same tone and it seems too aggresively crunchy to me.

[wyredmusic]

I think most of the demos the Balls knob is set to 9. I'm running mine at 5 and I don't get that aggressive distortion level, the dirt is based more on how hard I blow. I also use an El Capistan delay and a sonic maximizer . I think the sonic might soften some of that grit. Didn't work well with the Harp Attack in the loop, so I don't use the harp attack. maybe I should sell it.

[Beelzebob]

Interesting thread.  I agree with Rick, I don't like any of the youtube demos I've heard of the HT10.  It kind of shocked me since their pedals are so good.  But I've learned that vids can lie.  I think if wyred is really impressed with the one he bought, that carries more weight with me.  I've also learned recently that the Memphis Mini and the Windy City are Chinese amps designed as tweed clones, but not made specifically for harp.  Rick Davis, the Memphis Mini owner, says he does some tweaks to each amp once they reach him here in the US.  Some question how much he really does.  Whatever, I like almost all the Memphis Mini and Windy City videos I've heard.  They all sound much better than any Harp Train 10 vid I've heard. 

Another possible option, believe it or not, is the latest generation of modeling amps.  Modeling has come a long way in the last five years.  The Fender Mustang III v2 has become a favorite for gigging guitarists who don't want to take their expensive and heavy tube amp out of the house.  There is one harp player on the Lone Wolf forum who gigs with it, says that it works just fine.  I've never heard it with harp.  It's sells new for just a bit over $300.  There are smaller versions of it as low as $130 new, I think.

[Rick]

Of the samples posted, I like the Memphis Mini too.  There is nothing not to like in that tone.  I suspect it could be as good as you are.