MG
2007-08-08 13:48:04 UTC
My little Harley Benton GA5 (Epi V Jr but with added EQ dial) has just
arrived! 'First Play' impressions is that it is so different from the
demos and comments on this and the Epi V Jr I have pawed over during
my 14 week wait for it!. First, the really good thing, it is whisper
quiet when on and even wound up on full (not under load) it makes
nothing more than a faint hiss which you have to put your ear right
next to the speaker to hear. It doesn't pop either turning on or off
or when you plug the jack.
Sound, well, it just kinda sparkles! But you get nothing much
invigorating until you hit 2 o-clock then it shouts some. Forget
raucous OD tones/breakup, mine is more subtle and that little Tone/EQ
dial DOES have an important effect on your sound - not as a tone
control, but as a 'texturiser', insamuch as it 'thickens' the mids
only. With my Hofner archtop with humbuckers this is all too evident
as, using my toe to wind the knob up and down while playing
continuously, brings out all sorts of harmonics without changing the
overall tone. It does add a shade more volume at around 8-9 o-clock,
(this dial strangely goes the opposite direction from normal tone
dial's going from bright to bassy). There is though, a significant
background hiss accompanying higher gain notes played at high
volume... I haven't opened it to check the valve seating etc yet - it
has come a long way from China-Germany-UK, so may need a tweak with
screwdriver etc...
But I have found how to make this shine already - add a touch of pre
amp gain (in my case from my Digitech Tone Driver for my Strat/Tele
and the Digitech Hot Rod for the Humbuckers) and you get something
nearing that typical Fender break-up edge from 2 - 4 o-clock. Having
the amp vol on full constantly isn't necessary. Switch the pedal off
and the tone does not alter significantly but is less focussed. My
settings on the pedals are just to add a hint of colour and not
dramatic distortion. It is not a Fender though, and as such does not
have crystal water clean tones, more ice-cube clean...
The speaker is actually quite competent and doesn't sound boxy, but is
not able to handle the high volume bass notes/chords so well and here
is where this little amp will come into its own - if it was matched
to a better driver or a 'roomy' external cab - as many have found with
the Epi V Jr head. However, you will have to have either an existing 4
ohm driver or get a mod kit to supply the 4,8,16ohm switchable
options. The unit is not overly loud on its own. Add the touch of gain
and it seems to add 50% more oomph though. There are probably louder
5watt offerings available out there, but significantly more money.
'Tone at Home' is what you get here.
The tolex is slightly darker on mine than the bright cream in the
listings - sort of Latte and all the better for it. It is a tight,
solid and sturdy cabinet and really nicely finished. Even the brown
leatherette handle looks real! 13Kgs makes it easy to handle, but not
to knock over accidentally.
For the price of £66.00 it is silly not to have one of these 'just for
the sake of it' as it really does have a distinctive tube
sound/characteristic. When played alongside my excellent classic
Session Rockette 30 (Solid State), there is a marked difference in the
'openness' of the tone you get from just these 2 cheap tubes. There
are also tonal differences, but each amp is specific and it will be a
long haul to work out which guitar/chords/licks and pedal options
sounds better with one or the other - it just gives you countless
further options...!
So far, worth the long wait for it to be made supplied and I know I
will still be reading endless reports and posts on how these units
have been bettered further with this and that mod...but apart from
having the 4, and 16 ohm out options, I would not waste hours trying
to improve the already excellent sound.
One other note, on the simple sheet of specs that came with it
references a Harley Benton GA5 Head and which indicates it has a
'standby' switch on the rear panel... others might be interested in
this stock feature, as this has been one of the most missed functions
'out the box' on the Epi. I haven't seen the GA5 Head listed as yet
though.
I purchased mine from www.thomann.de
Be aware this is more suitable for Country/Blues/Blues Rock/Brit
Sounds and styles and subtler, (ak a standard Fender SF amps) not a
mini Marshall mega stack...
MG
UK
arrived! 'First Play' impressions is that it is so different from the
demos and comments on this and the Epi V Jr I have pawed over during
my 14 week wait for it!. First, the really good thing, it is whisper
quiet when on and even wound up on full (not under load) it makes
nothing more than a faint hiss which you have to put your ear right
next to the speaker to hear. It doesn't pop either turning on or off
or when you plug the jack.
Sound, well, it just kinda sparkles! But you get nothing much
invigorating until you hit 2 o-clock then it shouts some. Forget
raucous OD tones/breakup, mine is more subtle and that little Tone/EQ
dial DOES have an important effect on your sound - not as a tone
control, but as a 'texturiser', insamuch as it 'thickens' the mids
only. With my Hofner archtop with humbuckers this is all too evident
as, using my toe to wind the knob up and down while playing
continuously, brings out all sorts of harmonics without changing the
overall tone. It does add a shade more volume at around 8-9 o-clock,
(this dial strangely goes the opposite direction from normal tone
dial's going from bright to bassy). There is though, a significant
background hiss accompanying higher gain notes played at high
volume... I haven't opened it to check the valve seating etc yet - it
has come a long way from China-Germany-UK, so may need a tweak with
screwdriver etc...
But I have found how to make this shine already - add a touch of pre
amp gain (in my case from my Digitech Tone Driver for my Strat/Tele
and the Digitech Hot Rod for the Humbuckers) and you get something
nearing that typical Fender break-up edge from 2 - 4 o-clock. Having
the amp vol on full constantly isn't necessary. Switch the pedal off
and the tone does not alter significantly but is less focussed. My
settings on the pedals are just to add a hint of colour and not
dramatic distortion. It is not a Fender though, and as such does not
have crystal water clean tones, more ice-cube clean...
The speaker is actually quite competent and doesn't sound boxy, but is
not able to handle the high volume bass notes/chords so well and here
is where this little amp will come into its own - if it was matched
to a better driver or a 'roomy' external cab - as many have found with
the Epi V Jr head. However, you will have to have either an existing 4
ohm driver or get a mod kit to supply the 4,8,16ohm switchable
options. The unit is not overly loud on its own. Add the touch of gain
and it seems to add 50% more oomph though. There are probably louder
5watt offerings available out there, but significantly more money.
'Tone at Home' is what you get here.
The tolex is slightly darker on mine than the bright cream in the
listings - sort of Latte and all the better for it. It is a tight,
solid and sturdy cabinet and really nicely finished. Even the brown
leatherette handle looks real! 13Kgs makes it easy to handle, but not
to knock over accidentally.
For the price of £66.00 it is silly not to have one of these 'just for
the sake of it' as it really does have a distinctive tube
sound/characteristic. When played alongside my excellent classic
Session Rockette 30 (Solid State), there is a marked difference in the
'openness' of the tone you get from just these 2 cheap tubes. There
are also tonal differences, but each amp is specific and it will be a
long haul to work out which guitar/chords/licks and pedal options
sounds better with one or the other - it just gives you countless
further options...!
So far, worth the long wait for it to be made supplied and I know I
will still be reading endless reports and posts on how these units
have been bettered further with this and that mod...but apart from
having the 4, and 16 ohm out options, I would not waste hours trying
to improve the already excellent sound.
One other note, on the simple sheet of specs that came with it
references a Harley Benton GA5 Head and which indicates it has a
'standby' switch on the rear panel... others might be interested in
this stock feature, as this has been one of the most missed functions
'out the box' on the Epi. I haven't seen the GA5 Head listed as yet
though.
I purchased mine from www.thomann.de
Be aware this is more suitable for Country/Blues/Blues Rock/Brit
Sounds and styles and subtler, (ak a standard Fender SF amps) not a
mini Marshall mega stack...
MG
UK