In search of a very portable jazz amp with tons of headroom

[guildman63]

I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this question, but I'm sure someone will let me know if it is not.

First, my main objective is to get an amp that is very portable, and that has tons of headroom (actually, if it didn't break up at all at full volume I would be very happy!). I will be using it mostly for jazz, so it should also have a nice, warm sound. I would like something in the 30 pound or less range, but sound is the most important thing. My Jazz King sounds fantastic, and I would just stick with that if I were doing serious gigging, but for something to move around the house a lot and to throw in the back of my car for some informal gigs, lessons, jam sessions, etc, the JK is a bit on the heavy side (around 50 pounds).

I am considering a Henriksen Jazzamp 110ER. I tried one today and it sounds very good with my X-500, but I don't know what else is out there. Any suggestions from the LTG crowd?

Thanks!

 

[AlohaJoe]

Call Michael Biller... very nice guy! 1.206.293.9488 If you tell him what you're looking for he can steer you in the right direction or even design one for you... he has tubers as well as ss.
http://stores.soundislandmusic.com/StoreFront.bok

I recently got the Acoustic Image Coda R from him and he was great. I like the amp a lot... it's around 25lbs!

He also carries AER, Henrikson, Evans, Jazzkat and others... the sweetest jazz amp I ever heard was a tuber he designed expressly for added headroom but it was 36lbs and my old feet prefer light. It was this one:
http://stores.soundislandmusic.com/...l.bok?category=Vintage+Sound+Amps:VS112-JZ+20

 

[guildman63]

Aloha! Is the AI Coda R good with an archtop (X-500 to be exact)? I was just looking at that amp, as well as the Cub II AG-150. They both look nice, but I play mostly electric and very little acoustic, so whatever I get needs to do the X-500/170T, or Starfire 4 thing well. The Cub seems pretty crazy at about 15 pounds. That would be the ultimate in portability!

Thanks!

 

[dapmdave]

If you don't need huge volume, the old Guild "J" amps (66-J, 99-J) fit your bill pretty well. They are easy on the back, and very clean sounding. Really high-fidelity amps. They come up every now and then, and the prices are reasonable.

Dave

 

[AlohaJoe]

Aloha! Is the AI Coda R good with an archtop (X-500 to be exact)? I was just looking at that amp, as well as the Cub II AG-150. They both look nice, but I play mostly electric and very little acoustic, so whatever I get needs to do the X-500/170T, or Starfire 4 thing well. The Cub seems pretty crazy at about 15 pounds. That would be the ultimate in portability! Thanks!

I don't know how much volume you need but the AI is strictly clean, with a very nice sounding reverb. I haven't tried any pedals with it. My wife uses it for bass, I plug the X150 into the other channel and it sounds great to me. I've used it with the X150, a vintage DeArmond on an old Epi archtop, the ES125 and my Starfire II. I'd say the sound is similar to a Polytone but substantially more transparent... what you put in is what you get out, only louder. The other interesting thing is that it has a down-firing 8" speaker (and a forward tweeter) so it has plenty of bass response and fills a room in a pleasantly directionless way.

My old 150w Polytone is probably louder, having been hot-rodded and up-speakered but it's so much heavier that I never take it out unless I'm in a ballroom or playing with a big band.

 

[guildman63]

As I said, if I could get an amp that did not break up at all at full volume that would be ideal. Sounds like the AI is worth checking out. Thanks!

 

[bluesypicky]

If you don't need huge volume, the old Guild "J" amps (66-J, 99-J) fit your bill pretty well. They are easy on the back, and very clean sounding. Really high-fidelity amps. They come up every now and then, and the prices are reasonable.Dave

Yep!
In your introductory post, you've just described the 66-J Guildman...
I was actually using mine to amp my acoustic guitars, it was awesome, ultra clean and warm, when I demoed it to Tom Thursday with his D50, he bought it on the spot!
And not even 20 pounds, I'm sure!

 

[guildman63]

I've seen a 99-J, but never a 66-J. Does it use tubes that are still readily available? As you can guess I don't know much about amps Also, what should I reasonably expect to pay for a 66-J in very good condition? There is one currently on craigslist and the seller is asking to trade for a Gibson or Fender USA guitar, so I'm not sure what he or she thinks the amp is worth, but I am about to find out :wink: Thanks all!

Edit: And I just found out...

Apparently, the seller was recently offered $650 for the amp, and he turned it down :shock: as he is just interested in trading for a Gibson or Fender USA guitar, and doesn't want to just sell it. It would seem to me that his market would be much bigger if he was considering an outright sale. It would also seem that $650 is much more than a reasonable offer...way more than I would pay. But like I said, I don't know much about amps.

 

[Fixit]

guildman

The tubes in the 66J are (3) 12AX7's, (2) 6V6 power tubes and one 5Y3 rectifier tube. All are available in both, New imported tubes and in NOS tubes.

 

[guildman63]

You guys know everything out here! :lol: