VINTAGE AMPS
We asked one of Latin America's top session guitarists to put three of our vintage amps through their paces.
We were totally blown away by the results.
Check out these videos of Juan Pablo Ordoñez in the studio at One Flight Up.
HARMONY H303A (1961)
MADE BY:
The Harmony Musical Instrument Company, Chicago USA.
MODEL: H303A
YEAR: 1961
OUTPUT POWER: approx 1/4 W
SPEAKER: 6" Jensen Special Design
SPEAKER MARKINGS:
220 134 (220 = Jensen; 134 = 34th week of 1961)
P6V (P = Permanent Magnet; 6 = 6", V = Standard series)
TUBES: 12AU6, 50CS, 35W4
JUAN SAYS:
"A great little amp with nice tone and enough volume for recording, but not loud enough to use on stage."
SILVERTONE 1472 (1962)
MADE BY:
Danelectro for Sears Roebuck & Co. (USA department store chain).
The 1472 was available from late 1961 till early 1963, (when it was replaced by model 1482). It was a distinctive amp for its "refrigerator" handle on top and "TV" controls down the right front side.
The first run of the 1472 famously has Tremolo mis-spelled on the front face as "Tremlo". (see pics)
MODEL: 1472
YEAR: 1962
OUTPUT POWER: 10 W
SPEAKER: 12" Fisher speaker.
SPEAKER MARKINGS:
12-4L
1056 211 (1056 = Fisher; 211 = 11th week of 1962)
It is also stamped 5032, the same number (and stamp) as inside the cabinet on the front baffle, showing this is the original speaker to the amp. The final 2 in the number dates manufacture of the amp to 1962.
TUBES: 2 x 12AX7, 2 x 6V6GT, 6AU6, 6X4
JUAN SAYS:
"Quite dark sounding. I'm impressed with the low end. The Tremolo is great. I love it! My favourite of the 3 amps!"
GIBSON SKYLARK GA-5 (1963)
MADE BY: GIBSON, USA.
MODEL: GA 5 SKYLARK 'Crestline'
YEAR: 1963
OUTPUT POWER: 5 W
SPEAKER: 10" Gibson Ultrasonic Speaker.
SPEAKER MARKINGS:
581 0034
S-20008
TUBES: 6EU7, 6C4, 2 x 6AQ5, 6X4
JUAN SAYS:
"The brightest sounding of the three amps."
JUAN PABLO ORDOÑEZ
Juan is one of Latin America's top guitarists and session musicians.
PEDALS:
Ibanez Tube Screamer DS9
Dedalo Kamikaze distortion pedal
Keeley Katana boost pedal
Juan is playing a Fender Stratocaster guitar in these videos.
MICROPHONES
All three vintage guitar amplifiers were miked up the same way.
A Royer 121 Ribbon microphone was used in front of the speaker about 6" from the grill cloth.
An AKG C12 VR Tube Condenser microphone was used on the back of the amp, about 6" from the back of the speaker.
Both microphones went into API pre-amps in our API 1608 console.