How to Choose Your First Harmonica Amp (Any Budget)

In today's lesson, I will show you how to buy your first or next harmonica amp. If you've wondered "What harmonica amp should I buy?" Then check this video out and decide today.

Give structure to your Harmonica practice with Harp Trainer, a scale training program designed to help you become a more confident harmonica player.

Need a new harp? Here are my suggestions:
Using these links help support the channel at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Need Amplified Gear?

[HarmonicaRevolution]

Do you already play amplified? Let me know what your setup is!

[BKBees]

Just got back from the music store with my Boss Katana Mini. Boy this thing sounds good, I'm going to take it out busking tomorrow. Well, busking is a loose term here, since I live in the UP and there are not likely to be a lot of people where I'm going. Either way, I'm headed into the public to annoy with surprisingly loud harp sounds with my new portable amp. Thanks for the recommendation.

[javierf]

I bought the Positive Grid Spark2 amp and it sounds fantastic.
Add up a bit of drive... Lots of fun.

[jeemalsoknownasjimhawkins]

Hey, Jonah! I just bought a Jason Ricci Signature microphone based on your recent review. I love the sound it produces, and that with my Hohner HarpBaster gives me the best of both worlds. I was looking for the right amp, and realized I had a Boss Katana Mini that I bought years ago, but never used (I bought it for my guitars, but use Fender Princeton Reverbs), so I brought it out of the closet and it works awesomely well. You just saved me a lot of money! Next, I am going to run my microphone through my Fender Rumble Studio bass amp to see how that sounds. Thanks for doing this review for us! Cheers.

[dougmcgee]

Thanks for the vid. Just a bit of clarification. Solid state amps are not digital. Both solid state and tube amps are analog. Some solid state amps will have some digital processing, but it is not accurate to refer to solid state as digital. Solid state amps use transistors, resistors, and capacitors, while tube amps mainly use vacum tubes as the backbone of amplification, but valve amps also contain resistors and capacitors. All are analog circuitry. A hybrid amp might have any or all, and may also have digital convertors, and do some digital processing. A quick google search will show the difference between solid state and digital.

[TalkingPoints]

Jonah, can you talk about the various models of Pignose Amps and their suitability for us harp players.

[smilingiscontagious]

Good advice. I like the little boss amp myself. Great sound for such a small amp and easily portable

[faethe]

Another portable option is the amp I use a lot, because it's one most guitarists already use anyway. The Yamaha THR series.

[DavidWilson-vqfl]

Here's a partial list of the amps I have owned: silverface Fender Champ; Gibson BR-6; Kalamazoo Model 1; Hurricane V8; Fender Champion 20; Holland Westside 35; full-size Meteor; and Bassman Reissue. My favorite by far is the Bassman Reissue - the sound quality, responsiveness, warmth, breakup, bass response, and power just make it a feast for the ears. The only amp I've ever played that I liked better was a Victoria 35210 that I tried out in a music store in Little Rock in probably 1999. I passed on that one due to the high price tag of $1, 100 - dang, I wish I could buy one for that now! I also have buddies who have a Texas Crude amp and a Sonny Jr 4x8, both of which sound excellent. Also, I have regretted selling every amp I have ever sold...so if you have an amp that's not total garbage, by all means don't sell it!!!

[JCdieu]

Hey Jonah, sounds great as always! Can you share your settings on the Katana mini

[pattersonthomasj]

Great help for home practice, the Boss sounds great for the price. Thanks

[JerryWB]

Roland street cube is an amazing portable amp.

[renegademax]

Hey Jonah, I just got a Lyx Pro 40 w and the Joyo American Sound pedal, but the amp is way too loud for my use. What inexpensive small amp do you recommend considering I'll be using the Joyo, tube or solid state?

[IcyTorment]

Analog solid state amps have been a thing for way longer than digital solid state amps have existed. There are really four types of amps to choose from: Analog solid state amps, digital modeling amps, analog tube amps, and FRFR/PA speaker setups, depending on what you're trying to do.

[Cowdog]

Howdy, Brother! So, that sound / tone you have at 00:19 in this video, it sounds amazing. But that little Katana amp doesn't have reverb. In my ears, I heard reverb... did you use a reverb pedal? Or, was that just the Katana built in delay. Cheers! Awesome video.

[keefmeister]

Hi, I'm back. You asked what my setup was, here it is - Amp: Crate VC508 5 watt tube amp, considerably more volume and thump than the Stage 5 and more than all the solid state amps in this video combined. You have to set the gain and tone low and the volume high, use the completely hidden FX Loop feature and use a good vintage Hi Z mike for great results. Often under $200 including tax and shipping. Microphone: I have about 60, all vintage. A typical 1960ish 50, 000 ohm Japanese mike would utterly obliterate any currently made harp mike except the Bulletini. Usually under $40 total cost all day long and forget what brand name it has as most were made by Calrad. Zero in on ones that are easy to hold and cup and have a removable cable and maybe an on/off switch. A Calrad DM-31C does all these things and has a lower tone than most with typical ferocious sound. Pedal: now that we have a killer amp and mike we don't need a pedal board with a bunch of pedals, which is beyond ridiculous. Just one, Cube Baby (may say M Valve or Muslady), about $35. Turn off everything except volume control and either reverb or delay. Cables: 20 foot GLS guitar cable (you have to get away from the amp, very loud), $20, plus a 20 foot TRS cable and Y splitter for FX Loop (about $30), also a 1/4" female to female connector ($5). This setup should be under $350 including tax and shipping and will leave any other rig being recommended here in the dust, ignore the advice of anyone who tells you otherwise. If you absolutely have to have a portable amp or just don't want to deal with tubes then get the Pignose Hog 20 or Hog 30 (not the 7-100 which is comparitively lame). I'm done.

[theyellowrailbookingcompan]

can you tell me what pedals you were running when you used the stage 5 amp? reverb? distortion?

[robsonmoura]

Hi Jonah! Thanks for inspiring us! Keep doing your great diversification videos!

What is your OPINION about “Boss DR01s Rhythm Partner”? Can it be a good “partner” for harmonica’s players as well?

[Stardrivepaintings]

You Definitely just sold me in the Stage 5 amp!

[andykhanhfantomasislive]

Hello Jonah, Wow ! Great video ! awesome explanations. 👍👍👍💕😘 Have a wonderful day.