From: Tom Ellis III <74053.31~ompuServe.COM> Date: 30 Aug 96 12:09:02 EDT Subject: Best $250 amp/Kim Wilson-Tigerman
The best $250 amp is really a $300 amp--the reissue Ampeg Jet. It's new, under warranty, has reverb, and packs a wallop as to tone. One 12' jensen. If you change the two preamp tubes to 12AU7s, you'll be able to maximize volume at a substantially reduced feedback level. In general, it's almost as good as the original, and will outperform any of the comparable Fender modelsby a mile--the $50 is really worth it. On Tigerman Kim Wilson used a compliment of Gibsons--4X8, 6X8, 8X10, etc. with Crystal and Ceramic mics; many of these amps were very rare and owned by a collector in Wisconsin. He now is using a Sonny Jr. with a 12" speaker for studio work and has been using his Fender Pro with a new vintage 15" Jensen (from Craig's Music, see below) and another cabinet, and is still working with the wonderful sound person who drops all those great effect in while he performs. We've also been working with Kim on a few new mics. For your information, the expert on vintage Gibson amps here in the US is Craig Swancey at 817-599-8021. He bought most of the new-old stock stuff from Gibson when they put it out for bid a few years back and has worked on most of those same amps Kim used. You can only reach him by phone (sorry to distress all of you folks who have forgotten how to use the phone). Great guy, very honest, and knows mics and amps and harp players from the inside out. Kim and Sam Myers are just two. As was noted, the Tigerman stuff was pretty heavily processed in the studio. Another example of why it's better to target a player's live sound (or live album) for duplication, not his studio work, especially in these days of studio wizardry. Can't say enough good about those Ampegs. Gig with my vintage one all the time and the perfect studio amp. Matches up well with all my gigging mics, too. Tom Ellis/Tom's Mics
