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From: TubeRadi~ol.com
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 19:27:06 EDT
Subject: one amp for two instruments?

Hello everybody!
I have a problem I can't believe is unique and wanted to float a few
questions to the list to see if anyone out there has experienced a similar
situation. I play guitar and harmonica (never both at the same time) and my
band plays some larger clubs which require pretty high volumes (soul, R&B,
blues). I have been using a silverface Twin Reverb with a master volume and
have had the reverb channel strapped over to the dry channel, so that both
channels are now wet. Harp (astatic) mic into channel 1, and semi-hollow
thinline Silvertone guitar through channel 2. I like the sound and the 100
watts gives me plenty of headroom to cut through the larger venues. But the
Twin weighs in at 77 pounds (knee injury has made that too heavy!) and I am
looking for either one amp or two amps which will amplify ~both~ the harp and
the guitar.
I can not mike my amp through the PA, or go direct to it, so that's out.
I tried the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (40 watts) with my harp and had the
volume and drive both at 1 1/2; any more juice on either and I go into
feedback, although it is a great sounding harp amp.
So I'll need more headroom. I'm thinking about getting away from
combo amps and have found the Dual Showman, Super 6, Bandmaster and Twin
~heads~ each have about 100 watts, more than enough to play both harp raves
and harp solos, and guitar (which I use on nearly every piece). They weigh a
manageable 45 pounds or so, but some of these heads are out of the question
as a master volume is a must, and my amp tech doesn't want to add a master to
a ~vintage~ amp. I really like Fenders.
I dial the guitar in at 10 treble, 7 middle and 2-3 bass, and I dial
my harp side in at 9 bass, 6 middle and 2-3 treble, almost opposite settings.
The Master volume is between 5 and 6 1/2.
So, get a 1978 or later Dual Showman with reverb head and a good
speaker cabinet? (I don't like the non-linear gains on the late 71- 78 Dual
Showmans). Get two amps, one for harp and one for guitar, neither weighing
more than 40 pounds? Have my knees rebuilt? Saw the Twin into two parts,
head and speaker cabinet? Any suggestions? Does anyone else on the list
play both harp and guitar on the bandstand? What do you do?
I have about $1000-1200 to play with...Thanks for the help all.
- --Dan