Henriksen amp

Phil

Anyone use one of these can share recommendations for which of their Amp range works best for GJ guitars to still retain that acoustic sound?

Thanks

Phil

Buco

Did you this recent video from Dennis C?

https://youtu.be/cCwLi-I3ht4?si=x2UNvL4sFXZRMLrM

Phil

Thanks Buco, I'll check it out.

Russell Letson

As far as I can tell, the major sonic variable is the size of the speaker/cabinet combination. I recently bought a Blu Six--single channel, 6.5" speaker, 9"-cube cab, and 120 watts--mostly for the weight/size spec--about 13-14 pounds in its carry bag. The bigger models bump the speaker/cab combinations to 10 inches (and the weight proportionately more) and might sound "bigger," but I suspect that their foundational voices would remain the same. In fact, the guitarist with the band I sit in with has one of the older 12" Jazz Amp models, and his sound is like mine only, um, bigger. And it's a lot heavier.

The Henriksen amp electronics, especially the tone-shaping controls, have a really good reputation, though I don't mess much with mine.

They're not cheap, but I couldn't find another amp with the weight/feature/quality combination. I'd been using a Roland AC-60, which is a really nice near-equivalent with two channels, two 6-inch speakers, and good tone controls--but it weighs 21 pounds and tops out at 30 watts/channel. A very good amp, but my aging shoulders have retired it to situations where I need a separate vocal channel.

Chiefbigeasy

Depends on your pickup. If you're using a Peche, Krivo, or the like, just about any quality guitar amp from a tube or solid state will work fine. Notice that Denis is playing an electric in the video. Can't beat the size, weight, and portability, though. Most ads and endorsements you see for it are from jazz players on electrics.

If you're trying to get an acoustic sound via a Carlos Sensor or other transducer/contact pickup, you move into the "Acoustic" realm from Fishman, AER, Shertler and the like. These amps are generally at least two channels with one acoustic/mike input and one guitar input. They're often advertised as a solution for using a mike to sing and plugging in a guitar to amplify.

I'm about fed up with the transducer "acoustic" pickup quirks and am leaning into just using my Krivo for gigs because it sounds great, doesn't feed back, and fits (it's thin) under the strings of the my Dupont. (I tried a Stimer but found it too noisy (single coil) and too hot on strings 1 and 2.)

I tried a Henriksen amp (small 2 channel) and could not get an acoustic sound I liked, and returned it. That's just me, but I'd be interested in hearing if anyone hear uses one regularly to get an acoustic sound via contact pickup and the like.

I'm thinking of revisiting the tone sampling hardware again like the Tonedexter to try to get that acoustic sound. Tried the L.R. Baggs vesion and found it too fussy.

MarkA

I have been using a Henriksen Bud 6 for almost three years and have been pleased with it. I use an Audio Technica 831b mic, depending on the room I usually cut the low mid quite a bit and a little off the low. I use this setup playing rhythm in a gj quartet and also on a Gibson L-5 in an early jazz quartet with similar settings. I sometimes use an ischell but the AT gives me a slightly better acoustic sound. I use the other channel for a vocal mic. The Henriksen has largely replaced an Acoustic Image Clarus/Double Shot for me.

JasonS

They sound great, especially for electric guitars. They excel at the really clean transparent tone like you'd get with Acoustic Image, Walter Woods, etc. I think low wattage tube amps are a better choice if you're using a pickup and looking for more vintage tones or want to get into the 50's era Django sound.

Russell Letson

Chief--I wonder whether any mag pickup is going to deliver an acoustic sound, no matter what amp is doing the signal-shaping. I hear a lot of acoustic guitars with mag pickups of all kinds (I'm with a Folk Society that puts on concerts), and the output just about always has that mag sound. I've been trying to get a less mag-y tone out of my Eastman archtop (with the stock Kent Armstrong humbucker) for several years with limited success. I even tried the tape-wrap strings that the Pizzarellis have long used, since I admire John's rhythm sound. (I think there's a lot of right-hand technique operating there.)

A Selmer-style guitar poses very particular challenges, and based on the experiences of several flat-top-playing friends, I suspect that the solution is indeed something like a ToneDexter--signal processing that goes beyond what even a pro-level amp like a Henriksen can offer. (And from what I read, that's a lot.)

FWIW, we hosted John Gorka last week, and I was struck by how acoustic his Martin OM sounded through the excellent venue PA, so I aske him about his rig. I can't recall all the details, but it started with a K & K-like soundboard pickup and included a particular pre-amp and some other signal-processing gear. The result was about as un-pickup-y as any I can recall hearing. But it wasn't what I'd call simple. (My notion of complicated is using a Baggs Para-DI.)