Reviews
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The following reviews and letters were received from musicians who are actively using the Henriksen JazzAmps:
"I just received a 12 reverb combo and I wanted to let you know I’m very pleased!! I picked up the amp from UPS last night and an hour later I was playing a gig. Talk about plug & play! The amp was amazing! I left the tone controls alone and played for 3 hours and it felt like I was playing an acoustic guitar in a studio! I could hear everything! There were no annoying feedback problems, I didn’t have to compensate for tone problems and as a result I was able to forget about my gear and just play. It was fantastic! I have to admit that I’m not much of a tone head and it’s true that it always seemed the tiny differences in sound quality that many amp builders tout don’t really seem to make much difference onstage, but the difference between this amp and playing through my Twin or my Rivera isn’t tiny; it’s a whole new ballgame. It worked. Which for me meant it got out of the way and let me play. Thanks!"
Vince Brown
www.vincebrownmusic.com
"The Tweety has landed and I'm going to gig it tonight in a duet with a clarinetist. So far, from tests at home, using my D'Aquisto Jazzline, with both the JazzAmp head and my Acoustic Image Clarus head, the Tweety sounds great. I'd say from intial reactions that I would never opt to go without it. At first it seems really subtle, like you aren't sure it's on, but when I disconnected it my Raezer's Edge (NY-8 and Stealth) cabs sounded dull and murky. So, I have what I love about the RE's with this added bit of dimension and piano like "ping" on top. You had said that you'd heard less than stellar reports about it with the AI. I think it sounds great with it, though maybe not as tweakable with the AI tone controls. I don't see any tweaking to be done with either head. Just plug in with everything flat and it's there."
Dave Lincoln
"Don't be fooled by the size of the JazzAmp, it has a warm, clean and powerful sound suitable for any archtop guitar. I like that I can bring it anywhere because normally the amps with the same qualities are at least twice as big and heavy."
Andreas Oberg
Guitarist, www.andreas-oberg.com
"I first used a JazzAmp 12 with Jimmy Bruno in N.Y. at the Jazz Improv convention in oct.07. I was immediately thrilled by the even tone and response with my acoustic bass. I decided to get the JazzAmp Head and a 12" cabinet, and have been using it ever since. The separate head has also worked well with many different cabinets. My students were astounded by the sound and the portability. It has also worked well with the electric and the electric upright in many situations. I love it!"
Craig Thomas
Philadelphia bassist and faculty member at the University of the Arts and The University of Delaware
"Just wanted to let you know I am loving the Tweety! It's very cool and extremely subtle. It's like you can't really tell how good it sounds until you play WITHOUT it! It sounds equally fantastic with my archtop and acoustic guitar."
Sean McGowan
Guitarist, http://seanmcgowan.ws
"Tweety arrived yesterday afternoon and I have been using it today with my carved maple back flattop fitted with an undersaddle fishman piezo pickup. No preamp needed .I plugged the guitar into my Jazzamp plus Tweety, adjusted the EQ and achieved beautiful warm tones with sparkle on top.This is the best this guitar has ever sounded through any amp or PA .I am very impressed. Many thanks for a great product and speedy friendly international service."
Gerry Ansell
Brisbane, Australia
"Great sound, no noise, lightweight, great looks and I love the fact it has its own gig bag. Too cool! I can’t thank you enough – your products and customer service are 100% percent top-shelf and of the highest quality. I can’t believe it was less than a week from placement of order to amp in hand! I realize you’ve heard all this before, but I had to add my voice to that of the masses. Kudos!"
Mark Griffith
"When I'm on the road with Diane Schuur and the venue gives me the beat up Silver Face Twin that was used at the Blues Festival the day before (and still has the beer stains to prove it), I now just plug my great JazzAmp Head-R into the Twin's speakers and get a beautiful, expressive, warm jazz sound I can count on."
Dan Balmer
Guitarist, www.danbalmer.com
"I love, Love LOVE this amp! The tone is so clear and organic. What's even sweeter about the EQ is that it's really easy to adjust the tone to the inevitable overtone differences that occur when playing at different volumes. The EQ also allows bass definition that I have had difficulty getting out of any amp. I've never heard an amp that sounded this nice at very low volumes, such as you would play in a small coffee shop ... this amp rocks! It suits my purposes better than anything I have in that I can use it for everything from tiny to huge venues. I've never had an amp that could cover such a large spectrum before. Seriously - combined with the portability - I dont know why you'd play anything else. Oh! My problems are solved!"
Sound Island Music customer
email forwarded to us from Sound Island Music
"I just wanted to say thanks for a great amplifier. It sounds just great, it feels like I'm hearing my guitars for the first time! The thin sounding top strings on my Gibson have now got a full roundness to them and I don't have to roll off any bass, it's always been too "boomy" through my other amps. Thanks for you help, service and a great amp! I will certainly be recommending the amp to all guitarists I meet."
Dan Roach
Guitarist, Cornwall, UK
"Just received my new Convertible, and what can I say. It is exactly what everyone has been saying. This is truly the pinnacle of jazz guitar amplifiers. I just wanted to let you guys know. I am playing my first gig with it tonight and I cant wait. Thanks for solving the jazz guitar amp problem once and for all."
Micah Cadwell
Guitarist, www.micahcadwell.com
"After a very long struggle to find a warm sounding jazz amp for my in-house recording studio, I have finally found the right one. I now have a very usable warm thick "Wes Montgomery" sound that I easily dial into a wide range of guitars. Not just my L5 - but also on my Les Pauls and even Strats. The sound that this amp produces has elevated my playing overnight as I now have the creamy tone that I formerly could only obtain in live settings with a much heavier Fender or Ampeg amp at much higher volumes. I also was very surprised at how nice it works for my gypsy jazz Shelly Park macafarri style guitar. The big tone pick-up on the Park combined with this amp is terrific. Very versatile and super light weight. The amp is also loud enough for smaller club rooms. I was skeptical about the 10" speaker -- but with the added tone port, the overall sound can fill a small room like a twin 12. Highly recommended."
Paul Getty
Former guitarist with Stevie Wonder
"I wanted to let you know I played my Jazz Amp Convertible on a gig last night and I truly couldn't be happier. I love how clean, natural and punchy the sound is, and without having to use any other EQ or effects. I have a wonderful hand-made archtop and I felt like I was finally hearing it the way it's supposed to sound. Your cabinet was transparent and clear, bringing out the sound of the guitar."
Jeff Troxel
Guitarist, Wyoming
"The amp arrived this morning. Like a kid at Christmas I left work and have been playing it for the last three hours. Never has my flabber been so completely gasted. I've thrown everything at it that I can from Ellington to Santana, Jobim to The Stones. It is seamless, flawless, pure, accurate and unbelievably loud. Attack and sustain are in abundance. It's middle name should be subtle. As you may remember I'm playing a PRS singlecut with a Duncan jazz pickup in the neck. In the flat setup I've cut my usual tone rolloff for jazz playing by a factor of at least half. I'm getting a great warm sound with far greater articulation. The low E which was fat and boomy is now tight with the high E sounding full and warm. The EQ is perfect. You have created a superb product. Solid state reliability with sound as good or better than tubes in a tiny package. I can't imagine a working musician needing more."
Rick Weiss
Guitarist, California
"I love the sound of the amp and the compact size, thank you."
Satoshi Inoue
Guitarist, New York
"I used the Jazzamp 10 with the extension cab tonight on my gig and it sounded better than any amp I have ever played through. The string separation was amazing. The bass notes where clear and definite without the muddiness I get from my old amp. The high strings sounded full and round without that annoying tiny quality I'm used to hearing. There was absolutely no messing with controls on this amp. It sounded great the whole night. As you know, with most amps it's a constant struggle to get that perfect balance between the high and low strings. I was always cautious about hitting the bass notes too hard. Through the Jazzamp, I could play with any attack I wanted. The bass end sounded perfect. I tilted the extension cab back a bit and left the amp sitting straight ahead. I had no ear fatigue, even when I increased the volume. This is a really great set up."
Al Meyers
Guitarist
"I just got the amp this morning and I am loving it. 35 years as a Pro and I finally found the perfect amp. I am going to bring it to Berklee College of Music and show all the Jazzers Thank you for making it possible."
Ken Taft
Professor, Berklee
"I was skeptical that the Jazzamp 10 could be as great as all the press. I was used to my nice warm Clarus/RE12 rig. Turns out not only does this amp have a really warm jazz tone but the 10" speaker provides more clarity and definition on the low end. The EQ thing is really nice also. It does work much better than standard tone controls for dialing in the sound you want and dialing out feedback. And at 20lbs, with the case I can sling the thing over your shoulder and easily carry it and my other gear in one trip. Great amp!"
Dave Brosseau
Guitar
"I just purchased a JazzAmp 10 from Legato Guitars, and I'm absolutely amazed at how good it sounds. I've always been a die-hard tube guy, but you guys have definitely nailed "the tone". Both of my carved archtops (Hertitage Eagle and Mortoro Starling) sound wonderful through this amp. It has all the warmth and fatness of a great tube amp, but without the need for extensive tone tweaking to tame the trebles. Getting all that great tone in such a small portable package is an extra bonus. Don't know how you did it, but you've come up with a real winner!"
Frank Walsh
"Dear Bud, The convertible arrived this morning. I am really impressed with the whole package. Incredible sound, great power, portability. You have managed to nail the whole package. I'm really impressed. I'll take it to the gig tonight an give it a whirl!"
Howard Paul
President, Benedetto Guitars
"I received the amp yesterday afternoon. It is Amazing ! used on a trio gig last night it performed like no other. I'm doing a solo recital tonight and I am more excited about using the amp than playing !! This is the definitive amplifier for the arch-top guitar. It is warm , rich , mellow and lightweight. It makes the sound I envision a reality in any venue. Thank you."
Dr. Frank DiBussolo
Guitarist / Educator
"I was over Howard Alden's place yesterday and played through your amplifier. It sounded wonderful. So, I am emailing you to find out more about the amp....and to tell you how great it sounds. A clear, round sound that cuts through. You have the eq just right."
Larry Baione
Chair, Guitar Department, Berklee College of Music
"Sid Jacobs and I spent the day playing your Jazz Amp. I like it very, very much. The weight is great for everyone. The sound of my guitar is so warm. Thanks for having me hear it."
Jimmy Wyble
"The amp is now here. I've finished putting through its paces, and all I can say is WOW!!!"
Ronny Jordan
www.ronnyjordan.com
"The Jazzamp gives me a warm, punchy, natural sound on my ES175 and has a remarkable clarity and evenness across the scale of the guitar. It sounds great quiet but has the juice to stand up to the loudest of rhythm sections. Combine this with it's small size and portability and it's like a dream come true."
John Hart
"If you are looking for a truthful reproduction of the sound of your instrument the Henriksen JazzAmp is for you. After using the Henriksen JazzAmp-12 for a month now in every kind of situation I can honestly say it works for me. I feel the real test is when I am playing at a low volume and the sound of the amp mirrors the bass acoustically. I first noticed this while working with Jim Hall recently at the Village Vanguard. Jim was using Bud Henriksens JazzAmp-10 that week and his guitar sound was incredible. So when Bud asked me to try the JazzAmp-12 I was excited. You should also know that if you need volume this amp can deliver that too. One other thing that I like about this amp is that it only weighs 29 pounds making it is easy to move around from gig to gig. I highly suggest checking this amp out as it leaves its competitors in the dust."
Steve LaSpina
Bassist, New York City, NY
www.stevelaspina.com
"I got my amp, I love it, I keep thinkin I'm going to need reverb or some effect and then just get more inspired to play, to hear the tone of the guitar, the separation of the strings and notes. I remember again what I loved about hearing Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, George Van Eps.........hearing the sound of a guitar without all the electronics covering the sound.......Charlie Christian Guitar!"
Chip King
"The story with the Jazzamp 10 is pretty simple. Find any archtop guitar that sounds good before you plug it in, and it sounds exactly like that with this amplifier, only slightly to much louder. All the other amplifiers I own are distortion devices compared to this one, and those other amps aren't coming with me on gigs anymore."
Dave King
Guitarist, Compaq Big Band, Brookline, MA
"Some years back Jim Hall got me started playing through an old Gibson GA50. I have been using that funky old tube amp for so long that it has become a part of who I am. However, the Henriksen JazzAmp is the most incredible amplifier I have ever played through. I have made the switch and am now using the Henriksen. At a recent live recording date with Ali Ryerson the engineer remarked he had never heard me sound so clear. This amp is warm and rich in tone, and every note is clear."
Dale Bruning
Guitarist, Denver, CO
www.jazzlinkenterprises.com/cds/cds.html
"I now use the JazzAmp-12 on all my gigs. It provides a truer acoustic reproduction of my bass than any amp I have ever used. The five band EQ is great! It accommodates room and volume variations without messing up the tone. More than enough power for any playing situation from small room to auditorium. I have never had to turn up more than half. I own Polytones, SWR, and Roland Cube amps. I have tried Acoustic Image and for me the Henriksen JazzAmp is superior to all others."
Ken Walker
Bassist, Denver, CO
www.synergymusic.com/artist_pages/ken_walker.html
"The amp arrived today and I'm absolutely happy with it. It far superseeds my expectations to be honest. It's lighter, smaller, cooler and sweeter than anything else I've played through. I've owned Boogie, Marshall, Fender and more. I get the feeling that nothing was wasted in the design as even the small EQ scope is 'just enough' to get the tones. I can't see using anything else for some time. My only concern with the amp is that now I don't have an excuse for bad tone!! I guess the rest is up to me."
Mike Relf
Guitarist, UK
"The Henriksen JazzAmp is unique among jazz guitar amplifiers. Why? It is the only solid state amplifier that has a
warm sound like a tube amp and also lets the natural acoustic sound of the instrument come through clearly. It takes
a little getting used to the frequency controls, as we are all so used to using tone controls. However, the frequency
controls allow for a much more natural selection of the sound, and I am very tuned into them now.
At low volume, with my hollow body jazz guitar, I do not even need any reverb (and I like reverb!) and can play
in a very quiet, intimate setting and get a real sound and presence. At higher volumes I like to use a reverb
pedal to include some reverb in the sound, as the amplifier does not come with reverb. Although I sometimes
wish the amplifier had reverb, for the price and size, and knowing that everybody likes their own reverb sound,
it makes sense to leave it out. Compared to my Heritage Kenny Burrel amp or my Fender Deluxe, both of which
are tube amps, I usually take the Henriksen JazzAmp to the gig. And just because it is small and easy to carry
doesnt mean that it cannot get loud it is louder and cleaner than either of the two other amps much to my
surprise. Kudos to Henriksen for developing a solid state amp that really works for jazz guitarists."
Dave Corbus
Guitarist, Boulder, CO
www.davecorbus.com
Note: Dave Corbus Teaches graduate jazz guitar students and jazz history at the University of Colorado
"I have received my Henriksen JazzAmp-10 and here are a few first impressions. It is very small and light (20lbs) so its a joy to carry. It has a volume knob and 5 EQ knobs. No reverb or tone controls. I plugged in without adjusting the EQ at all. Flat. I used a Heritage Golden Eagle thinline with Seth Lover Humbuckers. Quite honestlyit sounds really good!! Very warm and natural, with that nice bloom to the single notes, very much like my 15W all tube Velocette. I dont even miss the reverb! Here is how I hear it so far. I like it better than my Polytone (more natural, less boxey) and better than my Clarus 1R with Acoustic Image cabinet. I also think it sounds better with the archtop than my AER Compact 60."
Larry Camp
Guitarist, St. Petersberg, FL
www.larrycamp.com
"I own or have owned Evans, Clarus and Polytone amps, plus vintage Fenders and Gibsons. For me this amp surpasses all of them in its ability to sound instantly great with all my guitars, all of which have slightly different EQ needs. The weight and size are just right -it's ''plug-in-and-play great'' jazz sound. Plus, the Henriksens are great to deal with when importing to the UK - couldn't have been more helpful'
Chris Metcalfe
Guitarist, UK
"I've been using the Henriksen Jazz Amp for about 6 months now. No one has really
been successful designing an amp for the jazz guitar prior to Bud Henriksen, Polytone has been merely the default choice. The Henriksen is incredibly responsive, warm and almost freakishly powerful. I play a relatively unexceptional hollow body jazz guitar on gigs and with a moderate amount of tweaking this amp gives it a huge, rich sound.
I've also played a really nice Sadowski and an L5 through this amp and again, with a
little EQ adjustment the amp gets the hell out of the way and allows all the
overtones from a nice archtop to ring through. I also use it for solo
gigs on my Takamine classical - I just boost the 1K knob a bit and get warm
and distinct highs and high mids and a well-defined bass response.
Once, being almost late for a dance band gig, I had to set up my rig with
three minutes until the downbeat. The very heavy Mesa Boogie was in the trunk, along
with an equally bulky effects rack. The Jazz Amp was in the back seat (10lbs? Not much more if at all). I grabbed it, a patch cord and a Stratocaster and made the start of "Dancin' in the Street" - I didn't bother getting the Mesa on the next set break.
Whether or not to get one of these amps should be a non-issue; forget the Polytone, the $2000 boutique tube amp, Acoustic Image or whatever - this amp sounds great, is not the price of a new transmission, and doesn't cause permanent physical disfigurement when you carry it in your left hand.
Great amp."
Bill Kopper
Guitarist, Boulder, CO
www.billkopper.com
"I have owned the Henriksen Jazz Amp 10 inch model for sometime now. I was fortunate to be included with
the research trial period and had one of the first Henriksen 10 models. I used it for two weeks and really
liked it. I knew after the first week I would be purchasing one when they became available!
The EQ controls are very usable and give me many options for frequency changes. I play a tapped tuned
hand carved archtop with a floating pickup and the Jazz 10 really has a warm sound with plenty of clean
power. A very natural clean precise sound that is pleasing to the ear! I also use a Telecaster for some pop
oriented performances and the Jazz 10 also works out great for these particular gigs. I can get a real
authentic Tele tone when using the bridge pickup and a super warm sound when using the neck pickup.
I use the amp daily during teaching and perform with it a few nights a week. It already has many hours on
it and it really sounds great. The amp is built really well and has a huge sound for it's size and weight.
It also looks good. I could not be any happier with it! Oh, I also play my mandolin through it. You can set the
EQ controls for a nice warm mandolin tone or you can set them up to get a nice chirping sound for bluegrass.
Very versatile!
A huge thank you to Bud and Peter at Henriksen Jazz Amps!"
Delbert Walling
Guitarist, Coldwater, MI
www.delbertwalling.com
"Wow!! Huge sound from a little amp. I play limited jazz and a lot of folk and light rock. I mostly use a flat top, both a Martin and an Ace with active pickup. I have never heard these guitars sound this good through an amplifier. More than worth the money."
Jerome Krentel
Guitarist, Covington, LA
"I play around town on a 7 string guitar built by Greg German, the 7th string is tuned to a low G. It gets pretty rumbly usually. ... I played through the 12" and it was awesome, the bass was thick and the highs clear. ... I spent the entire day in my living room with a bunch of amps comparing the sounds. Your amp was the best no comparison. I have played through a Schertler Unico for the last couple of years and loved the versitility, but had some sketchy tonal features...I think I am going to put the Unico on Craigs list as a fundraiser for your amp."
David Thomas Bailey
Denver, CO
"This is the finest amp I've ever play through. Warm, clear and loud. Really a jazz guitar amp. Thanks and congratulations for your great job."
Manolo Rosa
Spain
"The Henriksen Jazz Amp 10 is an excellent amp and in a small, easy to carry package too. This is a favorite gigging amp. Incredible power for it's size, great acoustic sound. I really appreciate the old school integrity of this amp."
Bruce Thorn www.brucethorn.com
Chicago
"I just recently obtained a Jazz Amp 10 from Jeff at J. Hale Music. I made the purchase over the internet without first playing one. I wasn't worried as I've purchased many items from Jeff and trust his opinion. Jeff knows what I like and don't like....and I definitely like this little amp. BTW, Jeff is the best dealer on the planet. I did a quick side to side comparison of the the Jazz Amp 10 against my Heritage Kenny Burrell Freedom Amp. I think the Jazz Amp 10 sounds just as good if not better than the Freedom. The Jazz Amp 10 has the benefit of being lightweight and it is very quiet. The controls are easy. I keep all of the filters set to 0 dB and my guitar sounds perfect. While I was experimenting with the controls I did notice that if I turn the 100 Hz filter all the way up (+10 dB) I can pick up a radio station. This isn't an issue as I'll never use the amp like this. I'm always buying and selling gear and trying new things out. The Jazz Amp 10 is on the top of my do not sell list. I think it’s a keeper."
Don MacArthur
"On my first gig, the room was crowded and noisy. I have a bass player playing an Azzola upright and a sax player. My initial feeling upon playing the first tune was that of confusion. I felt too much mid range and I wondered if the sound was just disappearing. My friend who was in the restaurant told me it sounded fine. I was still questioning the new amp. I recorded the gig with my Edirol portable digital recorder. When I got home and heard the recording, I was so incredibly happy with the sound of the Jazz Amp that I could not see straight. What a wonderful, perfectly engineered amp it is. It captures the true sound of the instrument. I love this amp."
Brad Malinowski
Laguna Beach, CA
"Dear Peter, I've now used the new amp on several gigs and I am absolutely delighted with it. The most significant thing is that other musicians, (non guitarists), have made unsolicited compliments about the sound such as "your guitar sounds like an acoustic, but louder" and " it's so nice to be able to hear all the notes in the chords". There is more than enough headroom to cope with gigs large and small. I'm over the moon with it. Thanks to you and you organisation I have no more amp worries at all."
Geoff George
"Hi Bud, I successfully took delivery of the amp some days ago. Initial impressions are very favourable indeed. I have gigged it with my Wan Bernadel Bass fitted with Realist and Underwood pickups (switchable - not both together!). It works very well with both although, of course, it has a different sound according to which p/u is used. The Realist is punchy and full-bodied, while the Underwood is brighter and cuts through the mix better. What amazes me is how little volume control I'm using (9 o'clock max so far). I can't wait to do a bigger hall so I can turn it up a bit more. In such a situation my Gallien Krueger would be running out of headroom. You are most welcome to quote my telephone number to any Brits who express interest and may like a demo."
Roger Davis
"Hi Peter, just to let you know that the amplifier arrived safely this morning. My first impressions are very good, what a fantastic amp! I have always found that if you plug into an amplifier with all the controls set flat and you immediately like the sound then it is going to be fine. So I did that and the sound from my Foster 7 string was amazing, it is the first time I think I have heard the guitar, electrically, sounding the way it should. It is also the first time I haven't had to reduce the treble drastically, using the guitar tone control. I had the treble full on and was still getting a beautiful mellow sound without losing the body of it, which is generally what happens when you start to use the guitar tone control to excess. When I started to experiment with the equalisation, the sound was even better. I found the 300 Hz particularly effective. Boosting it slightly seems to increase the warmth and fullness of sound; I have to confirm that the comments of your endorsers, on your website, are all correct and I have to agree wholeheartedly with what they say. So thanks for producing such a fine amplifier, I think you are making a lot of jazz guitarists very happy!
Tony Marshall
Bud, thanks for a truly remarkable product! In the jazzamp 10 I have finally found the solution I searched many years for. Remarkably rich, complex and flexible tonal possibilities for emulating others or creating your own. And somehow, you have solved the feedback problem we all face with our archtops. Great engineering, execution, and value. Thank You!!!
Tom Jasinski
New York
Jazz and Classical guitarist
I love your amp! I play Jazz Harmonica, through all the years of playing through amps, the JAZZAMP made my jaw drop, it is one of the best amps i've ever played. It plays clean at such high volumes with amazing feedback resistance, the minute I played through one I knew I had to have one. I know it wasn't really designed for harmonica but Wow!
Jonathan Millett
Harmonica