Reviews
CLICK HERE to submit a review of one of our products.
The following reviews and letters were received from musicians who are actively using the Henriksen JazzAmps:
"Recent owner of a JazzAmp 110. I've been very pleased with how great it makes all my guitars sound. Until now I've only used it at home and a couple practice sessions. Last night I put it to work with a jazz trio, guitar, sax and URB. I usually play a Heritage 575 with Fralin pickups. It sounded just terrific, no muss, no fuss, there was that warm jazz tone I've always heard in my head. The gig was a walk-in, wine tasting, networking affair and soon grew very loud. The 110 kept up and drew questions from other musicians especially our bass player. Thanks for a superb amplifier. "
Brian Crider
"My Henriksen JazzAmp 110 is great! A fat, warm sounding amp that works both as a single combo amp, or as a second amp in my stereo setup. Thanks for a fantastic, musical product."
John Abercrombie
http://johnabercrombie.com/
"Just to let you know that I purchased the 112 from Foulds Music. I have gigged with it a couple of times so far and I'm as impressed as I thought I'd be. Great warm sound, loads of power, a real breeze to set up. Couldn't wish for more (except George Benson's hands maybe) Fantastic! Thanks very much indeed"
Glenn Shepheard
I've had my JazzAmp112 plus outboard Tweetey now for over 6 months - and I've sold all my other amps! For Jazz, I use the amp alone with an ES-335 clone. For Jazz/Pop/Faux Acoustic (a duo with a keyboard/sax player), I add the Tweetey and use an acoustic/electric hybrid guitar (a T5 clone). For Rock, I front-end the JazzAmp/Tweetey combination with a small multi-effects floor processor/modeler and play a Tele clone. The rig works brilliantly in all cases!
Tom Karol
http://www.berkleemusic.com/members/1200078
"J'ai acheté le combo 10R il y a un an et ma vie de musicien a changé... J'ai toujours le SON, quelque soit l'endroit où je joue. Un son chaud, expressif, vivant et parfois rauque lorsque j'utilise ma T-REX Moller pour booster. Finies les prises de tête à propos des réglages, je branches, j'ajuste les "potards" et go ! Alors merci à M. HENRIKSEN pour cette petite merveille !!!"
Jean-Loup BLANC
http://myspace.com/madlosa
"The amp that went 10,000 miles across China: A Henriksen JazzAmp 112 which started out as a loaner amp for a concert in Shenzhen China, wound up being selected to handle acoustic bass amp duties for Japanese artist Lisa Ono on her recent 2009 Winter concert tour of China. The tour which started late November 2009 to January 2010 spanned several cities in China including: Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chongqing, and shenzhen again. During the long trek, the Jazz amp was packed (unboxed) into countless cars, taxis, vans and trucks. It also travelled by train, buses and airplanes to each destination, often checked in as excess luggage with the band's equipment. Upon its return home to Hong Kong, the amp was plugged in and worked flawlessly. The Henriksen Jazz Amp 112 works great for electric and upright Acoustic bass, archtop guitar and is one tough amp!"
Skip Moy
"Just wanted to let you know how much I love my 112-ER. I've used it with archtops, nylon string electric, steel string acoustic/electric, MIDI Guitar (Yamaha Motif keys and bass), electric bass, and solidbody electric guitars. When I need a traditional guitar amp voicing, I use an old Hughes & Kettner Tubeman preamp in front of the Jazzamp, and that also allows me to use distortion & overdrive pedals that are voiced for traditional guitar amp tonestacks. All in all, the Jazzamp is the most versatile piece of equipment I own. Thank you again for taking time to answer all my questions over the phone."
Sasha Brusin
"Wow. Good things do come in small packages. I am very happy with my 110 jazzamp. For me this is the perfect no fuss no muss amp. I set all the EQ knobs to zero and get a perfect balanced tone out of my L5. Crystal clear tone and dead silent electronics. I am amazed at what comes out of this light little amp. Thank you Henrikson for taking care of us jazz guitarists."
Vincent Kowski
"I have owned my Jazzamp 10” combo now for about 8 months. The tone is amazing; dark, warm and woody. When I first got it, I was amazed at how every guitar I owned suddenly had their own unique tonal personality; with my tube amps they all sounded similar. Every now and then I will still take my Dr. Z Mazeratti head with Bogner Cabinet or Fender Blues Deluxe or Groove Tubes Soul-o 45 combo out of the closet just to make sure I am playing the right amp! And they all quickly go back into the closet. I use a TC Electronics Nova System in front of the amp for reverbs, delays, and sometimes compression and the amp is very effects friendly; maintains its clarity nicely. Thank you so much for an amazing amp at a reasonable price. "
Rick Wilson
"Henriksen Blues Amp 10 gives really fantastic bright bell like jazz tone that I was looking for. I'm having 65 fender twin reverb amp but I don't need to have this heavy one any more. If you are looking for only jazz amp for your hollow body guitar, don't waist your time. Henriksen amp is the answer. Two choice, dark tone with Eminence beta 10A. Bright bell like tone with Rajin Cajun speaker. I really like the sound from Rajin Cajun speaker with tweeter on this amp."
MK
South Korea
"I have had a few days now to really fool around with my new Convertible ER and I have to tell you that this is the best sounding amp I have ever played through. I was a bit skeptical about the single 10" speaker because I didn't think it would be possible to get a big sound out of it. I was definitely wrong. For the first time, I can hear significant differences in the way my guitars sound. To put this into perspective, I have owned many fine amplifiers including all of the ones that are considered "classic" such as Fender Twins, Roland Jazz Chorus, fender Deluxe etc etc. This little powerhouse sounds way better than all of them and the best part is it is sooo light!!!! Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you. And thanks for the great service too. Great company and great product."
Alain Sarraf
"What a sweet, sweet amp! Just perfect for playing 40's standards. Thank you for designing a great and sensible amplifier. I'm not much of one for compliments but your product seriously deserves praise."
Robert Fendrick
"Great amp! I play a seven string Benedetto Bucky Pizzarelli and use a lot of walking bass. The bottom is rich and full and the top is even better. No twang or muffled high end! Very cool."
Eric Peter
"Choosing the right amp can be a nightmare for a guitarist. The factors that go into the decision process are innumerable! This is why I play Henriksen JazzAmps exclusively. In all my years of playing, I felt like I found the “Holy Grail” when I discovered Henriksen. My sound has never been better or more consistent. Henriksen cares about their product and their customers. I am beyond satisfied."
Jacques Lesure
http://jacqueslesure.com/
"I got the amp today, and I have to say I'm really impressed! It's hard to comment that the amp itself sounds good as the its main intention is to be as transparent as possible, but it definitely brings out the full tone and voice of my Höfner Jazzica Custom archtop like no amp has done before. Just now I'm able to see how different the two guitar "sound cultures" are; solid-body guitars remain only a part of the whole tone, and tube amps supply the other part. The two elements have kind of adapted to each other over the years, creating one big instrument together (this is especially hard to understand for horn players!); archtop-guitars, like you wrote in the manual, are created by luthiers with a complete, full sound spectrum in themselves, only needing a clear, transparent amplification system to make that existing tone louder. Anyhow, it's a really great, portable system and I'm very happy with my purchase. Thanks again for excellent service and support! "
Jacob Matheus
Norway
"I just received my JazzAmp 110 here in the UK that you shipped to me a couple of weeks ago. Amazing - without even fiddling with any eq, I just plugged in and got the lovely fat sound from the top 2 strings that I've been looking for for a long time! This amp is excellent, thank you very much."
Steve Dow
United Kingdom
"I am writing to tell you how pleased I am with the sound and portability of my JazzAmp. It is the only amp I have ever owned that clearly reproduces all of the chord tones in my solo work, whether I'm using drop II's, drop III's or tight voicings. Plus, my flamenco guitar sounds just as good as my archtop, and I can move the amp without a dolly!"
Ron McClure
"Just thought I'd drop you a line to let you know that I received my amp a few weeks ago. I wanted to give it a few good sessions and gigs before I sent my verdict which is that I love it. The amp is just so even across all the strings, I no longer have to worry about one side of strings being to muddy or too top heavy. I think you mention in the instructions that this is one of the things you wanted to achieve with the amp and you certainly have. The singer from my band also likes it. He says it is a lot easier to sing to than my old amp, so I guess that's two thumbs up. Thanks again for your patience and quick responses to my enquires. The gig bag is fantastic as well."
Steven Forster
Australia
"I Just purchased a 10 R plus from Tempo Trend muisc in Victoria BC, and I couldnt be happier! It makes my Epiphone Emperor sound absolutley amazing! Last year I bought an 89' MIJ strat on ebay and was very dissapointed with its tone when I pluged it into my fender frontman or my line 6 amp. I was considering getting rid of the guitar untill I played it through the Jazz Amp, I am totally blown away by how good it sounds now! I dont think I will ever need to get another amp, Thanks for making such an outstanding product."
Bob Wilson
"Once again you have come through with a great and innovative product. I used the Tweety for Easter service with my JazzAmp 10 and a Taylor 510CE. It sounded fantastic. I didn't even try it at home first, that's how much I trust you guys. It didn't take long at all to dial in the sound I wanted and I elevated it a on a mic stand which made it so easy to use. Thank you very much for the fast delivery. Next Friday I'll be using it on my regular jazz gig with my Heritage 575. I can't wait."
Al Meyers
"I've been using the JazzAmp 10 for about 5-6 months and can honestly say that this is by far the best jazz amp I've ever heard. I've used many amps over the many years that I've been playing and this JazzAmp 10 is king. I've used it on gigs, recording and also radio shows, it never ceases to amaze me."
Georges Hebert
Halifax, Nova Scotia
"Yesterday I recived your JazzAmp Combo 10-R and of course all the day and night I was looking for some weak points but I couldn't find any. I have about 25 jazz archtops, from vintage Gibsons to mostly handmade guitars, and I played/recorded with the mic & direct via line out all of them in my home studio. I also done A/B comparation with my Polytones & Evans and some custom tube amps, and after all I have only one comment: Congratulations. Such a nice sound from this small box."
Dalibor
Croatia
"The jazz amp is a dream come true- lightweight, great sound, and versatility all rolled into one. I really appreciate the tonal control the amp has to offer in a variety of venues. Woofy bass notes always bother me, but with the Jazz Amp I can dial them out without affecting the high end. Acoustic guitars sound fantastic through it too... Makes you wonder why ALL amps don't have eq knobs instead of tone controls!"
Donato Soviero
www.donatosoviero.com
"I got my Jazz Amp Head a few weeks ago and wanted to work with it for a while before commenting on it. The amp is wonderful! All of my guitars, Eastman Uptown Archtop, Gibson ES-335, Martin D-18, Godin Nylon multiac and Fender strat sound great. I never use the eq, just the controls on my guitars. I have owned Mesa Boogie, Fender, Ampeg, Polytone and your amp sounds the purest to my ears. I run the amp through 2 cabinets with EV-12L classic speakers and the sound is truly beautiful. Thanks for the great product and service."
Ray Genoni
"Another convert! I'm loving my Convertible so much I sold my AER Compact 60. It has great sound quality from the speaker cabinet and when xlr'ed into the board. Works equally well with an arch top with a floating pickup, a Gretch with two single coils and a gypsy jazz guitar with a piezo under the saddle. A friend of mine came over to my house to check out my Compact 60. He's pretty familiar with them as they are the workhorse for many gypsy jazzers. They sound pretty good, have a number of useful features and are really easy to cart around. He was planning on buying the amp and just wanted to make sure it was in good shape. Anyway, foolish me, I had my JazzAmp out. He took it for a test run and that was that for the AER. The JazzAmp blew the AER away and my friend decided to go buy one. Happily I was able to sell the AER to someone else who hadn't heard a JazzAmp."
Ira Smolkin
Victoria BC
"I am an engineer, not a famous musician. That being said, I am extremely picky about everything, including tone. This is the first solid state amplifier that I've been pleased with. Previously, I was a tube guy and never could force myself to like solid state amplifiers. Henriksen has changed my thinking. I couldn't be happier with the tone I'm getting from this amp. Besides, the small price for admission is a lot cheaper than back surgery. I will no longer lug around a 60lb tube amp. The Henriksen sounds the same night after night, and I can depend on it. Tube amps are not that way. The dying art of customer service is alive at Henriksen. I've talked with Peter a couple of times and he's been great. I will be purchaing more products from them in the future. I recommend this product highly, good luck."
Robert Anders
"The 12R-ER amplifier just arrived. This is one awesome amp. I bought it to amplify my 7 string archtop, but it sounds phantastic even with my Nylon string guitar. The equalizer allows it to get rid of the piezo quack and with a touch of reverb the classical sounds really good. Not exactly as unamplified, but very, very nice. With the electric bass it sounds good, too. I might not need any other amplifier ever again (at least this is what I hope). I don't think that I will ever actually use the volume the thing can deliver. Needless to say, with the archtop it just gives the official jazz sound. But, without being boomy at all. I have found boominess to be a problem with smaller amps, I guess this is because smaller amps often bump up the upper bass to pretend a stronger bass. The JazzAmp seems to be very even in this respect. Thank you very much."
Stefan Geschke
"Just a note of thanks for my new Convertible Extended Range. I had called you with a recommendation for the right model and you suggested the extended range Convertible with a Beta and it really is a fantastic amplifier. I've had a bunch, including the usual assortment of Fenders, Polytone and Evans and the small size, tight sound and EQ of yours sets it apart from anything I've used. I have two seven-string Benedettos of different body sizes, bracing, strings and pickups (humbucking and piezo) and all it takes is an EQ adjustment to accurately reproduce their acoustic greatness. Thanks again for a great amp."
Bill Doyle
"Hi. I just wanted to take the time to let you know that my 10-Plus amp has arrived and I'm loving it. I tried it out with my ES-335 last night and jammed on it for a little while through my les paul tonight. In particularly, I was absolutely shocked at how good it made my les paul sound. You guys are making one of the best products I've ever used and you should be very proud of it!!"
Greg Conlin
"The amp (Convertible ER) is great---I love it. I used it last night in a big resaurant--first set nylon string solo---next 2 sets duo with bass player using my archtop. Warm, clear, and natural sound. Also the headroom is amazing. ... I like your amps so much that I am selling my fender deluxe to get another one of yours so I can play in stereo."
Daniel Zimmerman
"I wanted to say “thanks” for making these amps. I just got a practically new Convertible with reverb off of eBay and I have to say it is *the* finest jazz guitar amp I have ever heard. An old bass teacher of mine (Craig Thomas) turned me on to these amps and honestly I thought I would get one for my bass but I have been wanting to replace my old Polytone as my guitar amp and ended up buying this one from eBay on a whim and I am so glad I did. After a gig tonight I have been happily practicing through it and I find it funny that I ended up with all of the EQ’s flat (like suggested) – it’s the first amp where that has ever happened. So thank you – it will be even harder to resist playing guitar now…even after a night of playing double bass and my hands all tired I still practiced the night away on guitar afterwards thanks to this amp."
Paul Hofreiter
"I have been playing with the 12-R for some months now, and I am really happy. I took sometime to get the proper mix between volume and tone buttons in my Guild and your uncommon equalization (which is great, but I was used to the treb. mid, bass situation and needed some time to readjust myself to this amp). Now that I finally got the ideal mix (I also changed the pick i was using - picks can change your sound in a minute), I can say this is the best amp for an acoustic natural jazz sound I have ever tried, it sounds just like Jim Hall on those classic albums, and it is light, powerful and reliable."
Jorge Gonçalves
Lisbon, Portugal
"Hi Bud, Just thought I'd let you know about the surprise I got when I got when I plugged my Gibson "Lucille" into the Jazzamp Plus Er, it was that smooth, creamy jazz tone that I've fantasized about. Also a great country tone (delivers Gretch and Telecaster like sounds). I bought the amp for my ES-175 and of course the Lucille is solid. The classic BB King tones are also there. Cheers from downunder,"
Steve Hubbard
"Dear Bud & Peter, Thank you SO much for my new Henriksen amp! I was absolutely blown away, right out of the box; w/ my ES175 w/ chrome strings. Only control I tweaked was the power switch. Primarily a Les Paul guy, I have always loved jazz but the true tones have always been elusive. Once word gets out, your products will probably have to be licensed and regulated by the Federal Government- I can see it now: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, firearms, and ass kicking jazz amps! I think that would be a good forum for a presidential debate!"
Dave Shepard
"The 12 with the Tweety is a dream come true!!!! I am playing a Giannini CPP, two built-to-spec luthier gut string guitars and a cheapo, but okay, Ibanez hollow body. I never thought my nylons could be reproduced on stage short of a condenser mic and PA. Wrong!!!! ... Playing plugged-in Samba and Bossa has never been better! "
Ron Harrison
"This is a wonderful amp, perfect EQ for archtop guitar, great price. I must be dreaming."
Jack Pezanelli, Professor, Berklee College of Music
www.jackpezanelli.com
"I just wanted to let you know I took delivery of a new 10 reverb yesterday, from Overwater in England. I spent the whole of yesterday playing it, and just wanted to say it's stunning, it really makes my gibson 175 sound just the way it should. I really love the compact size too, and I bought the carrying case as well, which seems to offer a lot of protection."
Colin Black
Aberdeen, Scotland www.myspace.com/colski123
"Dear Folks @ Henriksen, after nearly 30 Years playing Jazzguitar, finally I've found my Dream Combination. It's my new "Henriksen 12 Reverb" and my old '70 Gibson ES 175. The sound is absolutely great and works perfect in every musical Situation. Fantastic!"
Ansgar
www.ansgarspecht.de
"I enjoy it very much, and especially love its portable package + great tonal range. I just recently got the Benedetto guitar that I was playing at the Winter NAMM show, and your amp is the perfect partner for it!"
Beth Marlis
Director, GIT
"Great sound, fair price, and quite "gig- friendly." Sign me up!"
Mitch Seidman
jazz guitarist and music educator
"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