Harley Benton GA 5
I have been looking at getting the Epiphone Valve Junior since it was released. I tried one in a shop and it had a terrible hum and did not look ath dogs doodas that it did in the magazine- it was also £120 and I was not prepared to pay that for what I saw at the time was a practice amp.
The Valve Junior is however a five watt all valve tone machine according to all reports- I knew I wanted one but I thought I would try and pick up an ebay bargain.
However....I spotted this in a magazine whilst "just looking"!
It appeared by all intents and purposes to be a valve Junior in cooler tolex and with a tone circuit! I believe this to be the case! After a bit of investigation it is revealed that it is the case with an EQ knob.
It is listed on the store as "Harley Benton GA5 guitar combo - 5W Class A, 8" speaker, 1 channel, 1 volume & 1 tone control, 1x 12AX7 & 1x EL84 tubes, 4 Ohm external speaker output. Weight: 10.5kg " And for just under £70 I am having it!
It came pretty mucn next day delivery and I pluggd it straight in! It was great straight off- Single coil tones were all great. The amp produced some bell like tones and some dirt at volume- with a pedal infront of it this truely is a tone monster!
At low volumes it does not break up ay all but at high volume it is great. I just put a fuzz pedal infront of it keep the volume low and adjust the fuzz pedal for the perect tone. It is a simple enough device- loud enough too for small gigs and jam sessions- I have gigged with it mic'ed up.
The EQ dial works the opposite way to a regular EQ- It is treble on the low position and bassy on high- play with it for slight tone adjustment or just to balance a trebley guitar.
One problem came with higher output humbuckers- The amp produced a small fairly insignificant rattle at highest volumes- now this may not have caused me any issues but I thought it may just me a dodgy valve- I had some quality EH valves a mathched pair just fit for the job so inthey went!!
MY GOD!! What a device- I love small amps. I have a few but this wins- it looks ace in my living room and the wife doesn't mind it. Blues and classic rock tones a plenty-- You could be John Fogerty playing Up around the bend on stage with this----
Seriously if you are a guitar player and you lust for vintage valve tone- GET ONE OF THESE!! Less than £100- YOU ARE A FOOL IF YOU DONT!
If you want to purchase a GA 5 follow this link HERE or click on the image below.