[dangomles]

I was checking out some combos for upgrading my practice setup. ive always liked the sound of the cornford amps, so i thought i should check those out, i heard some samples at cornford's website of the harlequin, and they were awesome, so i took a closer look at the specs and i saw something shocking (since this amp is fairly big), it only haves 6 watts (Class A [i dont know what that means])!!! and for what i understand, this amp shouldnt be loud at all! (i understand, more watts, more volume) . I mean, like i said, i'd use it for practice purposes, but ...6 watts?!
Am i wrong with my "more watts=more volume" perception? Anyone have heard this amp in action?

Thanks

 

[dangomles]

Oh! i forgot to mention, this is a tube combo, so, if this thing only haves 6 watts, i guess the tubes would be "saturated" at all time, then i guess i should change the tubes a lot! ,right?

Thanks again

 

[learningtolive]

It's meant to be only 6 watts, it allows you to get a really cranked tone out of the tubes without being deafened by huge volume. It's really intended as a practice/recording amp, and it does sound pretty good IMO.

 

[Kev Brigden]

I am determined to get one of those little beauties... reasonably priced as well..

 

[dangomles]

Yeah, thats what i mean, then this thing must eat tubes like hell! thats concerning me

 

[JTM45]

Yeah, thats what i mean, then this thing must eat tubes like hell! thats concerning me

No, not at all.
Good tubes last a surprisingly long time. There's vintage tube amps around that are still run with their original tubes from the '60s (although i wouldn't do that,lol).

Really, it won't be a problem at all, especially with a quality amp like a Cornford.

And 6 watts of Tube power is surprisingly loud. I've got a 12 watt head that i made myslef and it uses a single KT66 tube and that thing is stupidly loud !

It's not going to be a gigging type volume but you could always mike it up if you wanted to use it live.

Rob Balducci uses Cornford i think and Richie Kotzen has his own signature head now as well.

 

[lemongrass]

I've only had a quick go on a harlequin, but the advantages were really easy to see (or rather hear ;-) ) as soon as you crank it up... nice power amp overload without blowing your head off with volume.
Alternatively I'd also highly recomend the tipton amps "slasher" 6W switchable to 2.5W. Handbuilt in the UK, very high quality peice of kit...

http://www.tipton-amps.co.uk/

Cheers
John P.

 

[dangomles]

So i guess, that the watt measure isnt 100% reliable, i mean, it isnt the same a 30w marshall than a 30w engl for what i understand, and i guess the tubes gives a little more volume.
Can anyone explain me the "Class A" part please?

Oh, and another thing, im not aware of every english common expression since i speak spanish, what is IMO ?

Thanks again !

 

[Kev Brigden]

In
My
Opinion

Can't rmember what Class A means, all I know is that they're usually expensive as hell!

 

[dangomles]

to be a cornford, it isnt like too expensive

 

[kbh]

ive got a fender blues junior thats only 15 watts, but damn can it crank

 

[analogcreature]

my mark IV is only 85 watts which seems measly to a 120/150 (?) watt triple recto, but mine is everybit as loud as one, at least to what the human ear can tell

 

[JTM45]

Can anyone explain me the "Class A" part please?

It's complex but there's a good link i found here that happens to be talking about the Harlequin as well.
If you go down to near the bottom of the page there's a section highlighted in orange that explains (as basically as you can really) what Class A means.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun00/articles/cornford.htm

Here's a picture of the Class A head i built. It's basically the same type of design as a Harlequin but it has a KT66 valve instead of the EL84 in the Harlequin which gives it about twice the power.

 

[Superuser]

you should look at the Dr Z Mini Z too. It's small in wattage but screams tone tone dripping tone. They can be had for between $550-$700 used to new.

 

[Drew]

Jesus, Dr. Z... I played a Carmen Ghia once, with a US Strat and A Full-tone dual drive out front. Best blues/rock tone I'd ever heard.

Neil Zaza describes his Rt. 66 as sounding "like angels flying out of my speakers." Spot-on.

-D