Ampaddict
Well-known member
Anyone have a modded amp by Harry Kolbe?
locoed
Well-known member
Haven't heard about him in a long time,since he made those preamps.Glad to see some folks
remember him.
Does he still work on amps?
remember him.
Does he still work on amps?
Filter500
Active member
I had a JCM 800 2204 which was Kolbe modded. I didn't have the work done, I just bought it that way. From what I hear, he has a pretty bad reputation business-wise. The mod cleaned up the preamp from what I could tell, and added a little black ss box in the preamp which hit sort of like a boost. It didn't have above average gain for a JCM 800, maybe even a little less. The power section was pretty lively and big sounding, and the amp had a bright tone overall with good string definition.
I sold it in '03 and bought a JCM 900 SL-X 2500. Here are some pics of the amp that the seller sent me of the Kolbe 2204 before I bought it:
I sold it in '03 and bought a JCM 900 SL-X 2500. Here are some pics of the amp that the seller sent me of the Kolbe 2204 before I bought it:
IntenseJim
Active member
I went to Harry's shop years ago, maybe the late 1990s? His amps sounded very good but he was very very opinionated and tended to put down most amps that we discussed.
His reputation was not sterling unlike some folks who have impeccable reputations.
His reputation was not sterling unlike some folks who have impeccable reputations.
Ampaddict
Well-known member
Filter500":3l8093d5 said:I had a JCM 800 2204 which was Kolbe modded. I didn't have the work done, I just bought it that way. From what I hear, he has a pretty bad reputation business-wise. The mod cleaned up the preamp from what I could tell, and added a little black ss box in the preamp which hit sort of like a boost. It didn't have above average gain for a JCM 800, maybe even a little less. The power section was pretty lively and big sounding, and the amp had a bright tone overall with good string definition.
I sold it in '03 and bought a JCM 900 SL-X 2500. Here are some pics of the amp that the seller sent me of the Kolbe 2204 before I bought it:
thanks that is some great info. That says a lot if you traded a 900 for it!
boof
Member
I see a few of his modded amps around in Tokyo not many though. 2 amps and 2 1x12 speaker cabs that I see right now for sale.
Ampaddict
Well-known member
Your friend Google or are you out there?boof":1traavie said:
boof
Member
Ampaddict
Well-known member
boof":3cu5bdz1 said:
Thanks I found that from Google as well.
Wonder what that price in USD is.
boof
Member
Ampaddict":11ok6o4x said:
http://www.digimart.net/inst_detail.do? ... DS00637834
199,500 = $2164
http://www.digimart.net/inst_detail.do? ... DS00504620
189,000 = $2050
http://www.digimart.net/inst_detail.do? ... DS00816728
62,400 = $676
and yes I am out here....
Ampaddict
Well-known member
boof":jwtjro69 said:
Awesome thanks! Go check 'em out. Bring a camera and take some videos.
Ampaddict
Well-known member
I want one of those!boof":u7eh0o29 said:
R
robertkoa
Member
In the late eighties in a studio in Miami one of the guys got the little attenuator he used to make- a little thing with a handle in a nice box - we played through it and it worked very well even at the very low volumes I like to play at.
Did real crunchy and distorted stuff real well at low volume ( as attenuator and load box for tube amps ) - "Silent Speaker" I think.
I remember talking to him before we ordered it-pretty scientific nice guy as I recall. It was $200.
This was in the eighties and I think it had a reactive load, we took a couple of tube amps way way down in volume and it sounded very good. I think we also ran it direct into the board and into the big Lexicon Digital Reverb box- very nice little Rig.
Did real crunchy and distorted stuff real well at low volume ( as attenuator and load box for tube amps ) - "Silent Speaker" I think.
I remember talking to him before we ordered it-pretty scientific nice guy as I recall. It was $200.
This was in the eighties and I think it had a reactive load, we took a couple of tube amps way way down in volume and it sounded very good. I think we also ran it direct into the board and into the big Lexicon Digital Reverb box- very nice little Rig.
SFW
Well-known member
I had a JMP 2203 that he modded. It sounded great for leads, but was muddy as hell on the rhythms. I dumped it shortly after I got it.
P
philnz
New member
Page Hamilton used a Kolbe modified Marshall early on.
I much prefer his VHT/Fryette tone he uses now
I much prefer his VHT/Fryette tone he uses now
Ampaddict
Well-known member
I thought Henry was involved w Atomic Amps. Fractal Audio....
M
mobyp
New member
He modded my JMP II (and was reasonable to deal with). I love this amp. I discover things about it every day. Setting up a new rig, Barry at XTS told me Harry puts trim pots on his loop so I could adjust it down to gtr level for a strymon pedal. Fantastic.
killertone
Well-known member
I remember there being a "Harry Kolbe stole my Amp" thread years ago on HCAF. I also remember him having a terrible repuation as far as turnaround times and communication. Never dealt with him personally, those are just the stories I saw quite a bit years ago.
M
mobyp
New member
When I got my amp back from Kolbe, I didn't like it at all. It basically sat in a corner for a few years, or I used it for a power amp. I didn't really understand how to use it. About 15 years later, I pulled it out to use again and sweet god it's the most incredible amp. The hi-gain channel is good, but it only works really well when the amp is cranked. But as a platform for pedals, and clean tones, this thing is incredible. It just sings. Every gig I have, I fall more in love with it. It seems to run hot.
Here's a local jazz guy who plugged his 335 into my rig. Basically, 335 - plimsoul (gain at around half) - mem man delay - Marshall (with a rev pedal in the loop).
Here's a local jazz guy who plugged his 335 into my rig. Basically, 335 - plimsoul (gain at around half) - mem man delay - Marshall (with a rev pedal in the loop).