West Amps

lzstones · December 4th, 2005, 01:20 PM

Does anyone know anything about West Amps from the 70's. Mark Farner(Grand Funk Railroad), Johnny Winter, and Dick Wagner(The Frost, Lou Reed) used them at some points in their careers. I have found one to buy(possibly) on the internet, and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with them? It is a 100 watt head(called the Grande) from 1972. The owner says that it has a little corrision on the metal, but otherwise the same as any other 33 year old amp. He said it works fine. Any input would be great.

zook · December 4th, 2005, 07:26 PM

You could talk to the builder:

http://www.westlabs.com/

Dave West is still around.

Winnie

Tim Swartz · December 4th, 2005, 10:48 PM

They are typically BF Fenderish preamps coupled to high output power sections. I question the Johnny Winter conection... I believe there is a reference to Edgar Winter's guitar player on the West website... So I'm guessing the Ebay seller may be reaching a bit (as he did with the supposedly Filmore that was indeed a Miller amp).

FWIW Dick Wagner did a lot more than Lou Reed and the Frost... He went on to do big things with Alice Cooper, including writing Only Women Bleed... Also, he did most of the great lead work on Aerosmith's Get Your Wings (Same Old Story, Train Kept Rollin', etc...)

Freedom Fries · December 5th, 2005, 12:11 PM

25 years ago Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing, MI was a LOT different (right,Tim?) and a lot rougher. I would buy amps at Wilcox Trading Post pawn shop and then take them to Dave a block away for servicing. One of those amps was a Music Man 212 -65, as I recall.

cheers,

Drew

Tim Swartz · December 5th, 2005, 01:02 PM

Yeah, buddy.... Wilcox was an institution. I still see Greg W. regularly and of course Andy B. has a real nice store in Flint ... But I understand stinkn' GC has setup shop right down the road from him....

They changed paradise put up a minor leage ball field and convention center.

December 4th, 2005, 01:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
lzstones TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 83	West Amps Does anyone know anything about West Amps from the 70's. Mark Farner(Grand Funk Railroad), Johnny Winter, and Dick Wagner(The Frost, Lou Reed) used them at some points in their careers. I have found one to buy(possibly) on the internet, and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with them? It is a 100 watt head(called the Grande) from 1972. The owner says that it has a little corrision on the metal, but otherwise the same as any other 33 year old amp. He said it works fine. Any input would be great.

December 4th, 2005, 07:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
zook Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Northeast Kingdom, Vermont Posts: 833	You could talk to the builder: http://www.westlabs.com/ Dave West is still around. Winnie __________________ I have noticed that happy people are often evaluating themselves and unhappy people are always evaluating others. -William Glasser

December 4th, 2005, 10:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,904	They are typically BF Fenderish preamps coupled to high output power sections. I question the Johnny Winter conection... I believe there is a reference to Edgar Winter's guitar player on the West website... So I'm guessing the Ebay seller may be reaching a bit (as he did with the supposedly Filmore that was indeed a Miller amp). FWIW Dick Wagner did a lot more than Lou Reed and the Frost... He went on to do big things with Alice Cooper, including writing Only Women Bleed... Also, he did most of the great lead work on Aerosmith's Get Your Wings (Same Old Story, Train Kept Rollin', etc...) __________________

December 5th, 2005, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Freedom Fries Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mason, MI Posts: 235	Dave West 25 years ago Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing, MI was a LOT different (right,Tim?) and a lot rougher. I would buy amps at Wilcox Trading Post pawn shop and then take them to Dave a block away for servicing. One of those amps was a Music Man 212 -65, as I recall. cheers, Drew __________________ http://www.drewhoward.com http://www.steelshealtheworld.com

December 5th, 2005, 01:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,904	Yeah, buddy.... Wilcox was an institution. I still see Greg W. regularly and of course Andy B. has a real nice store in Flint ... But I understand stinkn' GC has setup shop right down the road from him.... They changed paradise put up a minor leage ball field and convention center. __________________