Clark Beaufort: Tell me about it.

[eggman]

Howdy,
I'm saving for a tweed or tweed-inspired amp of at least 14 watts. Big Keith Richards disciple here. Currently I'm gittin' my Ya-Ya's out with a '68 Vibro Champ (Fantastic amp, btw) and a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia which is conservatively rated at 18 watts, piggyback configuration, with a 1x12 Celestion blue speaker. Something in that 20 watt power range (Maybe higher) would seem good. What can you tell me about Michael Clark's 18 watt Beaufort combo? One hears great things about his amps, but I have very little experience with tweed amps. BTW, death before master volume for me. I welcome your knowledge and experience with all things tweed.

 

[ElvisNixon]

Are you planning on having Michael build you one or looking for a used one?
I have had several Beauforts follow me home from all different eras of Clark amps. They are all different and I have a use for all of them since I own a studio for hire that specializes in vintage and boutique stuff.

I have one with 2 10’s, one with the 3 way negative feedback switch that tightens up the sometimes flubby lows. Some are the “special” model with higher end Astron replica capacitors amongst other components. I have 20 year old ones and newer versions. Some have Celestion Blue speakers and some with Weber traditional style speakers. Some with built in reverb and/or attenuators, etc.

I would recommend calling or emailing Michael and tell him what you like and don’t like and what you want in a Beaufort and he can offer you the options and advice.

I have always found that Michael’s ear is pretty much the same as mine and I generally use him for all the non vintage tweed amps in my studio. Clients love them too.

We have his version of all the major food groups of the narrow panel tweed amps that Fender made. My favorite when I’m playing is his version of a Harvard with the NFB switch, a Super and a 3X10 Bandmaster.

Lots of other great builders out there nowadays. I’m a if it ain’t broke don’t fix it guy and since Michael has been doing for as long as anyone I can think of and I can get the tweed tones that my clients and I like with the Clarks.

As always, YMMV and just my .02 good luck to you!

 

[King Fan]

Looks like a great amp. Why that model? I see the Beaufort is in the 5E3 family. The 5E3 is an iconic tweed circuit, maybe the most-built, certainly widely loved, but ironically also the one that gets the most 'just couldn't bond' comments. Weirdly, wattage is *almost* the least useful way to choose a tweed; little ones can be loud, big ones can be polite....

It might help us if we knew why you're looking at that particular model. What Keef tones/songs float your boat? Can you identify other tweed sounds you like? Steve Cropper or Neil Young, that kind of thing? What guitars/pickups do you want to amplify?

How *loud* do you need? Unless you're playing stadiums, you may want to find a small tweed that sounds like Keith's big tweeds, seen here. Nothing against the 5E3 (I love mine), but if I wanted a domesticated tweed Twin, I *might* start in a different branch of the family.

 

[eggman]

Howdy,

Thanks for the informed reply, ElvisNixon! There's a post from 2 years back here on the TDPRI forums that Mr. Clark is no longer building amps. I'm not done saving up yet, but hope to be ready to pull the trigger by as early as late Summer, depending on what model of tweed amp I want. Perhaps the Tyger or Beaufort...I'll try contacting him. Thanks again.

 

[eggman]

Kingfan,

I love the tone from Keef's "Main Offender" record and the popular single "You're Love is strong". I also enjoy "Green Onions". My Carmen Ghia with it's 12-inch speaker (Conservatively rated at 18 watts) provides the perfect volume, albeit with a British accent. I'm seeking it's American cousin, so to speak. Clark Tyger, Double Deluxe or maybe a Beaufort? I'm still saving. Should have my piggybank ready by late Summer or holidays at the latest.

 

[ElvisNixon]

Howdy,

Thanks for the informed reply, ElvisNixon! There's a post from 2 years back here on the TDPRI forums that Mr. Clark is no longer building amps. I'm not done saving up yet, but hope to be ready to pull the trigger by as early as late Summer, depending on what model of tweed amp I want. Perhaps the Tyger or Beaufort...I'll try contacting him. Thanks again.

You’re quite welcome!

He’s slowed down and definitely doesn’t build as many as he used to. I just got the tweed Webster (Harvard) from him a few months ago and he had a new Vibrolux Reverb that he was building on his bench that I was very tempted to buy.

I only passed because I’m on the hunt for a vintage version which are affordable for us given the cost of a new one. His blackface amps are amazing, but they’ve creeped up to the $3500 range.

 

[eggman]

I'll bet your Webster (Harvard circuit) sounds fantastic. How many watts is that baby?

 

[ElvisNixon]

Kingfan,

I love the tone from Keef's "Main Offender" record and the popular single "You're Love is strong". I also enjoy "Green Onions". My Carmen Ghia with it's 12-inch speaker (Conservatively rated at 18 watts) provides the perfect volume, albeit with a British accent. I'm seeking it's American cousin, so to speak. Clark Tyger, Double Deluxe or maybe a Beaufort? I'm still saving. Should have my piggybank ready by late Summer or holidays at the latest.

I think you may be happy with his version of a Harvard and the NFB 3-way switch is really nice at keeping the lows tight when you push the amp harder. The stock Harvard has much tighter bass than a Deluxe style amp IME.

The Super is another one to look into if you’re into the Keef thing. Do you go so far as to play an open tuned 5 string a lot of the time? Losing the low E string helps with keeping the lows less loose.

If you sort of try to mute the unused E string and end up with a lot of unintended low end mung, a stock 5E3 isn’t the first amp I would personally reach for. If you’ve played a 5E3 style amp and like the lows, there you have it.

Michael can suggest features to get it where you want it within reason. IE: a Champ won’t sound like a Marshall JCM stack.

 

[eggman]

ElvisNixon,

Good questions. I have a Mahogany Tele converted to 5-string open G. It's fantastic with my trebly Vibro Champ and Brit-voiced Carmen Ghia, which has the perferct volume for my living room. My gigging days are over, most likely. I have just one neighbor these days and her hearing isn't good. I'm not afraid of volume. I have played two big tweed amps and their clean tones were glorious: A Fender '57 tweed (low-power) twin re-issue and a Kendrick Texas crude, 50 watt combo, with 2 Kendrick Brownframe speakers. The latter's clean tones were the best I've ever heard. My local Guitar shop may still have it. They're asking $2k and it's in excellent cond. Seems a bit heavy and loud, even for my living room. they also have a Kendrick 4x10 Bassman in VG condition, which didn't sound quite as good to my ears. Dunno why. I'll have enough $ saved up for either of those by mid-Summer. If they are still there, I'd be tempted to get the big Texas Crude (Gusher), which is purportedly 65% 5f4 and 35% Marshall plexi.

 

[ElvisNixon]

I'll bet your Webster (Harvard circuit) sounds fantastic. How many watts is that baby?

It’s a very stout 10 watts. It definitely punches above its weight. Lotsa headroom and tight bass for such a low powered amp. The version that Clark and Victoria build is a fixed bias design and uses a fairly strange tube called a 6AT6 from about ‘55-60 from memory.

Don’t get me wrong, it won’t hang with a rock drummer and would always need to be miced live. For the studio and bedroom, it’s great.

If you need something a bit bigger, the 2X10 Super would probably be my personal choice. Although a 3X10 Bandmaster circuit is always nice. Although, and of course a 4X10 Bassman is great, but that might be too much for a small club and the trend towards much lower stage volumes.

I have always generally preferred 10”
speaker tweed amps. The custom 2X10 5E3 with the NFB switch is great.

 

[eggman]

Howdy,
ElvisNixon, you're killin' me. A 2x10 tweed Super might be the ticket. I read somewhere that Ron Wood had such an amp in his living room. I've got some workin' and savin' to do. And on that note, I'm outta here. thanks for all the helpful info.

 

[tubedude]

I think you may be happy with his version of a Harvard and the NFB 3-way switch is really nice at keeping the lows tight when you push the amp harder. The stock Harvard has much tighter bass than a Deluxe style amp IME.

The Super is another one to look into if you’re into the Keef thing. Do you go so far as to play an open tuned 5 string a lot of the time? Losing the low E string helps with keeping the lows less loose.

If you sort of try to mute the unused E string and end up with a lot of unintended low end mung, a stock 5E3 isn’t the first amp I would personally reach for. If you’ve played a 5E3 style amp and like the lows, there you have it.

Michael can suggest features to get it where you want it within reason. IE: a Champ won’t sound like a Marshall JCM stack.

A Champ into a 4x12 cab sounds glorious though.

 

[ElvisNixon]

A Champ into a 4x12 cab sounds glorious though.

Yes it sure does. It’s one of the best kept secrets of the studio.

 

[ElvisNixon]

Howdy,
ElvisNixon, you're killin' me. A 2x10 tweed Super might be the ticket. I read somewhere that Ron Wood had such an amp in his living room. I've got some workin' and savin' to do. And on that note, I'm outta here. thanks for all the helpful info.

Haha. Sorry‘bout that. You seem to be on the right path IMO. You’ll get there!