Thoughts on the new Harmony Series 6 amps?

[ataylor]

https://www.harmony.co/pages/series-6-amps
https://guitar.com/news/gear-news/harmony-series-6-amps-h605-h620-h650/

Some nice features — analog reverb and tremolo (the latter only on the two bigger amps), built-in attenuation, effects loop, line out, master volume... not bad.

I'm no tube aficionado but it looks like these are built with more of an American/Fender sound in mind, which makes sense as Harmony was/is an American brand.

Aesthetically, they're really quite nice, which is not surprising considering the retro-modern aesthetic of the guitars they've been building over the last several years.

Based on feature set and price, I feel like these kind of target a sweet spot between Fender's Hot Rod series amps and their Tone Master series.

I've been debating between Fender's new Vibro Champ and the Tone Master Deluxe for weeks if not months, so the little five-watt Harmony amp caught my eye — if it had the tremolo, I'd be really seriously considering it. The 20-watt amp is just a tad more expensive but quite a bit bigger, which is the main reason I haven't gone for the Tone Master already.

Tell you what though, if Harmony were to come out with a new Rocket double-cutaway, I'd spring for one of those and get an amp to match.

C'mon, Harmony, my wallet is ready...

image removed

 

[Ochotona]

I came here to ask the same question because I think I need the 20w version! I’ve been saving up for a 65 Princeton reissue but I like the features of the H620 better - particularly the built in attenuator. From the few reviews I can find on YouTube it has that 6L6 sound I love in the PRRI. And 400 clams cheaper doesn’t hurt.

 

[ataylor]

Yeah, I watched that review last night and was pretty impressed! I just wish it was a little smaller in terms of footprint, I think the 20W is about the same size as a Deluxe Reverb — which I realize isn't that big, but when you're sharing a home with a spouse and an armful of kids, every square inch counts!

 

[Chipss36]

I would not touch a tone master amp.

the gtx and tone masters are all built the same way, the headers, the ribbon cables. The Bluetooth cable, all these components have fell below what
Any reasonable commercial fender product should, fender has to use glue, yes glue, no make this all work, many people have issues, many more soon will….bet the profit level is real
Good for them , in the short term anyway.

as an engineer, I tell you stay well clear of tonemaster and gtx.

and fender, best up the game!
Headers, ribbon cable, all exist that do not need glue to work…my god!

I would very much like to talk to the fender amp engineer who specked this out.

good sounding amps, absolutely built like crap.

 

[sloppychops]

I'm a big fan of the new Harmony stuff and was going to post about these amps, so you beat me to it.

I have no need for a 20watt amp, let alone a 50watt, but I'm tempted by the 5watt (even though I have no need for another low watt amp).

The Harmony site, though, shows the 5watt having reverb and tremolo controls, so either you're mistaken when you said they're only on the two larger amps or they're not analog effects on the 5 watt model. That said, the description on both the 20watt and the 5watt is exactly the same: "Onboard Tremolo, Reverb and Gain Boost are foot-switchable, and a line out jack is also available for direct recording to an external device."

 

[sloppychops]

I made the mistake of clicking on this guy's review of the Seuf offset.

Crap. Major GAS.

 

[etype]

I'm a big fan of the new Harmony stuff and was going to post about these amps, so you beat me to it.

I have no need for a 20watt amp, let alone a 50watt, but I'm tempted by the 5watt (even though I have no need for another low watt amp).

The Harmony site, though, shows the 5watt having reverb and tremolo controls, so either you're mistaken when you said they're only on the two larger amps or they're not analog effects on the 5 watt model. That said, the description on both the 20watt and the 5watt is exactly the same: "Onboard Tremolo, Reverb and Gain Boost are foot-switchable, and a line out jack is also available for direct recording to an external device."

Everything I have seen says the 5w does not have the tremolo. If it had that it's be just about perfect (well, a bit smaller size with a 10" speaker would be nice too).

 

[Ochotona]

I have no need for a 20watt amp, let alone a 50watt, but I'm tempted by the 5watt (even though I have no need for another low watt amp).

The Harmony site, though, shows the 5watt having reverb and tremolo controls, so either you're mistaken when you said they're only on the two larger amps or they're not analog effects on the 5 watt model. That said, the description on both the 20watt and the 5watt is exactly the same: "Onboard Tremolo, Reverb and Gain Boost are foot-switchable, and a line out jack is also available for direct recording to an external device."

60 Cycle Hum reviewed the 5w and there is no tremolo on it. Great little amp though and no trem is not a deal killer for me, I just wonder about headroom.

 

[Wally]

Harmony guitars…..
This Rocket III needs a neck, some pickups, some controls and knobs, and some hardware….beautiful body, though.

This one is complete..1962 Stratotone Deluxe H49 with the case…dead straight neck and no fret wear.
It carries an Aldens house brand logo.

I have a Meteor waiting for its pickups to get back from rewinds with Tom Brantley.

 

[Festofish]

Are these also being made in Kazoo? I didn’t realize they were making the guitars in Michigan until recently. I’m less than two hours away. Do they have a showroom I wonder? I should save up and make a trip

 

[etype]

Are these also being made in Kazoo? I didn’t realize they were making the guitars in Michigan until recently. I’m less than two hours away. Do they have a showroom I wonder? I should save up and make a trip

At the price I have seen for the amps, I'd be shocked if they were USA made. I do think the guitars are made in the US though.

 

[Drew617]

At the price I have seen for the amps, I'd be shocked if they were USA made. I do think the guitars are made in the US though.

China.

 

[Drew617]

*Not that I'm not GASing for one anyway, on looks alone. ******* those are handsome. I'm afraid those might be MDF cabs at these SRPs though. Does anyone know different?

 

[sloppychops]

China.

View attachment 893842

Thanks for posting this. It's what I suspected, but hoped wouldn't be the case. All their guitars are made in Kalamazoo, so I was holding out a glimmer of hope the amps would be, too.

 

[Maguchi]

https://www.harmony.co/pages/series-6-amps
https://guitar.com/news/gear-news/harmony-series-6-amps-h605-h620-h650/

Some nice features — analog reverb and tremolo (the latter only on the two bigger amps), built-in attenuation, effects loop, line out, master volume... not bad.

I'm no tube aficionado but it looks like these are built with more of an American/Fender sound in mind, which makes sense as Harmony was/is an American brand.

Aesthetically, they're really quite nice, which is not surprising considering the retro-modern aesthetic of the guitars they've been building over the last several years.

Based on feature set and price, I feel like these kind of target a sweet spot between Fender's Hot Rod series amps and their Tone Master series.

I've been debating between Fender's new Vibro Champ and the Tone Master Deluxe for weeks if not months, so the little five-watt Harmony amp caught my eye — if it had the tremolo, I'd be really seriously considering it. The 20-watt amp is just a tad more expensive but quite a bit bigger, which is the main reason I haven't gone for the Tone Master already.

Tell you what though, if Harmony were to come out with a new Rocket double-cutaway, I'd spring for one of those and get an amp to match.

C'mon, Harmony, my wallet is ready...

Haven't tried the new 20 watt Harmony amps yet. Bought one of their Model 8418 THC 5-watt 1x6" Guitar Combo reissues a little over a year ago. It is OK, but I would say the sound is a little on the "meh" or bland side. YMMV, and the new 20 watters may be much better IDK. I do have the new Fender Vibro Champ Reverb and love it. It sounds even better after about 3 days of playing it when the speaker broke in and opened up. As far as the Fender Tonemasters, I've played a few and wasn't crazy about them. They didn't seem to be touch responsive and the sound didn't seem to "bloom" like my Vibro Champ and Princeton reissues.

 

[ataylor]

Haven't tried the new 20 watt Harmony amps yet. Bought one of their Model 8418 THC 5-watt 1x6" Guitar Combo reissues a little over a year ago. It is OK, but I would say the sound is a little on the "meh" or bland side. YMMV, and the new 20 watters may be much better IDK. I do have the new Fender Vibro Champ Reverb and love it. It sounds even better after about 3 days of playing it when the speaker broke in and opened up. As far as the Fender Tonemasters, I've played a few and wasn't crazy about them. They didn't seem to be touch responsive and the sound didn't seem to "bloom" like my Vibro Champ and Princeton reissues.

Good to know — which Princeton do you have and how does the new Vibro Champ stack up?

 

[dreamingtele]

wow these are so nice looking!

 

[Festofish]

At the price I have seen for the amps, I'd be shocked if they were USA made. I do think the guitars are made in the US though.

The Harmony guitars are made at the old Gibson factory along with Heritage guitars.

 

[etype]

The Harmony guitars are made at the old Gibson factory along with Heritage guitars.

That's pretty cool. makes me want a Juno even more!

 

[warrent]

The Harmony guitars are made at the old Gibson factory along with Heritage guitars.

They're both owned by Bandlab who also own Guitar.com and Guitar magazine.