Henriksen Blu 6 Amp Review
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- Опубліковано 2 чер 2024
- This is my review of Henriksen's Blu 6 amplifier. I'll cover the things I liked and various features of the amp. I'll also be performing on the amp to demonstrate its great sound!
Disclaimer: I did NOT get paid to do this review.
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This type of amp is ideal for those of us who are getting a bit 'long in the tooth'. I've had AC30s, Princetons, a Laney head a 2x12 cabs....I'm 65 now and I simply don't want to drag big heavy gear around anymore. I use an acoustic and a Schertler Unico at the mo and even the Schertler is starting to feel a bit heavy. You wheel in a combo these days with a 1 x12 in it, strap on the old Strat, and everyone thinks, 'oh no, I'm off', cos it's simply too loud for most of the places I play in. Yes, I know, if it's too loud, you're too old', but then, yes, I am! 😂Smaller is better!
Very nice review! I've had my Blu 6 for about 18 months now and still love the tone. I never thought that I'd use the headphone jack, but yep! You forgot to mention the DI out - super useful for gigging with a singer and a mixing board. I, too, found the lack of bass underwhelming....so...I modded an old Klipsch subwoofer from a ProMedia 2.1 that I had hanging around...I ripped out the dead amp and installed a 1/4" jack to the speaker. I placed the Blu 6 on top of the subwoofer - and voilà! Much better bass response! Very nice playing too, btw :)
Very good review, sounded honest. 👍
Thanks for this review and you have some nice chops as well . GD
The Bud 10, still portable but a bit fuller sound.
An excellent amp indeed. I purchased it a few months ago because I was interested in a Polytone-type amplifier, and this one turned out to be even better. However, I've decided to sell it as I no longer have use for its high volume or the convenience of transporting it.
Great review!
Appreciate that!
Great vid, again. It would be cool to hear you discuss how you get your sound (in general). I love your sound on "The More I See You" on your album. Is that mic'd on the guitar and the amp? Is that the Benedetto through a Deluxe Reverb? Or are there so many layers of studio micing, compression, etc that it's hard to really advise how to achieve this sound in my living room ? Ha ha. Thanks for all you do!
hmmmm that could be a good idea! If your ever interested in a more detailed description of that recording process, just message me through my website and I'll give you a more detailed answer!
Great review! Thanks for this video. I was just considering getting a blu six.
Do you have any experience with quilter amps and how they would compare with the Henrikson? I’ve read comments that people think that a Quilter is more “Fender-like” Than a poly tone or Henriksen but I wondered about your thoughts. Thanks again
Its all about how you eq the amp. they all can sound just like a fender if you have the right eq. the quilter makes it easy because they have a setting for that.
I've brief used (most listened to) the Quilter amps through Randy. He started using them just as I left Michigan. You can hear him on it on the "bouncin with bud" video we did together. I like quilter too! Still seems like for the "all-in-one" package the blu is great, but the quilter you can mix and match heads and cabinets which is nice. I personally just wanted the most portable/best sounding thing I could get as recently things have been more mobile than before.
hi, for this type of sound, you have also Roland Cube 60 Chorus from eighties. Approx 100 dollars and a 12" speaker. Regards from Belgium
Thanks for that suggestion! The cubes are great!
Thanks for the review. Why did you exclude it from your collection of amps that you would gig with? What is the reasoning?
Hi Mark thanks for your comment! I'm not sure if I remember that list... haha. If it was in the past it was because I didn't know about the Blu. I've own a henriksen in the past and didn't quite like the sound, but the newer ones seems to be a bit better to my ears. This is a great gigging amp, but I wouldn't record with it. That would left to the fender deluxe!
Nice to find you frolicking around. Don't crash into anything.
@@markslist1542 probably to late for that! haha
I've played this amp and I concur with Nathan. However, I just wanted to add that I've found that getting a neo 15" speaker with cabinet and head will solve all the issues that he lists. Its a few more pounds and a bit bulkier but it sounds huge(think Wes with a Standel) and with an acoustic image (2.4lb) head will be light enough and loud enough for any situation.
Thanks for that insight! Might be helpful for others searching for the perfect lightweight amp. I personally like the “all in one” aspect of the blu, but I do have the deluxe which is still my main amp. For others not wanting to have two amps that could be another option.
Because of this video, I ordered one 🙂
Happy to hear it! I'm sure you will enjoy the new found gig freedom (from heavy amps) as much as I have!
With a solidbody, or even a thin line hollowbody, I would still want a 12” speaker
I can understand that for sure
My 335 sounds great through the Blu 6!
A groundlift switch should definitely be added to this amp (something I wrote directly to Henriksen after I got mine). It's also worth mentioning the combined jack/XLR input with 48 volt phantom power. Great if you're using it also with acoustic guitars and to use a condenser mic on the guitar. Regarding the volume, as others have mentioned, if you add an external cab the volume increases significantly, also due to the class D type amp that gets louder at 4 ohms overall impedence. Regarding the boxiness, this amp actually records really well and also works well miced up into a PA, both for straight jazz sound as well as for more rock oriented overdriven sounds (tweeter off then though).
Without even knowing I figured this was a class D. As a sound engineer I have mixed self powered speaker systems equipped with class D amps.
Would you consider this an upgrade for archtop over AER 60?
Thanks for your comment! My mentor Randy Napoleon used the AER 60 a lot and personally I like the sound of the Blu a bit better. So sound wise yes (for me). I think acoustic guitars sound better through the AER though. The blu also has that bluetooth feature which I really like actually! The Blu is also so light. I got it so I could play wherever I wanted, especially now going back in forth between my house and the school. Both amps are great, it's just want you find more appealing for your sound and your mobile situation.
@@NathanBortonMusic Thanks! I have the AER 60 and am very happy with it, especially the practicality is great. I actually lately thought about getting something less practical, like the GA-50 clone by Raezer Edge :)
Sounds pretty good to me. I would have to hear it side by side with Deluxe reverb.
For sure! They would be very different sound, and I would say, used for different purposes. Both are great though!
Polytones are very positive
I think so too!
I'm not saying it's not a nice amp, it is.
But you can get a used F-150 that runs for the same amount of money.
I can defiantly understand that. They are a bit pricey, however I have never seen one of these amps have problems (when used/cared for properly) so, at least from my experience, you get what you pay for. There are way cheaper alternatives, but I find that the sound from other small amps (DV, Quilter, etc...) just isn't stand up. However, I recently tried the Dream 65 pedal and WOW that thing is amazing. I would be interested to see what that does to cheaper amp! It sounds amazing through my blu though!
My older Henriksen JazzAmp 110 ER just sounds dull. A lot of money for a lemon. No more Henriksen for me.
Sorry to hear that :( In the video I actually talked about not liking my old Henriksen either. I do think these newer versions are a lot better sounding. If you ever have the chance to try one of their new models out, please let me know what you think!
But, that being said, the Blu 6 is cheaper and sounds awesome...
Both are true!
Sounds a bit boxy to my ear
Hi Keenan. Thanks for your comment. Yes, I could see where you are coming from. Compared to my deluxe reverb it defiantly is more boxy sounding. However, I think the main point of this amps existence is to have an "all-in-one" compact unit. There are other amps that sound a bit more open (AER and Quilter), but those amps lack a bit of the depth the blu has (as well as the size). In person it does sound a bit less boxy. The tweeter really helps on that end... I think some other commenters have suggested other various amps in this same market that could fit the bill better? I might do another performance focused video with the blu and really try and dial in the recorded tone!