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info    updated 15/2/2010

B-52

B52 Amplifiers

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/B-52+Pro+Audio

Image eBay:

Bacino

Mike Bacino, tube amps since 2002 in Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bacino+Amplifier+Co.

Backline Engineering

Gary Lee has been building tube amp heads and effects in Camarillo, California since 2004

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/BackLine+Engineering

Bad Cat

Bad Cat Amplifier Company

Dating Bad Cat Amplifiers by Serial Number

"The first two numbers of the serial is the year of manufacture. The following numbers are the sequence, meaning that number amp that year." [Source: James, Bad Cat email 5/2/2007]

General Bad Cat information

Bad Cat at wikipedia

About Bad Cat from internet archive 2002

Bad Cat Amplifier Catalogs

2004 Bad Cat amp catalog

2009 Bad Cat amp catalog

Bad Cat schematics

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Bad Cat Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bad+Cat

Image eBay:

Baez

Baez amps were made by Michael Sampson in Newcastle, Australia in the 1970s. [Source: Ozvalveamps]  According to the Aussie Guitar Gear Heads forum Michael had recently made a batch of amps and was available to make more (as of 2009).  Some web reports list "Mark" Sampson.

Image Aussie Guitar Hear Heads Forum

Baldwin

1965-1970 Search  http://www.vintageguitar.com

http://www.burnsguitarmuseum.com/baldwin.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Baldwin

Image Baldwin Supersound eBay:

Barber

Barber Electronics, Hanover, PA USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Barber+Electronics

Barcus-Berry

Pickup manufacturer since 1964. A line of amps from 1975 to 1979. Huntington Beach, California.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Barcus+Berry

Images Barcus Berry XL8 - eBay:

Barth

Paul Barth - Barth Musical Instrument Company 1960s. Amps.

Barth was a co-founder of Rickenbacker.

Bartolini

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Bartolini

Basson

Victor Basson, Carlsbad, California. Speaker cabinets. Since 2001.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Basson+Sound

BC Rich

BC Rich amplifiers.  Some made in Korea.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/BC+Rich

Image BC Rich amp Yahoo auction:

Bedrock

Brad Jeter and Ron Pinto founded Bedrock amps in 1984 in Nashua, New Hampshire. First 50 amps bore name Fred. Closed in 1997.

Bedrock tribute page

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bedrock

Image 1990 Green Bedrock eBay:

Behringer

Since 1989 making a broad range of musical electronics. Amps introduced in 1998 and more recently stomp boxes.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Behringer

Bell

Amp made by Gibson. [Source and image 1965 Bell Amp, eBay]

Bell Duovox

Bell Duovox was a new York based company.  A press release (I lost the link) stated the following:

Alex Carozza, a New York-based accordion dealer and technician has bought the name Bell Duovox, with plans to develop it in the future. Mr. Carozza announced the news at the Opening Reception for his Accordion Museum on December 7th, 2006. Aldo Mencaccini, founder and President of Bell Accordion Co. was present to coincide with the announcement.

The website for Bellduovox no longer exists and the archive is blocked by robots.

Images eBay:

Beltone

Beltone amps were made by Teisco in the 1960s. [Source: Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide ]

http://tone-lizard.com/Beltone_Amplifiers.htm

http://michelvilleneuve.com/wordpress/?s=amp

Beltone reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews//brand/Beltone

Benson

Benson amps were built by Ron Benson and cofounder Howard Roberts of Benson Electronics Inc, Hollywood, California in late1960s to early 70s. Only 2,000 were produced ending 1974. [Source: History of Benson Electronics]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Benson

Images Benson Model 305, 1971 eBay

Paul Beuscher

http://vintage.catalogs.free.fr/Index.htm

Bias

http://tix.gozaru.jp/stompbox.html

http://tix.gozaru.jp/other.html

Big Dog

Steve Gaines made Big Dog tube amps in Galveston, Texas 2005-2007.

Very little available on the internet archive: BigDog Amps and speaker cabinets are hand-made using
old-style building techniques and the finest materials available.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Big+Dog+Amps

Big Jam

http://tix.gozaru.jp/stompbox.html

Bigsby

http://vintage.catalogs.free.fr/Index.htm

Big White Monkey

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/BWM

Image Big White Monkey Chimp eBay:

Binson

Amps

http://www.fetishguitars.com/mrt/index.html

Amp Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Binson

Effects

http://www.geocities.com/mercerbox/binson.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binson

http://www.hendrixguitars.com/Ef022.htm

http://www.penumbra.co.nz/allthegear.html

http://www.esnow.dircon.co.uk/biog.htm

Effects Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Binson

Image Binson Echorec2 eBay:

Bird

Bird amplifiers were made for about 5 years from 1960. [Source: Vintage Hofner]

http://www.chambonino.com/modify/mod3.html

http://www.vintageamps.com/plexiboard/viewtopic.php?t=22771&sid=c5739e8d7e463158c120dea18cbfab8c

Image Bird Talisman amp eBay:

Bixonic

Bixonic effects are currently distributed by Godlyke.

Information from the archive - site maintained by Godlyke.

Bixonic Home page 2000 Expandora v1

Expandora v1 Reviews

Bixonic v2 2002 home page

Expandora v2 spec

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Bixonic

Images Bixonic Expandora and Metafuzz eBay:

BJF Electronics

Bjorns Justification for Electricity Forum

Interview with Bjorn Juhl

Image BJF Honey Bee effects pedal ebay:

see Mad Professor

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/BJF+Electronics

Blackheart

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Blackheart+Engineering

Blackstar

Since 2007. Korean hand wired amps and tube based effects pedals.

Image eBay

Blockhead Amplification

Hand crafted recreations of 1960s Marshall™ "Plexi" amps.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/BlockHead

Blue Tone

Made since 2002 by Alex Cooper, Worcestershire, England. ? over by 2008.

From internet archive:

Bluetone home page 2002

Bluetone Pro30 Combo

Blue Tone

Amps currently made by Harry Kneckt, Espoo, Finland

BluesLand

Bluesland amps were made by Tony City Eg. in Minnesota USA

BluesLand Amplifiers where originally sold in the USA, Europe and Japan and where first made in 1993 and in production from 1994 to 2001.

After much consideration they were available as custom made to order from 2004 until 2007.

By popular demand and repeated requests a last and "Final Edition" limited run of amps that will be the last BluesLand Amplifiers made.

The end result is a very rare and unusual, cool looking amp that sounds excellent and is built with equal if not improved quality, and the prices are excellent and affordable.  [Source: W, email 11/10/2009]

BluesLand 1999 Catalog and pricelist

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Blues+Land

2009 model Final Edition BabyBlues Plexi 5 watt

Bluetron

Since 2004. Tube amps by David Smith, Brentwood, Tennessee, USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bluetron

BluZamp

Handmade amps currently built in Kalama , Washington USA. Sold on eBay.

Image eBay:

Bogen

Bogen Sound Systems by David Bogen, power and PA tube amps made in 1950s/60s. Used by guitarists. Bogen is now a mega audio company.

Observations on dating Bogen  amps

Bogen schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bogen

Images Bogen GA20 courtesy of Pat Maguire:

Bogner

Reinhold Bogner, since 1989. North Hollywood, California, USA.

"Unfortunately there is no uniform way to find out what year the amps were made.

First the amps had serial numbers, then from1992 amps had a serial sign, from February 2005 on they have serial numbers again. Only sure way to determine the year is to call or email Bogner and we can look it up. There might be dates on certain parts if the amps are opened up to identify the year." [Source: Jorg, Bogner Amplification ,email 12/8/2008 ]

Bogner schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bogner

Image from Bogner Ecstacy 100B eBay:

Bonham

See Audio Guild Corp

Boss

Serial number decoder http://www.bossarea.com/serial/sndecoder.aspx

Boss Product reference http://www.bossarea.com/

Google Books - partial Boss Book

http://www.analogman.com/boss.htm

http://www.geocities.com/stompbox2001/bossdelaymachine.htm

http://tix.gozaru.jp/stompbox.html

Boss catalogs

2003 Boss Catalog

http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/effect/catalogue.html

http://guitar.webinjp.com/70guitar_catalog/boss.htm

Boss schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Boss

Boston

Boston guitar amplifiers.

Image eBay:

Brand X

Since 2004. Small solid state amps from Fender.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Brand+X

Bronson

George Bronson was the half-brother of Harry Stanley, the owner of Oahu. Stanley and Bronson were originally partners in Oahu, which had its start in Flint, Michigan in the late 1920's. A dispute between the two caused a split with Stanley moving Oahu to Cleveland in 1931 and his half-brother to Detroit to form the Bronson Music Company. [Source: jimprice06 eBay]

Image 1949 Bronson Melody King, Made by Magnatone eBay

Brown Note

Custom amps, Fair Oaks, California USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Brown+Note

Bruce

Bruce amplifiers were made in Englewood, Colorado in the 1960s/70s. Early endorsers of Bruce amplifiers included Michael Allsup and Jimmy Greenspoon from Three Dog Night.  Jimi Hendrix used Michael Allsups Bruce amp at live jams at L.A.'s landmark Whiskey Nightclub in 1968 and a picture from one of those shows is on Jimi's CRY OF LOVE album.

From Live Audio.

The head guy at the company was an electronics engineer at Martin Marietta Aerospace, The company disappeared in the early 70s.

Images (& info) 1967/8 Bruce amp - eBay:

Brunetti Amplification

"We started to manufacture our amps in 1993, All handmade in Modena (Italy). 

Dating Brunetti Amps

The last models (from 2005 --->) have rear label with serial  number,

PD (Production Date, i.e. 322006 is week 32 year 2006), main  voltage.

Older models have serial label number hand written only". [Source and images courtesy of: Marco Brunetti, email 13/8/2008 ]

Pre 2005 models                                                                Modern

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Brunetti

Bruno

Hand wired amps by Tony Bruno, Cairo, New York, USA 1995 to present.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bruno

Budda Amplification

Since 1995. Jeff Bober and Scott Sier, San Francisco, California, USA

search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Budda

Buffalo Amps

Custom hand crafted boutique 1950's Gibson style replica tube amplifiers.  Made in Dallas, Texas U.S.A

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Buffalo+Amps

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Buffalo

Bugera

Since 2006, valve amp line by Behringer.

Bumbox amps

Bumbox amps, Toledo Ohio, USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Bumbox

Burman

to 1984 http://www.burmanamps.fsnet.co.uk/reviews/pro501.html

http://guitargeek.com/rigview/542/

http://archive.ampage.org/threads/2/gagd/069936/Donald_Brosnacs_The_Amp_Book-1.html

Burnam schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

Burman schematics

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Burman

Burriss

Since 2001. Bob Burriss, tube  amps Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Hand Wired Tube Amplifiers, Hand Wired Foot Pedals, Amplifier Accessories, Custom Effects Pedals and Amps.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Burriss+Engineering

BK Butler

Tube Driver pedals

Interview with BK Butler

Byers

Trevor Byers owns and operates Byers Amps, Corona, California. USA

"I started manufacture in 2007 and all have a serial number starting at 001 and going to 021 for the first year. 2008 starts with 022. All numbers are stamped on the back tag and handwritten inside the chassis." [Source: Trevor Byers, Byers Amps, email 19/3/2008]

http://magazine.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Aug/Building_on_Tradition_an_introduction_to_Trevor_Byers_and_his_amps.aspx

Reviews http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Aug/Playing_the_Byers_Amps_Cont.aspx