Fat Dog amplifier FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions

Forget everything you thought you knew about harp amps!

Are Fat Dog amplifiers guaranteed?

Yes, parts and workmanship are guaranteed for one year.

Do these amps make good guitar amps?

That's all a matter of taste, of course. If you like the sound of the guitar on old Little Walter records, maybe. Most modern guitar players tend to like an amp that does screaming leads and gets loud enough to blow your head off. Fat Dog amps were not designed specifically to make guitar players happy, but maybe some of them will like the sound. How about if you give it a try, and you tell me? I'm not a guitar player so I don't really feel qualified to answer the question.

What kind of microphones work best with Fat Dog amplifiers?

So far, every microphone we've tried sounds great. The amps provide nice tube compression and just enough color for the cleaner microphones, and they really bark with the hot microphones.   To tell you the truth, even I was surprised. But we haven't found anything yet that doesn't sound good.

How loud are these amps?

They are not as loud as a Bassman, but they are plenty loud for a club gig, which is what they were designed for. The more speaker area you set them up with, the better the stage presence.

How about tube swaps? Can you switch tubes in a Fat Dog to customize the sound?

First a few smart remarks about tube swapping. There are only two reasons to do it: 1) you are trying to get a good sound out of your stupid amplifier, or 2) you are an incurable tinkerer. The Fat Dog preamp is set up with the right tubes to make it sound good in the first place, so if you belong to group #2, here's the answer to the question:

You can't do a lot of tube swapping in Fat Dog amps, but there are a few exceptions. The preamp lineup in all three amplifiers includes a 6SJ7, which could be replaced by a few different tubes mostly to manipulate the gain or frequency response. I stuck a 6AC7 in and it significantly suppressed the high frequencies, which was kind of fun. Other than that, there's not much point in messing with it. The other two preamp tubes shouldn't be swapped.

The power tubes in the different amps can be swapped if you want to. In the Model 4A you don't have much choice. You can trade one or two of the 6V6 power tubes for lower gain 6F6 to get a little bit thicker sound by mixing types. But don't use more than two of them because the filaments draw more current than 6V6 filaments. If you use too many 6F6 you may burn up the power transformer. Also, in my experience the four 6V6s provide a very thick sound already, and if you mix tube types it can become a little bit too thick for some people's taste. (I like it that way, but not everybody is the same...) Not only that, but 6F6 isn't as loud as 6V6.

The Model 2A and the Classic 40 give you the greatest tube swapping options. These amps can use a variety of power tubes including 6L6, 5881, EL34, etc. In the case of the Model 2A, you can even mix two different types of power tubes. If you know what you're doing (or ask!) you can tailor your sound by using different power tubes and speakers in these amps.

Which Fat Dog amplifier is the low-end model and which one is the best?

There really isn't a beginner model and a pro model, or a low-end amp and a high-end amp. They share most of their parts in common, but there are some differences between the models that affect the sound and playing characteristics. You should pick the one that best suits your tastes.

The Model 2A and the Model 4A are class A amps, and of course they have that great class A sound. Their strong point is Chicago honk and a really rich overdrive (not ragged like a 12AX7 guitar pedal). I think of the 4A as my masterpiece, and I love its thick, rich sound. But the 2A sounds just as good, and it's a bit more versatile. Depending on your choice of cabinet, speakers and tubes, you can make the 2A sound creamy and smooth like the 4A, or you can go way in the other direction and give it a really trashy, screaming overdrive.

The Classic 40 has a push-pull power section, which makes it sound different from the class A models. It has a greater amount of harmonic overtones and a more resonant sound that makes it really sing.

Try not to think in terms of which one is better than the other. Just pick the one with a sound that's most pleasing to your ears.

Why don't Fat Dog amplifiers cost an arm and a leg, like a really good harp amp is supposed to?

Great tone comes from the right circuit design, and that's it! What a lot of people don't know is that good circuits can be built with reasonably priced off-the-shelf components stocked by major dealers, which is where I get my parts. The gourmet parts you hear so much about aren't really better, they're just more expensive. Try your own sound test between a Fat Dog amp and any other harp amp, and you'll see that you can't get better tone for any price.

Of course the simple answer to why Fat Dog amps are so affordable is that I actually want to sell amps to normal musicians. I know it's revolutionary, but it makes sense when you think about it!

Hey, where's the tweed?

Tweed is for Fenders, and Fat Dog amplifiers are not Fender clones. Each amp was designed from scratch, from an original idea, for harmonicas, not guitars. You won't find a bastardized Bassman or a de-tuned Deluxe in the Fat Dog lineup.   So why should they be covered with tweed?

What kind of finish is it exactly, and what does it look like?

It's an industrial grade acrylic coating that's painted on, and it looks exactly like Tolex except without the seams. Really. Everybody who sees it says the same thing: "Wow! That's the tightest Tolex I've ever seen! Where did you find a guy who could do that?"

Go ahead and set your beer on it. It's waterproof. You didn't really want an amp that you can't take into a club, did you?

How come there are only two knobs on this thing?

A really good amp sounds good with only two knobs. Turn the volume up or down, set the tone control where you want it, and the amp will sound good all the time.

Fat Dog customers tell me that these amps respond to their technique and bring out the best in their playing. The overdrive threshold is right where you want it, allowing you to go from a sweet, mellow sound with a touch of crunch on the note attack, to a growling honk just by cupping the microphone or playing a little bit harder.

You don't need a "sound good" knob. All you need is Tone and Volume.

Do you really expect us to believe that you can get great tone out of cheap speakers?

I know this goes against the conventional wisdom, but yes! To get even better tone try mixing speaker brands and types. A cabinet full of good speakers sounds good. A cabinet with a mix of speakers sounds even better.

What kind of tubes do you use in Fat Dog amplifiers?

I use a lot of NOS American brand tubes, as well as some Russian power tubes, in other words whatever is available. I buy a lot of tubes from eBay. Honestly, I don't think it's such a big deal because the amps sound good no matter what tubes I use. If you want a specific kind of tubes, let me know. Or if you want to use your own, I'll ship the amp without tubes and give you a discount.

Need more info? Contact Robert Reynolds: rob@fatdogamps.com