seeking info on Barcus Berry 70's Solid State AMP .

[QBNDave]

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for info on my Barcus Berry 70's Solid State AMP made in USA. I'm keen for some history and would like to learn about this Amp's specifications or how to get new sounds out of it. I know Barus Berry now specialist in pick ups.

 

A compay BBE may own Barcus Berry. I once contacted the Australian Distributor for Barcus Berry but they didn't know they made AMPs which is what I'm finding to be common knowledge with people in Australia. The model number of my Amp is 1742. If anyone has one love to chat about it located some history for me that would be most appreciated. I believe it is made in 1975 period.

QBNDave

[rushtallica]

I don't personally know anything about them. Here are a few reviews of other models in case it may be of any help:

 

 

Product: Barcus Berry XL8 Price Paid: USD 125 Submitted 07/14/2008 at 01:46am by purplecat-nyc Features : 7 It's a small solid-state amp with high- and low-gain inputs, drive, preamp, and master volume controls, and treble, midrange, and bass. 8" speaker. From 1978. It's a little heavy to carry to the semi-acoustic situations I play in, so I leave it at home. Sound Quality : 9 As a guitar amp it didn't do much; I don't like the distortion. But it's been my main bass practice amp for 30 years. I get a really full bass tone, even from the 8" speaker. It's a practice amp--don't expect to use it with a drummer. Reliability : 10 I've had it for 30 years. OK, my ex-wife's cats clawed through the grille cloth and then our 2-yr-old put his hand through the speaker--but I got a new speaker for $20, and it sounded better. (and a steel grille cover too) Customer Support : No Opinion Overall Rating : 10 Like I said, it's a really solid, good-sounding practice and semi-acoustic small-gig amp. I've gone through lots of gear in the last 30 years, but this has been my main bass practice amp. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Product: Barcus Berry XL8 Price Paid: UNKNOWN Submitted 12/04/2007 at 05:22pm by swipp9 Features : 9 This is small solid state practice amp with an 8" speaker. I'm not sure when this was made. I purchased it from a friend in 1988 and he had had it for a few years already. It was fairly versatile at one time. It needs a new speaker at the moment after years of abuse (being used for bass but even worse at full volume trying to play with a full band with everything cranked. We were desperate.) It has the LOW and HIGH inputs which I can't really tell the difference between. It has one channel but three volumes. Two "INPUT" section volumes--one labelled DRIVE, the other VOLUME. It has TREBLE, MID, and BASS knobs. I wish it had a ground switch. Sound Quality : 9 It is definitely a practice amp as in practice w/o a full band. Not a band with a rock and roll drummer anyway. I suppose you could use this for some sort of gig that is low volume. The sound is pretty warm for a solid state. It has a nice tube sounding sort of distortion. It's good for practicing in my bedroom. The speaker is not sounding so good at the moment. Reliability : 9 It has been pretty dependable. I've had it for almost twenty years. As I mentioned before it is in need of a speaker. Too small to gig with. For me. Customer Support : No Opinion Don't know. Overall Rating : 7 I've been playing thirty years or so. I'm not a professional musician although I have a band that plays out here and there. I'm into garage and lo-fi type rock so sound quality is not a moral absolute to me. If it was lost or stolen, I would not seek to replace it. Not that I hate it. It does the job fine.

 

 

 

Product: Barcus Berry 1720 Price Paid: N/A Submitted 08/03/2001 at 02:59am by Anonymous Features : 7 A small(ish) quantity ( 2,000+ )of these Amps. were made between 1985 - 1989 . The Amp is a small 50W Solid State Combo with 2 x 10" Speakers.Features include built in Reverb and a Distortion ( which I dont' use ). The original Speakers were basic and I changed them to JBL's . Sound Quality : 10 I own the Amp. over 20 years now . When I originally bought it I wasn't aware it was acutally an Acoustic Amp . I have been using it for Electric Guitar to great effect since . Its got a most beautiful tone. There is only one Input on it but 12 Controls to control Pre Amp, Power Amp and Tone. Tone control over the Pre Amp. section is one of the most useful features I have encountered on an Amp and this contributes to the sweetness of the sound. As its a low wattage Amp. I mike it to the PA for live gigging. Reliability : 10 Only once in 20 years did it give me problems , where 2 x Power Transistors and a Diode needed replacement. Mind you I do Flight Case it around and look after it. Customer Support : No Opinion The Company no longer exist. Never needed to contact them in years past. Overall Rating : 10 This Amp. is a small low Wattage Amp. for TONE Freaks

 

[mbarn3065]

[teemuk]

From my memos:

 

Violinist John Berry and an electronics designer Les Barcus established Barcus-Berry in 1963. Originally the company manufactured the new kind of piezo crystal pickup for acoustic instruments.

 

In 1979, Barcus-Berry teamed up with Robert

[QBNDave]

Thank you teemuk, mbar3065 and rushtallic for your response. Yes little know about this amp indeed.

 

I bought my amp of a guitarist from a Surf Music Band called the Alohas based in Sydney Oz about 5 years ago. He was seeking a Fender twin to complete his surf sound package along side his Fender Jaguar guitar to make the all important twang reverb sound. He had no problems with this AMP keeping up to live performances and only sold it for authentic tone seeking reasons. Its has 2 x 12 Celestine Speakers and 80watt output I understand. Features built in set distortion, Reverb and mighty sweet sounding modulation activated by foot switch set up. It

[rushtallica]

I like the look of the amp and diagonal speaker enclosure.