Penn Amplification

[jgcable]

Anybody here have one of Billy Penn's amps. Tomorrow I am looking at a 1996 (one of his early ones) Pennalizer 50. Its a 1 x 12" with a Naylor Special Design 50w speaker in it. Built in a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe cabinet. Green Tolex. This is a single channel amp with reverb running 6L6's and 12AX7LPS. Its point to point wired with eyelet construction, cloth wiring, all MIL spec components, Mercury trannys, pretty much the best of everything. Controls are Volume, Treble, Bass and reverb. Single external speaker out jack. He no longer makes the 50w. The highest wattage he offers now is 35 watts and they sell for $1899.00 Each one of these amps is hand made by Billy. The one I am looking for was made in 1996 in New Jersey.
Any info? Anybody have one or ever heard or played through one?

[catzodellamarina]

Never heard of them or heard one. Now I'm curious.

[DonP]

Never heard of them.

[veemagic]

I haven't heard of them either, but can't wait for your review.

[jgcable]

Yea, this is uncharted territory. The guy who owns it is a big Rivera player. He already has an R55 and wants my Rivera Suprema 55w.
He wants to do a straight up trade. I never heard of Penn either until he mentioned it. He sent me gut shots of the amp and its absolutely professionally hand made. The workmanship is impeccable. There are only a few videos online and not much info overall other than these are EXPENSIVE amps and Billy Penn is a highly respected player and builder of amps and guitars. I am not even sure what the amp sounds like but I am a snob for hand built stuff... especially the stuff that's built right. I actually use my Rivera and I am not sure what to do with the Penn if I traded him. From my estimation... even though the Rivera I have was $2195 new when they show up on Ebay they usually sell for around $600+ shipping. They rarely come up and always sell. Penn amps never come up on Ebay. They VERY RARELY show up on sites for sale and the cheapest one I have ever seen sell online went for $1500. It would cost $1900 to buy one new. I am thinking about getting away from the 80's arena rock metal and starting up my classic rock band again. It was more rewarding as a player even though the crowds are a lot smaller and laid back. This Penn amp would be a great platform for my OD808, my Big Muff PI and my other various pedals. I still have several great "metal" amps. I am very hesitant to get rid of the Rivera though. Its such a great sounding amp.

[veemagic]

You have to ask yourself why would this guy be willing to trade for something at less than half the value of his item? Specially when you consider he is trading for something voiced similar to what he already has. Then factor in you would be losing something that you really don't want to lose for something you have no idea if you'll like. This would be a tough trade for me to make unless I was able to try it out and it blew me away. Good luck man.

[markD]

Yea, this is uncharted territory. The guy who owns it is a big Rivera player. He already has an R55 and wants my Rivera Suprema 55w.
He wants to do a straight up trade. I never heard of Penn either until he mentioned it. He sent me gut shots of the amp and its absolutely professionally hand made. The workmanship is impeccable. There are only a few videos online and not much info overall other than these are EXPENSIVE amps and Billy Penn is a highly respected player and builder of amps and guitars. I am not even sure what the amp sounds like but I am a snob for hand built stuff... especially the stuff that's built right. I actually use my Rivera and I am not sure what to do with the Penn if I traded him. From my estimation... even though the Rivera I have was $2195 new when they show up on Ebay they usually sell for around $600+ shipping. They rarely come up and always sell. Penn amps never come up on Ebay. They VERY RARELY show up on sites for sale and the cheapest one I have ever seen sell online went for $1500. It would cost $1900 to buy one new. I am thinking about getting away from the 80's arena rock metal and starting up my classic rock band again. It was more rewarding as a player even though the crowds are a lot smaller and laid back. This Penn amp would be a great platform for my OD808, my Big Muff PI and my other various pedals. I still have several great "metal" amps. I am very hesitant to get rid of the Rivera though. Its such a great sounding amp.

As you well know, I am a LONG time Rivera player. They have TERRIBLE because most players don't know about them or how to use them properly. Having said that, I understand wanting to "upgrade" - but your Rivera is, as you know, an amazing tone machine capable of MANY tones from country to metal and everything in between. You didn't ask, but don't do it man!!!!!

The Rivera would be a great platform for your pedals too. During the last run I used the Rivera on, I was pumping the front end with pedals and the sound was amazing.

[jgcable]

As you well know, I am a LONG time Rivera player. They have TERRIBLE because most players don't know about them or how to use them properly. Having said that, I understand wanting to "upgrade" - but your Rivera is, as you know, an amazing tone machine capable of MANY tones from country to metal and everything in between. You didn't ask, but don't do it man!!!!!

The Rivera would be a great platform for your pedals too. During the last run I used the Rivera on, I was pumping the front end with pedals and the sound was amazing.

Hey Mark, I decided to back out of the trade deal. I just can't give up the Rivera. Its too nice of an amp. I have a gig on Saturday with my 80's arena rock metal band and I have used the Rivera mic'd for the last 5 shows with great success. I am thinking about switching it up a bit for this show though. I may break out my Metaltronix M1000 head and my old Crate Blue Voodoo cab loaded with 75w Celestions. I call it AKIRA. It has so much presence it actually scares me. Only 3 other have done that in that last 35 years... a Soundcity 120, a Soldano SLO100 and an old Marshall 1959 Plexi. The rest of them have been tameable. I biased the Metaltronix for 50w using 2 E34L's only in it. When I bought it, it was bias'd for 4 6CA7's!!! I couldn't put the master volume past 1. Now.. I can turn it to a little over 2.

[jgcable]

Hey Mark, I decided to back out of the trade deal. I just can't give up the Rivera. Its too nice of an amp. I have a gig on Saturday with my 80's arena rock metal band and I have used the Rivera mic'd for the last 5 shows with great success. I am thinking about switching it up a bit for this show though. I may break out my Metaltronix M1000 head and my old Crate Blue Voodoo cab loaded with 75w Celestions. I call it AKIRA. It has so much presence it actually scares me. Only 3 other have done that in that last 35 years... a Soundcity 120, a Soldano SLO100 and an old Marshall 1959 Plexi. The rest of them have been tameable. I biased the Metaltronix for 50w using 2 E34L's only in it. When I bought it, it was bias'd for 4 6CA7's!!! I couldn't put the master volume past 1. Now.. I can turn it to a little over 2.

It doesn't have a ton of bottom end but the midrange and the clarity is ridiculous.

[Texas Crude]

100W amps....lol. You hardly see those in clubs these days. I don't know what guitarists are using these days but the last two smalls clubs I've been to, the guitars were quieter than I play at home in my bedroom. Seriously. I would love to hear that M1000 rip in a club.

[Tetsuo]

Speaking of Rivera anyone play a kr7 ?

[markD]

Speaking of Rivera anyone play a kr7 ?

No, but I had a Knucklehead Reverb - the amp the KR7 is based on. I got rid of it rather quickly, it was too high gain for my tastes and ridiculously loud - and I play loud. I guess if you are an exclusive metal guy that loves squishy gain paired with a nice clean channel, it's cool. I prefer Paul's original designs, so I stay with the M/S amps.

[markD]

Hey Mark, I decided to back out of the trade deal. I just can't give up the Rivera. Its too nice of an amp. I have a gig on Saturday with my 80's arena rock metal band and I have used the Rivera mic'd for the last 5 shows with great success. I am thinking about switching it up a bit for this show though. I may break out my Metaltronix M1000 head and my old Crate Blue Voodoo cab loaded with 75w Celestions. I call it AKIRA. It has so much presence it actually scares me. Only 3 other have done that in that last 35 years... a Soundcity 120, a Soldano SLO100 and an old Marshall 1959 Plexi. The rest of them have been tameable. I biased the Metaltronix for 50w using 2 E34L's only in it. When I bought it, it was bias'd for 4 6CA7's!!! I couldn't put the master volume past 1. Now.. I can turn it to a little over 2.

Cool. I think that's a good choice, especially since you like the Rivera and seem to use it a lot.