A Saturday Amp Taste Test
with Gary "Sonny Jr." Onofrio

April 28th Carlos Colina, Larry Graham and myself jammed into Ken Oettinger's car to go up to Connecticut to help Ken buy an amp.

These amps are probably still available - except for the Brown Lectrolab. Contact Gary at [email protected] for prices.

These are a White Lectrolab a Gibson.

Above is a Masco PA head with a Jensen cab and another Gibson.

On the left is a very cool Rickenbacker triple 8 (my favorite) and the brown Lectrolab that we brought home is on the right. The Lectrolab was very bright and sounded like it could easily cut through the guitars. The story is that James Cotton toured using the same model.

These speaker cabs were in the corner. I wish that I had brought money.

By far the best amp Gary had was this 1960 Chocolate Concert, but the price was a little too much for us.

Here's Carlos Colina checking out the GA-20.

Gary "Sonny Jr." Onofrio setting up the Rickenbacker.

Ken Oettinger taste testing - decisions - decisions. Actually you couldn't make a mistake. All of the amps were pristine and sounded great.

Gary demonstrating some excellent chops.

Gary had this old 3 record set (Yes, they are records not CDs) of Little Walter Originals including some cool out takes. Some of these I have never heard anywhere else. If anyone has this, Please, Please make me a copy on tape or MP3. Gary is not set up presently to dub it to tape, but he promised me he'd do it someday.

 

 

 

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I cleaned up my tab for Sonny Boy's Help Me and made it into a short book. There's a Kindle version for 99 cents, and if you buy the paperback you get the Kindle free.

Playing "Help-Me" In the Style of Sonny Boy Williamson II: A step by step, note for note analysis of some of Sonny Boy's Signature Riffs

 

Copyright 2021 by Keith P. Graham
Data found here has been created or collected over the last 30 years by Blues Harp enthusiast, Keith P. Graham.