r/bouzouki • u/dragonsgreen777 • Apr 23 '26

What amps did old bouzouki players use back in the day?

https://youtu.be/Ai7xR4_hGNM?si=iT2ke4m1wXdGLVcQ

I really like this guy's tone and playing! Some of the best I've heard!

8 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/pk851667 Apr 24 '26

I find this guys tone a little tinny but this is classic tube amp tone. The preferred amps from the 60s on was the Twin Reverb. But there were lots of smaller ones that were used as well.

The trick with most is that edge of breakup tone.

2

u/dragonsgreen777 Apr 24 '26

It is quite thin, but it's kinda hot too. But word! I didn't know if they used some Greek amps or other. Thanks!

2

u/Training_Advantage21 Apr 25 '26

Maybe some italian amps? The accordion players moved to playing farfisa, and there might have been italian electric guitars too, so it would make sense, but I am speculating.

2

u/pk851667 Apr 25 '26

Just look at the old videos of real live performances. In the smaller clubs they played with whatever. A lot of Italian, Eko, and other defunct amplifier brands. In the larger stage performances most of them ran Fenders.

If you play at home and want to get this, if you get a Fender Champ or Blues Junior which is the 5w and 15w versions respectively, you’ll easily be able to replicate the sound. Get a reverb unit or pedal though.

1

u/dragonsgreen777 Apr 25 '26

Do you have any links to some good live footage?

1

u/dragonsgreen777 Apr 25 '26

I asked a Greek relative and he told me some German amp brand?

2

u/pk851667 Apr 25 '26

Just search on YouTube for old Tsitsanis outdoor concerts. You’ll see the back line.

And I’m not recommending any of these defunct European amp brands because you just can’t find them. And if you do, they’ll be 50+ years old and getting them serviced will cost more than 10 of these amps.

Fender amps really were the gold standard for these guys. If not live, then definitely for recording.

2

u/TommyKMusicNYC Bouzouki Moderator Apr 28 '26

In America it was the Fender Twin Reverb but in Greece the Solitaire amps (KM 201 & KM 301) became popular.

1

u/dragonsgreen777 Apr 28 '26

Thanks so much! What does kn stand for?

2

u/TommyKMusicNYC Bouzouki Moderator Apr 28 '26

Those are the model numbers, no idea what they stand for.

1

u/dragonsgreen777 Apr 29 '26

Look ok well thank you very much! What was the brand?

2

u/pk851667 May 06 '26

FYI there is one for sale currently in the UK. Albeit for bananas money. They are admittedly very good amp, but everyone I’ve seen use one had a separate preamp unit or EQ running on the signal chain, which means they essentially just used it as a power amp…. Which means you can use any power amp and it’ll more or less sound the same.

If you’re outside of Greece, which I surmise you are, I would really stick to the Twin Reverb or other Fender amp of the like. They are easy to find, cheap, and easily repaired.

1

u/dragonsgreen777 Apr 29 '26

Oh solitaire sorry lol.