From deke@dekethegeek.com Wed Dec 11 12:07:49 2002
Subject:OT - Polytone Mini-Brute III

I have already posted this to the Hammond@zeni.net mailing list, so I apologize in advance if you are a member of both lists and got it twice.

In my quest for a portable B3 sound, I have been using B4 on a laptop, etc. I am currently trying out / using a Peavey KB-300, which is doing fine, but I have been offered a Polytone Mini-Brute III, and wondered what impressions were of this amp. I have heard that Polytone is considered somewhat of a standard for jazz guitarists, but I have no experience with them, so I don't have a clue. I have read reviews of this amp that said it is not well ventilated, and the power supply caps are bolted to the board with screws that have no lock washers, encouraging them to loosen at the wrong time. I plan on giving the amp the once over if I buy it, and tightening all this type of stuff up, along with some basic cleanup and maintenance. The Peavey has a combo XLR and 1/4" input on channel 1, and has three other channels, so it's a very handy amp, and versatile. It could even be used for a PA for small gigs, so it's worth owning regardless, but I wonder how the Polytone sounds? In any event, I will try it out for myself sometime soon, and if I like it I may buy both amps... just gotta sneak 'em in under the wife's radar.

So, does anyone have experience with this amp? Pros / Cons?

Deke The Geek