Savian Amps

10/12/2024

Although we always need to be grateful for what we have, globally, we have dragged along a lot of dark shadows this year. Some events that have persisted, remind me of a line in a song named “Man In The Wilderness”, by a 1970s prog-rock band Styx.
“Another year has passed me by……..

Sometimes I feel like a man in the wilderness
I'm a lonely soldier off to war
Sent away to die, never quite knowing why
Sometimes it makes no sense at all”

I am hopeful that life, love and compassion makes infinitely more sense in 2025 (heavy sigh).

Towards the end of 2024, I was fortunate enough to “play with” a couple of gems…
One was a 70s Marshall JMP MKII 100w Super Lead which was a US 110v amp, and required a near full resto. of cabinet and electronics. When it was finished a friend of mine John (relative of owner Stan) played his Gibson through it, and said that channel 1, in his opinion, was SG god-zone…obviously impressed.

Another little beauty was a Oz-made, Moody BA40 Bassman, made by Bert (Robert).Moody & Co., a 1960s amp manufacturer in Sydney - check out the photos.
Because of cheaper overseas imports and supposedly being chased by Fender for using the Bassman name (rumour only?), they shut down in the late 1960s.
The BA40 Bassman is a fairly low powered, but enough, push/pull, EL34 voiced amp (cathode biased) with a beautiful mellow, cruisey demeanour…the sort of amp Jazz and Blues guitarists revere. Thanks Mike.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Xmas and a great New 2025 Year…

11/04/2024

Here’s another interesting week to share.
A fellow musician Jay needed some work doing on a couple of 115v amps he brought over from the USA years ago.
One was a VOX AC15 which need a 240v transformer installing (just to make life easier) and the other, which is one of his favourite recording amps, is a Harmony H510, which was very much down on volume.
After changing all the electrolytic caps., and some other work, it really was a very nice sounding little amp (about 10W). The in-built tremolo and Jensen speaker just added to the warmth and charm of this little beauty.
Now the Harmony came from a collection of none other than, Willie Nelson.
And talking about Harmony, I asked Jay whether the same company also made the Harmony guitars, which they do. I first came across the Harmony guitars on a Rockwiz episode where they had an artist named Gemma Ray on. She was obsessed with Harmony guitars, and had quite a few. Now, one memorable factor about this lady, is that she plays her Harmony guitar with a knife…I’m talking about a full-sized chef’s knife.
If you want a bit of a taste of Harmony guitars and Gemma Ray, here she is doing a duet with the late Jon English (sorry about the poor quality video)… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhPschNZSDQ

04/03/2024

Now there’s something you don’t do every week!
I had a customer ask me to turn a couple of combo valve amps into heads. Reason being, he had a 4 x cab with Greenbacks, that he understandably preferred to play through, so the bottom bit of the combo was an appendage he didn’t need.
Admittedly, it was a bit nerve-racking as these were near new amps. But, with some patience, a bench saw with a very sharp blade and plenty of bravado, I proceeded to cut down the cabinets including the front grille and rear cover - I re-used the refashioned bottom panel.
It turns out, that the bench saw with a sharp blade and some sacrificial material on the edges to be cut (gaffer tape and Masonite) does a perfect job of both the wood and the tolex… the tolex being the questionable “never tried before” component.
You really can’t tell that they weren’t original heads… the customer was happy and so was I.

08/01/2024

Australian Guitar Valve Amplifier manufacturer

08/01/2024

Welcome to 2024 everyone, and thanks for your patronage in 2023.
2023 was a good year for Savian Amps, and we were especially busy on the repair and restoration side.
There was a constant stream of interesting work, ranging from simple guitar setups and tweaks, to fairly comprehensive amplifier restorations, involving both the electronics, and cabinet work.

The “before and after” photos in the post, are of a small abused (water damaged) vintage, 40y.o. amp, I restored.
It was positively destined for the tip, but it now has another life.
In its day these amps, were used by a lot of musicians as a guitar amp, because they suited the Blues and Jazz genre really well, as did lot of other well-known bass amps.

Thanks, and again, all the best for 2024.
Website is … www.savianamps.com.au Big or small, glad to help where I can.

Australian Guitar Valve Amplifier manufacturer

20/04/2023

A reminder that, conveniently located in Adelaide, we do Amp & Guitar Repairs and Servicing.
Whether you’re a professional or hobbyist musician we can help you with your amplifier repairs and modifications, as well as guitar setups, pickup installation and other wiring.
Call us today for your musical needs on 0452 525 483 and check us out at www.savianamps.com.au
Thanks and let’s speak soon.

Australian Guitar Valve Amplifier manufacturer

29/03/2023

A reminder that, conveniently located in Adelaide, we do Amp & Guitar Repairs and Servicing.
Whether you’re a professional or hobbyist musician we can help you with your amplifier repairs and modifications, as well as guitar setups, pickup installation and other wiring.
Call us today for your musical needs on 0452 525 483 and check us out at www.savianamps.com.au.
Thanks and let’s speak soon.

Australian Guitar Valve Amplifier manufacturer

28/02/2023

Towards the end of 2022 we recorded this when doing a feature on the Aria Pro II guitar. After listening to it again we decided it was worthy of a post, so we added some drums and here it is.

This post is just the short version, so if you're into the Blues, grab a drink and check it out in it's entirety (it's worth it) here... https://youtu.be/D7yPEOOD4TM
Improv recording is by young Adelaide muso James Dawes, with a vintage Aria Pro II guitar and a Savian Amps 10S, all valve amp.
Thanks for watching....

22/12/2022

Tough year, but its time to wind down and enjoy Christmas with the family. Best Wishes to you all....

15/12/2022

Dusted off the MIJ Aria Pro II RS INAZUMA-V for a play through a Savian Amp… and neither disappointed.
A very short, but interesting history…
In 1956 Aria was founded by Shiro Arai (Arai and Company) starting up, as an importer of classical guitars. In 1960 it decided to go into guitar making and contracted the work to Guyatone. A few years later Arai and Company switched to Matsumoku, a family cabinet making business, who had within their company a number of skilled luthiers.
Gibson decided in the 1970s to move their Epiphone production to Japan, and chose Aria as its contractor. Because of the relationship with Matsumoku, most Epiphone guitars between 1970 and 1986 were manufactured by Matsumoku.
In 1975 Aria changed the guitar name to Aria Pro II and added RS in models, which stands for Rock Solid.
Matsumoku, after a 22 plus year business relationship with Aria, closed down in 1986 because of a large decline in Singer sewing machine sales and Gibson’s restructuring (moving Epiphone production to Korea).
This spelt the end of the Japanese-made Aria Pro II guitars which were subsequently made in Korea.
Aria Pro II RS INAZUMA-V specs
Body Alder
Neck Maple
Fingerboard Rosewood - 22 frets
Pickups 2 x Protomatic-V humbuckers
Controls Volume, Tone, 3 position coil select, Coiltap toggle switch
Tailpiece Vibrato unit
String Nut Bone
Finish Metallic Deep Red
And why the Nirvana sound clip?…well, Kurt Cobain played an Aria Pro II Cardinal Series guitar – hear the natural grunge.
Catch us on www.savianamps.com.au thanks for watching.

02/11/2022

02/11/2022

Here's a rendition by James Dawes of the genius Hey Joe, written by Billy Roberts.
NOTE: The only equipment used here was James' Jaguar guitar and a Savian Amps SA-10S, Class A guitar amplifier.
There were No Pedals or Other Effects used in the making of this sound clip.
It was recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone into a Belkin Tune Studio PC interface and the resulting sound was unmodified.
It doesn't get more organic than that! Great job James...enjoy!
For an extended version, here is our YouTube link https://youtu.be/KJggYqLBaV0
Make sure to visit us at www.savianamps.com.au