Risson Amps

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 9 Aug 2006 2:29 am

I recently discovered that the amp Al Perkins used with Manassas was a Risson Amp. Does anyone around here know anything about these amps? Power? Specs? Features? Controls?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 9 Aug 2006 4:59 am

Thought I'd seen the name before!
http://rissonamplifiers.com/_wsn/page5.html

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 9 Aug 2006 10:17 am

Very expensive boutique amps. Al loves them. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 09 August 2006 at 02:55 PM.]

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 9 Aug 2006 4:57 pm

I saw the web site, but he only talks about the tube amps, not the solid state steel amps. Does anyone have a good picture of one of those amps?

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 9 Aug 2006 5:42 pm

Didn't I read somewhere on SGF that the short-lived ZB amp was made by Risson (ties into the Al Perkins/Tom Brumley connections perhaps?)

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 10 Aug 2006 7:23 pm

I honestly thought this was a gag.

When McGuinn and band used Risson amps in the 70's it HAD to be an endorsement deal. Never heard such icepick treble and nasty, raspy distortion (unintentional) in my life. I thought they were dead and buried a long time ago. I haven't seen one in 10 years - for about $150 in a pawn shop. I wouldn't have touched it.

Well, if Al is using new ones I assume something has drastically changed since the company was ressurrected. I'm not running to find out based on history, though.

BTW, 3 grand or so (retail) isn't expensive for a hand wired amp. Right in the ballpark with Bad Cat, Matchless, Bogner, Soldano, etc. In fact, some of them look *inexpensive*.

But again - I'd sure want to hear one bfore I'd even THINK about it.[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 10 August 2006 at 08:26 PM.]

Lee Jeffriess · Post by **Lee Jeffriess** » 10 Aug 2006 8:52 pm

Ben, that ZB amp,is a Standel studio, they also made one for Emmons steels.
Lee

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 10 Aug 2006 10:13 pm

Standel made the first series, then Risson the second. The Risson ZB amps were pretty bad.

Robert Cook · Post by **Robert Cook** » 11 Aug 2006 8:45 am

I asked Al to give me the lowdown on his Risson amp about a year ago and he gave me Bob Risson's name and how to get ahold of him. Bob was kind enough to tell me about the small amp he built for Al and others. It is made from stuff dating to the 70's. I didn't pursue it because I thought it would be really expensive, but the amp sounds great; at least in the hands of Al Perkins.