Versatone
Encyclopedia
Versatone is a brand of musical instrument amplifiers manufactured from a plant in Van Nuys, California during the 1960s and 1970s. "Versatone" amplifiers was Owned ,designed and produced by inventor G. Robert Hall and his wife Loretta S.Hall. G. Robert Hall was Born in Vermontville MI , May 11, 1915 , lived in Sherman Oaks California . Its singularity arises from use of an almost high fidelity amplification system that rendered extraordinary detail in live and recorded applications, repute as a 'secret weapon' among early and current session players, and its rarity in terms of volume of sales.
The best-known Versatone amplifier, the Pan-O-Flex, used a bi-amplification design with separate power amplifiers for the high and low frequencies, with output through a single 12-inch speaker. Notable users of this amplifier included bassists Jack Casady
whose greatest body of work was with West Coast groups including Jefferson Airplane, and Carol Kaye
of The Wrecking Crew, renowned for her groundbreaking work in West Coast sessions including The Beach Boys and long list of Motown sides. The series of amplifiers including guitar and bass guitar models was noted for its high fidelity (unusual for the time), painstaking attention to detail, including point-to-point wiring and unique ported and baffled enclosures, and unusual tube sections, with 7591 power tubes often used in older Ampeg designs. Later efforts under the name Audio Guild included the guitar-only Grand Prix model, which used a special vibrato circuit licensed from Magnatone, producing a classic and desirable pitch-shifting effect. Current users of Audio Guild equipment include producer Jon Brion, known for his sound track work on Punch Drunk Love and other Paul Thomas Anderson films, session player Stephen Patt, a steel and six-string guitarist popular in West Coast country circles and musician, songwriter, session player Chris Solberg ( Santana, Eddie Money, Chris Isaak, George Lynch) who played bass using Carol Kayes Versatone bass amp on such hits as Chris Isaak's Wicked Game. The amazing instrumental group The Versatones from San Francisco, CA play surf music, television & movie themes through original Versatone guitar and bass amplifiers and are noted for having a particularly rich and powerful sound.
The best-known Versatone amplifier, the Pan-O-Flex, used a bi-amplification design with separate power amplifiers for the high and low frequencies, with output through a single 12-inch speaker. Notable users of this amplifier included bassists Jack Casady
Jack Casady
Jack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
whose greatest body of work was with West Coast groups including Jefferson Airplane, and Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye is an American musician, best known as one of the most prolific and widely heard bass guitarists in history, playing on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions in a 55 year career....
of The Wrecking Crew, renowned for her groundbreaking work in West Coast sessions including The Beach Boys and long list of Motown sides. The series of amplifiers including guitar and bass guitar models was noted for its high fidelity (unusual for the time), painstaking attention to detail, including point-to-point wiring and unique ported and baffled enclosures, and unusual tube sections, with 7591 power tubes often used in older Ampeg designs. Later efforts under the name Audio Guild included the guitar-only Grand Prix model, which used a special vibrato circuit licensed from Magnatone, producing a classic and desirable pitch-shifting effect. Current users of Audio Guild equipment include producer Jon Brion, known for his sound track work on Punch Drunk Love and other Paul Thomas Anderson films, session player Stephen Patt, a steel and six-string guitarist popular in West Coast country circles and musician, songwriter, session player Chris Solberg ( Santana, Eddie Money, Chris Isaak, George Lynch) who played bass using Carol Kayes Versatone bass amp on such hits as Chris Isaak's Wicked Game. The amazing instrumental group The Versatones from San Francisco, CA play surf music, television & movie themes through original Versatone guitar and bass amplifiers and are noted for having a particularly rich and powerful sound.