Cornford Harlequin

The way this amplifier functions - its feel, the control, the weight - pretty much spot-on. The VOL and MASTER play nicely off each other. All set at 12 O'Clock and master right up sounds pretty usable.

I have set the rating only at 7, but for some styles it would be a 10, for me after a couple of years of trying, has to be a 7. That is, if you like 'old fashioned' (to my ears dreadful) distorted Gibson rock, this is definitely the one for you (you'd rate it 100 I think). For a spikey, clean, Fender sound (Bill Frisell when he is doing that style) you will struggle except at very low volumes. Once that VOL control lifts past 5 or so, you may start to dislike the distortion. So, as someone else observed, fantastic for some, the wrong amp for others (and you might look to a reissue '65 Deluxe Reverb I suppose). Certainly, for what it does it is a 10 every time. And fantastic value.

The build is simply lovely.

No need, has been perfect.

If the style suits, this is a lifetime purchase. I will miss it - and to get similar build in my 'tone domain' I'll have to spend three times this on a reissue '57 Twin.

6 watts of pure tube tone, doesn't sound much but it certainly packs a punch with the way it sounds even if it doesn't in volume. It has high and low inputs, gain, a voicing switch, bass, treble and master volume. It has been perfect for rehearsals, home practise and church services, but a struggle gigging if you don't have a decent monitor set up - ie every gig I play!

I play a patrick eggle berlin pro 22 fitted with Seymore Duncans - 2 single coils and a humbucker in the bridge. This amp reacts very well to to string/pick attack so play lighter and the sound cleans up. It runs almost silently even with maxed out settings. It is definitely a one trick pony but it does what it does very well, 1 channel with gain and volume is all you really need, the distortion is really smooth but you can give it a push or back it down with the voicing switch/ using the different inputs. My favourite tone is just breaking up and I tend not to play around too much with the settings.

I have never known anyone to have a backup amp at a gig, guitar, yes. amp, not so much... It is very dependable. The main fuse blew once but replacing it sorted the problem. I bought a custom flight case to keep it safe and it seemed to work, it was definitely handy to have it on wheels.

I chatted with the guys at cornford before buying this to find out where my nearest dealer was, they were very helpful. I've not really had much of a problem technically - the warranty lasted a year and the amp showed no sign of fault.

I have been playing for 10 years and am quite fussy about my tone. I have sold this amp now and bought a much more suitable gigging amp (custom built matamp) but would have kept it if I didn't need the cash!

5 watt valve tube amp with Gain, Bass, Treble, Master Volume. High and Low gain inputs and tone switch. No insert or channel switching.
Features are very basic although adequate for the job but the range of sounds make it a one trick pony, you have a choice of distortion or quiet.
I use it for recording, not enough power to gig with it.

My Telecaster Custom is unusual as it has a Humbucker & a Single coil so it's pretty versatile. The amp has some nice distortion but no clean sounds worth mentioning.
I only use it for some jobs as it has a very limited range of sounds due to low output power. Great for some styles and useless for others. Tends to sound a bit thin and lifeless for my taste. No way will it sing with a nice Telecaster. Pity.

It used to get through output valves at an alarming rate until I had it modified by someone who really knew their valve amps. The build quality is the best thing about it although as it's far too underpowered for gigging that's a bit irrelevant.

I had to contact them loads of times and sad to say their attitude wasn't helpful. I can't see how they got a reputation as customer focussed. Eventually I had it sorted at my own expense(despite being under "warranty") rather than endure any further timewasting on their part. This is so sad considering they are a small British company who I would have loved to support.

I've played guitar on and off for 40 years and had my Telecaster custom nearly as long. I have played in pub bands and also love recording. I use a Dunlop WAH and Boss compressor. I tried a BOSS ME50 but that soon gathered dust, it's corny (no pun intended) but analog is still the way to a good tone.
If this amp was stolen, I would happily take the insurance money and buy an Orange Tiny Terror as I like a variety of tones from my amp.

I see a number of people knocking this amp for lack of features. Whilst I agree it would be nice to have an effects loop etc, it should remembered that it is primarily a recording amp!

I have started using this amp for band rehearsal, even with another guitarist, bass and drums the amp copes perfectly, it just sounds so good.

I've played through many amps over the years (several Marshalls, Peavey etc), always looking for "my" perfect sound. I don't like using effects a great deal, much prefer plugging my guitars directly into the amp and retaining the tone. My Cornford Harlequin gives me exactly the sound I've been looking for all these years. The only thing I would say is that my amp came fitted with vintage Mullard's, so I can't comment on how much this adds to the sound quality over the new valves available (from what I have read however, Mullards can make a huge difference). I will be trying some different valves soon, so may be I'll find out why anyone could be upset with the sound these babies produce!

No problems to report, been used frequently for a couple of years, runs for 3 hours solid on weekly rehearsal's and makes the other guitarist with his Hughes and Ketner quite jealous!

I've emailed Cornford for a few things, and mostly they have been pretty good, Paul himself seems like a nice chap.

I'm contemplating getting the Hurricane so that I can gig with that lovely sound.....

Mark 1 Cornford Harlequin. This has two inputs (Hi & Lo), with Volume (input gain) Bass, Treble & Master controls.
I bought this prior to the release of the Carrera and as a home user if I had the extra money I would have paid for the reverb and effects loops you gain in this model (hence the 8 score)

Absolutely top notch sounds from this amp.
All of the controls are interactive and the range of quality tones available is fantastic.
Bass & Treble give excellent control over not just the basic sound but the saturation and level of harmonics.
In addition the amp responds well to guitar volume control, and most quality pedals (in common with many people I use a Holy Grail Reverb alon with several overdrives, fuzz and distortion and compression). An example try backing off the Treble and Bass completely and using a compression pedal up front - fantasic on the edge of feedback tone a la Dave Gilmour.

No problems so far and I have owned for 4 years

Never had to use the customer support

I have been playing for over 20 years and this the best amp tone I have heard. I know this is a rexcording amp, but for home use this is excellent. The sounds at reasonable volume are fantastic.
If I lost this I would definitely replace it with a Cornford (though possibley a Carrera as I like the Reverb and effects loop additions assuming that the sounds are as good).

Four basic controls, Volume,Bass,treble and master. It had a "Voice" switch that change de colour of de middle frequences. Two jack inputs for High and Low (veru useful to get different kinds of saturations).

I usually use one 70's Strat with alnico pickups and a S.duncan 59 on the bridge position. A Gibson Les Paul Standard (2004 one,with alnico burstbukers), Maxon OD808 and Marshall Guvnor (the 90's one).
Wow!, that amp souns GREAT, great volume (yes,yes 6 W...)and great tone too. I love the Marshall and Vox vintage tones, with this amp,i have all of this. Creamy and full overdrive, very expressive distortion with killer harmonics. The OD808 is a perfect pair of this amp to get classic rock tones like Led Zeppelin, Pear Jam, Santana or Gary Moore. The amp offered a lot of soun setting posibilities.

I never use the amp to play out of my home...But it seems solid as a rock!

I bought the amp on a friend's shop. The Spanish dealer is very serious and carefull guy, great!

I played guitar for 16 years, i never heard an amp sounds like the Cornford Harlequin, I had valve amps like Marshall, Laney, Crate, Fender and no one approaching enough to this amp sounds (sorry for my horrible english...)

Volume and tone thats, about it, reverb would be nice.

This amp suits my style perfectly. Back in the old days I used to use 200 watts but only turned them up to 2 or 3 because they were sooo loud, hence choking the true sound of the amp,but this one I can run it on 6, 7, 8, or 9 and it sounds fantastic, very sweat overdrive.

No problem,well built

Had not had to call them

Ive been playing rock for 40 years. I have a fender statocaster and just bought a Gibson Les Paul Supreme today.
There is that slight hum but not a real problem.
I tried numerous other amps befor settling on this one as they could not come close to the cornford sound wise

Basic but i'm betting thats why you would want to buy this amp, it was certainly the appeal for me.
It is an amp built to make your playing and guitar rule the tone, not an amp that hides your poor playing or cheap guitar. Saying that if you play a cheap guitar well ( i'm not trying to sound bigheaded here ) it will compliment that guitar.
Voice switch is great and almost gives you two amps in one.

I like this best with my US Strat and can get the tone of Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Stevie ray Vaughan e.t.c with ease and all at a volume i can use in my terrace house without upsetting the neighbours too much.
It is also the only other amp ( the other being a Marshall SLP ) that works well for my Ibanez proffesional ( Randy Scruggs Model ). It is a very wooly sounding guitar which sounds too damped and sterile through most amps but this amp really brings it alive which is worth the purchase price alone as i love the look and feel of this guitar and now i can appreciate its sound too.
Clean sounds are good but dissapear quickly as you increase the volume which could be somewhat limiting if you use this live and miked up but like cristal clear sounds. If however you want a blues or rock sound then look no further the volume on your guitar can clean the sound up nicely for these styles.
This amp also responds well to quality stomp boxes and with an overdrive you can get close to some of Frank Zappas wonderful tones if not his awesome playing.
The quality of tone on this amp removes the nessesity of reverb to fill things out as the sound is so sweet by itself. Some have mentioned boxiness of sound which, if i have the handle on the meaning of this, i think it does have but that is part of its character and enhances the fullness of tone to my ears.
Prior to buying this i bought a korg tone works for home use of driven tube amp sounds ( and i must say it does quite a good job ). The harlequin turned up a week later and i haven't used the korg since.
Response is also superb when cranked.
This definately sounds better than any of my other large tube amps used with a power soak at home. when you consider the price of a marshall or thd power soak you may as well shell out a bit more and just buy a Conford instead. Less chance of damaging your gigging gear as blown speakers and transformers not to mention replacing large valves will probably cost you a lot more in the long run.

Only had it about 2 months but everything looks superbly well made and put together.

buy all accounts it looks promising but i haven't used it myself.

Just what i've been looking for to get that classic tube sound when at home.

Mine was made 12/2/04 (UK dating system). Features as already described and on the Cornford website. Its key features for me are: true Class A operation, 6 watts, Vintage 30 speaker, hand-made point-to-point wiring, simple controls, voicing switch, and great styling. I only wish it had a standby mode.

It suits blues, classic and heavy rock styles best.

Some have commented on the lack of reverb, loops etc. However, I think that's missing the point that this amp is designed for recording and home use. I don't think it really needs reverb and FX loops because for recording it's often better to add these at the desk. If you used it live you'd need sound reinforcement (miked into the PA).

I've owned valve amps from Mesa (F50 and single rectifier) Cornford (Mk50 and Hurricane), Marshall (DSL50 and JMP1) and THD (uni- and bi-valve). One of the funny things about valve amps is that the same brand and amp type can sound so different. I tried another Harlequin a few months ago that sounded good but mine sounds superb! So perhaps try one or two out (if you can find them!)

It excels at bluesy crunch through classic rock but it also does heavy distortion pretty well. Clean sounds are nice and have some bite - not Fenderish, more Voxy (EL84 power tube).

NB: You can achieve great sounds at family-friendly volumes. The distortion is thick, creamy, and articulate. The amp responds to changing guitar, pickup, attack and guitar volume control like only the best valve amps can. I'm really thrilled with the flexibility on offer from a single channel amp.

I've had Cornfords for a long time and they are solid as rocks. They are built with high quality materials and components. I've never had a problem and don't expect to. I'd never gig without a back up.

I'd echo the comments about good customer relations. I've corresponded with both Paul Cornford and Martin Kidd and had excellent advice and quick responses from them. It isn't often you get a company that lets you talk to the designers. Imagine sending an email to Marshall and getting a reply from Jim Marshall........say no more! OK, so the scale of the companies are different but you get the drift.

I play PRS Custom 24 Ltd Brazilian, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Tom Anderson Cobra S, Ibanez RG Evolution pups, and a Taylor 514ce ES. I also own a Line 6 Flextone III (try it you might like it). I bought the Harlequin to do the blues/classic rock/ that the Flextone isn't too good at and to replace my THD univalve. A great little amp but it's way too powerful for home practice. IMO, the Uni- needs too much volume to achieve great tone (even with careful valve choices) and it is incredibly bright (almost painfully so). I don't regret the exchange for one minute - this amp gives you boutique quality and a user-friendly real valve amp for home use and recording.

Only one channel. However, to mark the amp down on this is really missing the point. The amp is very versatile and will manage a variety of different sounds.

This is amp really is quite superb in terms of the sounds it produces. With guitar plugged "straight-in", background noise is astonishingly quiet, even at high volumes. Beautiful.

I have owned the amplifier for twelve months and I have experienced no problems with it.

I have never had cause for recourse to the company.

As you can see, I am not very eloquent in my descriptions of this amplifier. However, I am of the opinion that this amplifier does, indeed, live up to the fairly extensive "hype" it has received in the press. Well worth the money... I would definitely buy it again.