Danelectro Commando 88 Combo

Suitcase amp which splits into two halves, with 4 eight-inch Rolas in each section. Has a four 6V6 power section which puts out some serious juice. Mine is a 1957 model, with a cool flecked tweed covering. Has two separate channels, 3 inputs per channel. Volume treble and base for each channel. Preamp section on top, power section on bottom. Also has tremelo.

I'm not an amp tech, but a harp player, and this amp is one of the best sounding harp amp I have ever played. It captures the wild and edgy Little Walter tone like in "Rocker" or "Rollercoaster" perfectly. I use a Premier 90 reverb tank with this amp, which seems to put the Commando on steroids, increasing dramatically the energy and tone from the amp. Because the two cabinets are open backed, when separated the 8 eight inch speakers working together produce a very big sound forward and behind the amp. The mic I use with it is a Shure 707A crystal bullet with a very hot original element and it sounds big through this setup. The Commando has a unique, almost bell-like chime in the higher registers a decent bottom and everything in between. If you are playing with a loud band, you might want to consider miking it into the PA a bit, but as I generally play with a hollowbody electric guitar, standup base and small drum kit, it is never a problem to be heard in most venues.

After a cap job, the amp has played quietly and efficiantly for me. So far so good, knock on wood.

This is a nearly 50 year old vintage amp. Any qualified tech should be able to get one up and going without a problem.

Fantastic.

Suitcase amp which splits into two halves, with 4 eight-inch Rolas in each section. Has a four 6V6 power section which puts out some serious juice. Mine is a 1957 model, with a cool flecked tweed covering. Has two separate channels, 3 inputs per channel. Volume treble and base for each channel. Preamp section on top, power section on bottom. Also has tremelo.

I'm not an amp tech, but a harp player, and this amp is by far the best sounding harp amp I have ever played. It captures the wild and edgy Little Walter tone like in "Rocker" or "Rollercoaster" perfectly. I use a Premier 90 reverb tank with this amp, which seems to put the Commando on steroids, increasing dramatically the energy and tone from the amp. Because the two cabinets are open backed, when separated the 8 eight inch speakers working together produce a very big sound forward and behind the amp. The mic I use with it is a Shure 707A crystal bullet with a very hot original element and it sounds big through this setup. The Commando has a unique, almost bell-like chime in the higher registers and a large round bottom (I like round bottoms!) and everything in between. I can't think of any weakness this amp has. Truth be told, after playing through this setup for the past few years, and then playing through other amps, the Commando is so satisfying that I don't enjoy playing through anything else anymore. I hope that doesn't come across as snobish, but I gotta tell it like I hear it, and the Commando is the top of Mt Everest as far as harp amps go, for MY OWN tonal preferences. If you are playing with a loud band, you might want to consider miking it into the PA a bit, but as I generally play with a hollowbody electric guitar, standup base and small drum kit, it is never a problem to be heard in most venues.

After a cap job, the amp has played quietly and efficiantly for me. So far so good, knock on wood.

This is a nearly 50 year old vintage amp. Danelectro dealers have likely never heard of this amp. Any qualified tech should be able to get one up and going without a problem.

If I had four thumbs instead of two, I'd be giving it a four thumbs up. Two thumbs up doesn't seem to do it justice. These are extremely rare beasts. If you find one and blow harp through one with the setup I have described, you'll know that what I have described above is no jive.