Garnet D15TR 112 Combo

This is a "PAX" labled Garnet D15TR amp.
Tubes: 2 - 12AX7, 1 - EL84 (6BQ5)
Speaker: 1 - 12", "Made In Canada" labeled, Marsland maybe?
Controls: Two inputs, Volume, Tone, Reverb, Tremolo, Reverb Footswitch Jack, Tremolo Footswitch Jack.
Cabinet: 31" tall, 20" wide and 9 1/2" deep.
This is a BIG practice amp as it only puts out 5 - 7 watts. I give it a 10 because it is EXCELLENT in the studio and the features (Great Tone, Reverb, Tremolo)make it VERY versatile for recording.

It needed work when I got it, and maybe even as new. But, after a little Tuning Up, it really sounds fantastic!

Before tune up: Tired, constipated and thin. Reverb went doink,boink, kroink! Clean sounds were uninspiring and the overdriven sound was between stepping on a duck and an elephant farting underwater. (OK, I haven't really heard an elephant.)

After tune up: Rich, full and awesome clean sounds. As good as any amp I've heard. Seriously. Reminds me of a Matchless. The single tone control is a treble roll-off, or bleed type and so there is not much of a tone stack to rob harmonics and richness from the tone coming out of this girl. Very well executed circuit! When overdriven it just makes you smile. Thick, creamy and meaty tones eminate. It loves humbuckers to death and with a little help from a pedal to drive the front end it nutures single coils into a wonderful bell like chime that is bright but not harsh. I can't say enough about how great this circuit works!

Tune up work done. First, replaced the old tired speaker. A good quality speaker makes a HUGE difference here. HUGE difference. Second, I had an Accutronics reverb tank laying around so I plugged it in instead of the crummy little 7" tank that came in the amp. Another Huge improvement. Turns out the reverb circuit works great, it is just held back by a terrible tank. Lastly, tried different 12AX7's in the preamp and EL84's in the output. Again, HUGE difference. Really, just getting the weak links out of the way of this amp's WONDERFUL circuit let's it be all it can be. Which is just a fanatastic sounding amp!

I don't find it quite as well built as a Traynor, (as a Canadian refernce), but every bit as good as a Fender or Gibson amp of the era. The power tranny seems nice and big for reliability and the components inside, (except for that funky reverb tank) all seem like quality stuff. I don't think I will have any problems with this amp.

I'd gig without a backup, no problem, though it's not loud enough for many places.

Actually, even though they're not really around anymore, there is a website for Garnet Amps, and he kindly sent me a copy of a schematic for this amp and answered some questions. So, good on him for helping me out!

I'd heard great things about Garnet amps for years, but never had an opportunity to play one before this. I've owned Mesa Boogies, Fenders, Marshalls, Carr, Naylor, Gibson, Vox, and many more and played extensively through many other brands. I've owned many vintage amps and spent quite a lot of time getting old amps up to snuff so they sounded their best.

I read a LOT of reviews in HC from people who pick up an old amp and rate it bad without ever giving it a chance by tuning it up. They would have passed this girl by without a second thought, when all it needed was some basic tuning up, and it is one of the best amps I've ever played through. No lie.

This review is for an unbranded garnet "stencil" amp...the original name was removed but I suspect that it might be a vagabon sold through Eaton's

This amp is a real pleasure to play. Low powered combined with a rather large, sturdy open backed cabinet and a 12 in speaker, this little amp sounds very deep and full at low volumes.

This is a pretty simple amp, (two 12ax7's and a 6v6gt-solid state rectifier) but it does benefit from the addition of Reverb and Tremeolo. While the trem has only a speed (or rate) adjustment, it is very usable and when combined with the reverb, it gives the sound a nice 3 dimensional quality. The reverb is great...small accutronics tank but it certainly makes the reverb in my peavey bandit sound anemic in comparison.

Single channel, no effects loop, volume, tone reverb and trem are the only four knobs...two inputs..hi and lo...has an ungrounded plug at the moment but I hope to add a three prong grounded plug in the near future.

I use this as a practice amp and it is perfect for late night quite playing after the kid is asleep.

I have played this with my tele and my epi 335 copy, the fender has original fender pickups while the epi has seymour duncan sh-1 (59's) Both guitars sound great through this amp. At home I play mostly jazz/blues noodling, lots of open chords..and open tunings too sometimes and this amp is perfect for this type of playing. The amp sounds so warm with the treble rolled off on either guitar. This is my first tube amp and I just cant believe how much better the guitar sounds. It even feels more dynamic...it certainly sounds alot more pleasing to the ear than my solid state peavey

when cranked full it does overdrive nicely...but i use it just for the clean sound ( so far)

Hopefully it will be a reliable amp...time will tell I guess...The tubes it uses seem eaisly available which is nice...I looks very well made inside..thick wiring, ect...so...hopefully it will hold up..I think the amp dates to somewhere in the mid 1970's so for an amp this is already 30's old or so...it seems to be hopling up well

bought this amp in a pawn shop..It had just hit the floor that morning and while I was trying it out two other people where hovering about, listening to me and I knew that if I didnt buy it it wouldnt have been there the next time I went in. For 130 bucks I know that there is nothing out there "new" that can touch it. I play mostly at home, and I jam with some friends a few times a month...this amp probably would not be useful for a full out jam ( we have two guitars, bass, drums and vocals) It would be good for a jam with acoustic instruments, quite jazz in a small venue..
I bought it primarily as a home use amplifier to play in the evenings when my wife is watching TV in the other room and the little one's asleep....for this it is perfect. Because of the large cabinet,solid construction and 12 inch speaker, this amp sounds incredibly full at low volumes. If you happen to see one in a pawn shop and you are looking for a low powered amp for home use, try this one out..you will be in for a treat.

Fantastic Amp..it has probably one good sound..but what a good sound..and if it were lost I would not hesitate to purchase another if luck enough to find one.

There are a lot of these amps around. This is a "stencil" amp made by Garnet of Winnipeg, but with various other names "stencilled" onto the ubiquitous plastic plate in the upper right hand corner. I have two: one with the name "United" and one with the name "Granada". Although they both bear the model number D15TR on the manufacturer's plate and have the same cabinet, chassis, and controls -- they have different components. The United is configured for a single 6V6 and the Granada is configured for a single EL84. The Granada had been "modded" by some moron (i.e. -- ruined!) but with the help of the local TV repair guy I got it working fairly well. However, because of the dessicration to the Granada, I WILL ONLY REVIEW THE UNITED. Here goes:

Two input (hi & lo); volume, tone (treble cut), reverb, tremolo (speed only), verb footswitch, trem footswitch. Because the amp is voiced very nicely the single tone control is adequate to roll off a bit of the edge if necessary. Reverb is OK if not overdone. Tremolo is a bit strong but usable. Footswitches are an unexpected luxury for such a basic amp, but they do add to its versatility. Cheap 12" speaker a la Marsland.

I like the sound. Great home practice amp. Enough headroom for a bit of clean jazz and can be cranked wide open without earplugs for rock. Touch of reverb for pop and away you go. Breaks up nicely at full tilt, but I really like the way it responds to the transistorized distortion of a Boss DS-1. I use a Boss CL-50 Compressor Limiter to keep things under control when trying to keep the sound clean or to gate the noise from the pedal. Allow me to stress how much I like the sound of this little amp when driven by the distortion pedal. Heckuva good time!!

It's old. It works. It's simple to fix. This unit (the United) is in wonderful shape.

Gar Gillies the maker of this amp is still active in Winnipeg today and always enjoys seeing his products make a visit home to the shop.

Try any D15TR stencil amp (going by any of the various brand name), if you're looking for something to use at home. Garnet used the same cabinet and chassis to make a variety of low-cost amps to be sold by third parties. Often called United, Granada or Mann. Check www.garnetamps.com for more info. For what it is I rate this amp nine. Try to keep the price under $200.

This wide body combo (big cabinet for such a low wattage amp at 5 watts)was given to me by a good friend of mine. The grill cloth was torn off and I had no idea what brand it was. It said Made in Canada under the model number badge on back so I immediately thought it was an old Traynor. The friend said his Dad's brother had it for years. Upon unscrewing the chassis I saw that the 2 12AX7 preamp tubes said Garnet on them. AH - I have just been given a vintage 5 watt Garnet 1x12 tube combo!!! The original speaker was blown so I replaced it with a Eminence Legend 1258. The tubes needed changing also so I popped in a single 6V6 Electro Harmonix power tube and 2 12AX7 Sovtek preamp tubes. The top mounted controls are 2 inputs,Volume,Tone,Reverb(short tank), and single Tremolo. There are also input jacks for the footswitchable reverb and tremolo. It has a solid state rectifier and Iam almost positive it is wired in Class A.

This thing actually sounds pretty damn good. I have never played such a low wattage amp. It breaks up real nice when cranked. Think the first couple of Zep albums and you get the picture. It's not noisy at all even when running through my Reverend Drivetrain. The tremolo leaves alot to be desired as it has only one knob but the reverb if you keep it at about 9 o clock sounds pretty!!! I can cop them reverb drenched Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac blues licks. But too much reverb and it just washes out and feedsback. This amp has only one sound pretty much but the early breakup of the Eminence Legend I put in it sounds real bluesy. I'll bet it would be great to record with because it so low in wattage. But actually when fully cranked my wife tells me to turn down!!! People who have never heard a 5 watt tube combo full up would be suprised. It's loud for a bedroom!!! All in all a smokin blues amp. best of all it's free!!!

This thing is old. I don't know how old. It seems to be built rite. I wolud jam with my friends with it no problem but on a gig I would have to have something with more power. With the new speaker and tubes I shouldn't have any problems.

Talked to Giles Garnet on the phone (maker of my amp). He still lives in Canada but he's like 80 and he no longer makes production amps but if you have the money he'll open up his shop in downtown Winipeg and build you a custom tone machine!!! I guess back in the 60's and 70's there wasn't a rock band in Winipeg that didn't play or want a Garnet. If you can find them (pawnshops) there worth keeping. I'd like to hear the bigger models he made. The Guess Who and BTO still to this day play Garnet amps.

Been playing the blues and rock n roll for years now and I own several guitars and a couple of amps. This amp will probably be my main at home box for quite awhile. If you can find a Garnet - hold on to it. If your a buesman like me you'll like it!!!