Hilgen Amplifiers
  • Home
  • The Genius Behind Hilgen: Jack Gentul
  • WARNING: DANGER OF ELECTROCUTION
  • The 1965 Hilgen Pricelist
  • The 1966 Hilgen Catalog
  • Model 5063 "Swing Away Guitarist"
  • Model R2522 "Victor" Dual Channel Build
  • Model R2523 "Champion"
  • Model R2024 "Challenger"
  • Schematics
  • Hilgen Artifacts
  • HilBlog

An odd duck

9/5/2015

8 Comments

 
Recently there appeared on eBay the amplifier shown below:
Picture
Picture

The seller apparently had some familiarity with Hilgen amplifiers. He or she described the amp as a 1965 Hilgen Model B2501 "Basso" Model that had been re-branded as a "Giulietti."  The grille cloth, knobs, cabinet design, handle, and the general layout of the faceplate are certainly consistent with the Hilgen line of amplifiers. According to the seller, the amp had a 15" speaker, which may have led him or her to assume that this was one of Hilgen's bass amplifiers. 

However, the photograph of the faceplate shows that the amp was equipped with both reverb and tremolo, which was never included on any Hilgen bass amplifier.  Hilgen never designated an amp as a "Model S-9" or anything close to that, nor did it make an amplifier that was specifically designed for use by accordionists, as might be a reverb- and tremolo-equipped amplifier with a 15" speaker. The pilot light is one I have seen only on the Model R2024 Challenger, but its faceplate was black.  The "Giulietti" logo on the front uses a construction and script design that was commonly employed by the Sano company in the early to mid-1960's, but was never used by Hilgen. 

The Giulietti company was best known for producing ornate, high-end accordions.  It apparently commissioned accordion amplifiers during the 1950's and 1960's, which amplifiers show design elements highly consistent with their having been made by Sano:
If the seller is correct about the amp having been made in 1965, then the best explanations for its appearance are either that Hilgen jobbed that amplifier directly for Giulietti or that Sano subcontracted its manufacture to Hilgen.  I have seen no other Hilgen-styled amplifiers bearing the Giulietti logo.
8 Comments
Howard Bernstein
9/26/2015 06:30:10 am

Hi I have one of these bought on ebay years ago and use it as a harmonica amp. Mines in mint condition, and wows everyone when they see it.

Reply
Nathan
3/27/2019 05:15:49 pm

Hello! Are you at all familiar with the B 2239 model? It essentially is a basso profudo
With padded red tolex, with brass buttons, knight in armour on the face. I haven’t found much for info on this model. Thanks!

Reply
Mike
1/11/2021 12:34:41 am

That was my amp. I owned it. I’m looking for it.

Reply
Mike
3/14/2021 05:25:45 pm

I say it’s Hilgen (not Sano) as the tube set was identical to a Basso Profundo. This was made by Hilgen for Giulietti.

Reply
DFK Connecticut link
3/21/2021 11:19:25 pm

Hii nice reading your blog

Reply
Chuck Casavant
3/10/2023 08:08:22 am

Hi Looking for a Hildgen Amp preferably a 1x12 Guitar Combo. Hope you cab help/

Chuck

Reply
Art Mezzo
7/12/2023 07:16:27 pm

The four photos of Giulietti amplifiers near the end of your story are not all Sanos. The two middle photos are Ampegs (the tolex and handles are a dead giveaway). Giulietti used a variety of New Jersey manufacturers to produce its amplifiers. Considering Hilgen's connection to Sano, it would not be too far fetched that Sano could have subbed the manufacture out to their former engineer.

Reply
hadisah link
7/24/2023 03:48:20 pm

Thaanks for sharing

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    John Bannon

    I've been playing electric guitar for 44 years.  That's an alarming statistic... Anyway, I admire underdogs and unsung heroes.  Particularly when they labored in complete obscurity, making spectacular amps that were forgotten for more than 30 years. Another alarming statistic.

    Picture

    Archives

    September 2015
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly