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HEATHKIT TA-17 GUITAR AMPLIFIER

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, Benton Harbor, Michigan based Heathkit Corporation offered a small line of guitar amplifiers. 

The rare top-of-the-line Heathkit Solid-State TA-17 Combo Amplifier developed a small following of persons who appreciated both Heathkit and good music.

Schematic diagrams and electrical information is available on a link pages. 
CLICK HERE to go to that page.

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According to the 1970 Heathkit catalog, page 99, the Heathkit TA-17 Combo Amp: 

* Delivers 120 watts of EIA music power (240 watts peak power) into two TA-17-1 speakers (or other 4-ohm load), 90 watts into one TA-17-1 or other 8 ohm load) * Will drive any 4 to 16 ohm speaker combination * Cool all-silicon transistor circuitry * Built-in switchable Harmonic Modifier * Brightness switch for that brassy sound * Separate bass and treble boost * Tremolo variable in rate and depth * Dual spring-type variable reverb * Dual foot-switch for on-off control of tremolo and reverb * Independent 2 input guitar channel * Independent 2 input channel with special tone control for bass guitars, combo organs * Independent 2 input channel with bass and treble tone controls for microphones or phonographs * Special "test-as-you-build" feature to prevent damage to components * "Piggy-back" design with carrying handles for stacking and portability * Black vinyl-covered compressed-wood cabinet * Circuit breaker protection

More than enough scene shaking sound to take out any gig, large or small, indoors or out. Delivers a whopping 120 watts through two Heathkit TA-17-1 speaker systems, or 90 watts through one TA-17-1. Runs at maximum power with danger of overload thanks to special volume control circuits in both guitar and bass channels. Versatile too... you can play guitar through it, or bass guitar, combo organ, accordion, singer's mic, even a record changer. Kit TA-17, 44 pounds, amplifier only -- 1970 catalog price $192.95, 1969 Summer catalog price $149.95 (page 13).

Below Left: From the front cover of the 1970 Heathkit catalog
Below Right: Page 99 of the 1970 Heathkit catalog
Try clicking on a picture to enlarge it for a closer view

Try clicking on a picture to enlarge it for a closer view

 DO YOU HAVE PICTURES OF YOU WITH YOUR HEATHKIT TA-17 GUITAR AMPLIFIER?

Above: Woody on stage, early 1970's, with his Heathkit TA-17 behind sitting atop a Leslie 147 organ amp

I owned one of these jewells back in the early 1970's but sold it, as a teenager, when I knew everything. 

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All personal comments, pictures copyright 1996-2009 - R. Linwood (4L RANCH)
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