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Garnet "Stencil" Amps

The Garnet™ Amplifier Company built thousands of amps that never bore the Garnet emblem but instead were sold under any one of over thirty other brand names. These amps are known to Garnet enthusiasts as "Stencil" amps. Some of these amps were essentially Garnets, ie they were identical to an existing Garnet model but wore a different logo while others were models made specific to the desires of the distributor who intended to sell them.

If you find an amp bearing any one of the following names the odds are very good that you've found a Garnet! The best way to know for sure is to look for the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) label. If the code "LR24510" appears beneath it then it is indeed a Garnet. This is a manufacturer's reference code and will appear on any amp made by Garnet regardless of the brand it may have been sold under.

Incidentally, if you've got an amp with the CSA number of "LR19952" then you'll want to check out this page, Pepco Tube Amps, lots of great info here about another prolific Canadian stencil amp manufacturer, Pine Electronics, later known as Pepco, that was based in Montreal.

Little is known about most Garnet stencil brands but here are some pics and any additional info that has come to light. We'd like to have at least one pic of every known stencil brand so if you don't see a picture of your stencil amp here please consider submitting a quality picture.


Astro

Model 5P

Single Channel - 2.5 Watts RMS
This example has seen better days but it had to be included here just so you can check out that wild grille design. Yes, that's factory!

  Astro 5P
Photo courtesy G. Miller

Camaro  

Camaro


Concord Logo

Concord

  Your Pic Needed!

Eaton's E90-2  

Eaton's

Model E90-2

Two Channel - 45 Watts RMS
Eaton's was once one of Canada's biggest retailers and marketed Garnet manufactured amps under many brands including Lancer, Vagabond and Viscount. The example shown here has unfortunately had the front panel replaced with metal mesh and that's where its emblem resided.


Genesis Logo

Genesis

  Your Pic Needed!

Your Pic Needed!  
Gibson Lab Series 2 Logo

Gibson

Lab Series 2

That's right, Garnet made amps for none other than US guitar giant Gibson. But before you get too excited you should know that these were all solid state amps that followed in the footsteps of Gibson's first foray into solid state, the original Lab Series developed in conjunction with Moog. The amps did achieve one moment of fame however as a Garnet manufactured Gibson amp is featured in the movie "Back to the Future". Check out the scene where Marty and his band audition for the teachers.


GKI

 

 

  GKI

Photo courtesy D. Macaulay


Granada

D15TR

Single Channel - 7 Watts RMS

  Granada D15TR

Photo courtesy J. Culmone


Your Pic Needed!  

Harmony



Hohner Logo

Garnet/Hohner Emblem

Hohner

For a time Garnet was involved in a marketing agreement with Hohner which resulted in models like the Garnet/Hohner BTO shown here as well as other Garnet models being produced and adorned with this merged brand emblem.

  Garnet Hohner BTO LB260D

Hyland G100  
Hyland Logo

Hyland

Model G100 & G212 Speaker Cab


Impact Logo

Impact

  Your Pic Needed!

Imperia Combo
Photo courtesy D. Macaulay
 

Imperia


Lancer

Model E90PA

Two Channel - 45 Watts RMS
This example has a cost cutting paper on plastic emblem but many were produced with a very nice chromed plastic logo. It is believed that the Lancer brand was used by Eaton's and many Lancer models are exact duplicates of Garnet products. Examples of a Lancer Mach 5 Reverb, Lancer Pro and Lancer Lil' Rock (shown here at right) have been confirmed.


Lancer E90PA
Photo courtesy B. Marwood
  Lancer L90L
Photo courtesy T. Miller

Lero  

Lero

Model XLII

Single Channel - 2-5 Watts RMS
Basic two knob student amp.


Mann

Model D200TD

Single Channel - 75 Watts RMS
A favorite among stencil collectors the Mann brand wasn't just about low cost student amps but included deluxe models like this dual EL34 powered head based upon the Garnet Pro Super series chassis. It is shown here with a matching 1x12/1x15 cab and a beautiful Mann LP Recording lawsuit guitar. The Mann brand was distributed by Great West Music in Vancouver, Canada.

  Mann D200TD

Your Pic Needed!  

Mansfield


Pan

Model 5P

Single Channel - 2.5 Watts RMS
One of the most common of stencil models, the 5P and its big brother the 10P (5 watts) were powered by one or two 50C5 tubes. These are sometimes called transformerless because there is no input transformer, ie. tubes are powered directly from the AC line. The Pan brand was marketed by Turner Musical Instruments Ltd. of Toronto, Canada


Pan 5P
  Pan 5P

Pax 5S

Photo courtesy J. Kil

 

Pax

Model 5S

Single Channel - 2.5 Watts RMS
Solid State


Piper

Model P45B

Single Channel - 20 Watts RMS
1-10"

  Piper

Photo courtesy L. Howard


Pro II G100TR
Photo courtesy K. Byrd
 

Pro II

Model G100TR

Two Channel - 50 Watts RMS
Here's a good example of a stencil that is essentially a Garnet. In this case its a Revolution III with a Pro II emblem.
Its not known exactly who marketed this brand but perhaps they were intended for sale with Aria Pro II guitars.


Ram Logo

Ram

Ram Promo Sticker
  Your Pic Needed!

Raven 5P  

Raven

Model 10P

Single Channel - 4 Watts RMS
This is another example of the "transformerless" stencils. This one is a two knob 10P with two 50C5 tubes powering an 8" speaker.


Russel

  Russel

Photo courtesy K. Frieh


Your Pic Needed!  
Sears Logo

Sears

Model D45R

Single Channel - 20 Watts RMS
This is another large retailer that went to Garnet to provide it with amps to sell in its stores. While the name Sears is most often associated with Silvertone amps (in the US) Garnet produced amps for marketing by the retail giant's Canadian arm, which at the time was known as Simpson Sears.


Sentec

Distributed by Lasar Music Corp. of Brentwood, TN

  Your Pic Needed!

Your Pic Needed!  
Stagg Logo

Stagg


Supreme

  Supreme Combo

Photo courtesy Z. Belanger


Titan Combo

Photo courtesy M. Smith

 
Titan Logo

Titan


United Logo

United

Model D90TR

Single Channel - 45 Watts RMS
The United brand was marketed to its customers by United Music Schools. It is another stencil brand that offered more than just student or starter amps. This D90TR is a nice example with 3 tone controls, reverb and tremolo and sports an early United logo. The font was later changed to what was then a more modern style but in retrospect is pretty boring.

  United

Photo courtesy K. Staskiewicz


Vagabond Combo

Photo courtesy R. Richardson


Vagabond Head

Photo courtesy P. Gamache

 
Vagabond Logo

Vagabond

Model E15TR Combo (Top)
Model E15 Head (Bottom)

Single Channel - 7 Watts RMS


Viscount Logo

Viscount

Model D90H

Three Channel Bass Head- 30 Watts RMS

  Viscount Head

Photo courtesy P. Kneubuhler


Your Pic Needed!  

Zak