Emprize Harrier review – the British-built combo that combines two coveted vintage Fender voices… with spectacular results

Emprize combines two sought-after tweed combos, authentically capturing brown-panel lead tones and black‑panel rhythm sounds in one amp

Emprize Harrier
(Image: © Future / Neil Godwin)

Guitar World Verdict

Aimed clearly at professionals and well-heeled amateurs, Emprize’s Harrier is a 20 with plenty that compares very favourably when set against competition from the USA. If you’re after proper vintage American tone, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Pros

  • +

    Highly authentic USA tones.

  • +

    Great brown-panel crunch/Lead channel.

  • +

    Stunning black-panel-inspired Rhythm channel.

  • +

    Excellent string separation and single-note articulation.

  • +

    Compact.

  • +

    Easy one-handed lift.

Cons

  • -

    It would be nice to have footswitchable tremolo and LED indicators on the switch and front panel.

  • -

    Reverb lacks a little in delay length.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The British boutique builder’s market for guitars and amplification is in rude health, with many smaller operations becoming more visible as the pandemic abates. One of the better-known is Emprize, which is based in York. 

The company is headed up by founder Philip Fisher, who learned his craft, like many amp builders, by working on pedals and amplifiers for local bands, before taking the plunge and building his own designs. 

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Nick Guppy

Nick Guppy was Guitarist magazine's amp guru for over 20 years. He built his first valve amplifier at the age of 12 and bought, sold and restored many more, with a particular interest in Vox, Selmer, Orange and tweed-era Fenders, alongside Riveras and Mark Series Boogies. When wielding a guitar instead of soldering iron, he enjoyed a diverse musical career playing all over the UK, including occasional stints with theatre groups, orchestras and big bands as well as power trios and tributes. He passed away suddenly in April 2024, leaving a legacy of amplifier wisdom behind him.