I was wondering if anyone on this forum plays electric bass harmonica? What set up--amp/mic/pick-up combination do you use for live sound because I'm having a hard time capturing sound/controlling feedback.
What Bass Harp are you playing? The doublebass? ( with feathering octaves) Or a G-Harp, with single low notes? Amping a bassharp is more about the mic and EQ, cupping or not, than the amp. Of course a bass amp works. If you play the Double, one way is to tape the higher Octave's cover shut, with tape or something. This takes the bumble bee sound out. I recommend using some sort of pre ... I use a Harp Commander. Gives you a bassy sound. Set the gapping high to give your bass note rytm, a beat, an attack. Feathering octaves gives you a sinus- shaped tonecurve with weak attack. And the microphone? Well ... I'm still experimenting there, but recommend a bass mic, say Audix D4 ... but with good tec and settings any dynamic will do ( Hz into the amp, Lz into PA) You can go expensive and buy a designated mic but they cost. Still needs harsh EQ- control. Good luck! I find it very difficult to play bass, to keep it together the groove, the beat, the signature, playing many different keys ( keys tone layot differs like on a piano)
I play a bit of bass – a 29 hole 3 octave. In all but the smallest quietest room it needs to be amplified. I’ve found the only way I can get the mic near the reeds I’m playing is to use a mic in a stand and not try to cup – but that might be a result of playing a 48 Chord that way. I haven’t found a hand-held mic technique that I can use to keep the mic near the end of the bass I am playing without creating a lot of unwanted noise as I move the harp relative to the mic – hence using the mic in a stand. I usually use a standard SM58.
I use either a bass guitar amp (I’ve got two kids that play bass, so there’s always a bass amp around) or go straight into the PA – with the EQ up on the bass. Cheers Maka
wowwie, You need the appropriate mic. I have a bass harmonica, and purchased a cheap hohner chord/bass mic that sucks. You either need a Suzuki or the Barcus Berry, both expensive. I can't tell what Paul Oscher uses in this video.
