I saw a local blues band set today where the harp player was singing through the PA and blowin` harp through his mic.....is it just me or does anybody else prefer the sound of harp through a PA
Yes, these days I prefer the sound of harp through the PA. I didn't used too, but as my playing ability grew I found myself gravitating more and more to playing through the PA.
It very much depends on whose playing, as well as the PA settings. A warm sounding well EQ-ed PA and a good player can be the ultimate harmonica sound. (I´m not thinking of Mick Jagger.)
I saw Kim Wilson last week sitting in with Doug Deming & Jeweltones.
Kim did not want to play through the harp rig that was on stage, so he played & sang through the mic provided by the sound man--- first it was a Shure Beta57a mic, then the sound man switched it for a Sennheiser mic after a few songs.
Kim took the mic off the stand and cupped the mic more or less. Sounded great.
I have never been happy with the sound of cupping my Beta58, so I guess it helps to have a good sound man (and to play like Kim).
When I would go to jams I would carry two harps, sing so I could call the song key, and blow through the PA. I have a friend who can play through the PA at the local grocery store and sound better than most rig players. It's called talent. Martin said it best, "It very much depends on whose playing, as well as the PA settings".
I like playing more. I don't mind playing through a PA, especially if I am sitting in with others. It can be a pain living equipment around in densely populated areas.
Sure, I could use a pedal to emulate an amp, but I don't really need one. I am pretty happy with the sound I get through a vocal mic plugged into a PA.
If other harp players are playing amplified, I will play through to PA for variety.
BOTH! If you're gonna do more than a few tunes you need to mix it up! I sing and play acoustic through an Ultimate 58; when I want fat I pick up my bullet and blow through my tube amp.
There's nothing wrong with either. Both is more entertaining than either one alone. ---------- /Greg
There is a lot to be said for having the ability to play directly into the PA through a vocal mic and feel good about what you do as well as move an audience, even if you usually play through your own personal "rig".
Can only strengthen your self concept as a musician. ---------- The Iceman
My voice seems to require the opposite of the settings on a p.a. channel which lend to good harp tone. My voice is pretty low and gravelly, so I need less bass, average mids, some highs, and some effects. For harp on a p.a. channel it's more typical to roll off the highs and bring in more bass. Makes it tough to find a compromise without 2 mics and 2 channels. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
Check this out: Kim Wilson plays harp through a vocal mic, but a different mic than he is singing through. I suspect he wanted a different EQ on the harp.
I got nuttin' against PA in principle, just in practice it was too often a problem. A lottery whether the guy in charge would take time or care about the sound. And especially what I could hear. Too many times I'd be standing up there with a finger in my ear, which I find annoying. Last time I used PA there was no opportunity to talk to the guy, he was clearly used to mixing techno/psytrance acts. I had virtually nothing on stage despite repeatedly asking for more, I think he was putting it into the wrong monitor. What I could hear was the FOH sound coming back to me and it sounded toppy and ss clip harsh. When I use an amp at least I have some control over what I'm hearing. Sometimes they would still drown me out, but I could try to do something about it, you know, move or adjust eq or blow out a harp or something
