I always here this mic or some of its derivatives with on/off switch or volumce control referred to as the James Cotton mic. The mic that he used back in the day when he was using Super Reverbs and Fender Concerts. Anyone using this mic that would share their experience with it. Not trying to start a thread on the need for acoustic tone to get good amp'd tone....really...we're talking about James Cotton. We all know that he could sound good through any mic...he could probably phone it in using the mic on his iphone! Just curiosity this time! Thanks, Jay
Until 1977, he was still using an amp, but like it was from the late 60's and earlier, he was also singing into it as well, (back then, the amp was also your PA) and it was in 1977 that he played thru the PA full time. In the 70's, he mainly used the 585SA or more often, the 585SAV with the volume control.
The last time he was using amps on a regular basis, what he was using was an Acoustic 450 head into a Dual Showman cabinet with a pair of 15's in them, but he also did use Twins and Super Reverbs as well.
I had one with the volume control for a time until it got stolen. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
BBQ Bob, that story about the Acoustic 450 head into a Fender Dual Showman cab is great. I would have loved to hear that. Do you know of any recordings or videos with that rig?
Haven't seen any videos with that setup but the sound is essentially what you hear on his first two recordings for the Buddah label, including 100% Cotton. He used this setup until I saw him in '77 at the Music Hall in Boston, opening for Johnny Winter and the amp died on him that night, and so he began going thru the PA full time from that moment on and the setup was the same, sound wise, as the PA, and he proceeded to steal the show that night. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
77 was the year of Hard Again wasn't it (Muddy's album with Cotton on harp). I can still remember the night I realised it was harp on that record. That's some of the ballsiest sounding harp playing I know. ----------
Love Cotton's tone always. Really like that song Wolf. Great playing and killer tone and sound through that rig. ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
years ago, a standard clubs house PA set up was a Shure PA system with Shure 585s (unisphere). occasionally these would be accompanied by Shure 545s (unidynes) and variations on the theme. 5?? Sphere-o-dynes, DY45 unidynes, etc.
Radio Shack copied the 585. it was called the Realistic Highball. dead ringer for the 585.
i've played these mics countless times. always through the Shure, Peavey,Kustom, etc. PA system.
they are great mics. just don't expect that fat bullet tone.
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Got to see James do his thing upclose twice in the early 80's and then at a festival in the early 90's...SERIOUS BADASS BLUES! I've seen him 2 or 3 times since he got old and lost his voice, but was highly entertained just the same with some BADASS BLUES :)
