Barley Nectar
535 posts
Sep 28, 2014
2:02 PM
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Hi all. I just ordered a Harp Break. The only pedal that I presently use consistently is an Arion SAD-1. Stereo analog delay. Excellent pedal BTW.
Anyhoo, in what order do I connect these two pedals to operate at full potential. Thank all...BN
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rogonzab
600 posts
Sep 28, 2014
2:14 PM
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First is the HB, then the delay, so you can "repeat" your overdriven sound, and not to "overdrive" the repeats.
That make sense?
That way is a "cleaner" sound, but you can put the delay first if you want.
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Barley Nectar
536 posts
Sep 28, 2014
2:27 PM
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Thanks Rogonzab. Any setting suggestions? Do you ever turn it off? Where do you typicly set bass controls on your amp considering the HB bass pot? I realize this varies with the amp used. Just looking for general recommendations.
Additional advice anyone? Thanks...BN
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didjcripey
824 posts
Sep 28, 2014
3:05 PM
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I find the best setting for me (CM element, super reverb amp) is with the volume turned all the way up and the drive at nearly twelve O'clock, bass boost about the same. I like a lot of bass so my bass pot on the amp is about seven or eight.
They say to set it so that the volume level is the same with it on or off, but I seem to get slightly better volume before feedback with it when it boosts the volume when its on.
To me the sound without it is so clean and thin I never turn it off. It seems to give a great compression which accentuates techniques like tongue slaps.
You'll need a good quality filtered power supply or it will hum loudly.
As rogonzab said, delay should typically be last in the chain.
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Lucky Lester
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boris_plotnikov
1010 posts
Sep 29, 2014
6:57 AM
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It's a matter of taste. I personally prefer very short delay BEFORE harpbreak. It's hardly listenable, but it add fatness instead of repeats.
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Excuse my bad English.
My videos.
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rogonzab
601 posts
Sep 29, 2014
7:57 AM
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This is going to heat up this thread (sorry):
I think that the HB is a pedal designed for beginners, but more advanced players can use it as well.
The HB is not just an overdrive pedal (saturate the input signal) is also a fixed EQ pedal. It take away any frq above 2khz so it give you a big dark tone no matter if you have good tone or not. The bass boost does not give you that much bass, but is a good thing to have.
My problem whit the HB is that it takes away to much Mid-High frq. I use a tight cup in my bullet mic, and that alone take away all the shrillnes and give enough bass to my tone, and the HB give me more mud than break.
Also, I am a soft breather, and the HB does not "break" for me unless I put the gain level at 6/10. Yesterday in a reherseal I had the Gain in 8/10, level in 10 always.
When I use the HB, I put the PA settings like this:
Treble:2 - Mids:10 - Bass:5
whit that I can "fight" the fixed EQ of the pedal, and get more clarity in my sound.
(I use it whit just a Joyo Analog Delay)
But, the pedal is a good thing to have. You can get good tone out of a PA whit almost no feedback, and that is great. I dont have a car, so using my Pro Junior at gigs is a real problem for me.
I never use the HB whit a tube amp, It takes away all the beauty of the tubes.
I would love a HB Pro, one whit no fixed EQ, a pedal that just overdrive my signal, not transform it.
(Sorry for the misspell)
Last Edited by rogonzab on Sep 29, 2014 7:59 AM
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Barley Nectar
537 posts
Sep 29, 2014
2:10 PM
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Crap, anyone want to buy a Harp Break?
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didjcripey
826 posts
Sep 29, 2014
2:23 PM
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My experience with the harp break on my amp is different in regards to mids and highs. I find that it gives the highs more edge and clarity. When I first played my super reverb after a little 5 watt tube amp I found it was too clean for my taste, and the highs had no cut. The HB gives me the sound I like, but with the volume of a big clean amp.
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Lucky Lester
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SuperBee
2209 posts
Sep 29, 2014
3:32 PM
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My take on HB is that it's cool if you want an overdriven breaking-up sound from an amp which won't do that at the level you can drive it. Or an amp which sounds bad when you push it to clip. Like a PA or other big SS amp, or a big valve amp which hits feedback while still clean. Or any amp where you just can't turn it up enough to get that quality in the output.
In those situations I believe the Harp Break is a real winner.
But if you have an amp which you can set to deliver natural distortion in a way you like, harp break is redundant.
A few times I've regretted selling the one I had.
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boris_plotnikov
1011 posts
Sep 30, 2014
4:46 AM
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I like harpbreak for playing 2nd position blues in the low notes mostly and low harps, while for 3rd position and high notes I prefer HarpAttack.
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Excuse my bad English.
My videos.
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didjcripey
827 posts
Sep 30, 2014
5:15 AM
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I think super bee is spot on. I found with my 5 watt amp the Harp break did very little, and reduced the volume I could get before feedback.
But with the big super reverb, with which it is hard to get it to breakup, it is awesome.
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Lucky Lester
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HarpNinja
3940 posts
Sep 30, 2014
6:28 AM
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I love the HB and use it as either my "amp" or as a distortion pedal. In both roles it is an important part of my rig.
Using it to the PA I find it to have plenty of cut and upper mids - sometimes too much if you run the gain too hot.
I use an SM58 and those two combined make a great blues rig. It won't get into the really metal-like distortion, but for blues, that isn't necessary. For the stuff I ususally play - which is rock, I put an Exotic EP Booster infront to push it harder into the over the top distortion range.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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rogonzab
604 posts
Sep 30, 2014
6:55 AM
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Watch this video, can you hear how dark the pedal makes your tone?
Is not a bad thing by it self, but is too dark for me.
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NathanLWBC
1 post
Oct 03, 2014
11:42 AM
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Hi all,
I'm the lead tech over at LWBC, and this thread was pointed out to me by a customer. I thought I would put my two cents into the discussion.
The Harp Break does not have a fixed EQ within the unit. The only thing that could be perceived as such is the very slight roll off after 2khz. You will not lose any mid highs. 2khz is the equivalent of C7 on a piano(the 76th key) or the tenth hole in a F harp. This is not within the common playing range of the instrument, and the roll off is extremely minute and difficult to detect without an oscilloscope.
I believe the issue that most of you are having is that the bass is boosted too high, and you lose apparent highs. Because the Harp Break does not boost your highs like it does the lows, your ear can be tricked into thinking the highs are cut.
I would suggest EQ'ing the amp flat, leave the bass boost control at noon, and work from there. I hope this helps.
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--Nathan Heck
Lead Technician, Lone Wolf Blues Co.
customerservice@lonewolfblues.com
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rogonzab
607 posts
Oct 03, 2014
12:28 PM
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Hi Nathan, welcome to the forum!!! is great to have you here.
Yes, I use the "bass" knob at 12:00, and start whit the EQ of the PA flat. Maybe is my technique (average) but in my case, the pedal is to dark for me to become "the perfect pedal", but is a great pedal, I can plug into a PA and play whit good tone, and that alone is awesome.
Today I have a gig, I will try the Bass knob at zero, maybe from there I can adjust the EQ better, or maybe not.
Thxs!!
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HarpNinja
3944 posts
Oct 03, 2014
1:41 PM
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I watched some of the video just to hear what you're saying. I think the bass is pretty high, even on my crappy computer speakers. That is going to impact what you hear for highs. In addition, your sending a more compressed signal to the amp, which is adding additional clipping.
The wireless is probably also cutting some gain and adding some compression overall...which, I guess, doesn't really matter.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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NathanLWBC
2 posts
Oct 03, 2014
1:47 PM
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Thanks for the warm welcome.
You could also slightly boost the highs on the PA to brighten your sound some.
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--Nathan Heck
Lead Technician, Lone Wolf Blues Co.
customerservice@lonewolfblues.com
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rogonzab
608 posts
Oct 03, 2014
1:56 PM
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HarpNinja, in the Robson fernandes videos, at 0:39s you can see the knobs on the HB, and the "bass" is set almost to zero.
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Barley Nectar
542 posts
Oct 03, 2014
2:17 PM
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In the vid I defiantly prefer the clean tone. Oddly, on the Jason Ricci demo, I liked the HB tone. I do prefer a clean tone. Not a member of the Treb @ 0, Bass @ 10 club. Well, I'll never know because I sent the HB back, package unopened. I'll just stick with my beloved tube amps. Pretty cool of Mr Heck to enter the discussion. Thanks all...BN
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Pistolcat
707 posts
Oct 03, 2014
3:03 PM
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I think the Harp break is a really cool pedal which give you a bit of bass boost and distorsion at all volume levels. I do think it removes a bit of the highs, with all respect to Nathan here, I guess it's the overtones that is toned down. It's not necessarily a bad thing depending on your technique.
All pedals take away some dynamics and if you have a hell-of-a-gun amp and solid technique you'll probably go back to "just tubes" after a while...
My 2 öre.
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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didjcripey
829 posts
Oct 03, 2014
5:05 PM
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BN: You sent it back without even trying it?
Wow!
I can't imagine doing that, especially based on a couple of opinions from people on the forum.
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Lucky Lester
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HarpNinja
3946 posts
Oct 03, 2014
6:22 PM
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It looks more like 9 o'clock for the bass setting, which is definitely going to be noticeable when already going to an amp (which I am sure has bass too).
The gain is at noon, which is going to compress the signal too.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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