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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Mastering acoustic tone.
Mastering acoustic tone.
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Diggsblues
1616 posts
Dec 19, 2014
1:06 PM
Hearing Jason got me thinking about the art of acoustic
harmonica tone.

We talk a lot about amps, mics and what have you to
produce our sound but maybe a little stripping down would be
beneficial.


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Last Edited by
Diggsblues on Dec 19, 2014 1:09 PM
STME58
1157 posts
Dec 19, 2014
2:16 PM
One of the things I find most attractive about the harmonica is just how far you can vary the tone without the use of electronics. Until I started playing harp I never used an amp, mostly playing brass small ensembles and I still have a lot to learn about mic'ing and amplification but I love to see how far i can shift the tone with an un-amplified harp. I think this is a large part of what makes the harp such an expressive instrument, as exemplified by the performance Diggs posted.
TBird
89 posts
Dec 19, 2014
9:16 PM
Amen.

I don't play amplified because:
A.) I can barely afford harmonicas.
B.) I share walls with other humans.

I used to whine and complain about these two facts, but the fact that this scenario has made me focus on working to produce good acoustic tone is not something I regret.
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Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
A440
269 posts
Dec 20, 2014
1:09 AM
I'm joining this acoustic harp movement. Studying Sonny Boy II videos reveals how much tone, texture, and effects can be achieved acoustically. I am also listening to a lot of Cephas & Wiggins CDs lately, which have some wonderful rhythmic acoustic playing.
Goldbrick
802 posts
Dec 20, 2014
3:06 AM
@ diggs - you play beautifully here.

I dont hear acoustic tho- unless u mean clean because I hear reverb and compression
dougharps
791 posts
Dec 20, 2014
9:48 AM
Here is an excerpt of some studio work from a while back. The acoustic cut is "Howard".

I also played amplified on "Future Sons" and "Soul Song", but "Howard" is my favorite cut.

Amazon link for 56 Hope Road "All Points Connect" songs

Edit: P.S. not claiming to have "mastered" acoustic tone... just an example of my acoustic playing I like.
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Doug S.

Last Edited by dougharps on Dec 20, 2014 11:09 AM
bonedog569
931 posts
Dec 20, 2014
12:17 PM
Quite beautiful Diggs. I love futzing with amps - but it's amazing the range of detail and subtlety you can get playing acoustic.

A440 - amen to SBII. It's still electric Chicago blues - but he is playing away from the mic clean - and nobody sounds better.

T Bird- love your tag lines 'earth & stars'
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dougharps
792 posts
Dec 20, 2014
12:45 PM
Diggs, I meant to mention your sweet vibrato on the above chromatic song before I posted the link to my energetic acoustic clip! You use vibrato to very good effect on this piece, almost like a cello or viola sound.

Your acoustic playing sounds great in this and the other posted examples you have offered over time. I also enjoyed your playing at SPAH.
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Doug S.


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