nick cavill
1 post
Apr 27, 2015
12:39 PM
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Hope some of you more experienced guys out there can help me. I recently joined a band (as saxophonist) and to my great delight they also wanted some harp. They want me to plug straight into the desk so to try and get a dirty sound I got me a sure 520 dx mic and a blues driver pedal. In rehearsal this sounds fine as I can switch between clean sounds and a more gritty sound for the blues numbers. BUT when the band crank up the volume I seem to have real problems cutting through especially when the blues driver is on. If I go too loud I get lots of feedback. On one gig I even had to kick the BD pedal off to be heard. Am I doing something wrong? is there some trick to getting the various levels right (ie mic; pedal and desk) or is it trial and error? Do I need a DI box? or do I need to forget going into the desk and borrow my son's amp and mic that up instead? all ideas appreciated. I hope I can get this sorted as I love playing harp in a band so much!
Last Edited by nick cavill on Apr 27, 2015 1:15 PM
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rogonzab
707 posts
Apr 27, 2015
2:23 PM
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Hi,
A few options:
- Mic -> Lone Wolf Harpbreak -> DI box -> PA
- Mic -> Lone Wolf HaroAtack -> DI box -> PA
- Mic -> Art Tube Mp -> PA
- Mic -> Joyo American Sound -> DI box -> PA
(A forum member wrote one time that this pedal works good for harp)
I use Mic -> Harpbreak -> Delay -> PA and the sound is good, and lost of volume before FB.
Check this:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5482078.htm
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
Last Edited by rogonzab on Apr 27, 2015 2:25 PM
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indigo
98 posts
Apr 27, 2015
3:40 PM
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Guitar distortion pedals just don't work to well for harp, especially when you start turning them up to compete with a loud band.They have (like amps) often have too much gain in their preamp stage.Hence feedback.
The best(by far) rig i have ever used for straight to the PA is the Lone Wolf Harp break pedal (and L/W delay).Sensible use of the controls (ie less is more)can put out a nice 'brown 'tone with plenty of volume.
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Destin
123 posts
Apr 27, 2015
8:46 PM
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Are you not loud enough? or can you just not hear yourself?
A lot of times going through the pa you are loud enough for the audience to hear, but you just can't hear yourself. If that is the case, try having the sound man turn your monitor really low, if not off and the other monitors louder.
Also, I have never tried a Blues Driver, but the lone wolf break works really well for this situation, but I don't expect it will fix your loudness problem.
Good luck
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Barley Nectar
785 posts
Apr 27, 2015
11:56 PM
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I never had a problem out front thru a PA. I do have trouble hearing my self without an amp on stage, as stated above. I do not have a PA rig as I normally play thru an amp. Tell the sound man to set your channel EQ as follows. Highs on 3, Mids on 4.5-6, Bass on 8. No pedals. Use a 57/58. Get in the monitors till you can hear it, no louder. Greg Heuman's volume controls work well...
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Apr 27, 2015 11:58 PM
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nick cavill
2 posts
Apr 28, 2015
2:31 AM
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Guys this is fantastically helpful thanks a lot. A few comments and more questions!
I don't want you to think I am a volume nut. I just want to be heard nicely in the mix, and ideally to have a choice between cleaner and gritty sound. I think the problem was not as Destin said anything to do with the monitors as I found the volume dropped in the main pa speakers when I used the BD pedal when the band was louder. Barley Nectar and shakylee I like your more purist ideas but I like the volume control on the 520 and the cupping style so I fancy sticking with that. . Indigo and rogonzab you are tempting me to try a LW harpbreak but one final question: why would I then need a DI box? If the sm520 is high impedance and I am plugging into the high impedance input on the board....
thanks again
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Martic
122 posts
Apr 28, 2015
12:33 PM
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If you have time for a soundcheck you should try plugging the mic straight to the PA. Add bass and mid, turn down treble, and find the right amount of gain and volume you need. If you have a good technique, you'll saturate the PA's preamp and you're going to get a dirty sound without effects.
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Pluto
276 posts
Apr 28, 2015
5:23 PM
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Buy a Lone Wolf Harp Train 10
http://www.lonewolfblues.com/harptrain10.html
Its a great 8 watt tube amp with a line out. Great tone, better than anything in its class (in my opinion).
If you use a stomp box you can only play through a PA or another amp. With the Harp Train, you at least have an amp to play through. The Lone Wolf pedals are great too, but this amp is so reasonably priced, to me its a more logical choice.
Last Edited by Pluto on Apr 28, 2015 5:24 PM
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nick cavill
3 posts
Jun 12, 2015
6:43 AM
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Just wanted to update this and say thanks again. I bought a harp break and tried it in rehearsals last night and it was superb. The band were cranking up the volume (they're like kids in a sweetie shop) and I found I could still be heard with a great edgy bluesy sound cutting through, with no feedback. I guess it just works better as it is designed for a harp and not a guitar.
so no excuses now...I just have to practise more as now it cn be heard the mistakes can be heard too!
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Greg Heumann
3015 posts
Jun 12, 2015
9:49 AM
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Glad this all worked out for you, Nick. Just another example of how you have to find the right folks to deal with. What you found for pedals (that pedals made for harp players work better) is also true for EVERYTHING having to do with amplified harps including mics - so I wanted to introduce myself 'cuz that's what I do...... check out the web site.....
P.S. - I'm also sax playing harp player! (Or am I a harp plaint sax player....?)
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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