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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Busking Rig Simplification
Busking Rig Simplification
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WoozleEffect
1 post
Jul 25, 2016
9:25 AM
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Greetings!
This is my first post, so go easy on me. I consider myself a beginner, but I'm jumping in with both feet because... well, why not?
I'm trying to put together a busking rig that's light, portable, and won't cost me more in batteries than I could ever hope to make in tips.
I've got a Pignose 7-100, and right now an old Boss RC-20XL loop station. Both run on 6 AA Batteries.
Right now, that does the trick. I'm using a Green Bullet into the mic input, and my "guitar" (I use the term loosely...) into the instrument input.
I've discovered that I may want to trade in my Looper for something a bit simpler, that runs on a single 9V battery. (Might end up cheaper than all the AA's, and might be simpler and more discrete. Also, the RC-20XL has some rather significant "hum", and has been replaced by the quiter RC-30. I'd love to use the Ditto Mic Looper, but it doesn't operate on batteries at all...) If I go for something simpler than an RC-30, the one's I'm seeing all have only a single input, and that brings me to my question...
Is there anyone out there who has a good suggestion as to how to cheaply blend two sources into one input on a busking rig? 1 mic and 1 instrument (both 1/4") into a single input on a looper, or even directly into the single input of the Pignose 7-100.
I really want to avoid resorting to requiring an electrical outlet or generator, and the bulk of a mixing board (even a battery operated one) seems contrary to my minimalist goals.
I'm also considering getting something like the Lone Wolf Blues Company "Mojo Pad" on the Green Bullet, so that the mic and guitar signals are a bit better balanced before they hit the amplifier.
The trick seems to be finding balance. I can crank the Pignose up to full when I use the guitar, with the guitar volume all the way up, and the distortion is great.
If i tried the same thing with the bullet mic all the way up, the feedback is simply uncontrollable.
So, I either turn down the Pignose, and lose guitar distortion.... or I turn down the Green Bullet, and lose some of that mic's character on the harps... These compromises aren't ideal. The amp sounds beautiful for one instrument or the other.... but both.... There must be a way!
Cheers,
-Rob Laferrière
Russell, MB, Canada.
Last Edited by WoozleEffect on Jul 25, 2016 11:16 AM
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isaacullah
3220 posts
Jul 25, 2016
12:17 PM
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Hi there, I have some suggestions for you.
1) Invest in a good set of rechargeable batteries and fast battery charger. Look for a charger that can charge quite a few batteries at a time.
2) 9v operation vs AA's: Personally, I stick with AA's. Rechargeable AA's are cheaper and get you more Milliamp-hours (longer playing life) than rechargeable 9v's.
3) Consider buying a distortion pedal for your guitar. Get a very simple one, use a normal 9v battery. Simple distortion or fuzz pedals can run for a very long time on a single 9v.
4) Looper. This is a personal choice you have to make. Do you need two loops in sync? If so, do you want to be able to control the loops independently? If those are the case, then you need a "four button looper". If not, then a one or two button looper will do you fine. I never used any of the boss units, but have plenty of experience with loopers. I currently use a Vox Lil Looper with an extension pedal. This is a "four button" set up so I can control two loops independently. It runs on 4 AA batteries. In addition to looping, it allows you to put some effects on the sound too (echo, reverb, etc). It's a good price and an effective unit. I like it quite a bit.
5) Mixing: Get a passive A/B/Y pedal. Plug the mic into "A", the guitar into "B", and send the output to the amp. You will be able to switch each channel (A or B) on, off, or both on, by clicking the pedal button.
6) MOAR POWER!! Personally, I wanted to get a little louder and be out on the street for longer, so I invested in a 12v SLA marine battery, and built a little 12V amp into a vintage travel bar case. There are also a lot of vintage 12v PA amps floating around, as well as car stereo amps that can run directly off of 12v. They may not have the character of the pignose though. Keep in mind, however, that you can also always get a power inverter, and adapt that 12v to mains voltage. Then you can run any amp you want. That does mean more things, and more weight to lug around.
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WoozleEffect
2 posts
Jul 25, 2016
10:24 PM
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Thanks for the detailed response Isaa!
Lots to think about.
I'm considering a few looper options.
I do quite like the RC-300 that I've been using live for years now, (mostly for guitar and vocal work) but it's far from portable. The RC-30 seems like a good option. My now obsolete RC-20xl is good... but the hum is really loud. Apparently an issue they sorted out when it was replaced by the RC-30. (Thats what I get for buyibg mine too early, I suppose....)
I also use a Voicelive Touch 2 in my live shows, and I really like what it can do... But again, not portable. I'm considering the Ditto Mic Looper because I like the TC Helicon Mic Control buttons. But untimately, it's not batteryoperated, and brings me down to one input compared to the 3 on the RC-30.
This busking rig id proving to be a real challenge for me. I'm always adding thibgs to my already rediculous pedalboard, so its been difficult for me to pair down and simplify so much for this smaller more portable setup.
Cheers,
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Rob Laferrière
Russell, MB, Canada
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STME58
1784 posts
Jul 25, 2016
10:38 PM
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There are two ways to make something more portable. One is to minimize and simplify as discussed above, the other is to use a truck. This and be anything from a hand truck to an 18 wheeler. Some of the buskers I have seen at Balboa Park, where the rules state you must be able to transport all of your gear in one trip, have some nice rolling rigs that everything fits on and they can wheel along. Some of them utilize rolling luggage.
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Harmonicatunes
168 posts
Jul 25, 2016
10:51 PM
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I've been down your route exactly. The answer is simple. Stick with the Boss Loop Station, as I eventually did, after buying a Ditto Looper.
The two channel mixer in the Loop Station is usable and very useful. The life on 6 AAs is excellent, they're probably cheaper than the 9V equivalents.
My advice would be to upgrade the Loop Station input. That may well fix the noise problems. The Korg Pandora is hard to beat for portability, and gives a very decent clean and/or amplified harmonica sound. You could even use two, one for the harmonica, one for the guitar.
You're perhaps fired up about replacing the Loop Station. My advice is to put the energy/money into other parts of your rig
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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shakeylee
559 posts
Jul 26, 2016
7:21 AM
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I busk with no amps,no mics,no effects .
It is light and portable !
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www.shakeylee.com
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shakeylee
560 posts
Jul 26, 2016
7:36 AM
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double post,sorry.
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www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Jul 26, 2016 7:37 AM
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shakeylee
561 posts
Jul 26, 2016
7:36 AM
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I busk with no amps,no mics,no effects .
Very light and portable !
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www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Jul 26, 2016 7:36 AM
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WoozleEffect
3 posts
Jul 26, 2016
9:49 AM
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"My advice would be to upgrade the Loop Station input. That may well fix the noise problems."
Hi Tony. Can you expand on this a bit? Where can I find information on how to replace or upgrade an input on my RC-20xl?
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Rob Laferrière
Russell, MB, Canada
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Harmonicatunes
169 posts
Jul 26, 2016
7:20 PM
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By upgrading the input, I mean plugging your guitar and/or harmonica into a multieffects unit like the Korg Pandora, choosing the reverb/delay/amp combination for your sound, and setting the correct level for your Loop Station.
Some fiddling around to be sure, a learning curve also perhasp, but the end result is worthwhile.
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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Killa_Hertz
1679 posts
Jul 29, 2016
5:19 AM
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I would suggest switching to the Jamman Stereo looper. It has adjustable volume for each input. So it's essentially a small mixer.
Also ... i have a box DA5. It has the main input and also a mic input in the back with an idependant volume. The only down side is that the rear input is
always clean. Meaning the onboard models and effects are not applied to this channel. But. .. it's an idea.
Maybe another idea could be some type of clean boost for the guitar signal. That way you could keep the amp at an appropriate volume for the harp.
The mojo pad would be a waste of money. It's for very large amps. It wouldn't work on the pignose.
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Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jul 29, 2016 5:26 AM
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