chopsy
59 posts
Jul 07, 2017
2:33 PM
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I've been playing rack harmonica for a couple years now as a complement to my role as an upright bass player in a bluegrass band. I would say I'm around "intermediate" on the beginners guide but with a good ear.
I also play with a house band that ranges anywhere from blues to country to rock and I heard a missing harp part in Roadhouse Blues so I grabbed the rack. Turns out they didn't know I play and now want me put down the bass for a song or two and try playing through a bullet mic and amp.
While I may be intermediate instrument-wise I have never played through an amp or tried cupping the mic. Did a lot of reading on the cupping but I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what amp settings I might try?? I won't have a lot of time to tweak settings, so starting out in the right ballpark would be awesome!
I believe it's a Fender Princeton Reverb I will get to play around with.
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The Iceman
3226 posts
Jul 07, 2017
2:40 PM
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I'd start with everything at 12:00 except the treble, which I would roll down to 9:00 as a generic.
All amps seem to be a bit different - even same models, so my advice is to treat yours as an individual and start to play with the knobs and discover what you enjoy from it. Don't be afraid to turn all tone controls totally up as far as they go as well as down as far as they go.
Just because the numbers on the amp surround the dial and say 1 - 10 doesn't mean that the sound changes by 1/10 with each ascending number. I've found amps that, for instance with the treble control, not much change between 1 and 3, then a difference in tone occurs that doesn't change much from 3 to 5, etc.....
Mics are part of the equation as well. Get out there and experiment experiment experiment.
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The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Jul 07, 2017 2:43 PM
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SuperBee
4771 posts
Jul 07, 2017
4:24 PM
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With a Princeton Reverb I'd start with bass up full, treble on 0.
Volume a shade under 3 for starters. I run mine higher but I've subbed a lower gain tube in V1.
Plug into input no 2.
Leave the term intensity and speed on 0.
You may or may not like the Reverb. Adjust to taste.
That's all. These amps are pretty bright and you'll have plenty of cut with treble on 0 if it's anything like mine.
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timeistight
2145 posts
Jul 07, 2017
4:57 PM
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I agree with SuperBee: those settings will give you a decent basic sound on a Princeton that you can tweak slightly if necessary.
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MP
3450 posts
Jul 07, 2017
6:40 PM
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----------I do the same as Bee w/ the Princeton sans reverb but use input one. A bit of treble gives it some crunch and I like that so i'll turn it up somewhere around 3 at times..... or 9 o'clock as Ice mentions.
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Last Edited by MP on Jul 07, 2017 6:44 PM
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hvyj
3369 posts
Jul 07, 2017
7:18 PM
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Ditto: treble at 0, bass at 10, input #2. Now, this amp (PRRI) comes alive at volume settings 6 and above. To set performance volume level and control feedback use a mic with a volume control to attenuate the input and crank up the volume on the amp to 6. A 545 Ultimate is a compatible mic for this amp.
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jbone
2312 posts
Jul 08, 2017
7:53 AM
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An amp you can tweak. The amp and mic must get along well. The hottest element in a bullet is a controlled magnetic or cm. I would look for something pre 80's to get a good sound. Or if you have a few bucks to spend you can't go wrong with Greg Heumann. He's a mic builder in Napa CA who has also developed his own mic and element for harp players. The Heumann Element and the Bulletini.
I would also suggest a mic with a volume control so any squeal can be instantly stopped and the amp then tweaked to eliminate it. I don't know about a Princeton Reverb but a rule of thumb for me on any amp is to keep the gain setting low. Everything else you can dial in but too much gain will lead to squeal esp on stage when the mic is not being played through.
Using a hot mic with hand cup is exhilarating. There are places you can hammer down but also there are places to lay back or lay out. Dynamics.
I bet you'll do great!
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Reverbnation
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