JP
2 posts
Apr 09, 2018
5:17 PM
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I've committed to be a weekend warrior with local band. I play lap steel, strat, harmonica, and sing a bit. I've been playing harp for a few years now and to date I've always used my vocal mic with harp. I like the clean bassy tone with a straight vocal mic, but we have several songs that need a dirty harp tone, and I'm ready to add a variety to my arsenal. This past Friday I decided to give my rp350 a try along with a Shure 520dx mic and I had feed back from hell at setup, so I quickly abandoned it. I had the rp350 sounding good on my pa before the gig and I created a few patches, but when I got to the actual gig and on the bands PA I had serous feedback. I believe part of my problem was the 520DX because it seems super hot. I notice today I can get a LOT More volume from a sm57.
Do yall think the RP350 is worth continuing to work with or would you just move forward with getting a smaller amp? I read this forum a good bit over the weekend and it seems like a lot of you are happy with the super champ x2. Space is extremely limited in our mini van, so either I need the make the rp350 work or get smaller amp. Having a backup amp would also be a good thing.
Last Edited by JP on Apr 09, 2018 5:18 PM
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jbone
2539 posts
Apr 09, 2018
8:40 PM
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JP, I have not used an RP350 or any type of modeler as yet, would if I could but I have what I need for the duo I've been in for years. I play harp and sing is it.
I do know this: a high impedance mic- 520DX for example- into a low impedance amp or p.a.- band p.a., solid state amp- WILL squeal. The SM57 or other low z mics will work better since impedance will match.
I'd guess you could get a high to low IMT if you want to keep using the 520 to the p.a. with or without the RP350 but there's no guarantee that cutting the impedance won't take away from the 520's tone.
My guess, work with the SM57 into the RP350 to the p.a. Drop the gain down some on that channel or at least start with everything at 1/4 to 1/2 volume on that channel and bring things up easy.
Greg Heuman has some cool mods he's done with SM57 and 58's to make them more harp friendly. Blows me away dot com. He modded a mic for me years ago and it's great quality and still going strong.
Others probably have more experience with your dilemma. I'd like to know what you end up doing there.
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slaphappy
355 posts
Apr 10, 2018
9:22 AM
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JP, you seem like a good candidate for Harp Break or Harp attack pedal straight into the PA for those songs that need crunch if you ask me..
I've no experience with that setup but I think it can work well and would seem to fit the bill for your situation.
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4' 4+ 3' 2~~~
-Mike Ziemba
Harmonica is Life!
Last Edited by slaphappy on Apr 10, 2018 9:22 AM
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Bilzharp
164 posts
Apr 11, 2018
10:03 AM
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Hey JP,
I play lap steel, guitar and harmonica as well. (great combination!) What amp are you using for lap steel? I've found that a 12 Watt or so tube amp works great for BOTH lap steel and harp unless I'm playing western swing or some very chord heavy style of lap steel which requires a little more headroom.
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JP
3 posts
Apr 13, 2018
7:25 AM
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Thanks for the advice everyone. After reading even more I've yet to read a post with someone claiming they get dirty tone and massive volume from a small amp or setup. I can't get a dirty harp with considerable volume using any of my current tools (rp350, green bullet, sm57 with IMT, blues driver, fender blues jr (with 12AT7 in V1). It's seems most suggest larger amps, but thats just not an option with the limited room in our mini van. I really want my blues jr to work, I can get the tone, but he volume isn't close.
I'm going to keep working with the blues jr today some more though. I've following this as a guide,
http://bluesharpamps.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/fender-blues-junior-revisited.html, so I'm my problem is all in technique.
Bilzharp, The combination of lap and harp seems to a big hit. I'm a jack of all trades and expert of none. I take pride in knowing what I can and can't do. I play lap in D. I recently switched my blues jr V1 tube to a JJ ECC81 (12AT7) and leave the clean headroom, and shape the tone from there with a few pedals. After trying out a Super Champ yesterday there is no way I'd choose it over a blues jr. So, I'm hoping I can get my blues jr to work today with harp. If I can, I'll buy a 2nd blues jr because I just don't want to fiddle with the tone and volume knob ever other song.
I appreciate everyone's feed back.
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dougharps
1746 posts
Apr 13, 2018
7:47 AM
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Have you tried using the Blues Jr. with the 57 and an impedance matching transformer, no pedals or modelers, FAT switch off, Reverb at 3 or 4, turn up the master ALL THE WAY, mid 7, bass 6, treble 3, and gradually turn up volume (gain)? Master up all the way is like turning it into an older amp.
You should be able to get much louder without feedback with settings similar to this, give or take 1 or 2 on each of the settings. It will break up, but at louder levels, and a higher volume before feedback. The suggested settings are a starting point, tweak from there. You can get great, loud, harp sounds from a Blues Junior, without mods or pedals. If you find that you are too loud, then cut the master some.
Pre-amp tube swaps would be the next step. Speaker changes could help. Then there are circuit mods...
But I would work on getting the most out of it as is before considering spending money.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Apr 13, 2018 7:49 AM
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jbone
2541 posts
Apr 13, 2018
1:58 PM
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Get your tone and volume like Doug suggests and you can always mic to the p.a. if there's a channel too. I'd avoid much monitor volume though since it can lead to a feedback loop.
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hvyj
3570 posts
Apr 23, 2018
9:10 AM
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Phaser pedal. Depth turned all the way up, speed turned all thew way down. Tight cup the SM 57.
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Elcoh
9 posts
Apr 23, 2018
2:04 PM
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I worked many years with a Shaker madcat, Harp Break,to the PA thru a direct box. Great sound never had a problem. I'm sure that setup would just as well with your mic. Recently bought a 1962 Premier 120 and everything had to change.The amp worked best with a Hi-Z mic. Now using a green bullet or a sonotone mic, no effects box needed.
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nacoran
9815 posts
Apr 24, 2018
4:54 PM
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You can always get the dirty tone on a small amp and then mic the amp.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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JP
4 posts
Apr 30, 2018
8:26 AM
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Thanks for the input everyone. I wanted to update yall. I think the majority of my problem is or was my cupping technique, which I still have to work on. I ended up finding a heck of a deal on an early 90s Ampeg J12T. I got it for $150 and it still has the tag on it. I used it this weekend and it worked out great. It's not quite as dirty as I'd like, but it's a great starting point.
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