Elcoh
13 posts
Apr 30, 2018
11:49 AM
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Seems to be some great new harp amps out there being built by some very creative amp builders. Problem is unless you live in close proximity to where those companies are, they're expecting you to spend in the thousand dollar range without ever playing thru the amp and without being able to compare it to other amps.I can't buy an amp based on a Youtube video!
I'm from NYC a pretty big city and I know of no store anywhere that even has one current harp amp.
Suggestion to Harp Amp builders:Pick one retailer in a few major cities around the world and let the harp players shop! They'll know what they like by listening!
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Littoral
1597 posts
Apr 30, 2018
12:09 PM
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Yeah, it makes life difficult. No way the builders are gonna get enough product out there to the cities though. Another option would be to attend a big harmonica clinic workshop event. Many include opportunities to play various amps or at least hear them in person. That's not the cheapest solution, unless you factor efficiency and bang for the buck.
For example...
http://www.midwestharmonica.net/hillcountryharmonica2018
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nacoran
9819 posts
Apr 30, 2018
12:31 PM
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Yeah, the best you can do, short of getting to a big event where there are showcases is watching demos on YouTube. That doesn't let you do much with combinations of pedals with amps though.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Elcoh
14 posts
Apr 30, 2018
12:43 PM
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I can't really understand why a company like Mission,Harpgear etc. can't afford to send 2 sample amps out to a city like NYC and have their products exposed to a marketplace of players from all over the world.Any small botique music shop would love the opportunity and collect a commission for each sale.How does that not work?
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Lou
31 posts
Apr 30, 2018
4:05 PM
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In the music retail world it's not just high end harp amps that fall into this category. I've had to travel 1/2 way across the country to play a few high end instruments and I live 30 miles from SF CA. retailers and builders are in it for the money not convenience. If they could make money doing it another way they would. But don't most builders have a trial period ? On the off chance you don't like it you pay shipping back but that's a lot cheaper than traveling.
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nacoran
9821 posts
Apr 30, 2018
4:19 PM
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Maybe we need a wandering salesman, sort of like tinkers used to do. He could drive around in a van and show up with a big selection of amps and pedals (wouldn't be useful with harps because of the sanitation rules for selling them). He could show up at harp shows and maybe groups of harmonica enthusiasts could chip in enough money to get him to detour to their city along the way?
Or maybe one of the guys who tours a lot could do it as a sideline...
I can't think of any more practical ways to do it. It may sound like no big deal to send a couple amps to a big city, but there are a lot of big cities, and financially it may be hard to get amps into all of them. And there isn't a ton of incentive for one amp manufacturer to try to get into a shop that is already carrying a harp amp... unless the place became sort of a harp holy site the store may do better just selling one harp amp and keeping other musicians happy with other types of amps.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Elcoh
15 posts
Apr 30, 2018
6:44 PM
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“A harp holy site” Wouldn’t we all make pilgrimage?
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nacoran
9822 posts
Apr 30, 2018
10:28 PM
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I think the closet you can get is Trossingen.
Or Rockin Rons in San Diego!
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Nate
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AppalachiaBlues
159 posts
May 01, 2018
4:30 AM
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In Paris, there is a harmonica shop near the metro station Pigalle, called MAJOR. They have the Lone Wolf Harptrain, and a few other amps in the shop, which you can try out. They will lend you a mic, so you just need to have a harp in your pocket. You can also test out the Lone Wolf pedals. They have a good selection of Hohner and Suzuki harps, and other accessories in stock. So I almost never leave without buying something...
I believe it is important to support independent retailers as much as possible. Otherwise they will continue to be destroyed by the e-commerce giants. It is frightening to imagine a future where all retail shopping becomes consolidated in the hands of a few on-line giants. I have boycotted Amazon for almost a decade now.
Last Edited by AppalachiaBlues on May 01, 2018 4:33 AM
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NathanLWBC
132 posts
May 01, 2018
6:55 AM
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We (Lone Wolf Blues Co.) have our amps in two retail locations, Deak's Mississippi Saxophone Emporium in Clarksdale, Mississippi and Guitar Pedal Shoppe in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Internationally, we have stores in France (as previously mentioned), England and Canada that have our amplifiers available for demo.
That being said, convincing any sort of retail store to give us some of their coveted space is an extremely hard sell. I've spoken on the phone with over 50 retail dealers who responded mostly with "Harmonica Amps/Pedals? Why would we want those?"
"I can't really understand why a company like Mission,Harpgear etc. can't afford to send 2 sample amps out to a city like NYC and have their products exposed to a marketplace of players from all over the world.Any small botique music shop would love the opportunity and collect a commission for each sale.How does that not work?"
This is not the case at all. For every 1 harmonica player, there is 100 guitarists, 50 bass players and 30 drummers. Their space is a priority. Also, having amps scattered across the country on consignment is a logistical nightmare. We require all dealers to purchase product outright.
If you want amps or pedals carried by your local store, you need to regularly shop there, prove to them that there is a harmonica market in the area and request the products. We'd love to have a presence in NYC, Chicago, LA, etc, but we only get the cold shoulder.
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--Nathan Heck
General Manager, Lone Wolf Blues Co.
customerservice@lonewolfblues.com
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cliffy
323 posts
May 01, 2018
7:28 AM
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Hi Elcoh,
I totally get where you are coming from on this one. I think a lot of us experience the same frustration.
Custom harp amps are just too much money to make a decision based on a video. I made my decision to buy a specific amp because I was able to try one that a friend had. The amp was fairly expensive (but easily worth it), but I couldn't possibly have justified that expense without having tried it out in person.
If by any chance you are considering a MegaTone "Wezo" harp amp, I have a custom Wezo ME-18 harp amp if you want to come out to Long Island and blow through it. I play out a lot in Nassau County, which isn't too far for you, maybe you could take the LIRR. You could sit in on a few songs. I only use a bit of delay and reverb and I have a million different harp mics so you could get a decent idea of how the amp sounds. Or if you wanted to pay for like an hour or two in a Nassau County rehearsal studio, I could meet you and let you have at it for a while.
Let me know if that would be helpful to you.
Cliffy
(Bill Lifford)
my band is "Harmonica Bill & Marked Deck"
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dougharps
1751 posts
May 01, 2018
8:13 AM
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I understand the frustrations with not getting to try out harp gear and gambling with online purchases. Harp gear is a specialty market and the good stuff is seldom found in local music stores. Even specific harp brands are often not stocked. We are a small market.
If you attend SPAH or other major harmonica events you will usually find some vendors with gear to try. Certainly at SPAH conventions I have seen mic vendors, amp vendors, effects vendors, harmonica vendors, specialty harp parts vendors, and harp manufacturers reps. Hill Country Harmonica had some vendors attending, as did Harmonica Collective. Such events are cost effective for vendors as there are concentrated numbers of their customer base in one place. I have tried out effects, amps, mics, and harps at these events.
Though no one in Central Illinois has brought a boutique harp amp to a local jam, I HAVE tried out different specialty mics and various guitar amps at jams. At a couple St. Louis jams I attended I got to blow through different boutique amps.
Jams, other players in your area you meet online or at jams, and conventions/workshops are your best opportunity for trying out specialty harp equipment that is not available in music stores.
I am impressed that we now have specialized harp gear available to buy instead of having to learn to adapt guitar equipment and broadcast mics to our purpose.
The groundbreaking vendors that responded to the small harp player market needs should be praised!
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on May 01, 2018 8:15 AM
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nacoran
9824 posts
May 01, 2018
11:16 AM
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The other thing to try is go to local pawn shops and anyplace that sells used music gear. Just because an amp isn't designed for harp doesn't mean it won't work, and sometimes you can pick up a deal. I got the amp I use at a garage sale with another amp for $30 for both. The other one had problems, but I love my amp, but I think I may be the only person out there playing one and maybe I love it because I haven't played enough amps to find something better. (Or maybe I'm onto something? Who knows?)
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Elcoh
16 posts
May 01, 2018
2:53 PM
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You guys are all amazing! Bottom line it's a very small market and we all have to deal with it. And then there's always luck! Love your Harp Break pedal, Nathan. I'm gonna ask around some NYC shops to see if they can show your wares.
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barbequebob
3503 posts
May 02, 2018
8:16 AM
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The other factor involved is that in 98% of brick and mortar music stores, the salespeople know exactly next to nothing about anything related to harmonica and that's a HUGE mistake many players make all the time and if you go to the Guitar Center online application and fill one out just for the sake of curiosity, you won't find a single question about ANYTHING related to harmonica at all and this is typical. Oh yes, the harp market is essentially a niche market that's just too small for those retailers to bother with. All boutique amps and harp oriented amps fall under this category are almost never sold at these retailers and part of it is that those companies just don't have the financial muscle to get space in those stores.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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hot4blues
111 posts
May 03, 2018
9:36 PM
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I know there aren't many harp amp dealers. I myself live next door, in NJ, and even though no known harp amp dealers around, you can hit a music store (my preferences are Sam Ash, & some indie stores where I live (I stay away from Guitar Center, the inventory and selection are horrendous)). My suggestion would be the Peavy Viper Amps (though I use a Laney amp -. Laney is a great amp at better prices than some other brands). If you don't mind saving some cash, a music store that has consignment gear is also a great option. Good luck in your search.
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ValleyDuke
231 posts
May 07, 2018
9:06 PM
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What we need to do is get guitar players interested in harp gear. I sold a Lone Wolf delay pedal and a Lone Wolf compression pedal to Guitar Center. Both pedals sold quickly, and I'm sure they were bought by guitar players.
Can you imagine an interview with a guitar player saying they only use harp amps and pedals? Would love to see the tables turned.
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BnT
166 posts
May 08, 2018
12:25 AM
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It's funny what a guessing game harmonica is. You can't try out boutique amps. You can't try out speakers (how would that 10" blue frame alnico, 10" Weber alnico 10A125-0, and 10F125-0 ceramic sound in my Bandmaster cabinet? Or should I try 10F125-0-H? What would the sound difference be?). If you found that test online, a guitar would be doing that test. And harmonicas?!? Can't test drive those and if you shop brick & mortar stores you probably only see Hohner or maybe Lee Oscar. The others can't even get shelf space (so you don't run in to Suzuki, Seydel, Herring, Bushman, Sonnyboys, Harrison, Tombo, Bends, Easttop, etc. - not getting shelf space cost Bends its life). Mic? The good news is, you can test them (non-vintage) in a store. The bad news - not with the boutique amp, speaker combo, or harmonica you wanted to test.
It's a conspiracy if there ever was one!
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BnT
Last Edited by BnT on May 08, 2018 12:26 AM
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Barley Nectar
1360 posts
May 08, 2018
6:39 AM
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Try before you buy is a fine concept BUT as BnT says, there are so many variables. Room accoustics are a big factor also. What sounds good at home may not sound good on stage. Most serious players will go thru several amps and end up keeping several amps for different situations. Amps are tools and no good machanic can do his job with one wrench! Do your research, decide how the amp will be used then buy something. Afterwords, give the chosen one some time so you can find its strenghts and weeknesses. No one amp will suit all situations. We all go thru this process, Good Luck...BN
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nacoran
9836 posts
May 08, 2018
10:57 AM
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"We (Lone Wolf Blues Co.) have our amps in two retail locations, Deak's Mississippi Saxophone Emporium in Clarksdale, Mississippi and Guitar Pedal Shoppe in Plymouth, Massachusetts."
Aw man, I wish I'd know that... hmm... okay, I'm going to have to work out a reason to visit my Uncle in Boston sometime. Maybe I can work out a trip where I get to see Annie Raines play, then swing by Plymouth to check out the amp, get some clam chowdah,...
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Elcoh
20 posts
May 11, 2018
6:35 AM
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First let’s look at the successful products, Shure’s 520 DX Bullet mics, Audix Fireball mic, VHE Special 6, large companies that have marketed harp related products to masses successfully (and of course Hohner, Sydell etc). Then there are some great small companies with great innovative products like Shaker,Lone Wolf, Blows Me Away to name just a few. This may be a small market but it is woldwide! In a market that is so reliant on the internet,website design and online marketing are key. Do your due diligence and outsource it out to pros.
As for amps, I played for a few years thru a PA with a LW Harp Break and a Madcat Shaker and it worked fine. More recently I bought a 62 Premier and a Vintage Shure Bullet and I’m really loving my sound. I am always curious as to what other sounds I can get and in NYC that means trying different Vintage amps.
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