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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Harp - Distortion Pedals
Harp - Distortion Pedals
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HarpNinja
792 posts
Nov 23, 2010
10:28 AM
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This has sorta been hit on before, but a search didn't yield the results I wanted. Has anyone had success with a "distortion" pedal into a clean amp? Specifically, switching between a clean and very distorted tone?
Obviously by main concerns are turning on the pedal and losing signal due to feedback.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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boris_plotnikov
312 posts
Nov 23, 2010
12:33 PM
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LoneWolf Harp Attack is core element of my tone.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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9000
45 posts
Nov 23, 2010
12:45 PM
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Harp Commander. The latest version is very slick.
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gmacleod15
94 posts
Nov 23, 2010
5:54 PM
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I have a Boss Blues Driver BD2 that I sometimes use with a Fender Blues Jr. It can give distortion without more feedback if set correctly. Also has a tone contol. I find I use it most often in low volume settings. If I turn up and cup correctly I can get enough breakup without the peddle unless a lot of distortion is desired.
I tried a Boss Distortion DS1 and that was too much distortion with my rig. I also use a green bullet with CM element
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MBH member since 2009-03-24
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mrdon46
55 posts
Nov 23, 2010
7:23 PM
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The Lone Wolf Harp Octave functions more as distortion pedal than an octaver. With just a touch of effect dialed in (mine is an early model, the current ones reportedly ramp up more slowly, YMMV) it dirties up a clean amp very nicely, and as a bonus, provides more perceived volume before feedback. It also provides the proper impedance loading for your mic element, and is a true bypass design if you should want to switch it out. It's first in my effects chain (followed by the LW Harp Delay and BBE Sonic Stomp). I use it all the time.
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ZackPomerleau
1306 posts
Nov 23, 2010
10:07 PM
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Same as Boris for me, but if you turn it off then back on it rings with a tube microphonic (is that what it's called?) ringing. It's not a flaw, it's just not meant to be turned off and on, it's meant to be engaged all of the time.
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htownfess
215 posts
Nov 23, 2010
11:02 PM
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Mike, I'd go with the SS Lone Wolf Harp Break pedal for this job. Not as choice a tone as the Harp Attack, but no microphonics issue, and pretty mellow/warm SS distortion if you don't overdo it. Smaller and less expensive than the HA. Not as versatile as a Harp Commander but delivers the essentials, and a useful sit-in tool for traveling light. Not hard to set up equivalent on/bypass volumes. You hear more about the Harp Attack due to high-profile players using it, but the Harp Break sounds really good, especially with a tube amp downstream instead of the PA. It'll do that range between a mellow classic Chicago distortion (less drive, tone knob down) and a more urgent rocked-up version (turn 'em up).
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toddlgreene
2151 posts
Nov 24, 2010
7:39 AM
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I second Htown on the HarpBreak. I got the newer-version HarpAttack from Randy, and I compared it at his shop side by side with the Break. Tube or no tube-I like the sound of the HarpBreak better. Oh, and the newer version of the HA has a less-microphonic tube in it to solve some of that issue, but I can't bring myself to love the sound of it. I prefer the sound that the original had. I know it's a different beast than the SS HarpBreak, and those who swear by the 'tube sound' will probably lean towards the HarpAttack, but I'd go for that HarpBreak for the sake of adding some nice-sounding distortion to an amp, or even right thru a PA or clean amp such as a keyboard/bass amp.
Randy voiced it(and all of his harmonica pedals)specifically for harp, so there is a lot less trial and error than you'll encounter trying to get a guitar distortion/overdive pedal to sound right. I've tried several guitar distortion and overdrive pedals with harp in the past, mostly with lackluster results, and all with a very narrow 'useful' range, if at all.
Besides all that, Randy is quite possibly the nicest. most down-to-earth guy you could ever deal with.
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Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Nov 24, 2010 7:50 AM
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boris_plotnikov
313 posts
Nov 24, 2010
11:44 AM
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I live too far from any big harmonica sessions to try a lot of devices. So I usually have to buy ant try. I didn't try HarpBreak, HarpOctave and Harp Commander yet. Pitty.
By accident I have two harpattacks one is old one, second is new one. Old one is microphonic, slightly overcompressed, but have a huge bottom and more clarity, the new one sounds more vitally, not overcompressed, no microphonic, but less bottom end. So
I just use two amps (tube copy of ProJr and 30 w solid state chinese sh*t power amp + tube preamp, copy of some ENGL) and I put the old one before solid state amp, the second one before tube amp and I have a huge sound.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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SuperBee
42 posts
Nov 26, 2010
4:03 AM
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I'm using Lone Wolf Octave and Delay, into a 30w valve combo with 12"...for rock gigs with both pedals in use and gain at 1 o'clock...I'm really happy with that sound...for bluesier feel i leave the Octave pedal off. Pretty happy with the rig.
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chiquitogomes
1 post
Jul 16, 2015
9:04 PM
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Did you heard about EHX Wiggler? Oh, man! It's huge! It cryies like a baby, man!!! I'm using it some months ago... and I'm so impressed! It's an amazing pedal from Electro Harmonix. A huge pedal, made like a tank, with two tubes 12AX7. Not board friendly, at all. But it sounds veeeeeeery nice, man! He adds lots of tube overdrive to your amp, cause it's not a distortion, but a OVERDRIVE, in the better sense of the word.
I discovered it accidentaly, when I was trying to find a good tremolo pedal. WIGGLER it's tremolo, Vibrato or Leslie pedal. It's tremolo is incomparable, but I don't use it more, after discovered the game of two knobs on it: I turn down the imput of the effect and turn up the output volume. If, by this side, I loose the wonderfull tremolo of the machine, I got a wonderfull overdriven sound by the other, that richs any Bassman or HG DT with a lot of harmonics and dynamic. It increases your sound. It's not just a piece of my rig, it tuns up itself for the CENTRE of my sound.
Pure tube sound, that talks with your amp all the time! Incomparable.
I tried it in a Nervoso Amp, a tiny tiger from Brazil, tone monster in the Pignose's style (but designed for harp with much quality), and belive me: the Wiggler was rage, man!!!
Try it, and said me before. I think I discovered the better overdrive for harp ever. kkkkkkkkkk... serious!!!
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