AW
83 posts
Jul 04, 2011
3:52 PM
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I know we've kind of hit on this before, but since I haven't heard much about the harp commander IV I'll pose the question.
For playing through the PA, which box would you choose?
harp commander IV or other
lone wolf harp attack ? +other add-ons?
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9000
80 posts
Jul 04, 2011
8:32 PM
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I'm really diggin' my Harp Commander Four! Much more touch sensitive than the previous Commanders. I had the first and second generations and also had the second one updated to better specs after the third generation came out. The earlier HCs always backed up my amps [Meteor and Brown Concert] or were used for sitting in or travel rigs when I flew on vacation. The Four has become my regular rig. I used to get compliments on tone with the previous units but the Four sounds more organic and gives me more control over tone, drive and volume from the stage. Just got home from an outdoor gig where I noticed some folks taking video. If any of those make it to Youtube I'll post a link later. I've not used the LW Harp Attack but I've heard good stuff about it. The HCs have always been kind of a Swiss Army knife that I could use in many different situations. I especially like the new one with my AKG wireless.
All the best in you search for tone,
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
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Andi Martin
1 post
Jul 05, 2011
6:39 AM
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I own both HC3 and HC4 and they are different, complementary and great units. The new HC4 has less Mic Gain and less Output Level in the pot control range. I also found some differences in the performances of the bass and treble controls... In my opinion the new overdrive feature is very similar to the compression control of the HC3 but in this new HC4 you dont have the signal level reduction when fully clockwise. We can say the HC4 has a lower gain structure than it's predecessor hence lower output signal which has to be balanced by increasing the volume in the PA and/or amplifier. In both units there is no significant effect in tone if overdrive / compression control is not set at 3:00 or more but they both behave in different ways. Some says the overdrive control is "more organic" than the compression one. The HC4 is more in the chicago blues overdriven sound and the HC3 has a wider frequency range with "more clean" capabilities.
With the Harp Attack pedal you get a more real tube driven sound (in fact there is a real tube inside) but with less connection options (sometimes not really needed!!). I normally use Harp Attack pedal when plugin into non harmonica friendly amps and HC3 and HC4 when pluggin direct into PA.
It is not a rule but how I normally used them.
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KingBiscuit
68 posts
Jul 05, 2011
12:12 PM
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If anyone is interested, I have a Harp Commander Jr. that I'd like to sell. Contact me offline of you are interested.
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hvyj
1470 posts
Jul 05, 2011
1:09 PM
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I got to try a Harp Commander at a jam a couple of months ago. A guy was using it to play his green bullet into the PA. Asked me if i wanted to try it, so i plugged my low-z 545 Ultimate into it. Sounded like shit. Couldn't get enough volume to be heard over the guitar so I had to unplug and go direct into the PA in order to be heard.
My impression is that (like so much of the harp specific equipment out there), it probably works fine with a bullet mic, but not so good with a high quality PA style mic.
Last Edited by on Jul 05, 2011 1:10 PM
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9000
82 posts
Jul 05, 2011
1:33 PM
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The HC4 has inputs for lo-z and hi-z mic with lots of control over signal and gain.
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Music speaks where words fail.
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hvyj
1471 posts
Jul 05, 2011
1:39 PM
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@9000: So did whatever HC I tried. I don't remember if it was an HC 3 or an HC JR. It wasn't an HC 4.
Last Edited by on Jul 05, 2011 3:19 PM
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Jehosaphat
72 posts
Jul 05, 2011
5:26 PM
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I've never had the chance to try a Harp Commander but after buying and lugging various guitar amps around for years i've come down firmly on the side of the "PA is the biggest amp in the room" school.
I now just use an Astatic C/M mike,Lone wolf Harp break into a Dan electro Fab echo plugged into the PA.
Can honestly say that basically that now for the first time i can always hear myself on stage with all the benefits that that brings.eg able to bring some sublety etc into it.(Also it was a bit of shock at first 'cos you get to really hear the not so good bits ;-))
The two pedals and 10 diatonics fit into my Hohner Harp case ,weighs about nothing and i am set up and ready to go in about a minute.
I am going to get a L/W delay pedal and then i will really be a happy camper.
To me into the PA is the way to go.
Wind up the crunch on the pedal for blues wind it back for clean...done deal.
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KingBiscuit
69 posts
Jul 05, 2011
5:35 PM
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@Jehosophat - I agree with you on the PA. I have been using basically the same set up as you for 9 or 10 months. I have an AFB+ in front of the Harp Attack then the Harp Delay. I thought this was the best rig around. However, I recently tried a combination of Adam Gussow and Greg Heumann advice. I bought a Kalamazoo 2 from Greg with the line out option. I use the line out to put the Kalamazoo into the PA. This is a little more cumbersome but the sound is the best I've found yet. I'll be keeping my pedal board for sure, but for right now, the Kalamazoo 2 is my go to set up.
@hvyj - my experience with the Harp Commander Jr. was good. However, I wanted a bit more grease than it provided. However, I was using a vintage Green Bullet that was Hi Z and a hot element.
Dan
Last Edited by on Jul 05, 2011 5:37 PM
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Jehosaphat
74 posts
Jul 05, 2011
5:43 PM
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Yeah i have heard very good reports about the kalamazoo and can see that it'd be almost as simple as my pedal setup.
One reason i won't be trying one though is that i live in Newzealand and it'd be about a grand to get one here. Wife has seen too many dollars spent on amps..she loves the pedals ;-0
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hvyj
1476 posts
Jul 05, 2011
6:13 PM
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Out of curiosity, why would you guys put an AFB+ in the chain if you are playing into the PA?
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9000
83 posts
Jul 05, 2011
6:33 PM
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@hvyj: On the HC4 besides dual inputs for hi-z and lo-z there is a trim pot on the back to adjust the signal from the HC to the board. This is separate from the gain and overdrive pots on the front of the unit. This allows me to adjust my signal to match any input: amp, PA or whatever. Just like any other piece of equipment you can't just plug in and expect to get your tone. The HC4 is capable of sending a VERY HOT signal to the board. I can't imagine ever having an issue with that. I've used it at jams, with our band's PA, and with several different pro PA setups with plenty of headroom left. As Andi Martin noted the HC4 does not have as much gain on the front of the unit because it also has the trim pot on the rear. If you dial in enough signal on the back the gain available at the mic will be more than adequate.
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
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KingBiscuit
70 posts
Jul 05, 2011
7:46 PM
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@hvyj - In my experience, just going through the PA doesn't insure no feedback. The AFB+ allows the sound guy give me plenty of volume through the monitors so that I can hear myself without feedback.
I have not tried the AFB+ with the Kalamazoo yet, I haven't needed it. However, this past Sunday I was the first time I played it at a jam that had monitors. This particular jam gets very loud. There was no room on stage for me to put the Kalamazoo on a chair so I had to put it on the floor about 6 or 7 feet directly behind me. (It's normally on a chair about a foot or 2 behind me and to my left a bit) The ambient stage volume was so loud I couldn't hear the amp. I had a couple of bouts of feedback which I was able to stop quickly but I'm thinking the AFB+ would have stopped it completely.
After my set on Sunday, the guitar player from the host band told me I sounded great. The sound guy, who initially didn't want to use the line out, told me that rig really sounded good and he liked the ease of setting it up.
@Jehosophat - Check out this web site. They have all the schematics, specs and list of materials found in the Kalamazoo amps. Perhaps you could have a local builder make one for less money than buying one from the states.
http://www.rru.com/~meo/Guitar/Amps/Kalamazoo/
Dan
Last Edited by on Jul 05, 2011 7:56 PM
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