Adam Hamil
3 posts
Oct 24, 2011
11:09 AM
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I recently got a Thunderbird in Low A. It's been a lot of fun playing it by itself, or doing rhythm and accompaniment sort of stuff. I also find that my 1st position licks on the high end of the harp are really mean and growly. I love it. I played it the other night, sitting in with a friends band, on the flecktones song "Big Country" and everyone loved it. I was using a SM58 into my laney 4X10. My crystal just doesn't respond that well to the lower frequencies.
I'm wondering what sort of tunes you guys are playing on these???? or on any other super low tuned harps???
Also, what sort of mics do you find work the best to amplify such a low sound w/o a lot of feedback?
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C. Adam Hamil
Free Reed Instrument Technician
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HarpNinja
1796 posts
Oct 24, 2011
1:08 PM
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Here is the kinda stuff I am doing with Thunderbirds...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spkepjKQ2jY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I will share more really soon.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
VHT Special 6 Mods
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Joe_L
1565 posts
Oct 24, 2011
8:47 PM
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I don't use them for much other than Sonny Boy stuff. The best way to amplify them is to use a vocal mic through the PA. You also need a sympathetic band. Too much volume by a band and they quickly become inaudible, which is why I rarely use them.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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HarpNinja
1800 posts
Oct 25, 2011
6:03 AM
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Excellent point. The TBirds are loud for low harps, but often too low to cut through a band. Also, they tend to be too low for a typical blues harp amp. Specifically, the eq. A Low G through a 4x10 with the bass cranked is literally bowl moving.
They sound best supported by a PA and against other soft sounds. Check out Son of Dave and Dennis Gruenling as they put low tuned harps to great use with other instrumentation.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
VHT Special 6 Mods
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MP
1867 posts
Oct 25, 2011
5:38 PM
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good question.
i recently took a G harp of mine and tuned it to F#.
i did this for two reasons. 1) i retired the last F# harp i owned. it played its last 'room to move' and lives in a parts box,
and 2) a duo partner of mine plays a jazz number in G# so a low F# in 3rd pos. works really nice.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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