With all these threads going about mic's and amp I figure I'd get a question in. I've got a Jet City JCA2112RC amp that we use for guitar here at the house. What I'd like to have is something smaller to tote around for practice with my harp. I'm just going to get started with amping the harp. What is everyones opinion of the Pignose amps? What model would be best suited for our purpose? Is there anything better in that price range?
I have a pignose 7-100 and I like it. I think it sounds decent, looks good, doesn't take up the house and is easily portable. It doesn't have anything in the way of features but I like it being simple so I just turn it on and play. My amplified harp playing is very basic and I've got a lot to learn but I like when I get some good tones I know it's me rather than an effect or the like.
I also have a Vox mini 3 which has lots of effects and amp models (it's very similar to the Vox Da5) It's also cool but I find I can cheat a little by using the differnet amp models which is cool and has it's moments but I guess for me from a learning point of view less is more.
If I was going busking or performing where I needed backing I would use the Vox as I can use the aux imput for backing tracks on my ipod.
This is Steve Harvell one of our forum members playing through a 7-100 I think he sounds pretty great.
cheers Greg. ---------- Living the dream and learning the blues one little trouble at a time.
Last Edited by on Nov 27, 2011 8:42 AM
It's just that video that prompted my purchasing a little Pignose and BOB microphone. One feature it has is a line out so it can be used pre-amp. In fact, Steve told me a while back that he will run four of these little Piggies simultaneously at gigs. I've used it at campfires, parties, football game tailgates and such. AND....the BOB is made in America by an American entrepreneur and small businessman.
I have a Micro Cube, and I'd definitely try my mic or mics through it straight (not as a pre-amp) before I bought one. Some of my mics are nearly un-usable through the Cube. If I remember correctly, it's been my crystal elements that don't sound great thru the Roland. Also, the Micro Cube modelling knob basically increases the gain as you go clockwise through the voices and can feed back more as you dial clockwise thru "Brit,Blackface", or whatever those choices are. The MicroCube is pretty good as a recording pre-amp, imo.
Last Edited by on Nov 28, 2011 1:54 PM
I bought a micro-cube some years back. Not great or harp, but not bad. I normally just select the clean tweed amp, you can dial in as much gain as you want for distortion. The delay and reverb are pretty good. I also have a Crate model 5, not much better for harp, more pre-sets. I think the Roland with the bigger speaker sounds better. I picked up a used Maxi-Mouse last year, works really well for harp, 8" speaker. Adam was right, decent.
I have a micro cube and I like it a lot with my Audix Fireball mic because the effects actually sound better with a clean mic. With my 520D I find myself just wishing I was using a tube amp, but with the Fireball I get a tremendous flexibility and surprisingly good tone. I was planning to sell the cube until I had a need to use it with the Fireball and decided to keep it.
I traded an amp recently for a neat tube pedal (expensive), the pedal really warms up a solid state amp. Unfortunately, it's not portable, plug in only. Sounds great with the Mouse!
Last Edited by on Nov 28, 2011 3:53 PM
I guess you just need to stumble onto one if you're lucky enough. Gonna try to find a 7-100 for now. I'll order a new one, if necessary, unless I can find a nice used one somewhere. Thanks
Last Edited by on Nov 29, 2011 5:23 AM
I use to own 2 mouse amps. They were great for street and small clubs. We even did a huge festival in Europe with them. Bo Didley was on the bill and was checking them out. I wish I still had them. I just ordered a honeytone toy size amp. I am curious what it will sound like going through some nice recording gear. It would be cool if it works and if not no biggie- $20 bucks. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Well since the title of the thread is "cheap," here's my two cents. If you already have a solid state guitar amp, you can warm it right up with a tube pre-amp. The ART MP Studio Mic preamp does a pretty impressive job of this for only $29.
Rockin Ron's price of $85 is a great price for the Pignose. I paid $70 for mine at Guitar Center awhile ago but that was a special sale at the time. Ron has free shipping in the U.S on harps does that apply to amps also? ---------- Tommy
Just found this: Laney linebacker LR 5. Costs only about 85 euros. 5 watts, runs on 6AA batteries, 11 ampmodels, tone, presence etc. knobs. Guitar and Mic input, minijack input etc. 6.5 speaker. It's like a microcube but 5 watts and cheaper? I can't find anything on this thing on the interwebs. Anyone played through it? Laney is decent isn't it? It sounds like heaven..
