CapnKen
6 posts
Feb 03, 2012
4:18 PM
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Just wondering, I've been gigging now for over a year. I didnt have a lot of equipment at first, but now i'm beginning to get quite a few different harp and amps. I usually take 2 of every key I will need for our set list and a few lower keys. I play through a '67 Valco and have a Valve Jr. as a backup. My mics are a JT-30 and an SM57. What else would you think I could use, or not use in my kit. Within reason, I aint rich, haha !
Last Edited by on Feb 03, 2012 4:19 PM
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FMWoodeye
226 posts
Feb 05, 2012
1:55 PM
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Maybe a slide whistle for Bob Dylan tunes.
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Tuckster
956 posts
Feb 05, 2012
2:11 PM
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Extra mic cables,an extension cord or power strip and the proper fuses for the amps.
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MrVerylongusername
2190 posts
Feb 05, 2012
2:14 PM
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These are all things I've either wished I'd had in my gig bag or things I was relieved I had in my gig bag:
Spare preamp tubes, fuses, Spare cables, soldering kit, Basic tools (screwdrivers, pliers) DI Box, impedance transformer.
Add a bottle of Bourbon and you're sorted!
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bluemoose
670 posts
Feb 05, 2012
9:47 PM
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small flashlight to find the socket on the power bar and get your amp plug in the right way around or for when your harps spill off the back of the amp. ----------
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
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Kingley
1754 posts
Feb 05, 2012
10:13 PM
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If playing an amplified gig I take:
7 harps one amp one dedicated harp mic one 545SD Low-Z mic 2 mic leads (one for each mic) Delay pedal and patch lead Impedance converter extension lead
If my amp goes down I'll play direct into the PA. If a harp goes down, then I'll just play around it or use another position.
If I'm playing an acoustic gig then I take:
7 harps 545SD Low-Z mic and lead
All my gear (except the amp) fits in a little hiking backpack that goes over my shoulder. I Just don't see the point in carrying loads of gear. I'd rather rely on my harp playing abilities to work around any gear problems.
Last Edited by on Feb 05, 2012 10:14 PM
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jbone
767 posts
Feb 06, 2012
4:13 AM
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compact is best depending on how far the load in is and what kind of gig. even a straight acoustic thing can be nightmarish if you have your own chairs, book, stand, harp case, guitar(s), and have to park a ways off. i usually will drop my wife with the biggest stuff then go park and carry the rest back from the car to the spot. i always bring doubles of my high use harps. it's also nice doing 3 different positions, it has taken a lot of pressure off some harps and put it other places. thing seem to last longer now. i bring one amp to a gig. bassman for electric band things, silvertone 1482 for duo things. if my amp craps i will use the p.a. i bring a couple of harp mics as well. again, the less the better but you can't anticipate what my go wrong. i think the best thing to have is flexibility. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
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HawkeyeKane
700 posts
Feb 06, 2012
7:48 AM
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Going along with what jbone has said about if and when your amp should give out, it might be a good idea to have a multi-fx/modeling pedal to go into the PA with. That way you have a plethora of amp tones and adjustability. Something like a Digitech RP series or a Yamaha GW10 if you can find one.
My main amp is a Kalamazoo Model Two, but I always have my Peavey Vypyr 15 with me just in case. And I always have more than one harp mic with me in case of a mic failure. And I have at least one backup harp in each key. Jambones or Big Rivers are great economical choices for backups. ----------
 Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2012 10:07 AM
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HarpNinja
2126 posts
Feb 06, 2012
8:04 AM
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I've never had a gear problem live, but I always bring plenty of cables and extension chords. I also bring a back-up mic and something to get it to the PA.
If my amp broke, I'd just play straight to the PA if at all possible. I bring extra tubes/fuses, but rarely use an amp these days, so if my rig broke down, I'd rely heavily on mixing at the board...if my looper and backup looper went down I'd be screwed.
Regarding harmonicas, I bring one set of standard keys and one of low tuned. If something were to break, I'd have enough know-how to just use a different octave or position.
I have a full PA of my own, so that often means I have a bag full of mics, cables, and extension chords. My gig bag just has my harmonicas, harp mic, and DI boxes. ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Mods Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
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LittleBubba
172 posts
Feb 06, 2012
9:30 AM
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I think it's interesting that your thread title was about amps & harps, and you got alotta responses regarding cables,tubes, & other gear. I agree with those guys. I gig with some younger guys on the other side of the Mississipp' & I'm always bailin' 'em out with batteries, cables, tools, etc. I don't wanna have to depend on somebody else havin' that crap. Oh, and pack a small rug if you don't like standin' on tile or cement for hours when you get those weird site gigs.
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MrVerylongusername
2201 posts
Feb 06, 2012
10:29 AM
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+1 on a torch. Lost track of how many times I've been searching round the back of an amp or desk for the right input with just the light from my mobile phone.
My guitarist has a useful gadget. He plugs it into any wall outlet and it tells him if it's properly earthed. Need to get me one of them!
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LittleBubba
173 posts
Feb 06, 2012
12:08 PM
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I like the headbands with the lites on 'em; frees up the hands. I also like putting my double rack lite behind my head and doing my "martian ant" imitation. :)
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garry
168 posts
Feb 06, 2012
4:08 PM
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+1 on the flashlight. also, i always keep a roll of 1.5" blue painter's tape. comes in handy for all kinds of things. i also keep in my gig bag a roll of velcro ties, which are great for managing cables and stuff like that.
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boris_plotnikov
693 posts
Feb 06, 2012
8:22 PM
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I give up wearing backup for all keys, only spare harps in keys I defenitely will play at gig. I give up wearing any backup electronics (except small pedal cables and impedance transformer), as I anyway use two mics (Fireball, SM57) plus mic on stand (usually house one). So if domething is wrong with mic or amp I always can keep on playing straight to PA, possible without effects, but music will going on. ---------- Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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CapnKen
10 posts
Feb 13, 2012
5:43 PM
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well I can see there are a few things I need to add to my kit. I do need a good flashlight and fuses, tubes, bottle of whiskey etc. I appreciate all the input. HawkeyeKane mentioned a modelling pedal, I think I will check in to that because tha would come in handy if you had to play the a PA, or just to take to a jam instead of lugging around a big amp.
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LSC
172 posts
Feb 14, 2012
7:41 AM
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I'd throw out all the fuses, spare mics, spare amps, spare harps, and certainly the modelling pedal. I'd keep the whiskey and add a real model. Josefine Nielson comes to mind.
 ---------- LSC
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atty1chgo
252 posts
Feb 15, 2012
3:03 PM
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9 harps - A, A flat, B flat, 2 C's, 2 D's, F and G
(I really need to add a E or a B)
4 mics - 2 bullet, 2 stick. Low and High Z assorted depending on where and what I am using for amplification.
XLR Mic cable with plug attached, and one cable with both ends XLR M/F
impedence converter
easy to read card to tell me which harp to use for which key (hey, I haven't memorized them yet.)
Switchcraft connector for the EV 638 and EV 606 mics
A small red towel
small roll of adhesive tape
Last Edited by on Feb 15, 2012 3:04 PM
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