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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Which Lone Wolf Pedal for Nasty, Dirty Grit!
Which Lone Wolf Pedal for Nasty, Dirty Grit!
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Libertad
161 posts
Oct 17, 2012
5:51 AM
I have recently modded my VHT and as I crank it up I get great distortion. However I would like similar sounds at lower volumes. I have been looking at buying a Lone Wolf pedal, but am confused by the choice.

I want nasty, dirty, grit, by the bucketful! What should I go for Tone, Octave, Break or Attack? I am leaning towards the Break at the moment.

I watched the Jason Ricci video, but he gets superb tone what ever he does, at seemingly all volumes (Graaaaah)!. A 50 watt Harp Gear amp isn't an option.

My mic choice is Shure 520D/Ultimate 57/Akai DM13. Any observations would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Martin
Littoral
624 posts
Oct 17, 2012
8:06 AM
Can't help specifically, I just have the delay -which is great. Your comment on JR: "...but he gets superb tone what ever he does, at seemingly all volumes...", raises the same old essential point, tone, not distortion. Ok,-but a nasty pedal of some sort can be fun. I hope someone chimes in with a good option. I might want one too.
MN
202 posts
Oct 17, 2012
8:21 AM
I'd go with the Break. Love mine.


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Willspear
208 posts
Oct 17, 2012
9:14 AM
Break is better for grit

Octave is better for midrange grind

The key with either is moderation in the use of the effect.


Just using the break and cranking the drive isn't a great sound.
Using it to get the amp just over the hump of inarticulate to breakup is where the effect shines.

The octave colors sound heavily due to the midrange it adds. The VHt is not far from a black face champ but has a dark inefficient 10" speaker that de emphasizes the highs. Blackface fender amps tend to have strong emphasis on highs and lows and scooped mids which the 8 inch in the actual champ balances the mids a bit while effecting low end. So what I am getting at is the octave will flesh out the sound more across the spectrum. My experience is that it makes amps kind of like an overdriven tweed champ but sonically have a bigger sound.

Both pedals make a huge difference with larger amps. But I feel the effect is less so on smaller amps.

If I find the time I will try and record sounds samples with the same rig. Though I no longer own the VHt.


The attack in my experience. Sounds fizzy infront of a tube amp. It helps solid state gear but really shines as a mic preamp for direct to pa. Good pedal but much better for going amp less than as an effect.

Last Edited by on Oct 17, 2012 9:18 AM
Chinaski
232 posts
Oct 17, 2012
9:32 AM
Martin,
Was it you I spoke to after our gig a Newark Blues Festival recently?

Anyway, the Harp Break is a good pedal - I used one for a while with a large Harp Gear amp which it suited nicely. However, I sold that amp on and found a didn't need the pedal with current rig. Well worth a try though!
Joe_L
2113 posts
Oct 17, 2012
10:33 AM
The Harp Tone+ pedal will not add "nasty, dirty, grit, by the bucketful!" It also will not add "nasty, dirty, grit" by the thimbleful. I wrote a review including sound samples of the Harp Tone+ pedal for my blog.

Lone Wolf Harp Tone+ Review

I like the Harp Octave pedal. It turns every amp into tweed Champ and really creates an "in your face" kind of volume boost. I wrote a quick review and some sound samples of the Harp Octave pedal on my blog.

Lone Wolf Harp Octave Pedal Demo

I don't have the Harp Break pedal. I'm not really a fan of "nasty, dirty, grit, by the bucketful".

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Rick Davis
820 posts
Oct 17, 2012
11:01 AM
If you want "nasty, dirty, grit, by the bucketful" at lower volumes you have the wrong amp. A Kalamazoo would have been a better choice. It is way more ratty, while the VHT sounds warmer. You could always get an attenuator for the VHT but that just seems crazy.

I don't know of any pedal that gives you the tone you describe. You can get most of the way there with playing technique.

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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
Willspear
209 posts
Oct 17, 2012
11:17 AM
The tone works as a treble boost and can be used as a boost for pushing an amps front end but its effect in either of those regards is not low volume.
HarpNinja
2781 posts
Oct 17, 2012
11:21 AM
My answer is none...Willspear beat me too it, but you can use the pull out boost to get a more distorted sound and lower volumes. You could also use a hotter mic?
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Libertad
162 posts
Oct 17, 2012
11:18 AM
Thanks to everyone for their comments. I am going through them slowly.

@chinaski no that was not me
@Rick Davis I am in the UK, where finding a Kalmazoo would be like finding a live dodo! My playing technique is coming on, but I don't think it's the complete answer to the illusive tone that I am after. I am getting near when I crank the amp up, but I am trying to get a similar tone at lower volume levels.

Being in the UK also means its hard to try the pedals!

Cheers

Martin
MJ
494 posts
Oct 17, 2012
11:29 AM
I would recommend a Boss Blues Driver BD-2 for what you seem to be looking for. In my experience, it is the best overdrive pedal in its price range. Used blues Drivers are easy to come by.
Oisin
983 posts
Oct 17, 2012
3:42 PM
Martin...I think I know what you mean.If you want a nasty gritty tone I would try using a Shaker Dynamic mic and a fender champion 600 or a Pignose 7-100. I use the fender and shaker and get a nice gritty tone I really like. The only thing I changed was a new pre-amp tube in the amp...though still a 12AX7.
It's a pretty cheap set up and sounds good at the jam I go to.

Here's a video of it in action.

Edit ...also want to add that I have both the amp and mic turned up full in this video. The shaker mic is the only one I can do this with.


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Oisin

Last Edited by on Oct 17, 2012 3:44 PM
capnj
57 posts
Oct 17, 2012
8:25 PM
I am a fan of lone wolf,randy makes for harp players,email him he will steer you right.

I agree with Joe on the octave.First blush playing around with it didnt impress,but after further dialing in it wowed me,very ragged hairy results at lower vol.Of course getting better cupping/push-pull diaphram techniques drive her to the next county.

Last Edited by on Oct 17, 2012 8:35 PM
Joe_L
2114 posts
Oct 17, 2012
8:55 PM
What sold me on the Harp Octave pedal over the Harp Break was htownfess' review of the Harp Octave on the Lone Wolf forum. He had a lot of experience with all of the pedals.

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SuperBee
642 posts
Oct 18, 2012
1:09 PM
I've used an LW Octave for the last couple o years. Recently got a Harp Break. Different concept altogether. The octave pedal gives me what I need. I'm still messing around with the harp break, I think it'll be good with PA but I prefer the natural breakup I get from my amps. I can see how it could work in certain situations though and understand why many love it. I'm usually looking for MORE volume though, not breakup at lower volume.
The octave pedal allows me to get a bigger fatter sound and a bit louder. I dunno about the distortion though, if you particularly are looking for distortion I think the octave can be a bit too jagged when turned up beyond about 1 o clock maybe. I'm being generous but some like it distorted I know. To me the sound is less appealing and too much of an effect at high levels.
The harp break is a smoother distortion I think but I haven't had a lot of experience with it. Very popular pedal though, so I expect I'll find a good application for it.
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bbq_bo
1 post
Sep 13, 2019
10:08 AM
Hey, @Libertad, did you eventually get an LW harp octave? and if so, what were your impressions? I have and un-modded VHT Special Six, and am considering buying one after seeing some of the demo/reviews. The thing that concerns me most is some say the effect is most effective on larger amps, which doesn't include mine. What did you find?
SuperBee
6162 posts
Sep 13, 2019
3:58 PM
Hi bbq-bo, I have not seen Libertad post here in years.

I’ve used the harp octave with amps across the full size range.

I cannot say I’ve noticed the amp size is a factor when it comes to what this pedal does.
snowman
491 posts
Sep 14, 2019
9:28 AM
only quickly reviewed the posts----so this may be redundant

I have a fake bassman---Peavy 50 watt tube with 4 10's---
I use a "Mojo Pad" from Lone Wolf

This one:
https://www.lonewolfblues.com/mojopad.html

Works great-it alone allows u to drive the amp more and still keep volume up or down---Helps get the same tone yr getting now [when yr amp is cranked]--but allows that tone at manageable volume--Withou it I can only go to 4-5 volume b4 feedback---thats not driving the amp much-----with it I can go to 7- 8 very comfortably and 8-10 sometimes, if needed---now at higher volumes on amp, its driving the tubes more.
Read up or call Greg at lone wolf----He has a fancier one now ---but since mine works well I dont want to change

I have the octave as well--dont use as much now it adds a little dirt

I have the "harp Attack" smoother-mellow distortion--not tons dirt---Im also discovering u need yr mic way up- or in general the signal going into it, to be up--also 2 9 volts or 18 volt ac adapter--it works better with my cm element as opposed To JR mic--

I have the "harp break" Easier to get dirt without yr mic being cranked---definitely dirtier than the "Harp attack"

If I use my clean channel on my peavy
I use "Harp Break" --- 9 volt ---lots dirt or little
But I use mojo pad on that amp all the time

I also have "harp Tone" helps with clean mics---I don't use much --Helps with clean mics and or certain amps -Like the blues Junior

Personally If I were u try "the Mojo Pad" first
it may be all u need The thing works

Then The "Harp Break" as well---If u have an effects "In n out" try looping it in there as well

I leave my mojo pad velcroed to amp

WHY DO I HAVE SO MANY PEDALS--THEY Just ADDED UP AFTER YEARS-and Most importantly;

If for any reason- I have to use a non tube super clean amp or go through PA I can still get close to the tone I want

Lately trying to simplify so:
1] Mojo pad right b4 main in on amp

2]I use dirt channel on Amp; I keep the pre drive 3-5 and power section drive 7-10---Volume start at 7 and go up as band obnoxiously gets louder.

3] I use "Lone Wolf" delay set at slap back b4 mojo

4] I put my BBE Sonic Stomp in effects loop for leads---works great "pops u out front" I don't want to be to loud when helping with rhythm--I dont want to stand out at all during Rhythm --I do mellow octave splits and chordal crap to give the guitar player more to play over than just bass-
Hope this helps
If qustions; bobsnow50@gmail.com

Last Edited by snowman on Sep 14, 2019 9:32 AM
SuperBee
6168 posts
Sep 14, 2019
4:03 PM
One of the hazards of reviving old threads.
Joe_L
2878 posts
Sep 16, 2019
3:25 PM
I thought the Harp Octave pedal made everything sound more like a Fender Champ. It made my Champ sound champier. More overdriven. I had it and decided to sell it, because I rarely used it.

Last Edited by Joe_L on Sep 16, 2019 3:25 PM
Martin
1594 posts
Sep 16, 2019
4:12 PM
Interesting. My HO does precious little apart from reducing feedback. (It also cuts some volume. Not a lot, but some.) This is of course a good thing and therefore I use it.
So whatever "nasty, dirty grit" I crave has to come from my Joyo AS. (The amp is clean, sadly.)
Georgia Blues
265 posts
Sep 20, 2019
5:52 AM
For what it’s worth I have a Harp Attack and a BK Butler Blue Tube and really prefer the latter. More control and wider variety of crunch available.
20REEDS
58 posts
Sep 20, 2019
6:02 PM
Has anyone tried that dire wolf pedal
I was interested in that but haven’t seen too many reviews


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