SmokeJS
76 posts
Apr 05, 2013
3:11 PM
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With less than a year of harmonica under my belt one of my ways to improve is to practice with harps in different keys. High harps have their challenges but so do lower keys like A and G. Softer breath control seems to be the answer to both. Amplification adds another issue. Many of the amp comments I've read indicate many (most?) players roll off the treble quite a bit. I'm finding low key harps don't like that too much and that I need to add treble as the key drops. Otherwise things get a bit muddy and the crunch drops. I'm wondering if that's a common problem? Do others adjust the tone control from harp to harp as well?
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Georgia Blues
44 posts
Apr 05, 2013
3:52 PM
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Howdy Smoke, just a thought from a relative newcomer here.... I have a BJr and found that using a Martin VTC between the mike and the amp helped a lot. It allows me to model the tone that the amp receives and gives me another level of control. Just a thought.
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Alex
Last Edited by Georgia Blues on Apr 05, 2013 6:59 PM
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Greg Heumann
2091 posts
Apr 05, 2013
8:10 PM
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Usually you're too busy to adjust the tone control between songs. The better your mic technique gets, the more you will be able to control this with your hands. A full cup cuts a HUGE amount of treble, even from your F harp.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
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Last Edited by Greg Heumann on Apr 05, 2013 8:30 PM
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puri
57 posts
Apr 06, 2013
12:41 AM
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@SmokeJS, I've been wondering about the same thing with the low harps for a while as well. I would like to know how people deal with it especially in a non harp-friendly situation that you either get buried or too loud/boomy with the low harp.
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Frank
2157 posts
Apr 06, 2013
4:03 AM
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As important as it is to take clues and cues from the Pros...You will still want to experiment and follow your ears and heart too. If your using a low F harp and you notice that turning the treble up adds a punch that you like, then do it. As far as messin with the controls from harp to harp, follow your ears - its a learning process - the more you mess with the controls, the sooner you will begin to understand if and when you are wasting your time and when the tone change is actually significant and warranted :)
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5F6H
1601 posts
Apr 06, 2013
5:00 AM
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To my mind, the answer relates to what you see as the bigger problem? I'd dial in the amp with the lowest key harp you intend to use (G?...tenor tuned harps to some degree are expected to be deeper & have less cut, so band control/sympathy is the best method for managing these...or sticking to regular keys).
A high key harp will cut better...that's to be expected, it's not really a "problem", either use technique to soften it, or a different harp/position to drop the Hz.
The thing that's most likely to throw you off is picking up a G, or A & not having it keep up, that's why I, personally, would use these as a datum when dialling in. Very few amps have trouble projecting D, E, or regular F harps, it's rarely a problem (within the context of harp key, specifically) being heard with these.
Other than minor volume adjustments (when playing with regular guys) I don't expect to be messing with the tone controls after dialling in...but if it's the easier option to do so, then do it.
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Last Edited by 5F6H on Apr 06, 2013 5:57 AM
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SuperBee
1048 posts
Apr 06, 2013
1:45 PM
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The standard F is the one I can't hear. Maybe that's my mic?
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5F6H
1604 posts
Apr 07, 2013
2:42 PM
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Hi Superbee, out of interest, what is the mic/amp/speaker(s)?
With a regular F you're going to be spending most of your time between 500-1000Hz.
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SuperBee
1052 posts
Apr 07, 2013
4:35 PM
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Mic is usually a CM 99b86. Very bottom orientated. Amps have varied over the years, most recently a 410 HotRod DeVille modified in line with some suggestions from you. Maybe those songs I play F harp on are just particularly raucous or maybe I just don't play those little reeds with much volume...I've always thought the standard F, while potentially piercing, is not so loud.
But I've wondered, is it me, is it the mic, could there be a noise-cancelling thing going on with the (very loud) bass in the band. The bass is like a lead instrument in that ensemble. The volume levels were very high also, I was just able to hang in the mix sometimes, sometimes swamped by the drums. When that happened it was the F harp I noticed was hardest to hear. I'm feeling deafened just thinking about it. could be my hearing!
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