BigSteveNJ
1 post
Nov 02, 2013
9:48 PM
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I'm primarily a microphone-through-PA player, since I've never really had much success with the mic-into-amp setup. My main influences are Junior Wells, Stevie Wonder and Mickey Raphael.
I'm thinking of running one of my mics of choice into a preamp and then into the PA. Here are my preferred microphones (in somewhat of an order of preference, but not an ironclad one:
Sennheiser e835
Shure SM57
Shure 545
Which preamp would people suggest? Bear in mind that I played acoustic harp through a standing mic (even in front of electric blues bands) for years before I started cupping the mic in my hands. That has greatly helped the tone I get coming through a cupped PA mic, and I'm generally satisfied with the little bit of grit I get when I play harder. It never comes across to me as harsh or squared-off, and people have said they liked my tone.
I love the "Chicago sound", but I'm one of those people for whom that's just not the best tone for my style. I just don't play well with too much distortion happening. I'd rather have headroom to spare so I COULD push the tone into further breakup if I chose.
So if I want to beef up my tone just a bit and add some light to moderate distortion, which would you suggest:
Xotic Effects EP Booster (I know it's solid-state)
ART tube preamp
Lone Wolf Harp Attack
or something else? Would prefer it to be plug-and-play, set-it-and-forget-it. I don't really need all the bells and whistles of a Harp Commander or similar.
I'd really love it if the whole shebang, mic, cable, preamp and my harps could all fit in my briefcase.
This isn't a terribly time-sensitive request, but I do have the scratch right now to make the right purchase happen. My budget, for all intents and purposes, is $300.
Thanks, all!
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Frank
3184 posts
Nov 03, 2013
7:04 AM
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"I'm generally satisfied with the little bit of grit I get when I play harder"
If you want the best grit, try playing softer...
"I love the "Chicago sound", but I'm one of those people for whom that's just not the best tone for my style. (I just don't play well with too much distortion happening.) I'd rather have headroom to spare so I COULD push the tone into further breakup if I chose".
You don't need a lot of distortion to play Chicago Blues...The best Chicago Blues players have enough headroom, when needed, to fill the state of Texas...
Last Edited by Frank on Nov 03, 2013 7:05 AM
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Martin
503 posts
Nov 03, 2013
10:04 AM
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But Frank -- you rather avoided the question! (Which always is a good one, I think and I wish we´d have lots and lots of live clips from guys playing mic-preamp-PA.)
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Frank
3186 posts
Nov 03, 2013
10:11 AM
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Sorry - I didn't realize there was one..what exactly is it :) Nevermind, I see it now...I would spend the $300 on a Spiers Harmonica :)
Last Edited by Frank on Nov 03, 2013 10:13 AM
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Joe_L
2390 posts
Nov 03, 2013
2:06 PM
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I would play the SM57. If you need before tone, work on your technique by plugging the SM57 into a clean solid state guitar amp.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by Joe_L on Nov 03, 2013 2:07 PM
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Jehosaphat
587 posts
Nov 03, 2013
2:17 PM
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At your budget I'd use the '57 into a L/W Harp break.
At a few more $ you could add the L/W delay.
That is a well thought of chain into a PA and about a portable as it gets.
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Harpaholic
413 posts
Nov 03, 2013
2:35 PM
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The Harp Attack into the PA with a good Shure or EV mic is hard to beat. I own and use a Harp Break, but have not tried it through a PA.
Anyone know how the two compare going through a PA?
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Jehosaphat
588 posts
Nov 03, 2013
4:01 PM
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Before i bought my Break i did a fair amount of research into which one to get.My conclusion was that neither one is 'better' than the other.
So i think either would work really well.
Main reason i settled for the Break was it uses 9VDC
I like to have the option of using a common battery if going to sit in or jam rather than having to find power outlets and thus probablyhave to carry an extension lead.
True portability.
Be interesting to hear from someone who has used both though..maybe that Valve does give the edge when going into SS
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