Slimharp
46 posts
Nov 12, 2013
5:37 AM
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I know the Squeal Killer anti-feedback pedal has hit the market. Anybody out there have any comments or feedback ( ha-ha ) on it.
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Rick Davis
2675 posts
Nov 12, 2013
6:23 AM
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Read my review here.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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TetonJohn
161 posts
Nov 12, 2013
7:13 AM
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See also thread on this forum (currently on p.2) "Review: Squeal Killer..."
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harpoon_man
41 posts
Feb 15, 2014
10:36 AM
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I couldn't locate the other Squeal Killer thread, so I'm posting on this one.
Just wanted to pass along my $0.02 on the Squeal Killer after receiving mine and playing about 1.5 hours on it between yesterday and today in my living room. The very quick summary is that I’m really happy with the sound it delivers through my Bassman RI, and it allows me to dial in optimal tone without feedback.
Even before I got the SK, I was satisfied with the tone and volume I was getting from my Bassman RI; however, at times, I had to be extra careful with cupping technique, amp positioning, body positioning in certain situations to avoid the occasional feedback issue. Not really a problem with the amp, but it messed with my head a little bit when I would have preferred to just concentrate on the groove and playing.
The SK lets me tweak the amp settings for optimum tone without worrying about feedback, so I can relax and focus my full attention on just playing instead of having feedback concerns rattling around in the back of my mind. With the SK, I’m running the volume just a tad higher than I did before (although with the SK, it is capable of higher volumes without feeding back), and the tone is really in the sweet spot with no feedback issues.
To my ears, the SK is pretty transparent at medium to medium-high volumes, then becomes more noticeable when you push the volume knob up approaching the threshold of feedback. Although it does not have a major effect on tone at moderate volumes, to the extent that I can hear the difference, I actually enjoy the change in sound that the SK creates; it seems to add a bit of punch to the attack of each note and thickens up the overall sound.
I’m heading out to a local blues jam this Tuesday night, so I’ll have a better idea of its capabilities after that.
Cheers,
Rusty
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tmf714
2415 posts
Feb 15, 2014
11:21 AM
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Rick Estrin says:
"Attention all harp players: You can now WIN the volume war!!! Get the Squeal Killer and you'll never again be at the mercy of another guitar player!!!"
Last Edited by tmf714 on Feb 15, 2014 11:22 AM
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Frank
3833 posts
Feb 15, 2014
11:45 AM
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Becareful buying what Rick is selling - he can sell the peeling paint off of a 69 Pontiac that's been sitting in the junk yard for the past 30 years. Just kidding...
WOW - now that is an endorsement that can't be ignored, he looks genuinely happy :)
As they say in Rock $ Roll - TURN IT UP or die tryin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last Edited by Frank on Feb 15, 2014 11:53 AM
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Oxharp
568 posts
Feb 15, 2014
12:28 PM
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Have alook at the Harpin By The Sea vids I posted.
He is using my Bassman and Mic with a SK and reverb pedal. More vids to come with Aki Kumar (sounds Killer)
I had the pedal a while and would like to compare it to the Kinder but I am more than happy with the tone and sound I now get from my Amp. Its like now I can get THAT sound I knew was in there but could not get it without hitting the feedback and even with Pre amp valve swaps I was never satisfied with the volume on the Bandstand I got. Jason is great to deal with and has helped me over Skype to get the best out if it now. You cant ask for more than that.
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Oxharp
Last Edited by Oxharp on Feb 15, 2014 12:29 PM
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tmf714
2416 posts
Feb 15, 2014
12:43 PM
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Frank
3835 posts
Feb 15, 2014
1:43 PM
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I've been subscribed and checkin out your vids for ages OX...Very nice harpin too, you're tearin it up :)
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garry
494 posts
Feb 15, 2014
5:25 PM
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i got mine last week and am pretty happy with it. my rig in unconventional: a Vox VT-30 hybrid modelling amp with an Ultimate 545 and Samson wireless. the SK works very well in quelling feedback. and when i do make it feedback, it's much more controllable; if i back off it stops. the SK definitely lowers the volume for a given set of settings, but i can actually use the full range i get from the 545, vs. mostly staying in the bottom half of the volume control.
i can't honestly tell if i can get it louder than before, but it feels like it. i haven't gigged with it yet, but i can stand right in front of it at pretty high volume with any problems. hopefully that will make it less critical where i stand relatvie to the amp when i play. we'll see once i get it up on stage somewhere.
the VT-30 is a pretty complex amp, with 22 amp models, many effects, and separate gain, volume, master, and attenuator controls, all of which behave differently depending on which model you choose. with the SK, many of the models and effects that i couldn't really use before (due to feedback) are now available; it has opened up all kinds of possibilities i couldn't really explore before. i feel like i have a new amp. pretty cool. can't wait to gig with it.
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harpoon_man
42 posts
Feb 15, 2014
5:55 PM
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Oh, and also I would add that Jason (the SK maker) was very helpful and responsive when I asked a few questions via email. Also again, I ordered my SK from Rockin' Ron's, and just like every other order I have placed from Ron, he shipped quickly and the item was well-packed.
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Tblues1
64 posts
Feb 15, 2014
6:53 PM
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As I stated in the previous thread, SK gave me No adittional volume capability. It did give more knob travel, but no extra volume. With preamp within suggested guidelines, max db was the same with or without SK.
Without SK max volume setting was 5.
With SK it was 8.5-9.
Db was the same for both.
In other words no addition volume.
It may be easy to confuse increased knob travel with actual volume.
More power to you if you like it, but it didn't help me.
Lower gain preamp tubes are cheaper.
No bitterness here, you asked for comments.
I still have it for the off chance I plug into someone's guitar amp.
I don't use it with my harp amp, sorry, I don't want to offend, just my experience.
I have also had a Kinder in the past and didn't like it either. I prefer running a 12AX / 12AY setup as originally equppied.
Last Edited by Tblues1 on Feb 15, 2014 6:56 PM
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garry
495 posts
Feb 15, 2014
7:37 PM
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tube swaps aren't much of an option for me. if it turns out i'm no louder with the SK, it's still a win, since it lets me use all of the sound and features of my amp without constantly skirting the edge of feedback.
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Last Edited by garry on Feb 15, 2014 7:42 PM
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Albey
38 posts
Feb 15, 2014
9:12 PM
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Ok tmf714 I do not get this, Rick Estrin plays through a Kinder built Harp King which already has a Kinder Anti-feedback built in! Are you saying he is using the Squeal Killer in front of that amp?
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Thanks,
Albey Scholl
The Shadows
Blind Willies Blues Club
Atlanta, GA
http://www.blindwilliesblues.com/
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harpoon_man
43 posts
Feb 16, 2014
5:55 AM
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@Tblues1
Different strokes for different folks. There are a lot of variables at play, with different players using different tube combinations, speakers, mods, embouchures, mics, cupping techniques, resonance, etc. Not surprising that some folks like the SK and some don't.
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1847
1507 posts
Feb 16, 2014
6:41 AM
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tblues
do you have a vintage bassman or a re-issue
do you mean 12ay7 12 ax7?
are you using new tubes or new old stock?
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Tblues1
65 posts
Feb 16, 2014
8:28 AM
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Harpoon man
Mission Amps Chicago 50.
12AY7 (V1) and 12AX7 (V2).
Test was done with two 5751Jan Phillips.
Amp sounds better and is just as loud with 12AX7 / 12AY7, without SK
I pretty much detailed my impression in the previous thread.
Max volume setting with 12AX7 / 12AY7 is about 8
With two 5751 and SK it is about 8.5- 9
Max db is the same.
Two 5751 w/ o SK max volume is 5-5.5
Max db is the same only difference is more knob travel and a slightly darker tone.
It has it's place if you don't want to do tube swaps
I don' t currently run NOS tubes
EH 12AY7 / Tungsol 12AX7
Tungsol 5AR4
SED 6L6
Currently used
Last Edited by Tblues1 on Feb 16, 2014 8:30 AM
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Frank
3839 posts
Feb 16, 2014
8:41 AM
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I tried out a buddies "kinder" with my Holland Bassmen and could easily get it to 10...I swear to God, it sounded like friggin GodZilla screaming at the top of his lungs after a rocket exploded in his anal cavity...It was scary loud :)
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Rick Davis
2966 posts
Feb 16, 2014
9:25 AM
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Tblues, I had a similar experience with the SK when I tested it with my Mission 32-20 amp. Jason Lockwood made the point that the SK works a lot better with powerful amps not set up for harp, like a stock Bassman RI. He is right.
The SK reduces your input signal and to my ear it cuts the mids and highs just a bit. It does not add crunch like the Kinder pedal. It is indeed like using a lower gain tube and changing a cap in the input section of your amp.
The Kinder pedal works differently. It does not reduce your input signal at all. It can change the texture of your sound depending on the settings. The SK has no settings.
I was able to get the SK pedal to work about as well as the Kinder pedal but my Mission amp is very loud and already set up for harp, and does not really have a bad feedback issue to begin with.
With my Bassman RI the Kinder pedal worked amazingly well. I could get enormously loud without feedback, as Frank says. Unfortunately, I sold the Bassman a week before I did the SK review. I would have really liked to use it for the review. I bet my results would be in line with Harpoon_Man.
I talked to a few harp pros about the SK and a couple of them hated it. They disliked that it reduced the level of their signal to the point that their hot microphones no longer hit their NOS input tubes and pushed them into distortion. These guys had very fine harp amps that they had carefully set up over years of use and the SK pedal threw everything off.
I think Rick Estrin has it right. The SK could be a handy tool for using in front of stock guitar amp and playing without immediate screaming feedback. Jason Lockwood is correct about that.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Feb 16, 2014 10:18 AM
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Tblues1
67 posts
Feb 16, 2014
9:49 AM
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Exactly my point, Rick.
In regards to the Kinder, though, I just didn't like the way it affected tone.
I tried back when I had my Sonny Jr though, not recently.
Neither amp had much of a feedback problem.
Sometimes curiosity gets the best of you.
Thanks by the way for making Mission Amps common knowledge.
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Greg Heumann
2605 posts
Feb 16, 2014
9:58 AM
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I tested the pedal extensively as well - with signal generators, oscilloscope, etc. It works as advertised. When you can tube an amp down that is the most economical choice. Bu there are many times that can't be done effectively and the Squeal Killer is excellent for that. I wouldn't be afraid to play through any guitar amp with it.
Note - the only way you get more volume form an anti-feedback device is when you can play closer to the feedback threshold and manage feedback effectively/comfortably. That's what reducing gain does (which is essentially what the pedal does too.) Don't expect an anti-feeback device to give you a lot more volume. Expect it to make it easier to control.
You cannot expect to be able to hear that 10W amp on stage just by adding a pedal.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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timeistight
1497 posts
Feb 16, 2014
11:04 AM
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"I tested the pedal extensively as well - with signal generators, oscilloscope, etc. "
Greg, could you tell from your tests what kind of EQ and how much padding the Squeal Killer applies?
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harpdude61
1967 posts
Feb 16, 2014
11:13 AM
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I use Greg's Ultimate 57 with the wireless system he sells (love it).
My amp is a Harpgear 50-410. I use a harp delay pedal just enough to wet the tone and sometimes I use the sonic stomp pedal.
I do fight feedback in some larger venues when I turn up.
Would the SK help me? Is it doing essentially the same thing my low output on my amp does? I've never used the low output. Thank you!
Last Edited by harpdude61 on Feb 16, 2014 11:14 AM
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Greg Heumann
2608 posts
Feb 16, 2014
4:27 PM
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The Squeal killer attenuates the mic's signal by about 5:1, gently clips the upper half of the wave form, adds about -1V DC shift, cuts highs and boosts bass. None of these are objectionable or severe. Here is a pic of input from my signal generator - 5 volts peak to peak signal which is similar to a fairly hot mic:
And here is what it looks like coming OUT of the SK:
This was done at an audio freq of about 120 hz - right in the harmonica breadbasket.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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Albey
39 posts
Feb 16, 2014
5:41 PM
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@tmf714-Thanks for that, it makes total sense now!
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Thanks,
Albey Scholl
The Shadows
Blind Willies Blues Club
Atlanta, GA
http://www.blindwilliesblues.com/
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capnj
192 posts
Feb 16, 2014
9:00 PM
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@Harpdude-I have a hg50,tube it down,in v1 to a ay,or 5751,and see if you tame it down,to get extra volume.I have the Sq,and put back the ax's,seemed to get a little more volume,say sweeping it up to 6/7,and a smidgeon more compression,might put back a nos ay in vi,it had some character.Not done testing lol.AU V1-AT V2 will pussycat your feedback,but sweeping up volume,treble,and middle,just might not be your game,but nice cut with all the headroom.
I have other amps,and use crystals,hot cms,crs,545's,or believe it el cheapo bottle of blues,which can sound good.Since you only use the 57 try tubing down,or break out the bankroll,the SQ does work.I used the low output with the HG50 with certain hotter mics,mellowed them out.Getting 20% more vol out of your amp,could be the game changer.
I think Jason has been very honest in marketting his product,explaining results with guitar amps,or harp specific,and asking for comments from the myriad of users,and combinations.
Last Edited by capnj on Feb 16, 2014 9:34 PM
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