robbert
265 posts
Jan 30, 2014
8:27 PM
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I'm looking to get LW pedal, but which one?
I'm playing at low volume(restaurants, wine tasting venues, cafes)using an Ultimate 57 clean to a good quality p.a., but am looking to add some character to the sound. You know, grit, bass response, etc.
I'm leaning toward the Harp Attack, but both the Harp Tone+, and the Harp Break seem to have nice distortion and bass boost.
Seems like the Harp Attack is recommended to get a classic tube amp sound when playing direct to the p.a. What do you Lone Wolf users think? It's a little difficult to compare demo vids on the laptop.
I don't necessarily need to duplicate the tube amp sound as we play a variety of music, but definitely looking for more character than just clean for a lot of the repertoire we play.
Thanks in advance for your input!
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Jehosaphat
673 posts
Jan 30, 2014
8:40 PM
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If you only want to buy one pedal get the Harp break.
Puts some (warm) grit into any amp but works really well into a decent S/S PA.
And unlike the Attack it is a 9v machine .
If you can stretch to two LW pedals add the Delay.
If you can play,that combo will sound great.
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MindTheGap
196 posts
Jan 31, 2014
1:06 AM
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I have the Harp Break and spent a lot of time working out which to get. I think it's great. This is my own experience...
- I've tried the HB into a variety of solid state amps and it seems to make them all harp-friendly.
- The bass boost is a great feature and very useful in a specific way, but IMO it doesn't really change the 'voice' of the sound in the way that tone controls do - the voice seems to come from the amp itself and it's eq settings.
Here is a clip comparing a 5W tube amp, then the HB through the same amp but with the break-up from the HB not the tubes, and finally a modelling amp, if that's any help in with your decision.
When playing I'm not saying they are identical, but I can hear the same kind of things going on between the tubes and the HB.
Choosing between the HB and the HA? I couldn't choose between them based on the reviews so I went for convenince: 9v battery!
Specifically I asked Randy which provided more distortion, and it is the HB. If I remember the setting I used above was the gain at about 11 O'clock.
Other people have reported that all the pedals you mention are good. Maybe if you are not looking to replicate a tube distortion sound, then the Tone+ is the one to look at.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jan 31, 2014 1:15 AM
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HarpNinja
3734 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:00 AM
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I like the HarpBreak, but think it has a more modern and harsher tone than some other pedals...that's why I like it.
I couldn't dial in the Attack to a tone that was useable with my rig. The Break is a piece of cake to set up.
The Tone+ is a pedal I like too. It will, though, cut highs. You can dial them back in by cranking the treble, but you might get added noise.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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Littoral
1023 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:00 AM
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I'm sure this won't help at all, I love the Octave for just the reasons you're looking for, and with a 57.
Sorry.
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MindTheGap
198 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:23 AM
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Littoral - btw that's your demo on the LW site? Oh I wish there were a shop where we could go along and try them out side by side.
I've no experience with the Octave, but from the demos it sounds like it bites a bit like the HB - how do you describe the effect?
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HarpNinja
3735 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:24 AM
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It is a clean octave up. I think the HB has similar cut, but effects the overall tone more.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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Kingley
3419 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:36 AM
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I own both the Harp Attack and Harp Break. I would say either is a good choice, but I prefer the Harp Break direct into the PA. It has more bass due to the bass boost control and a much more classic old school harp tone. The Harp Attack is a little brighter, but can be adjusted at the PA and has a more modern sound to my ear. The Harp Break or Harp Attack coupled with a delay pedal into a PA is a great amplified sound. I happily do gigs and jam sessions with this set up. I've never tried them into an amp so can't comment on that aspect.
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MindTheGap
200 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:43 AM
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Kingley - Have I got this right, this is you? Apologies if I've got that wrong. If so, are you using one of the pedals here? Really great sound I think, both the acoustic at the start and the amped at the end.
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Kingley
3423 posts
Jan 31, 2014
10:09 AM
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Yes that's me. I was using a Lone Wolf Harp Attack direct into the PA. The mic is a Hohner Blues Blaster with an Astatic MC151 crystal element inside.
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robbert
266 posts
Jan 31, 2014
8:45 PM
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Thanks to everyone for their opinions on this.
Randy at Lone Wolf also recommends the Harp Break for what I seem to want. He indicates that with the mic I'm using, the H. B. is sure to give me a measure of distortion(as well as the notable bass boost) that the Harp Attack may not...the H.B. seems to be a more 'sure bet' for my purposes, from what I'm gathering.
He also recommends coupling with the Harp Delay. For now, I will have to settle for the Danelecto delay I already possess.
One's pedal array and arrangement really depends on a variety of factors. It seems like one effects pedal and the delay will work for me just fine at this time as an alternative to a mostly uncupped with hand effects ( and sometimes mic cupped)acoustic tone.
Thanks again, and if there are more opinions, I will happily read them.
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Jehosaphat
676 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:10 PM
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I've actually 'sat in' at a paid gig using just the H/B and the Danelecto.
It works,it does the job.
The L/W delay is of course 'better' but that to a large extent is in the ear of the Harp Player.
Play one tune using a H/B +L/W delay and the next one using a Danelectro..I doubt if anyone from the average audience would notice.In fact i know they won't.
But you maybe will and so using the L/W 'may' help you relax about getting your sound and so play better.
But you can get a really good sound out of a H/B and a cheap Danelectro
Last Edited by Jehosaphat on Jan 31, 2014 9:13 PM
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walterharp
1306 posts
Feb 01, 2014
1:08 PM
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yeah, I was going to say consider getting the delay, you said you had a good quality PA so using gain and that eq, along with a good tight cup on the mic could get you a long way toward a good tone, but the reverb on those usually is not so harp friendly and a short delay thickens up tone.. If you want chicago sound then yeah get the tube break up, but if you are in quiet cafe situations, is that sound really the most appropriate? with the delay you can go from slight fatten to drippy from the cave
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robbert
268 posts
Feb 01, 2014
3:10 PM
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Yeah, any of the distortion pedals could be overkill in those small venues, and the style of music I'm currently playing essentially lends itself to an acoustic approach and tone. When I want more than acoustic, I simply cup the mic in a tight cup...but still there's some character of tone that I am looking for that isn't balls to the wall overdriven, but is warmer and juicier than the those very CLEAN p.a. systems offer...also the harp has different functions depending on the song...sometimes I play more of a bass(low harp)other times more of an organ(lots of tongue blocking, chords, etc.)sometimes leads(soloing)...still trying to figure it out.
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