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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Mic Sweep, Tone, Sale Room
Mic Sweep, Tone, Sale Room
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Littoral
1051 posts
Mar 21, 2014
6:48 AM
SMALL ROOM
I'm really happy with some gear solutions that I've been using. It's actually a rookie issue that I took way too long to solve. The issue is working a small room and getting a good sound with the required volume range - and controlling it. A small amp alone is fine for a narrow range but when you have to turn down, mic or amp, the "tone" is lost.
Solution, the volume control on a preamp pedal (and the vc on my ultimate 57). The pedal I'm using is a LW Octave and its effect is great but the volume control is what's most helpful in this case. I can leave the amp turned up, turn down the pedal volume and manage my volume in the room with my mic. The result is a linear volume sweep that maintains the sound/tone at any level. Awesome.

-The method isn't limited to small rooms.

Last Edited by Littoral on Mar 21, 2014 6:49 AM
Greg Heumann
2653 posts
Mar 21, 2014
8:16 AM
Some amps sound good turned down, some don't. There are always trade offs. Your amp apparently likes to have the power tubes driven hard for the tone you like. Your solution works there. A lot of amps require hammering the preamp tube with a hot signal to get good tone - and in that case, it probably wouldn't.

But the lesson is - EXPERIMENT! Just as you did! Find what works!

Good for you.
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/Greg

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Littoral
1052 posts
Mar 21, 2014
10:42 AM
"Some amps sound good turned down, some don't."
True. I should have said that the pedal allows the amp to be adjusted to whatever settings optimal including a lot more range on the volume control.
And this can't be emphasized enough:
"But the lesson is - EXPERIMENT".
capnj
215 posts
Mar 21, 2014
7:25 PM
With so many combinations out there,and the sage advice of experimentation,you will maybe find your niche sound.I have the time to do this,and the learning is tweak by tweak,but eventually you find close enough settings.No better way.

I too like the harp octave,especially on the bigger amps,keeping settings low,and then tweaking by increments,you can find that sweet spot.Probably not for everyone,yet the quest for your own combinations is very satisfying,whatever way you go.Sometimes I feel like buying more pedals,yet in a band setting probably overkill.


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