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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Constant Quest for Tone...
Constant Quest for Tone...
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Suffering Heath
37 posts
Apr 08, 2014
7:03 AM
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Dear “diversion-from-my-work-day,”
Some random thoughts about my quest for the right amp.
Limitations:
Adjunct College Professor’s salary.
Teacher-wife’s salary.
Two toddler salary-drain.
This means my amp budget is relegated to invisible monies I am able to stash here and there.
After a 15 year search, I settled on a ’65 Kalamazoo Model II. We had a nice love-affair, although whenever I’d play with a full band I would have deficiencies. Her tone made up for it.
She stopped working on me a few months back, and I let her relax in my basement and moved on to the Richard Hunter set-up: an Audix Fireball and a Digitech RP350 Amp Modeler. It worked very well, especially as I could finally hear myself. I missed those tubes, however. There is something magical about swapping them, watching them light up, etc…
After a show recently where I played with the wonderful Maria Woodford, she said she loved my playing, but that I should return to tube amps. I was easily swayed (as I always am by women). I dropped the ‘Zoo off at the only tube amp specialist around here. He’s older, and in no hurry, and I am terrible at waiting.
A used VOX AC4TV landed in my lap for a video shoot, and I swapped the 12AX7 for a 12AU7. It was solidly mediocre. She and my Hohner BluesBlaster shell with the 70’s Shure CM element did not see eye to eye, and while cupping an SM58 was warmer, it was still missing something.
I sold it, and now await the newest mistress: a VHT Special 6. I turn to her expressly because of what I’ve read on this Forum. I have a Sovtek 5751 that waits for her in my drawer upon arrival. My duo is performing at a wedding cocktail hour this weekend, and that will be her maiden voyage.
I firmly believe that the overwhelming majority of “tone” comes from your mouth. But the right amp/mic combination absolutely elevates things.
Ok. That’s my entry for today. My students are starting to get restless. Back to class…
Heath
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http://www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
Last Edited by Suffering Heath on Apr 08, 2014 7:12 AM
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Greg Heumann
2679 posts
Apr 08, 2014
6:29 PM
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Heath!
I can fix your Kalamazoo, or buy it from you.
Please feel free to contact me privately - greg at blowsmeaway dot com
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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Moon Cat
373 posts
Apr 09, 2014
5:44 AM
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Heath I love the way you write. Very entertaining man! Thanks.
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Littoral
1067 posts
Apr 09, 2014
7:44 AM
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Sure do recognize all of this:
Adjunct College Professor’s salary.
Teacher-wife’s salary.
Two toddler salary-drain.
Mine are older which sure ain't cheaper.
Tone etc. I've solved a lot of problems with my LW pedals, particularly the Octave. I now have A LOT more options based on the pre-amp benefits of the pedal. I'm now in control of parameters that are typically difficult to manage. I use it on big tube amps to expand my levels -be it volume range on the amp and/or total volume in the room. The pedal also turns clean non-harp amps into really useful ones (big or small).
I haven't quite tweaked my PA set up though. I have the delay, octave and break and it's been ok. I'm likely just spoiled with my amps.
Enjoy the chilluns. They're the most fun I've ever had, and I've covered some serious fun territory.
Last Edited by Littoral on Apr 09, 2014 7:46 AM
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Suffering Heath
38 posts
Apr 09, 2014
8:30 AM
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Thank you, Cat. I am a huge admirer of what you do, and have been fascinated by your journey, be it up, down, or diagonal.
Incidentally, to you I recommend a wonderful - albeit charmingly damaged - podcast:
The Mental Illness Happy Hour.
http://mentalpod.com/
Are you familiar?
It's a balm for the broken soul; brings genuine joy and contentment. Find an episode that catches your eye.
Hang in, brother -
Heath
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http://www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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Gipsy
55 posts
Apr 09, 2014
11:52 PM
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A very enjoyable and well written post. I'd echo the words of another post and confirm that toddlers don't get cheaper as they grow up. Bearing this in mind you must build a secret compartment in your man cave and stuff it full of all those things you hope to be able to afford when they grow up and leave home, but which you secretly know won't happen. Grab what you can now, and let it slowly and gradually pass by your partners unbelieving eyes.
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slackwater
44 posts
Apr 10, 2014
2:59 AM
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I've got a real good woman.
I'll make this as brief as I can.
We goes into a music shop a few years back, our teenage daughter wants a bass guitar. I said "Now, we're just looking right? we're not here to buy."
So inside I wandered into the amp room, as one does and there's this Fender Custom Shop '57 Tweed Deluxe Re-issue. "That looks like a great harp amp." I said.
"Why don't you try it?" said my wife," I saw you put a microphone in the boot."
I did try it and didn't like it, way too brittle and toppy- I'd been searching for a warmer sound for years. Anyway, this little tweed thing was $4G's plus! Out of my league.
I tried a Pro Jnr. too, the 10" speaker one, and actually thought it sounder better than the tweed, but still nothing special. Anyway, I wasn't out to buy anything.
Then the shop assistant guy suggested I try this other one. It was an expensive amp too but I plugged in and with one note said " Now that's what I'm talking about."
"Ooh yeah, that does sound nice." said the Missus. "Do you like it?"
"Oh yes."
"Well ?" she asked.
"Well what?" says I
"Do you like it?"
This went back and forth like an Abott and Costello routine for a couple of minutes while I fiddled with the controls and blew a little.
Next thing I know, I look around and she's giving this guy a deposit!!!
It's an Ulbrick Verbovibe.
Is it "made for harp"?- No. Do I care?- No. Would everybody like it?- Probably not, but I never wanted to sound like everybody else. And it's still in it's stock condition, with 5x12AX7's and a 12AT7 (for the reverb) and two 6l6's giving a rated 28watts. It's got a single 12" Celestion 75'th Anniversary speaker.
I can drive it with all of the tone controls on 12o'clock, sounds great, or I can move 'em to suit: warm and cuddly to bright and cutting.
I didn't get this because it was what everyone says is good for harp, I got it because I loved the sound of it! Oh, and my wife loved it too.
I was once told "Don't fall in love with an amp, you'll always find something you like better."
I reckon that person was wrong.
This wife of mine likes mowing the lawn and washing cars too, and that's the truth.
Last Edited by slackwater on Apr 10, 2014 5:02 AM
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SuperBee
1907 posts
Apr 10, 2014
4:02 AM
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I'm jealous Slack. Those Ullbrick amps are in a whole other league.
Did they go out of business a couple years ago?
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slackwater
45 posts
Apr 10, 2014
4:22 AM
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Yes Bee, he did stop making amps back around the time of the World Financial Stitch-up or whatever it was called, he said he couldn't get some components and he's pretty fussy. Since then he's back in business in a new purpose built factory in Melbourne. He's even introduced a couple of new models, an AB 20watter called the Club20 and a single ended 5watter called the Firebottle. He makes fine pedals too.
I just checked, the 20watter is class A/AB switchable.
Last Edited by slackwater on Apr 10, 2014 5:01 AM
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Suffering Heath
40 posts
Apr 10, 2014
11:34 AM
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Update:
Taking a secret VHT Special 6 Day. Shhhh.
She arrived last night, quietly, and I've been swapping tubes and depressing pedal buttons all morning. Somehow - impossibly - she does appear to live up to the saturated hype that drips off these inter-webs. Very curious.
The "boost" function - pulling on the Volume Knob til' she gives - is where I'm most satisfied. She yells with the Sovtek 5751. I can hear the 12AU7 downstairs from me, asking to be let out of her wrapping. "C'mon. What's another hour? Maybe I'm the key to your happiness," she purrs, 17 and all low gain.
No. I'm spent. I'm also cautiously, cautiously optimistic about this rig.
Will know more at this Saturday gig with a guitarist weaving in and out of my sound.
Thanks for reading -
Heath
**Ohh Gipsy. We do what we must to elbow out a little extra room in this close-quartered coffin of love we're in.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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Suffering Heath
41 posts
Apr 11, 2014
6:46 AM
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Bee -
It's a good question - I'll have a possible answer after this weekend's gig.
I WILL say this: just as professional percussion players fiercely believe in the "hot" drum - a doumbek, djembe, or conga that simply sounds better, or "blessed," in their hands - I believe in the same about amps, mics, harmonicas, and the dizzying combinations the harp professional must navigate for "blessed" tone.
or,
"If I believe I sound better, don't I sound better?"
Heath
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http://www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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Leatherlips
249 posts
Apr 13, 2014
3:26 PM
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Slackwater, I'm guessing there was no joy for your daughter at the music store.
There's so many sacrifices one has to make to get that tone :)
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slackwater
46 posts
Apr 13, 2014
5:33 PM
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Hey Leatherlips, there was no joy for her on that visit but it wasn't long before she got her bass. After what she'd witnessed, how could her mother refuse,,,I just kept quiet.
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Suffering Heath
43 posts
Apr 14, 2014
6:52 AM
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I am starting a new thread with my specific findings from the weekend's gig...
Heath
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http://www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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