Stevelegh
976 posts
Oct 06, 2014
12:24 PM
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Hey everyone,
I know tone starts with the player, but does anyone know anything about Carlos Del Junco's rig? I've been watching a few vids and I love his tone, especially when he switches from an uncupped clean tone to his dirty cupped sound. Any idea what equipment he uses?
Cheers
Steve
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Kingley
3717 posts
Oct 06, 2014
12:38 PM
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I seem to recall that Carlos uses a couple of different amps. Hi main rig from what I recall is a Bassman Reissue, a Roland RE-501 Tape Echo unit and an Electrovoice RE10 mic
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HarpNinja
3948 posts
Oct 06, 2014
1:19 PM
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He used an Edwards amp and had recorded with it. I believe he used a Harp Commander with it sometimes too.
Without looking it up, I know he used the RE10, Ed, 501, and occassional Harp Commander on Blues Mongrel.
We had an email exchange a few years ago and I think he had decided on a Boss DD20 for live use...the big pedal with two foot switches.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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The Iceman
2188 posts
Oct 06, 2014
3:44 PM
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The Roland Tape Echo unit gives him most of that sound. It adds a bit of distortion.
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The Iceman
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timeistight
1646 posts
Oct 06, 2014
5:53 PM
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Last time I saw Carlos, he was using a Lone Wolf delay and an 8-watt amp. He did mention how much he likes a 4X10 amp though.
The most consistent element of his rig is the RE-10.
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Stevelegh
977 posts
Oct 08, 2014
2:52 AM
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Interesting that most people are suggesting delay is the most prominent feature in his sound. I guess its only used very subtly to shape his sound. I never considered that effect at all.
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kudzurunner
5024 posts
Oct 08, 2014
7:51 AM
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When Carlos and I crossed paths at the harmonica workshop in Dunnville, Ontario this summer, he talked a lot about his rig. He had a small amp--the size of an HG2--that was very loud and had a remarkable amount of low end for an amp that size. I'm not sure what reverb/delay unit he uses, but he's very quick to dial in a particular setting. When he played through my rig outdoors in a back yard--I'd set two amps up--he quickly crouched and adjusted my DD-3 until he got his sound, which was different from my sound. I like his sound! In fact, I learned by watching him that the overall delay sound benefits by keeping the E. Level knob slightly lower than the Feedback knob. The former controls the volume of the delay-sound (or slapback); the latter controls how many times the delay-sound cycles through. If E. Level is a little too high, you really notice the delay effect as a kind of loud slapback sound. If you roll it down slightly, the delay blossoms into something more like reverb, a fullness added to the dry signal; the "action," so to speak, becomes less noticeable, so that the overall sound is just a breath of wetness added. You can turn up the Feedback, at that point, if you want a deeper wetness. These are subtle shifts, but Carlos had mastered them and I was happy to learn from him about how to set my own effect, which I've been using for years.
I liked his amp, too, and his mic but I'm happier with my mic/amp sound. Carlos tried very hard to get me to admit that his rig was just....BETTER than my rig. Better sound. He was amazed, and slightly dismayed, when I told him that I actually preferred my rig for my own playing. Harp players are naturally competitive, but this is the first time I've ever encountered another player who had any interest in trying explicitly to dominate me in that way. (It should go without saying that Carlos has chops and musical knowledge that would let him dominate 99.99% of players on the planet in head-to-head competition.)
I've been a huge fan of Carlos's for a long time and there's no question he's figured out what works for him on stage. Nothing will change my high opinion of what he does.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Oct 08, 2014 7:58 AM
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The Iceman
2200 posts
Oct 08, 2014
9:02 AM
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Carlos is quite a character. He spent years of hard work to get where he is today. Along with the drive and talent comes a hint of prima donna. He is a perfectionist. I accept this aspect as part of the whole.package.
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The Iceman
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Stevelegh
978 posts
Oct 09, 2014
5:01 AM
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Adam, thank you for your post. I can relate completely to your terminology of "action" and "wetness". I've always found reverb a little too cavernous and affected, which is fine for some of the Little Walter stuff, but I've personally preferred to keep it to a minimum.
I do like the fullness that a delay seems to bring when used this way. I just didn't consider delay as a tone shaping tool rather than an effect.
I'm now hanging around Ebay waiting for the right Boss DD3 to come along. Missed one last night that was 40% off store price. Damn.
Thanks again.
Steve.
P.S. Yes, Carlos is awesome
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Martic
104 posts
Oct 13, 2014
9:37 AM
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http://www.hunterharp.com/carlos-del-junco/
There's an interview where he talks about his influences and equipment.
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FBInsMan
14 posts
Oct 13, 2014
10:29 AM
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Martic, I think Carlos has changed his rig since then. He's using Edwards amps on his recordings and in small venues and uses Marble 4x10 for bigger venues. He also seems to have switched to Lone Wolf Pedals. He explains almost everything that he uses currently on his links page of his website. http://carlosdeljunco.com/links.html
Thanks so much Adam for giving insight on how Carlos tweaks his rig. It is very cool of you and interesting to know. In my limited experience, it seems too many players focus the "RIG" a guy plays to get his sound and they "Miss the Forest for the Trees" so to speak. Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think "sound" is all in just the "rig" as Adam states from Carlos's tweaking of his rig. I think "sound" = Rig + how it's tweaked and there are literally a million ways to tweak even the most basic of rigs.
As a beginner "playing harp for <3years" I got what I could afford. I play through a VOX VT15 with a Copperhead Custom's mic. The mic was a outstanding recommendation from a friend and the VT15 I took from Brandon Bailey's review on this site,(Plus I got it for $50 on craigslist). Even though the VT15 is a solid state tube combo, it has a ridiculous amount of effects I can play with for a cheep price. Fun for a beginner who has no clue what most of this gear shit means until you play with it. Personally, it allows me to tweak my tone in many different ways using a bunch of different "style" amps to see what works for me.
Anyway, little too much rant from the FNG on the site. I'm glad to be a part of this forum and very grateful that the group shares. It is much appreciated.
I work a little on my sound everyday. Maybe one day I'll have the balls to post a video here. Until then.
Cheers
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"The only way to get better is to play a little outside your comfort zone every time you play!"
Last Edited by FBInsMan on Oct 13, 2014 10:31 AM
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