Danny Starwars
56 posts
Feb 11, 2015
4:48 PM
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Hey, apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, but am I able to use a small 5w amp as a preamp/foldback if it's plugged into the PA?
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My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2_8CnjaiNLcPke4gWQ65A
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Harpaholic
607 posts
Feb 11, 2015
5:53 PM
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A full band? Not IMO! I don't like harp in my monitor because of feedback. I need an amp that I can hear on stage, and 5 watts won't cut it when everyone one else is using 50 watt amps. Have you ever seen a pro player in a full band use anything less than 35-40 watts?
I haven't!
Your better off using a vocal mic straight into the PA, or even better a Lone Wolf Harp Attack.
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Feb 11, 2015 5:56 PM
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Danny Starwars
57 posts
Feb 11, 2015
6:34 PM
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Yeah my problem was that sometimes (last night) if I'm playing somewhere as a one off and going through the PA, and their monitor sucks, I can't hear a note that I'm playing and the gig sucks.
I was wondering if, with what I have now, I can use the little amp as a backup personal monitor to hear what I'm playing.
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My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2_8CnjaiNLcPke4gWQ65A
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Harpaholic
608 posts
Feb 11, 2015
6:57 PM
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Assuming your playing with a loud band?
If you can set the amp up high close to your ear away from the guitar amps, that could work, but the closer you get the more chance of feedback.
I've never had any luck with small amps on stage with loud bands, but I'm sure there's plenty of folks here that can help you out.
Good luck!
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shakeylee
87 posts
Feb 11, 2015
7:09 PM
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i recently did a show in austin wherein i played straight into the PA. no monitor. when i heard the video that was recorded,the soundman had me 600,000 times louder than the guitarist. oops.
couldn't tell on stage!
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indigo
58 posts
Feb 11, 2015
7:44 PM
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Sounds good in theory Danny..but in the end it just doesn't work.Been there and done that.Most times the rest of the band are going to be playing way to loud for you to use the 5 watter as a monitor.In the right situation it is really good in that you are hearing your little beast pumping out it's great tone that you hear at home..but come stage time you ain't hearing nothing.
IMHO 3 scenarios here. Play with a Band that has reasonable stage volumes(good luck) yep plug your 5W into the PA.
Buy a 50-100W amp .
Just play through a PA type mike with maybe a Pedal,SM57 through a Lone Wolf Harp break is the best compromise solution i personally have found.
Anyways just my thoughts
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hvyj
2626 posts
Feb 11, 2015
8:14 PM
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Since March I've been playing with the house band for a weekly blues jam. Most of the other harp players who come in bring itty bitty 5 watt amps they try to run through the PA with a line out. Invariably it sounds like shit because of the feedback produced by the small amps when they are turned up loud enough to try to function as a monitor and start squealing.
One Sunday I was asked to let a guy line his 5 watt amp out to my Super Reverb Reissue. We tried it but it didn't sound very good. I recently bought a Peavey Delta Blues 1x15 30 watt tube amp which is surprisingly good for harp and somewhat more portable than my 4x10 Super. Inevitably, one of the 5 watt wonders asked if he could line out to my Peavey. To my surprise, that sounded great, but the 1x15 amp was doing double duty as sound reinforcement AND monitor. The 5 watt amp was acting as a preamp not a monitor.
If you are going to play out in public live with other musicians my advice is to get a big boy amp so you can hear yourself and the audience can hear you.
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