|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Pedal Boards... Effects
Pedal Boards... Effects
Page:
1
wolfkristiansen
446 posts
May 31, 2020
1:09 AM
|
This has proably been discussed often. Pedal boards... effects... are they really necessary? I've not tried them because I'd rather concentrate on the music. Here's a question I've wondered about-- if you've got a long chain of effects, is there a lag in your sound? In other words, is your timing, vis à vis the rest of the band, going to be off? If that's the case, not for me.
Playing straight into an amp gives the music an immediacy that gets lost if the sound wanders through a long hallway of effects. Immediacy is a good thing.
Cheers
wolf kristiansen
p.s. I use delay and reverb once in a a while.
p.p.s. Despite all of the above, I sometimes daydream about turning my harp into the harmonica version of Jimi Hendrix's guitar-- so distorted that it's not recognizable as a harmonica.
wk
|
Homeless Joe
12 posts
May 31, 2020
9:40 AM
|
I like my multi effects pedal. It has lots of effects, reverbs, delays, wah, and a looper and drum tracks. I don't notice any latency.
|
A440
549 posts
Jun 01, 2020
12:21 AM
|
I don't really see the attraction of complex multi-pedal boards, and a heavily processed sound. I guess I just want it to sound like a harmonica, not an electric guitar or an organ. Maybe I'm too much of a traditionalist.
I play in one of two ways: 1. acoustically in front of a vocal mic, and 2. for that blues crunch, I use a Harp Attack straight into the PA, adding a bit of reverb and EQ at the PA. I like playing into the PA, and not having to deal with an amp. I like the Harp Attack, because it can be dialled back to be very subtle, or it can emulate an over-driven tube amp when needed. Without too many knobs to adjust, I tend to concentrate more on how my playing (embouchure, breathing, tongue movements, hand effects, etc.) can be used to change the the sound. But in the end, it always retains that unmistakable sound of a diatonic harmonica.
An added benefit: my gig bag is very compact, and my set-up/take-down takes 2 minutes. So I usually get a beer while the rest of the band is still setting up :)
Last Edited by A440 on Jun 01, 2020 12:22 AM
|
SuperBee
6663 posts
Jun 01, 2020
1:53 AM
|
I guess I outlined my current thoughts and past experiences at some length on Fudbutter’s recent thread dealing with his ‘budget’ pedalboard.
I say, to each their own. For me, right now I think I’m better off to plug a mic straight into my amp. I count myself very fortunate to have 3 fantastic amps in a Sonny Jr 2, a Princeton Reverb, and a good quality 5F1 clone, and they are all eminently capable of delivering the kind of sound appropriate to the sort of material I play.
I do have enough pedals to make less-suitable amps either be more manageable and or sound more like I’m used to.
For where I’m at, pedals aren’t really necessary.
But there’s a great big world of ways to approach amplified harmonica music outside of my little old fashioned narrow view, and people find all kinds of creative ways to use various effects. Good luck to them I say. Maybe sometime in the future I’ll have another go at doing something different too.
Or I might develop my keyboard skills instead.
|
snowman
572 posts
Jun 01, 2020
2:22 PM
|
No Lag time that I notice---
Pedal discussion is like tongue block vs purse---I think it best to learn both.
I did get caught up in the 'music gear' addiction and of late I like to bring more than what I'll use. In case amp problem, PA problem,Mic problem etc.
If Im using my fake bassman [affordable] peavy 4x 10---I use Lone wolf Mojo pad I leave on the amp-
-peadls with that amp---Lone wolf delay "slapback"
-modded Boss GE7 Eq----Harp attack in case i need more dirt--At end of chain always "BBE Sonic stomp for leads" puts u out in front of everyone whos too loud---harp shield or an older anti feedback pedal
through my epiphone small amp-- delay -- anti feedback--Eq pedal-- BBE sonic The dirt on that amp mic'd is perfect
However I bring Lone wolf harp break-lone wolf terminator--lone wolf Harp tone plus---lone wolf octave
I don't like problems-live--I don't like playing way to hard cause of loud band--Don't like being drowned out---don't like people saying " man u sound great-turn it up"
When I need to be backgorund be background,-- when I need to be heard hence BBE sonic stomp and combination of other pedals
I always like the option of going through PA---making my own dirt and a monitor--thats why I bring extra stuff----every room is different---every place on stage is different---I like my options, but try to use the minimal.
Last Edited by snowman on Jun 01, 2020 2:24 PM
|
Fudbutter
8 posts
Jun 03, 2020
8:45 AM
|
IMHO the key to using effects is using them sparingly (i.e minimal settings). Even the Memphis Blues delay instructions suggest all controls at 9:00
If you don't want to worry about them while playing, just use them as "always-ons", although it is helpful to have a pedal that you boost for solos.
There is one more advantage that has not been discussed … All those pretty lights look great on a dark stage :)
Disadvantage not discussed?
… Getting the package delivered while you are trying to dissuade the wife to buy something expensive for the house
|
Post a Message
|
