I have heard of Kim Wilson doing this. Legend has it that Big Walter did, too.
I tried it tonight and it really fatted up the low end...really greasy! Somehow, it made the amp sound louder, too. I used my newer Blackheart Handsome Devil piggyback, voiced for harp. No special mods, just good tubes: 2 X 6BQ5 Sylvania shiny black plates for power... Mullard 7247 in V1, Sylvania long box plates 12AY7 in V2. Sucker honks! Even had no problem with compensating for volume against four other instruments/players and vocals.
It was kind of awkward: holding the mic, harp, and water glass at the correct angle...but I made it work. I put the harp almost directly above the glass opening, and then had to kinda balance the mic sideways with my left hand. Seemed to work best with low note, minor blues...and actually sounded good on an original West Coast Swing number we do.
I often use a glass or metal tin for playing off a vocal mic. In certain numbers it can add a really nice touch, plus the audiences love it.
Many people do it. Jason Ricci, Dennis Gruenling, Big Walter, Kim Wilson, Peter "Madcat" Ruth to name just a few.
Another I often do is to use the harp mic against my throat and play acoustically so the sound is picked up by the mic through my throat. This gives you a unique sound and is great in some slow blues numbers. Steve Guyger uses this same trick to play bass lines on the harp during guitar solos in duo settings. Sometimes using his harp, sometimes just his voice.
Last Edited by on Mar 15, 2010 3:27 AM
Howard Levy plays into a mug for a bunch of the 'world music' stuff he does.
This IS NOT BLUES & it's closer to world music then anything else so if you think you might not like it you've been warned ;-P .
In this example he plays into a mug from about 0:30-1:45. I might also mention that he shreds on the harmonica after about 3:30! This example is at least 3 years old but the first one I found:
---------- ~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
I'm now considering having a "sleeve" of a water glass with a 'hole in the bottom' cut to fit for one of my stick mic's! Would make it hellalot easier than holding three things at once! It's weird and cool at the same time! Kinda like reverb mixed with phlanger, but more potent. AND acoustic.
There is a science to all this, but it's a burgeoning field ( Not really..I made that up! Heh! ) No, ...think about it.. Acoustics is considered for LARGE places; but it applies in even tiny places.
As harp gods, we manipulate sound in oh so many ways!
Playing Harp with a water glass is a great effect. The first person I saw and heard using it was Big Walter way back in the 70’s. I used it in the song Lightning Bug Blues that we recorded in 1994. If this works you can here it here.
---------- Thanks, Albey Scholl The Shadows Blind Willies Blues Club Atlanta, GA http://www.blindwilliesblues.com/
Last Edited by on Mar 16, 2010 4:25 PM
