I got my Zoom Q3 yesterday and made a quick clip before work of the VHT Special 6 for harmonica (set the Q3 on a PA speaker and hit record...didn't test levels or anything). To piggy-back off another thread, THIS is noodling. How do you guys come up with cool stuff to play on a demo like this????
I tried to play a variety of blues attacks and riffs so you'd get an idea of what it sounds like across the board.
I trimmed me setting up the camera and turning it off via iMovie, which was really easy to do, FWIW.
Wow, that thing's got a lot of bottom end-perhaps a bit too much. Are you going straight in, or using effects? What mic are you using? It almost sounds as there's a touch of an octave effect in place. Glad to see I'm not the only one who feels like a deer in the headlights when I do a demo recording;-) Thanks for posting this, Mike. That is a cool little amp. ----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Nov 10, 2010 5:57 AM
I am plugged straight in with an Ultimate 57. The room I am in totally sucks for doing a demo and is very feedback prone, but it is the best I can do 10min before leaving for work. ;)
The amp has a lot of bottom for a 6w amp, some of which can be dialed out on the tone control. However, I am in the guest room (around 12' by 10'?) and the bottom end of everything is a bit exaggerated - or similar to what it is on a boomy stage with an amp against a wall.
I think, regardless of my playing, that the amp sounds huge for what it is. I will eventually do a side by side with my HG50, which makes it sound like a small amp, but the VHT smokes.
I am in the process of loading a demo where I run through a few delays on a M13. It is really hard to hear what I am saying, and there is a hint of feedback from time to time, but here is my line of thinking:
1.) Playing for a camera like that is very awkward for me and not I instantly draw a blank on what to play - would be WAY easier with a backing track or if I was filming a gig.
2.) I want to force myself to get better and if I start "recutting" demos from the start, I'll continue to find excuses for why the last take wasn't good enough.
3.) Demos with warts actually might show a more realistic demo...I am in a very controlled enviroment which isn't realistic compared to gigs - and it might help point out cons of certain gear too.
4.) Most people listening will fall into two categories...players who are going to find faults in a player regardless of who they are and the context of the presentation or newbs who are impressed by just about anything. ;)
I think another reason I detect so much bass is a characteristic of the Q3-the only recording I have of me with one was the same, but it was singing-it sounded muffled, as if I there was a pillow over the amp. And yes, the room has a lot to do with it. I'm glad you explored this little amp-it gives folks in the market for a small tube amp another great choice. ----------
I've listen to the clip through the Q3 and my laptop. I think the overall eq of the tone is a good representation of what I was hearing. Live, I'd have the tone control up much higher since feedback is less likely.
The stock speaker is very flat in eq. I hear some solid presence from the Ramrod and maybe a bit more bottom end, but the stock speaker was pretty dark in comparision. ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
