Zummy
1 post
Dec 29, 2010
12:39 PM
|
I'm looking to get the equipment I need to amplify my harmonica, any advice? I'm looking for something that's real bottom line, cheap, but still decent.
Greets from Germany.
|
toddlgreene
2361 posts
Dec 29, 2010
12:48 PM
|
Welcome aboard, Zummy. Wow, you just opened Pandora's Box. Do you have a budget in mind for the total package, or itemized(how much for an amp, how much for a mic, any effects?)? That makes all the difference in what you'll be recommended to get.
And, what kind of sound do you want to achieve? A mostly clear signal, or a real dirty,overdriven Chicago sound?
----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Dec 29, 2010 12:51 PM
|
earlounge
249 posts
Dec 29, 2010
1:06 PM
|
I got an Epiphone Valve Jr for cheap on Ebay, and I think Guitar Center had a recent sale for cheap. It is a decent cheap tube amp. Cheap mics aren't the best, so save your pennies and buy a good one.
|
Greg Heumann
957 posts
Dec 29, 2010
1:16 PM
|
I would recommend:
Hohner Roadhouse JT30 - $60
VHT Amp - $200
VHT has more power and a bigger speaker than the Epi. With no mods it is an OK amp. With a better preamp tube it is a lot better already, and there are other mods that can make it even more harp-friendly.
Just remember if you're serious about it you can spend a lot of money on cheap gear - and sooner or later you'll regret not having bought the best you can afford in the first place. But.... most of us do (or did) it your way.
----------
/Greg
|
tookatooka
2006 posts
Dec 29, 2010
1:18 PM
|
Roland MicroCube is a great starter amp which has built in effects and runs off batteries.
|
boris_plotnikov
387 posts
Dec 29, 2010
2:17 PM
|
Zummy
What is your goal? Do you play in a band? How loud is band?
Danelectro Honeytone ($40) sounds cool for it's price and size, and no matter which mic you plug into it, take something around $30 and you sounds cool, but not so loud, a bit louder than acoustic harp.
Fender Bassman is great amp too for it's price and size, and custom Blowsmeaway mic is great choice ((:
----------
Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
|
toddg
6 posts
Dec 29, 2010
2:43 PM
|
If you are not in a band and just want a cool chicago blues tone for the Living room I say get a small tube amp Silvertone , Kalamazoo , etc and a decent mic with a Shure CM or CR element
lots of things on Ebay now but you will be spending close to $400 . check the stuff for sale on here too .
just ask and I bet someone has something for you !
|
toddlgreene
2363 posts
Dec 29, 2010
2:52 PM
|
You're way over in Germany, so i don't know what shipping would set you back, but this amp is on the For Sale 2010 thread, and it's a helluva deal:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/561277.htm?page=4
Scroll down to Joshnat's posting with pics.
----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
|
oda
416 posts
Dec 29, 2010
4:37 PM
|
Hey Zummy, congrats on your first post.
You don't give specifics... so I'm going to give you a non specific recommendation;
Bottle O' Blues
I am guessing that you are a beginner who just wants to dabble with amplification. If so, go for the Bottle O Blues + the cigar amp. It'll give you that ampish sound, and won't hurt your wallet.
If you like it, you can always upgrade the amp because that mic ain't bad ... you can hear samples on the site.
----------
I could be bound by a nutshell and still count myself a king of infinite space
OdaHUMANITY!
Oda's YouTube Channel
Oda's Facebook
|
joshnat
94 posts
Dec 29, 2010
6:23 PM
|
I have to say that Todd has an excellent point. That amp is a smoking deal. And the seller is not only a great guy, but an awesome player. And...nevermind.
However, shipping would probably cost as much as the amp. I would go with Greg's suggestion. Greg, any specifics on recommended mods for the VHT yet?
----------
|
oda
417 posts
Dec 29, 2010
6:45 PM
|
@Josh
----------
I could be bound by a nutshell and still count myself a king of infinite space
OdaHUMANITY!
Oda's YouTube Channel
Oda's Facebook
Last Edited by on Dec 29, 2010 6:49 PM
|
HarpNinja
905 posts
Dec 29, 2010
7:53 PM
|
Amp - VHT Special 6 by a mile! Less than $200 shipped in the US!
My preference for a mic would be the SM 57.
----------
Mike
Quicksliver Harmonicas
|
Zummy
2 posts
Dec 30, 2010
12:01 AM
|
For people that wanted me to be more specific, all I'm looking for is something really cheap (I have about 350USD). I live alone, so I don't need something loud or fancy. Just enough for me to get the electronic sound and to toy around with it.
So in response to the chicago style or clean electric, how about a way to have settings do both?
I'm still in the experimenting stage, so I'd like to keep those settings open. Enough for me to try a few different styles, but not enough to sacrifice quality.
Tschüss
|
Kingley
1401 posts
Dec 30, 2010
2:00 AM
|
I'd suggest you go for a simple basic amp to start with and avoid all the built-in effects amps. Something like an Epiphone Valve Jr, Gretsch 5222 or Fender 600 champion. The Pignose 7-100 is also a great little amp. All of these make great home practice amps and are pretty cheap.
Mic wise I'd suggest a Shure 545SD. It's a stick mic that is dual impedance. The 545 is a classic tried and tested harp mic. The beauty of a dual impedance mic is that later down the line you could then use it for micing up a bigger amp if you're gigging. Recording purposes and of course as a vocal mic too.
|
wheezer
184 posts
Dec 30, 2010
4:32 AM
|
For a good cheap amp, Harley Benton GA5 available online from Thomann (Germany) for 85 Euros new.
It is basicly the same as a Valve Jr. but with a tone control.
|
shbamac
35 posts
Dec 30, 2010
5:48 AM
|
I would get one on these amps, Harley Benton GA5
Found here:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_ga5.htm
Demo vid:
http://m.youtube.com/#/profile?user=Harpsucker&v=-4xXIkGhPtk&view=videos
As for the mic, hard to say... maybe check out these
www.bluexlab.com
|
kudzurunner
2174 posts
Dec 30, 2010
5:58 AM
|
Not wanting to pick fights, I'll just suggest that you give priority attention to Greg Heumann (because he's in the business and is a player as well) and Kingley (because his suggestions are more or less what I would have suggested). This doesn't mean that others are wrong in their suggestions, mind you. It just means that I'm not qualified to weigh in on their suggestions.
|
eharp
1037 posts
Dec 30, 2010
7:55 AM
|
gotta go with oda's suggestion.
the bottle-o-blues mic and a little smokey amp are very affordable to give you a fairly dirty sound.
great to give you a taste of what most of us strive towards at the beginning of the "amplified" journey.
i still use my little smokey with a shaker madcat around the house, in the car (not while driving!) and at some bbq's.
|
Old Dog
88 posts
Dec 30, 2010
10:10 AM
|
For cheap and easy, I use a Bottle'O'Blues with a Honeytone. Works great in my garage loft, or as E said, in the car (not while driving!).
----------
I used to be young and foolish. Now I'm not so young.
|
eharp
1040 posts
Dec 30, 2010
11:36 AM
|
old dog-
think anybody is believing the "not while driving"?
|
Old Dog
89 posts
Dec 30, 2010
12:24 PM
|
eharp-
If they do, I've got a really nice bridge for sale...
----------
I used to be young and foolish. Now I'm not so young.
|
