[Harp-L] Approaching an unfamiliar PA

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

I used to do quite a bit of sitting in with different bands, playing  
through the PA using an XLR mic (usually my own, but sometimes a  
vocal mic) often with just a hot minute to adjust the board after I  
plug in.

In my experience, the real action is how you set the mids.  I'll  
typically  roll off the treble to 11 o'clock (or maybe 10), leave the  
bass at 12 o'clock (or maybe 1) and put the mids at 2 o'clock or  
possibly 3 and add some effects (I don't like playing dry). Then I'll  
blow a few notes to test tone and tweak from there.

Too much treble is tinny and harsh and may feed back.  Too much bass  
is muddy or can be boomy.  Mids fatten and smooth out the timbre of a  
diatonic harmonica--mids make the tone thicker, which i happen to like.

Now, if you want some dirt (I usually don't) turn up the gain or pad  
SLIGHTLY and turn the volume down a little to compensate but BE VERY  
CAREFUL because turning up the gain or pad even a little too much  
will definitely make you feedback.  The trick (if you want dirt) is  
to nudge the gain or pad up just a little to heat the signal and roll  
off the volume control to keep level manageable and avoid feedback.  
I've done this more than a few times over the years and it works  
well, I but don't usually do it.

If there's a soundman, I'll tell him "Roll off some treble, pump the  
mids and give me more than a little reverb"  which usually does the  
trick. In my experience, the midrange control is your biggest friend-- 
don't treat it as an afterthought.  Too much bass is not a good  
thing. And keep in mind that if you turn the treble down too far, you  
lose cut.  Btw, I always play with a cupped mic--never "in air".

FWIW.

JP