Re: [Harp-L] Tech 21 solid state amps for harmonica?

[Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have tried the Tech 21 Blonde, Para DI, and Bass Driver DI.  I like them 
so much, I got rid of my large amps and have a HarpGear HG2 and VHT Special 
6 collecting dust.  I play straight to PA with a QSC K10 powered speaker.  
The speaker has a peak around 2-4khz that isn't harp friendly...the Para DI 
let's me use parametric EQ to cut feedback though.

For the last year, other than trying a POD HD500 (and then turning off the 
amp sims to use the Bass DI), I have gigged this way solo and with full 
bands.  After A/Bing the HD500, Para DI, Bass DI, RP255, and HG2, my 
favorite clean tones come from the Para and my favorite blues tones come 
from the Bass DI.

I got a better (and way louder and fuller) Champ tone from the Bass DI than 
the HG2 with both my dynamic and bullet mics.  They are extremely easy to 
use too!  The Blonde is great, but you still may need a DI and you can't 
use it as a passive DI or real clean machine.  The RP255 sounds really 
good, but I don't have a Fireball mic as suggested to use with it.  I 
generally want a clean sound with effects anyways.  I need to put more time 
in on the RP before taking it as my rig to a gig, but it is amazing for the 
price!

If I had to sit in with a blues band tonight, I'd take the K10, Bass DI, 
and my bullet mic from Greg Heumann (no effects, though).  

If I had to do a rock gig, I'd use the Para with the M13.  I could live 
without the Bass DI as it is pretty much the same thing as the Para minus a 
mid control, but I have both, so why not???

I have, in fact, used the Bass DI sitting in with bands via battery and an 
XLR out to the board with lots of compliments.  If I had the money and 
need, my go to travel rig would be a M9 into the Bass DI.  This would cover 
75% of anything I'd ever need.  Not cheap to set up - $250 for a used M9, 
$200 for the Bass DI, and the cost of a pedal board...

My main rig of K10 ($500 used, but you can get something just as good for 
less now), M13 ($290 used), and Para DI ($150 used) ran me under $1,000 
(all purchased on thegearpage.net) and I think I could compete with a loud 
band similar to a 4x10 amp that generally runs more.  I could do some of 
that with just a RP and powered speaker, but the flexibility of the M13 is 
what I need.  I think the Tech 21 amps run about as much, but I can't speak 
to how harp friendly the are.  The pedals they have are VERY harp friendly.

I got the RP255 for $60 used, but had to get a power supply ($25), and the 
patches ($25), and now I have to get a new USB cord as I shipped mine when 
I sold the HD500, lol.   Admittedly, the RP255 ended up being an 
unorganized purchase on my behalf.  Usually, I am good at scoring a good 
deal. Depending on your mic of choice, the Richard Hunter rig might be the 
way to go.  The amp sims may sound a bit digital compared to the Tech 21, 
but that may be of benefit for you.

Mike

On Sunday, June 24, 2012 3:10:48 PM UTC-5, Dan Hazen wrote:
>
> Hi all. I'm tired of buying tubes. Has anyone tried the Tech 21 amps 
> (trademark 30 or 60) for harmonica? They're supposed to have believable 
> analog tube emulation. I love the sound of my tube amps, but would love to 
> have the near indestructible and maintenance free option of solid state, 
> while still getting a tube-like sound. 
>
> No dealers near me, so I'll have to buy them blind off the net. Guitar 
> players like 'em, but haven't heard what harp players thought. For what I 
> just had to drop to retube my amps (using cheap tubes at that) I can buy 
> one SS amp and have the money for other stuff. Plus, a power tube blew 
> mid-gig last night, and I think it damaged my lil marshall class 5 (which 
> I 
> was using for guitar). I ended up plugging both instruments into my 
> harpgear 2 to get through the gig. Would love to get away from that sort 
> of 
> problem. 
>
> Thanks 
> Dan 
>