Re: Harps and Condoms

[clarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

>This week I started using a foam wind cover (condom) on my
>astatic. I bought the radio shack large size one and it covers
>the mic pretty well.
>
>I get less knocking from the harp agains the the mic.
>I get fewer breath noises.
>
>Most important I get almost 2 level more on the volume knob
>before the squealing starts without significant loss
>of volume. The higher harps (E and F) tend to feed back a
>little while I am playing 4 and 5 notes at the higher volume, but the
>noise stops as soon as I stop playing. I can use the volume
>control on the mic to fine tune things so I don't feed back at 
>all. As long as I position myself to the side and behind the amp
>I can get a lot more volume using the condom.
>
>Does anyone else have experience with using wind covers.
>
>Keith 
>
Very bad idea!  If you are having trouble with feedbak, then you are playing too loud
for the rig that you are using.  That cover will eliminate all of the percussive effects
"noises" that most harp players try to get.  I wonder how tounge-block flutters and slaps 
sound with a windscreen on the mic.  I admit, I haven't tried it, but the mere fact that the mic
doesn't feedback with the screen means that you are losing some of the frequencies
that are feeding back.  I suggest playing at a volume where the amp almost never feeds back,
and put a mic on it and runit through the PAystem.  Be careful with playing too loud.  I just had a 
physical last week and the doc told me I have some hearing loss, so I'm going to continue
my personal trend towards smaller amplifiers.  I just got a Silvertone from the 50s that sounds
so sweet!  I just mic the thing and play at whatever volume the amp sounds best at on stage.  In 
my experience, little gadgets like a windscreen on the harp mic is sort of like treating the symptom
when you really have some other problem.  I have run through gimmicky mics, effects, fuzzboxes,
reverbs, delays and still I sound best with a small amp cranked up to just BEFORE it feeds back,
and an Astatic JT-30 (an old one).  I sometimes use an analog delay when I want the Little Walter
echoplex sound (Sad Hours).  You will probably keep trying all the gadgets and gizmos that 
come down the pike.  I did, but now I have several mics that sound great and I have a slew of
tube amps from a Champ (has the best overdrive sound) all the way up to the 59 Bassman re-issue
for big gigs that I don't want to mic the harp.  All  of this are just my personal opinions and observations
from a few years of steady gigging in blues bands.  There are a bunch of guys that will have different 
ideas.  Oh, before I forget, Carey Bell uses and old Cordovox (accordian Leslie speaker) that sounds
really cool.  That is one effect that I don't have, but would like.  Anybody got a Leslie model 16 you
want to unload?
 

Bernie Clarke
"Don't start me to talkin', I'll tell everything I know" - SBWII