mic&amp

["Mark C. Reuter" <mcr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Having followed the mic & amp discussions for a long time
I tried a few experiments that might help newly amplified blues players.
I play a stock JT-30V thru a '65 blackface Princeton Reverb.
I AB'd a 10ft. and a 20ft. cord and could not hear a difference.
I built a voltage follower preamp with one op-amp in a small
box.  I AB'd the JT-30V with and with out the preamp...no difference.
I also have a Shure Green Bullet which I tried with and without the preamp.
No differnce.  Then I tried mounting the Astatic crystal in the
Green Bullet body.  This is not a quicky AB but the sound was not
different enough to make me think that the mic body was a major factor
in tone. (This was like changing guitar strings and then trying to
remember what the previous ones sounded like 15min. ago.)  I prefer
quick AB tests that are more objective.  I have also tried my Green Bullet
wired for low and high impedence (had the wires hanging out so I could
change them quickly), and my feeling here is that you arrive at the
same tone and volume in either case if you just turn up the amp volume
just before feedback.  (Note, the JT-30V volume is max on all tests which means
the pot is shorted and has no effect.)  My conclusion, based on what
I have read here and my own experience, is that, once you have good
acoustic tone, get a small old tube amp and a new or old bullet mic.
Crank the amp up to just below feeding back, then spend a lot of time
experimenting with how you cup the mic and seal your hands to your
face, and you will love your sound and the rest (different mics, cords
etc.) will just be fine tuning.
I hope this helps, because I know what it is like to always be wondering,
'can my tone be better if I just spend some more money on the right
gadget, or should I go back to shed and keep practicing.

Mark Reuter