Re: Unusual Amp. Mod question

["Rupert Oysler" <orupert@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Grant,

I have a similar challenge for many gigs, and I have a variety of responses:
- - play through the harp commander into the PA, dialing in the distortion
etc. that I want at whatever PA volume.
- -face my amp other than forward, maybe sideways, maybe backwards.
- -Substitute the Smicz TAD for the 6V6 output tube in my amp,  which brings
the output down to about 1 watt.

I tend to play differently when I play through an amp, so sometimes I prefer
to do that. When determining the placement/volume etc. it helps to check out
in the room, or have a friend do that, because often the volume of the harp
is less in the room than you'd think. Harp does not tend to carry or cut
like a guitar. Sometimes you are not really louder than your bandmates,
though it seems that way "on stage" (or in the small corner where you are
crammed together...) So sometimes just adjusting the "aim" of the amp away
from bandmates, or placing it a little away,  will do the trick.

The TAD does change the sound of the amp some, as it is not quite driving
the speaker the same, but I like the tone/response etc. from my amp. I don't
know whether it would be a suitable sub in yours, but you could check with
Bob Smicz  http://www.smiczamplification.com
 (no affiliation etc.) It is easy to switch back and forth between TAD and
regular output for different gigs.

Hope this helps,

Rupert Oysler
http://www.harprepair.com/

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Grant Kester" <gkester@xxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 4:32 PM
Subject: Unusual Amp. Mod question


>
> Dear Harp-L Folks,
>
> I have a somewhat unusual problem vis a vis amp. volume. I play with an
> acoustic guitarist and a pedal steel player (folk, blues stuff). We
> usually play in coffee houses, etc. (small venues, relatively quiet). I
> play some songs through an SM57 into the PA but we also do some blues
> things where I like to have a bit more of a distorted sound. I've been
> using a great little amp (a '59 Gibson Skylark) with an Electrovoice
> 638. I love this combination, the tone is crunchy but not TOO
> distorted. The problem is that even this little 5 watt amp can be TOO
> LOUD! It's got surprising volume for such a small amp, and if I get it
> past 4 or so on the volume pot it's too much. It's frustrating to not
> be able to get the tone I want out of the amp, but I can't drown out my
> band mates either. Our guitarist said it might be possible to have an
> amp. tech. wire a (switchable) resistor to the speaker line that would
> allow me to keep the tone at a lower volume. Has anyone done this? I'm
> really reluctant to meddle with this amp and I don' t want to do this
> if it won't make a significant difference. I also thought about using a
> Harp Commander (either with the amp, or just with the SM57 into the
> PA), but I'd really like to know if it would help my volume problem
> before spending that kind of money. Any thoughts? I know harp players
> usually have the opposite problem (can't get enough volume), so maybe
> this is a rare situation.
>
> Thanks,
> Grant Kester
> gkester@xxxxxxxx
>
> p.s. my apologies for any multiple postings of this query; I mistakenly
> used the old "garply" heading when I first tried to send it.
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