Re: Harp Commander Questions

["M. N." <mnessmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eric wrote:
"I am considering buying a Harp Commander but would like to get some 
feedback before I talk the plunge, since it's a pricey item. I've heard lots 
of great things said about it and also have the ability to try it out with a 
harp player who lives near me. <snip> What can I expect to gain since I am 
happy with both my amps, yet hate lugging all this stuff."

=================================

Well, a lot has already been written on Harp-L and other online harp groups 
about the Harp Commander - most of it very positive, some sort of positive, 
none (that I can remember) outright negative. One of these days, when I have 
more gigging hours logged with it, I'm going to write a full-on review. In 
the mean time, here are a few random thoughts. First of all, do I think the 
Harp Commander is worth the price and am I glad I bought mine? Yes and yes. 
Using a variety of mics, I've tried mine through my Kalamazoo Model 1 (which 
I've since sold), my 59 Bassman RI (which I've since sold), and through a 
PA. I didn't think the Harp Commander helped the Kalamazoo too much, but 
there's not much you could do to improve upon that amp, IMHO. I felt the 
Harp Commander added a LOT to my Bassman RI. It really gave dimension to the 
amp at moderate volumes (and at deafening volumes too, if you're in a loud 
band). Like you, one of the reasons I considered a Harp Commander was to 
lighten my load. I've always enjoyed the clarity and responsiveness you can 
get playing straight into a PA; you can really HEAR and project everything 
you're trying to do. Unfortunately sometimes this method leaves you sounding 
too clean or sterile (not a bad thing by any means, if that's what you're 
going for). With the Harp Commander you can get that same responsiveness and 
still have a nice, warm "electric" blues harp sound.
Mics: I've found that, to my ears, my Harp Commander responds most 
noticeably to my controlled-reluctance JT-30 put together by Dave Kott. Over 
the past two years I've really drifted in the direction of dynamic mics such 
as a 545S, SM57, SM58, EV RE-10 or 638. With the Harp Commander, however, my 
JT-30 is back at the front of the pack as my favorite mic (as I've written 
about mics and other gear here before, though, that could change next week. 
LOL!).
What else? Okay, here's the "bad" news: The Harp Commander ain't magic; 
there's no such thing. It won't improve a weak player's sound any more than 
any other piece of gear will. I've always said that taking harp lessons made 
all of my mics and amps sound loads better. After learning a bit about 
tongue blocking, how to play resonantly, and how deepen my tone, I began to 
regret selling off some of the gear that had underwhelmed me before. That 
gear didn't sound thin, my tone did! Anyway, if you have an amp you LOVE 
already, don't expect the Harp Commander to come in and make that amp sound 
10 times better or make you suddenly sound like [insert name of your 
favorite player here]. It's simply a harp pre-amp that will allow some amps 
to blossom and that will allow you to get an "amped" sound via the PA. If 
you have the opportunity to try one out, do so. It's best not to plunk down 
$280 if you haven't heard the thing if you don't have to (though that's what 
I did and I have no regrets). And if you have some questions, give Ron 
Holmes a holler. He's a great guy and will answer all your questions 
thoroughly and in plain English, not tech-ese.
MN

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