Re: blues organ players

["Mike Curtis" <ironmancurtis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Leslie effects and similar (chorus, phase, etc.) are particularly nice for
harmonica when you want that "B -3" sound.  I've used a real Leslie speaker
for harp.  It's incredible - if you have a big roadie to lug it for you ;-)
The Leslie emulators do a downright respectable job (and are *much* easier
on your back), especially if you pipe them through an amp and speaker that
reproduces highs well (i.e. horn tweeter).  I like to use a vocal mic for
this to get those nice, airy highs.  A condenser mic (or electret) is
particularly nice.  You can cup it for a beefier sound, or play back from it
"acoustic style" for a lighter sound.  If you're comping chords, the reduced
volume (compared to your bullet, etc.) is perfect.

Like all effects (including distortion), they can IMHO be overdone.

If you want a little more variety, try adding a pitch shifter set for
octaves.  Again, this is effective in small doses, but can be grossly
overdone.  In my opinion, effects are good to break up the sound and provide
a little variety.

My basic "rule" is, if the song SCREAMS for it, then I use it.  Otherwise I
just use my "normal" sound.  But like most of you, when I buy a new effect,
I like to play with my "new toy" :-)

From: "Priest, Jim" <Jim.Priest@xxxxxx>

> Chris Gillock wrote:
>
> "A harp player's throat tremolo is just a poor man's Lesley speaker."
>
> I heard a guy in Boston called Professor Harp who played through a box of
tricks that made his harp sound uncanningly like an organ with a Lesley
speaker. Very effective for a while, especially when he played chromatic,
though I think he over-used it a touch.



 -- IronMan Mike Curtis www.ironmancurtis.com www.southlandblues.com
Wed June 11, 10pm BB Kings, Universal Citywalk; Wed June 18, 7-11pm Mission
Tobacco, Riverside; Sundays, 2pm Stagger Inn, 9108 Alondra, Bellflower; Tue
8pm
Starboard Attitude, Redondo Beach