Fw: harp commander

["Gordon Graham" <ggraham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.


I am forwarding this email for two reasons. First, I found a way to get =
a really great and unique sounding amp at an electronics show (not =
costing a lot of $$$). Secondly, I wanted to show the great service Ron =
Holmes gives!!! I bought the HC almost 2 years ago and love it...He is =
incredibly responsive 2 years later......(also he give some helpful info =
on speaker cabinets).

Gordon----- Original Message -----=20
From: Ron Holmes=20
To: Gordon Graham=20
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 2:18 AM
Subject: Re: harp commander


Hi Gordon,

good start! You will want to adjust Bogen tone control(s) so amp is as =
"HiFi" or flat as possible. They can get bright and upper frequencies =
start feedback easily. Keep Bogen gain lowish and drive it hard with =
Harp Commander. This is an acoustical problem so the answer is acoustic =
mostly. Harp speaker cabs need to be deep and back "wrapped" or covered =
so rear sides extend inward, downward and upward to extend "baffle" =
around speaker. This means leaving not too large rear open area. What is =
good for guitar is bad for harp feedback. You may need to add some =
additional rear small panels to do this with side cleats and simple =
Masonite or 1/4" ply covered panels. Tolex or paint them. Modifying cab =
a bit will help a lot.

Use HC high cut and low boost to get a good sculptured sound. Experiment =
with cab orientation so if possible keep amp forward facing and to your =
side, not directly behind you looking right down your mic. You are =
trying to get sound out in front of you so audience can hear. You can =
also try reversing speaker leads and/or using phase switch to see if =
out-of-phase will get a louder sound before feedback. Angling speaker up =
10-15 degrees can help too. The goal is to disperse sound without =
starting feedback. Add some compression on HC control which will =
"tighten" your peaks and somewhat limit spikes that trigger feedback.=20

The newer "Bullets" are terrible for starting feedback. Avoid them. A =
good crystal mic works fine with HC for a really punchy sound or use an =
old dynamic or magnetic type for more "woofy" and dark sound. Most of =
the really good power and compression comes from the player and the mic =
itself. Powerful players can really compress the dynamic mics and that =
is the very best sound. It is good to get power and "spring" from an amp =
that is not too tight-but mostly that great crunch comes from =
overloading the mic acoustically.  That is the secret of the old Blues =
guys like Little Walter. They got great tone from blasting the mics and =
using any half-broken amp they could find that wouldn't blow fuses! Good =
cupping helps here.=20

Another trick you could also try is to wrap a small towel around speaker =
rear and magnet and taping or wiring it down. Just don't cover all the =
rear speaker cutouts. this forms a low-pass filter on rear out of phase =
sound which can help reduce feedback as well.=20

I know there is quite a lot of talk on the harp chats. As a policy I =
don't respond or post. Everyone is entitled to his opinion no matter how =
goofy. If someone asks me a respectful question he/she gets a respectful =
answer to the best of my experience. If you head to a studio in any form =
I can help with all sorts of gear setups. Don't hesitate to ask. I have =
30+ years in broadcast and recording engineering and have built lots of =
custom (and high-end) recording gear. With equipment it is a matter of =
getting good stuff and experimenting with it to get your sound. You will =
always get what you pay for. ( I once "tricked-out" a garage sale cheapo =
compressor Tom Waits' engineer brought to me to repair. It was really =
honky and crusty and had that right sound for that album he was working =
on.) Stuff is where you find it. and so is great support!  One of the =
keys to my little business is to support the players 150% today, =
tomorrow-always. I see this as a long-haul deal and not a passing whim =
to unload some Chinese made garbage fast. And next week selling =
encyclopedias or hair-restorer.=20

So-I hope some of the above is helpful. Please let me know if you have =
further questions. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Ron
Holmes Engineering
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Gordon Graham=20
  To: Ron Holmes=20
  Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 7:22 AM
  Subject: harp commander


  Hello Ron,

  Hope all is well!  I am trying to figure out how to use the HC with my =
"new" amp. I bought old Bogen PA with 4 6v6 tubes..and the guy who sold =
it to me made a speaker with with 1 10 inch eminence.( 8ohm). Feedback =
is somewhat of a problem...How can I get the most out of this amp with =
the HC (any suggestions on mics,etc.)?

  Thanks,

  Gordon

  ps.  Did you see th discussion on Harpl about HC? Some guy  called the =
price outrageous...and started a very heated discussion..there was a =
flood of positive support for your product and service (no negatives at =
all from us users!!!!). Unfortunately, the guy took it personally and =
dropped off ...but you got a lot of very cheap positive =
advertising.....and hopefully a spike in sales!