Re: [Harp-L] Volume Adjustment help

[G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 10:58:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Jp "Pagán" <jpl_pagan@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Volume Adjustment help
To: harp-l harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

>Hi everyone,
>     i've recently started playing out with my band,
>and i'm trying to zero in on fixing some problems. all
>the "how do i play that" problems aside, i have a
>question about volume. 
>     first, quickly, is my "rig." i'm playing an SM57
>through a lo/hi-z converter into a Harp Commander into
>the PA. 

Having finally bought myself a US made 545SD through Tom Ellis, Larry put
it together for me.  I'm delighted with the result.  They have heaps more
power than a low-Z mic through an impedance convertor.  And I'm pleasantly
surprised at the range of tones I can get from the mic through my HC.

> i may add a delay pedal at some point. right
>now, i use the HC to EQ my sound and to provide the
>overdrive i want. 
>   here's the issue: on some songs i want a dirtier
>sound, on some songs cleaner. and on a couple of
>songs, where we keep the volume down, i need to be
>able to play softly but still gritty. 
>   the HC's level control can only do so much however
>- when i back off the level a little, i lose some
>volume, which isn't always what i want. and other
>times, when i want to play softer, i may want to keep
>the level high to get a more overdriven sound. and of
>course, there's the problem of wanting to be a
>background player most of the time, and a soloist
>(read, my sound needs to pop above the band a bit)
>some of the time. 

The level knob on the HC is basically gain level - like on the Fender Pro
Jr, or original Fender Champ.
Then you need control over your channel on the desk - which may be
impractical, or put some form of EQ between the HC & the desk, close at hand. 

This is basically like using a MASTER volume control to a guitar amp.  Like
on the Fender Blues Jr.   You set the gain to the kind of tone you want,
and set the Master to the volume level you want.
 
A good CLEAN preamp would do the job.   I have an old bARCUS bERRY guitar
preamp box - I put it at the end of my effects chain, into whatever I'm
playing through be it PA, mixer, computer, stereo or my Honey Tone amp.  

Its clean, it has treble, bass, Volume and "Sensitivity" which combined
with the volume knob can be used as a volume gate.   That way I can crank
up the HC to heavy distortion and bring the volume right down, or play
really clean and have huge volume.   

I've been told by one pro-harper the LR Baggs preamps are the just cats
pyjamas if you want a clean warm preamp - they have three different models,
all good.

>    some of this i can handle with the dynamics of my
>own playing, but i'm either not good enough at it, or
>i'm looking for levels of change that are too far
>apart. 

I understand.

>    if i can't depend on the soundman to turn me up or
>down, can anyone recommend an option by which i can
>still use the HC to control my overdrive level, but
>have an independent volume control? something,
>perhaps, to go between the HC and the PA? 

Yes.  A preamp;  a small mixer;  you could try EQ pedals...

>    (of course, i'll take advice on technique as well,
>since i figure the discussion's gonna veer in that
>direction ;)
>     thanks for any advice,
>   --Jp

When you open your cup up and pull back from the mic, one can tend to get a
much thinner tone - which is good in some contexts, but not always what you
want.

One other thought -  If you want to play acoustically, then get a seperate
mic straight into the PA and leave your HC & SM57 for the more raunchy stuff.

-- G.