[Harp-L] Audix Fireball

[Grant Kester <gkester@xxxxxxxx>]

Dear List,

Based in part of the feedback I'd seen on Harp-L I recently bought a 
Fireball. I was able to use it in a gig tonight for the first time and 
wanted to give a quick report. I ran it through a Harp Commander with a 
line out to the PA and a second line out to my amp (an old tube amp 
that I use as my on-stage 'monitor'; pointed towards me). The main 
problem I have in gigs is hearing myself clearly (forget about the 
luxury of trying to achieve the perfect tone!). If I can't hear myself 
my playing is crap and I get frustrated (it's not that great when I can 
hear myself!).

We're often playing in clubs, etc. with so-so sound systems and between 
two guitars and bass and drums by the end of a set I often can barely 
hear myself in the mix. If I turn up too loud (with the HC) I get 
feedback (both in my own amp and through the PA/monitors). I used to 
use an SM57 (and sometimes an EV638). I'd end up cupping the SM57 (vs. 
playing it on the mic stand) just so I could hear myself. We play 
mostly originals (honky tonk/country) so I'm not really trying to get 
an overdriven Chicago sound, just a little edge.

With all of that as context I can say that the Fireball performed quite 
well. It was a small club with a funky PA and we had to set up quickly 
(no sound man, of course). I was able to get very good volume from the 
Fireball with no feedback (I can tell because I could turn my amp up 
well beyond the point it normally feeds back). I could HEAR myself, and 
when the band got louder (as they always do) I could turn up my amp 
enough to still hear myself.  The tone is fine for my purposes. I add a 
little compression and roll off the high end. No one is going to 
mistake me for Dennis Grueling, but that's sound doesn't really fit 
with this music (even if I could play that well!). This is only the 
first time out, so I'll see how it goes with subsequent gigs. For 
someone in my situation (where simply hearing myself clearly in the mix 
is not always a given) the Fireball worked much better than my 57 (or 
my old 520D for that matter).

Best wishes,
Grant Kester

p.s. I got the Fireball from Northern Sound and Light for around $128 
(shipping included).