Re: [Harp-L] Finger mic and acoustic tone

[Ken Ficara <kenficara@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'm going to second the recommendation of the Harmonica Honker. Don't
let the name dissuade you: it's a lightweight mic that fits over your
finger, with a belt-mounted pre-amp, that gives a good acoustic sound
and doesn't interfere at all with your playing. I do a fair number of
harp gigs using the Honker through a SansAmp DI and get great results.
It's not as "acoustic" as playing through a good PA mic but you can
move around and are not at the mercy of the sound person.

Ken


On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 15:47:45 -0800 (PST), Winslow Yerxa
<winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I'm playing mostly acoustic music nowadays - trad music from Scotland
> and various Canadian traditions. Often I play in totally acoustic
> situations or in front of a mic on a stand. I use cupping to shape
> tone, including keeping the cup totally closed.
> 
> I April I'm going on a short tour up the west coast with the San
> Francisco Scottish Fiddlers along with about 60 other musicians. For
> most of it I sit in the first or second row and blast away as part of
> the "blob" of fiddlers all playing the melody and a few harmony lines.
> 
> In addition, I usually get a solo spot. In the past I've done something
> with a guitarist and maybe a percussionist and stood at a mic on a
> stand.
> 
> But this time I'll also be working with two harpists (the stringed
> kind) who won't be able to move out front and a cellist, who may be
> able to bring her chair out front. At different points in the
> arrangement I'll be more closely allied with different musicians and it
> occurs to me that it would be great to be able walk around while
> playing, make eye contact, etc.
> 
> For something like that a finger mic seems like the best choice -
> mobility and and and acoustic, hand cupped sound. I'm wondering which
> of the varous finger mics will be best for an acoustic sound, and
> whether any of them can deliver the sound of a closed hand cup.
> 
> My understanding is that most of these mics fit inside the hand cup.
> When the hands are opened and closed, the mic picks up the change in
> sound. But, being inside the cups instead of outside, would it pick up
> the veiled sound of a fully closed cup as heard from outside the cup? I
> would hope so but it would seem not.
> 
> I'm not looking for an amplified sound here, but a natural acoustic
> sound.
> 
> Does most finger mics require a preamp or interface box?
> 
> Looking at the reviews on the Coast to Coast website, one writer
> recommended against using the Madcat Shaker direct to the PA. From the
> context it seems like he was talking about getting an amplified blues
> sound, but I'm wondering of there are reasons to avoid a direct feed
> for an acoustic sound.
> 
> Comments? Recommendations?
> 
> Winslow
> 
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-- 

Ken Ficara
Music, quotes, writing and more at 
http://www.kenficara.com