[Harp-L] tube & modelers

[William Jennings <will@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Digital amp modeler/FX combos have become much more sophisticated in  
what and how they seek to 'model'.
Hell, the Line 6 PodXT allows you to choose different models of sound  
based on different amp-mics placed
on or off axis...and different 'throw' of air when different cabinet  
types are driven by different heads/circuits.
That's splitting some fairly fine hairs, I think....

They have also become more 'open source' in allowing much deeper  
editing and tweaking capabilities
for those who want to put in the time & practice.  It's very possible  
now to find an array of 'total sounds'
that you can pre-program, use on-the-fly, and even build-in tweaked  
variations to suit different types of venues.

When you dial in a tube amp to a sound, add even a small chain of FX  
(attenuators, delay, chorus, reverb, EQ),
you can aim for a 'general' set up that suits most of your typical  
venues and then make small adjustments to the room
or stage.  You can also learn that different venues and micing or DI  
set ups tend to change your sound in some
consistent ways, and you make adjustments.

Most amps and all amp modelers are aimed at guitars. So we tweak  
tubes, speakers, transformers, etc.
or buy amps built for harp.  Modelers need the same parameter tweaks  
to make them more harp friendly.
And these tweaks will change when you change mic types, use the  
modeler in front of an amp and then
send that signal to the house, or if you go from modeler thru a DI  
into the house.  It takes time and practice
trial and error to arrive at a generally consistent 'sound' and even  
more time and practice to do this with
an array of sounds. A chorus/delay set up will be fat, rich and warm  
in one setting, and a bit shrill and
artificial in another.

If what you want is a 'single sound' with some minor variations, your  
chances of finding a decent
'lowest common denominator' are much better than if you have more  
demanding needs and adventurous ideas.

I find myself shifting between a full-bore modeler set up, a single  
amp/unfettered sound, and a straight up acoustic approach.
My band's sound allows this sort of variable approach, and I play as  
a side-guy to acoustic acts with enough regularity
to keep the simple-set-up chops in practice.

I think it a self-serving fallacy to argue that one amp does it all,  
or that harp-only amps are the answer,
or that tone is some sort of unattainable holy grail....I think we  
find holy tone at different times and in different ways.
Our ears and definitions of 'holy tone' change, too.