[Harp-L] gigging with small amps

[Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Due to stage volume issues I've been having with the band lately I  
decided to take some advice that has been given here many times in  
the past.  While I was blasting my band mates off stage trying to  
hear myself,  the harp sound was thinning out by the time it reached  
the audience.  I finally broke down a few months ago and decided to  
run a signal to the pa.   I was hesitant to do so for so long because  
I thought my band mates might see it as a way to add more volume.   
What it did was move the volume off stage and out to the audience  
where it needed to be heard.

But rather then miking the particular amp I ( like to rotate the use  
of all 4 of my amps)  and risk picking up other sounds on stage I  
decided to isolate the harp and  install lines out in the post pre- 
amp stage and connect (via active box) to the pa.  Except for outdoor  
gigs I only bring the small 5 to 15 watt amps to gigs now.  I place  
them on an amp stand in front of me and use them like a monitor.  I  
had my amp tech attach a 1/4 inch female jack directly on the speaker  
housing of the Skylark so that no direct/active box is needed. All  
the necessary circuity  is wired to the female plug so I can plug and  
play thru the pa.

Down the road I'm going to have him set up all my amps for plug and  
play use without the need of a "box" in between. The only time I'll  
need to use a box is if I need a ground lift switch.

The band has been very patient and helpful with making it work.  It  
took a few weeks for the guy running the pa from stage to know how  
much volume to give me out front but
the audience really liked what they heard last week and the harp  
filled the room much better then if only coming through the amp.

I'm now convinced running a small to medium size amp thru a pa is the  
way to go to fill out the sound in a room and keep peace with the  
bandmates.:-)

mike "the other mic"