[Harp-L] harmonica amplification

[james.french@xxxxxxxxx]

I feel compeled to add my 2 cents on the subject of amplification. I always 
want to play through an amp but, there are times in the course of the night I 
use a vocal mic and I always find myself thinking how much sweeter my tone is. 
It is  dryer (?) yet, not unpleasing. I was blessed to hear James Cotton last 
spring at Simply The Blues fest and he used a vocal mic. HE IS THE MAN which 
nobody can argue so it follows that developing tone acousticaly (sp?) is more 
important than equipment. I was involved in a harp blow-off at Peoria's winter 
blues fest last week. I didn't win but the winner Larry Davidson had a gig in 
town afterwards and let me sit in. I used his rig and liked the set-up but, 
needless to say it didn't make me sound one iota better. I think ther are two 
schools of thought here; one, a overdriven sound verses a clean more clear 
sound. I like both and would encourage players just starting out to stick with 
using the p.a. By the way Larry Davidson is the real deal! I know his group 
made the final 5 at the international blues challenge.
                  Jim French