Re: [Harp-L] Found a Cheap Tube Amp Alternative

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Jonathan Metts" wrote:
<The ART Tube MP is a vacuum tube microphone preamp
<that can also function as a "direct box".  It has some nice features 
<that I'll probably never use, but the most important things are:
<1. I can plug my Green Bullet into it, then run a line to the PA, and 
<it sounds like I'm playing through an expensive harp amplifier. 
<(Breakup, distortion, etc. but without ruining the harp tone.)

I own one of these, and it's certainly a very useful preamp for 
recording--much better than its price would imply, and great for 
recording electric guitar and bass direct as well as harp. But I've 
never had good results with it as an amp substitute.  After I read 
Jonathan's message, I tested my Tube MP with my Astatic JT-30--a pretty 
common blues mic--into my Peavey KBA-100 keyboard amp, which is 
essentially a self-contained PA amp.  I got a very harsh "barking" 
sound" on notes that were hit hard, not very usable.

Jonathon, what settings are you using on your Tube MP, and have you made 
any mods to the device for the harp--for example, replacing the stock 
12AX7 tube with something else?

Thanks, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com
latest mp3s always at http://www.broadjam.com/rhunter