Re: [Harp-L] To be Heard... In a rock band

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Bradford Trainham" wrote:
<What combination of mic and amp/processor would have me with an "acoustic"
<sound, (I'm a guitarist and tend to divide everything into things acoustic
<and electric.) but would give me the capability of upping the volume if I
<wasn't coming through someone's mix?

Two ideas, all assuming you're using one mic:
1)  Get a volume pedal so you can pump the volume on the mic up or down as necessary.  This will work if you want the same basic tone on the harp, just less volume than the vocal.

2)  Get an A/B pedal, and use it to switch the mic from one amp channel to another when you want to play harp.  This is probably the best option.  A/B pedals cost in the neighborhood of $35.  If you go this route, put whatever harp amp you want on the harp channel.  There are plenty of posts in the Harp-L archives about what amps might do the job.  With this approach, you could also use an amp modeler like a POD or Digitech RP-whatever for the harp channel, as opposed to an actual amp, which would give you a lot more sounds to choose from for the harp. 

Either way, if what you want is an acoustic sound under your own control, a PA amp of your own or a keyboard amp--which is essentially a self-contained PA--is the way to go.  50 watt keyboard amps from Peavey sell new for about $300; they're pretty portable, and they have a line-out that you can take to the PA if you want more grunt.  If you want something big to carry around, Alessis makes a couple of mega-wattage mega-big keyboard amps that are priced in the low hundreds.  But they're bigger and heavier.

Regards, richard hunter
latest mp3s always at http://broadjam.com/rhunter