[Harp-L] Amp Help AND Fireball V handheld/ cupped

[B Boggs <ceudoazul@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,
My first preference for most blues is to use a tube pre-amp, Harp Commander, or tube amp, or even a DI box, with any number of different bullet mics with hi-impedance elements.
On advice of many on the list (thank you!), I got a Fireball V.
One night  I was invited to stand in for two numbers- I did conveniently have the Fireball V and plugged into PA.
I thought it was a great mic to have for that use alone. The tone was nice, although it was cleaner sounding then what I am used to; which is more distortion and different thickness). It is a nice alternative to playing through a stage mic (SM 57, ot SM 58).
There was some quality that I heard that sounded like a flatness, but I had had a a glass of wine...
Thanks
BB
 
 
 
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:47:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Amp purchase help
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
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pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

2)  Should I consider something like a Fireball V on a mic stand for the
> acoustic clean melody stuff and the amp/mic for the dirtier sound? Does
> anyone use a Fireball V handheld as opposed to on a stand? Does this work
> well for you?

I use the Fireball V handheld both for amped work and for "acoustic" recording.  It's amazing how good that thing sounds for acoustic harp when handheld, and it's really great when you're recording in a room or location that doesn't sound very good--using it handheld just takes the room right out of the picture.    I recently did my first session for Austin-based producer Bobby Flores in my home studio, an acoustic harp track for a country-western tune where Flores wanted me to do some accordian-ish things, and he liked the sound of the Fireball plenty.

I also use the Fireball V for amped work, and it does just fine.  In fact, it's the loudest mic in my collection.   It's less sensitive to hand work than a Bullet mic, as a result of the same design decision that reduces feedback significantly.

You can hear some of my recent work with the Fireball V at my myspace page (URL below).  "Lever Down," "Ridin' Blues," and "Kill the Doctor (That Killed My Wife)" were all recorded with a handheld Fireball V.

I think you can make a very good case that the first mic any harp player buys should be the Fireball V. It's not very expensive, it's loud, and it works very well for a lot of different stuff, on stage and in the studio.

Regards, Richard Hunter
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp