Re: [Harp-L] clean and dirty, yin and yang

[Daniel Gage <dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I sing and play harp, so I use the vocal mic for my "acoustic" playing.  I use the term acoustic to differentiate vs. "distorted", assuming that the PA amplification acts more as "enforcement" of the clean sound, not as a tone-altering effect.  
   
  Many guitar players take advantage of the options available to them by switching pick-ups, switching guitars, using pedals, etc.  I think that it is perfectly acceptable, and it's a little more interesting to play with a variety of tones on harp as well.
   
  Anything "constant" in a live performance has the potential to be boring.  I'm not a very active gear head, but I do like to switch from the amp to the vocal mic for some variety.  If I had more pedals, I'd probably use them too.  
   
  One of my favorite harp-lead tunes is "By Yourself Dance" from James Harman's "Strictly Live in "85" CD.  I always loved how he switched from his amp to the vocal mic.  Or, on Piazza's "Worried Life Blues" on "Harpburn".  He takes a turn "acoustically", then the band turns around and back comes this wave of amplified harp POWER.  It actually gives me chills.
   
  More tools in the bag, right?
   
  d.g.

"John K." <jkuzloski@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  To answer the diredt question, yes, I do bring both an amp set-up and 
an acoustic set-up to our gigs. We play half old-time country, 
bluegrassy type songs and half rock and blues. I think it's good 
that the audience (and the rest of us for that matter) get to hear 
the different harp sounds in the course of the evening. I can't 
agree however that "every performing harp player should....." It 
depends on the situation.
--jk

--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, David Fertig 
wrote:

the recent rehashing of the hackneyed topic of tone sparks a query: 

How many of you take, along with your mics, amps and gadgets, an 
acoustic set up, at least a good acoustic-style ("clean") mic and 
cord for the PA?

I find it helpful to have the variety of a clean sound, after all 
that crunching and distortion, so I always bring my beta57 and cords 
(xlr-xlr, & xlr-1/4". I should get a vol pot on my mic.) 

At least one song in an evening, I'l play clean, maybe use a PA mic 
already set up.

Also, one can usually set one's amp (and bypass gadgets, except the 
AFB+!) to give a pretty clean acoustic-style tone in case the PA 
ain't available, or the sound-board jockey is like most and prefers 
to bury the harp in the mix AND monitor.

Shouldn't every performing harp player have their gear set-up to play 
clean AND dirty? 

Variety is the spice of life, Music is the rice of life!

-Dave Fertig
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