[Harp-L] Eurythmics Missionary Man harp effects question

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Ross writes:

The big harp solo midway through the song  has me grinding on what  
his harp effects might be. Octave's with long delay?  harp parts  
doubled in mixing?  Anyone know or hazard an educated guess?

Ross,

There's less going on with effects than you might think.  Clearly  
there's some studio double tracking of harp parts on the solo and  
there's some delay. Probably a preamp on the mic and maybe a little  
studio compression, too, which i believe is pretty standard studio  
gear for recording harmonica. But most of what you think are effects  
Is Jimmy Z using very deep throat bends with a very tight cup on a PA  
style mic--maybe a 545.

If you check out enough Eurythmics videos on YouTube you will find   
some concert footage of Jimmy Z performing this tune live with them.   
There's not a whole lot of difference between the sound and tone he  
gets live and what is heard on the studio album,  and he is not using  
pedals . On the concert videos, it looks like he is using a 545 into  
a little old Gibson tube amp.  He uses his throat to bend and bends  
the reeds right to floor of each bend almost all the time, usually  
releasing the bend slightly and then sometimes bouncing right back  
down to the floor of the bend repetitively and other times drawing  
out or elongating the release. All of this is done while  
simultaneously distorting the reeds by using throat constriction.  He  
has a very powerful deep diagrammatic playing technique and all  
bending is done with the throat while using a very tight cup on the  
mic. He uses his diaphragm to articulate separation between notes,  
not his tongue. He creates a very deep and full resonance chamber and  
plays with incredibly powerful air flow. And a very tight cup.  it's  
amazing what sounds one can get playing this way.  It ain't so much  
electronics as it is Jimmy Z's technique.

I used to think it was effects.  There 's clearly no octave divider,  
but I used to think he was using a flanger.  However, after  
researching it by watching live videos and doing my best trying to  
learn how to copy it, I'm pretty confident most of the sounds you are  
talking about come from Jimmy Z himself.  I greatly admire his harp  
playing. Extraordinarily powerful technique and a very creative  
player. Dave Stewart repeatedly called him the best harmonica player  
in the world. I'm sure there are those who disagree with that, but  
he's EXTREMELY good by any standard.  Terrific sax player, too.

JP