[Harp-L] Amp overkill

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

Little amps overdrive and distort easily.  Not all of us like that  
sort of dirt. IMHO,  bigger amps respond better to what the player is  
doing (if the player knows what he is doing) and can be played clean  
or dirty, depending on breath and mic handling technique, instead of  
just producing overdriven distortion all night long.

But, if I'm on a big stage w/ house sound, separate stage mix, etc.   
i will always  go directly into the board but use my own mic.  i was  
on a big stage Friday night, told the house sound man what i wanted,  
used my own mic and i don't think i've ever sounded better.  Of  
course, I'm not a distortion freak, i think "crunch" just muddies my  
tone, and i don't use bullet mics.  But even into a big PA, putting a  
tight cup on my 545 Ultimate combined with appropriate breath  
technique gave me all the grit i wanted on demand, but only WHEN i  
wanted it. Stage sound was through the monitors which never get  
washed out by the guitar amps.

You've got to know enough to be able to tell the sound guy in general  
terms what you want, but it's not rocket science.  Probably won't  
work if you want a distorted Chicago sound, or "crunch," but I don't.

Just my personal preference for large venues.  Others may disagree,  
and probably will.

JP