[Harp-L] Re: the small amp for beginners controversy

[Ray Beltran <raybeltran@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Totally agree with you, James.

The sound clips on YouTube of Paul playing though one (nice playing,  
Paul) should be taken with a grain of salt in regards to the "tone" of  
the amp. Paul is playing in a small room which is no doubt  
accentuating the bass. That sound I hear is not my experience with  
this amp.

And, man, ALL distortion ALL the time drives me NUTS!!! That little  
Pignose just drives all the time. Don't like 'em. Would rather play  
acoustic.

My current rig is an original '65 Super Reverb, straight-up, un- 
modded. Relatively cleaner than the tweeds, but that's where my sound  
was evolving to, the tolex Fender amps. I like the dynamics of clean- 
er to overdrive, and use mic/hand technique to drive the element or  
the amp, and a bit of tongue-blocking to introduce faux distortion  
when I want it, as a dynamic. Some tunes call for it more than others.  
But it's nice having a change of tone coloration.

And you don't have to play it loud, really you don't, to get a good  
Chicago-style sound. Just some decent technique at low volume. Or use  
a different input. (I'm not a tube swapper).

Ray.
--
My Music - www.resgraphics.com/music



On Jan 11, 2009, at 4:01 PM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Message: 14
> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:40:20 -0800
> From: "James D Hoskins" <jameshoskinz@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] the small amp for beginners controversy
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <5860C847BD624E41BA5DC2D90BD034AC@JamesH080429>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
> 	reply-type=original
>
> I respectfully, but strongly disagree with the small pignose having  
> great
> tone for anyone, harp or guitar. I think far too much emphasis is  
> placed on
> the amp DISTORTION, and not enough on the sweetness of a great tube  
> rig.
> Personally if I can't blow through a great sounding tube amp, I  
> prefer to
> play acoustically (or through a vocal mic).  For me the beauty in  
> playing
> through a tube guitar amp has more to do with the compression or sag  
> of the
> rectifier, and the even order harmonics we get from vaccum tubes(or  
> valves,
> if you prefer) I think there are just as many great "CHICAGO" (or  
> Memphis,
> or LA, or ?) players that play somewhat cleaner than the majority of  
> the
> posters I've read on this thread seem to think/hear. Either one of the
> Walters or Sonny Boy recorded plenty of cleaner sounding harp, it  
> wasn't all
> tight cup maxed out small tube amp sound. And I personally would  
> like to
> leave that solid state amp distortion for the young rock guitarists.
>
> All that said, I have one of those little Pignose amps, bought it at  
> my
> neighbors yard sale 2 years ago. She bought that and a cheap electric
> guitar, but never learned to play, so it's almost new. The first $50  
> takes
> it, if not I'll eventually get it on Ebay. Another 2cents JD