[Harp-L] Re: Question re small amp.

[HTownFess <Spschndr@xxxxxxx>]

Simple drill for the EQ numbers at least: With volume down per below,
take an A or G diatonic and cup it up with your preferred mic, set all
the EQ knobs low, around 1-2.  Play a 2Dbb bend and turn the bass up
till it turns muddy or feeds back; back it down a bit.  Play a 3Db
bend and work your hands, turn the mid knob till the bends/wahs jump
out a bit.  Then play a 4D and turn the treble up till you get some
definition; if it starts to sound lispy, back off from that.  That is
my version of a drill Mark Burness described and it works for me.

If you are going for a distorted tone, turn the Volume all the way up
and run the Master down (maybe 3 out of 10 as you are doing?), roll
the Gain up into that.  Try to use the minimum amount of Gain to avoid
feedback; see if you can just crack the Gain knob open till sound
starts coming out of the amp.

The Audix is rather different from other mics, so be careful switching
off: settings for the Audix may be a disaster for other mics.  Try to
keep it simple: your amp already has too many variables.  As Ray says,
try to record at least some of it and gauge for yourself; a
nonmusician can tell you if you're way too loud or quiet, but it's not
fair to ask for more detail than that from them, so record and judge
for yourself.  Doesn't have to be a great recording; we used to just
set a cassette boombox going in the corner and listen to that
afterward.

Stephen Schneider



On Jan 11, 6:30 pm, "Wm.Galley" <mil-...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> I have recently obtained a small amp  --  a 'Fender, Sidekick 15' (solid state)
>
> The back is 2/3 open and the power cord folds nicely in there.
>
> The controls along the front face are
>  Mic Jack -- Volume -- Gain  --  Master  -- Treble  --  Middle  -- Bass
>
> I play a small venue,  40 by 50 ft.  (2000 sq. ft.) full of tables & chairs, coffee bar and dance floor.
>
> I set volume at 3 (seem OK)  but what should the other knob numbers be ?
>
> I change numbers myself, but I need to be at  the other side of the room to judge properly what is going on.   Could someone give me some (rough idea) numbers
> for a start ?  This is strictly for harp, and I use an Audix Fireball V  with an in-line
> Hi / Low transformer.  (Hi seems best !)
>
> Also have a "Bottle O' Blues Mic with 1watt 'Smokey Amp' (Not tried yet)  Thanks for any ideas.  BG
>
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