[Harp-L] Bull In A China Shop? Big Amps in Low Volume Situations

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

I'm not a big fan of  putting devices between the mic and the amp if  
i can avoid it, but, as a practical matter, guitar amps weren't made  
to handle a signal from an open mic.  So, being a practical man, i  
will sometimes use a practical device.  The MXR 10 band equalizer  
pedal can solve all sorts of practical problems related to playing  
harp into a guitar amp.

Your big amps only sound good when turned up?  Solution:  put the MXR  
between the mic and the amp input.  Don't want to alter the tone?   
Then leave the equalization flat.  But, there is a gain slider and a  
volume slider on the MXR which can be used to act like a pre and a  
post on a preamp.  Turn them down.  You will attenuate the volume  
before the mic signal his the amp and so the amp can be turned up for  
good tone, but will not sound as loud.  Adjust volume with the  
sliders.  Beats the hell out of using a 4 watt amp and only getting  
more distortion when you try to turn up, while  your really good amps  
sit at  home.

Want to vary the character of the signal?  Set the volume and gain  
sliders on the MXR differently in relation to each other.  Want  
compression/fatness in the middle?  Pump the 250 slider and back off  
1k on the equalizer.  Maybe pump 500, too and also back off at 2k.  
The MXR provides all sorts of flexibility even if only used as a de  
facto preamp.

Just a suggestion.

Best regards,

	JP