Re: [Harp-L] Sound effects pedals

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jesse Cohen wrote:
<I was wondering which sound effect pedals are best for harmonica - both insofar as type and make. In <other words, which kind of pedals (e.g. distortion, reverb) are best and which models of the best kind <are preferred.

The two most important effects for harmonica in general are reverb and delay.  If you play mostly acoustic styles, reverb is usually the first thing to buy.  If you play a lot of electric music, blues or otherwise, a delay pedal is tops.

The Lone Wolf delay is designed for harmonica, and a lot of people on this list have written about it positively.  I've never used one, so I can't comment.  Delay pedals by Boss also get good reviews.  In general, you can expect to pay $50-$100 for a good delay or reverb pedal new.  If that seems like a lot, check out a reputable used gear dealer like daddys.com.

The Digitech X-series reverb and delay pedals are reasonably priced and highly regarded by some harmonica players.  I've tried both and found them to be good-sounding units.

If you're confident about your ability to learn more complex pieces of gear, consider an amp modeling pedal like a Digitech RP250 or a Line 6 POD.  Devices like these typically include both reverb and delay, so for $150 or less you can get both--and even use both at the same time.

The best way to find the right pedal for you is to take your harps, your mic, and your amp to the nearest musical instrument store, money in hand, and try a variety of pedals in your price range until you hear a sound the inspires you.  If that's not possible, then buy from an online dealer like musiciansfriend.com or americanmusical.com that offers a 45-day no-excuses-necessary return policy.

Before you buy any piece of gear--ANY piece of gear--read the user reviews at harmonycentral.com.  

Regards, Richard hunter
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp