[Harp-L] Audix Fireball Questions

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

Bob,

I have both the Fireball and the Fireball V and have been using them  
for a couple of years.  Nether is my primary mic.  I am very much an  
electric player and ordinarily use a Shure 545 Ultimate as my primary  
mic (or an EV RE 15 before Greg came out with his Ultimate series).   
But there are times (like the other night when i sat in with a couple  
acoustic guitar players or when i've played with a jazz group with a  
string bass and no drummer) when the 545 or the EV produce much more  
of an "electric" sound than suits the music.  For occasions like  
that, I always carry a Fireball or Fireball V in the drum stick case  
I use as a gig bag.

These  are great mics and have a very transparent, natural sound.   
High SPL, so there's no proximity effect, but they respond very well  
to a tight cup and you can produce cool effects with mic gripping  
techniques.  They are hot, so they have good sensitivity,  and have a  
very high feedback threshold, which is a big plus.  i primarily use  
them going into a PA board, but using the Fireball V into a tube amp  
produces a smooth input signal which can sound pretty good with the  
grit produced by a tube amp.  I think either mic would be great for a  
chrom.

Both mics are clean and so they process extremely well.  If you are  
using electronic effects, these mics have a clean, smooth, uniform  
output that sounds very good when processed with effects.  i have  
been told  the original Fireball costs more than the Fireball V  
because its body is anodized and the V's body is cast.  Both are very  
high quality and durable.

Which one to get?  These are different mics.  Although Mr, Hunter and  
others say the V simply has more bass response than the original  
Fireball, it's not actually that simple.  If you look at the  
frequency response graphs for each mic on the Audix website there are  
differences besides the low end frequency bump on the V.  Th original  
Fireball is MUCH BRIGHTER than the V.  Inevitably, it is necessary to  
roll off the treble significantly if you are using the original  
Fireball.  For this reason, the V is clearly a much better choice if  
you are playing through an amp.  The original is just too damn bright  
to sound good through an amp.  Going into a PA, it's a much closer  
call.  I think the original, being brighter, is a somewhat more  
responsive mic, and i used to use it more frequently. But lately,  
I've been using the V more often than the original. I like them  
both.  The V has a really nice well designed volume control, and is  
more versatile because it sounds good into a PA board or into an  
amp.  To my ear, the original just does not sound as good as the V  
going into any amp I've tried.  However, the original has a little  
more presence than the V and is a little more responsive into a PA  
board.  But it is a little too BRIGHT, so it is an absolute must too  
roll off treble, and it just does not sound as good as the V into an amp

I used to have a definite preference for the original Fireball, but  
after using them both for a couple years, I've come to the conclusion  
that if i could only have one of them, it would probably be the  
Fireball V.  But these are both  terrific, modern, purpose built  
harmonica mics.  Really great for a clean, warm, transparent sound.   
No proximity effect, but excellent sensitivity and very responsive to  
cupping,  Not so good for dirt or distortion (but I have my 545  
Ultimate for that).

Hope this is of help.

Best regards,

JP