Subject: [Harp-L] Amp or Peddlen (Wife needs your help)

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Dear Mrs. Abner Blue Eyes: 
 
You know about me already - I'm the 'E' Abner paid such a nice compliment  
to recently onlist. We've talked offlist quite a bit about our mutual neck  
issues. I do feel for him. He's a really decent guy and you're a peach for  
wanting to do this for him.  Finding music and harmonica as a hobby at this  
stage of our lives is incredibly fulfilling.
 
That said, unless you really can get the Kalamazoo 'Splash' just referred  
for your maximum cut-off price, I'd suggest maybe making sure he has a few  
more harps in his kit bag (or harp case) if he doesn't already? Most people  
who begin to play accumulate harps in more than one key -- several in fact. 
He  has the great mic already, can play that through any PA system and 
actually  doesn't need a real amp to get tone which comes from the 
player....practice,  practice, practice (what they call wood-shedding here) is the name 
of the game.  Having a few good harps is what keeps me happy, anyway - though 
I'm sure that as  far as Blues are concerned, Abner is already far ahead of 
me.
 
What I did early on (although I don't play 'out' yet -and the couple of  
times I have I simply played through a PA system), is to pick up a mini twin  
fender - a wee baby amp :)  
 
It costs so little, is great for practice at home, is portable and  I've 
even fit it into my carryon for air travel.  So it works for me  (so far), the 
rare times I've used it.
 
Here's one link to the one I have:
 
 
_http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-57-Mini-Twin-Amp?sku=4811
34#new_ 
(http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-57-Mini-Twin-Amp?sku=481134#new) 
 
I guess it's similar to his micro-cube except mine was even less expensive? 
 
 
Whatever you decide, DON'T rush into it.  $300 is a lot of money if  it's 
your top end and you're making sacrifices for it ...and he might change his  
mind down the road. For someone with cervical spine issues, the weight of 
the  amp has to be a big factor as well.
 
 Despite his impatience  - and Abner is an impatient man ;) he  might have 
to grit his teeth and take just a bit more time scoping out what  really 
will work for him in the long run before committing himself fully....an  Amp 
can be a very large investment. So using the smaller amp for practice at  home 
seems the most logical step at this point, while perhaps adding to his  
harmonica collection if he doesn't have all the keys he likes to play in.  
 
Just my two cents - he'll probably disagree and so will others here.
 
Either way, he'll have fun. Bottom line, all a real harmonica player truly  
needs to get better is a harmonica and lots of time to practice (and an  
appreciative audience).  Seems he has that already. :)
 
Much Good luck to you.
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 1
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:58:55 -0400
From: "Abner  Galdos" <cdgaldos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Amp or Peddlen (Wife  needs your help)
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:  <771B0F52D0A54B128727F8CDA777DDC6@LordandMastePC>
Content-Type:  text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"

Ok guys and gals, I need  your help for my husband who is going nuts.  I 
hope im not breaking some  kind or rule and apologies in advance if im doing 
this wrong.

You all  know him as Abner Blueyes.  My husband got serious about his 
playing after  his cervical spine surgery.

In my loving and honest opinion I think he is  very good, and he just 
started... Im not the only one that thinks so.  I am  very proud of him.  It took 
him awhile to get on stage at open mic and they  love him.

We are coming up to our 29th wedding anniversary and I want to  buy him 
something nice.

For Father's Day I bought him a harmonica from  Seydel, a 1947.  He loves 
it.

He has a micro cube amplifier, but he  wants that dirty sound. I know from 
listening to a lot of his cads what he  wants.  But he has been asking 
questions and is still getting  confused.  I know his buddies on the list have 
tried to help him out but  even I'm confused.  

He has this great custom microphone that he  bought from Mr. Greg Heumann.  
So I guess I'm asking you guys and gals  should I buy him an amp first or a 
pedal to work with the PA system at open mic  and then later on I could get 
him the amp? He was looking at the Lone Wolf Harp  Attack.

He has also emailed Mr. Heumann and Mr. Landry plus a good friend  of his 
Geoff. They all gave him good advice in support of both the amp and the  
pedal, but I'm still confused....

Please help me. He is a good man and a  good father... he works hard and 
will be going back to work in a couple of  weeks.... there is a good chance he 
may need more surgery so I want to make sure  he has things he can enjoy. 
My husband in the 30 odd years that I have known him  never wanted anything.  
Never had a hobby. This is the first time I have  seen him really enjoy 
something and just to see him grow in talent is amazing. I  love seeing him on 
stage and then get the applause.  I would never have  imagined in my life 
time that I would one day see and hear my husband playing  music let alone on 
stage...

$300 or so is my max, I gave up what ever he  was going to buy for me so I 
can buy him something nice.

Thank you in  advance.  I look forward to your feedback.

Mrs.  Blueyes


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