[Harp-L] cure for 545 high frequency distortion

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

Richard Hunter writes:

On harp, the 545SD has more low-end punch than the Fireball V.  The  
545 also puts out a lot more distortion in the high register with a  
harp than the Fireball V--not my favorite kind of distortion, either-- 
and has a high-frequency "bump" that's intended to help vocals cut  
through a band, but can be troublesome when you're playing harp  
through a PA.

Very true.  But there is a solution.  Using a 545 Ultimate w/ a  
volume control it is possible to get all the 545 low end punch  
without the hi freq distortion Mr. Hunter is talking about .

Although i don't use it to control volume,  I have discovered that I  
can use the VC on my 545 Ultimate as a gain pad.  11 o'clock is full  
volume.  If i roll it back to somewhere around 9 a o'clock or a  
little higher and leave it there, it attenuates the output gain of  
the mic which smoothes out the signal.  This preserves the proximity  
effect and all the low end punch but pretty much does away with the  
high end distortion.  Nice fat textured 545 tone into the PA board  
without that jagged high end bite that Mr. Hunter describes.

In general,  I'm not a big fan of using volume controls on a mic to  
adjust volume levels because on most mics they change the response  
and output characteristics of the mic, not just the volume, as they  
are adjusted.  (Btw, this is not true for an Audix Fireball V since  
it is so transparent and has no proximity effect). But using the VC  
setting to attenuate the output gain a little on my 545 Ultimate not  
only sounds better into a PA but also helps control feedback playing  
into a tube amp while smoothing and sweetening  the tone.

I've been using my 545 Ultimate quite a bit these days  and always  
attenuate the output gain a little when i do.  Sounds pretty good.

Anyway, this works for me.  FWIW.

JP