Re: [Harp-L] Re: pedal for drive effect

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

Well, It depends on the pedal.  Some guitar pedals are harp friendly,  
but many are not.  Personally, I don't actually use any overdrive  
pedals.  And, btw, i agree w/ you that a more "natural" basic tone is  
preferable--and, like you. I don't particularly like JR's basic  
tone.  But, i do use pedalboard electronics to "mask" the tone of the  
harp and get some very unharmonica-like "voices" that are  
dramatically different from my basic tone.

I have a RetroSonic Phaser (which I most often use to give me a tube  
compression like sound), a MicroPog and a RotoSim on my pedalboard.   
All of these pedals are harp friendly and I like them because they  
are not just sound effects--they RESPOND  to playing technique, so  
using them is almost like playing another instrument.  I also have an  
MXR Carbon Copy Delay last in chaim that stays on all the time since  
the bass amp i play through has no reverb. The MXR CC has a dark tone  
and compresses the highs a little which i like.

I've never used a harp specific pedal or amp.  I'm put off because  
all the manufacturers of this stuff promote it with statements  
claiming how great it sounds with this or that sort of bullet mic  
element.  Well, i don't use bullet mics and I don't like them.  So,  
I've never considered buying gear that claims to be designed for a  
type of mic i don't use.

JP


On Aug 8, 2010, at 9:17 AM, <bfrain@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> my vast, and expensive, experience with guitar pedals is that  
> they're not very good for harp.  lone wolf pedals are made for harp  
> by a harp player.  they are absolutely the best!
> ---- "John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Out of curiosity, I went to the Greer Amplification web site to check
> > out the Greer Ghetto Stomp, since i'd never heard of it before.
> > There's a sound sample of a Telecaster being played through one and
> > it sounds absolutely terrific--very fat with muscular low end and
> > just the right amount of drive/gain/dirt.
> >
> > i have no idea how a Ghetto Stomp would sound for harmonica but I'm
> > pretty impressed with how it sounds for guitar.
> >
> > FWIW,
> >
> > JP