[Harp-L] RE: Harp-L Digest, Vol 88, Issue 27

["Hellerman, Steven" <shellerman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, Pigpen always played through the same mic he sang through. And Pigpen was.... Hey, man! He was Pigpen!
 
I went through a period of a couple of years where I didn't use an amp, always played through the PA. Most of the time it was acoustic gigs. I like to think that this helped me to organically develop a good tone to my playing (one can always hope, no?) Still, always brought my Audix Fireball and it did make a difference, I think. 
 
But, yeah, gotta wonder why bigtime acts that can afford it don't always do it right. For the rest of us (and I aint' one of "you pros out there"; $50 and free beer -- well, it better be good beer -- is a pretty nice gig for me), maybe sitting in at somebody else's gig, at an open mic or jam, accompanying an acoustic singer-songwriter (keep it mellow), or you just didn't schlepp your amp: You gotta play through what they give you. So it's the PA, and if you gotta use the vocal mic: Back off if you have to; you can still cup your harp, but keep your hand beteen the harp and the mic. And on the board: always turn down the highs, turn up the lows, little bit of effect if they have it. 
 
Poisnally, if I have my harps, I also have my Audix Fireball. Got it's own volume control and rarely, if ever, has feedback issues (turn down the highs, turn up the lows, lttle bit of effect if you got it.) Still at the mercy of the sound board, but much better than a Bullet in those situations (particularly for melodic straight harp accompaniment), I think, definitely better than the vocal mic. But, sure, there can be occasions where all you have is the vocal mic. Well, hopefully you've organically developed a good tone to your playing. 
 
SLH
 
 

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:14:56 -0800
From: Michael Posey <harrpoe@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Big time rock band harp-Was Copper
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
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"The only thing I know for sure sucks is a Bullet mic direct through the PA. Yuck"-Richard Hunter

I couldnt agree more. Lately, vocal mics are also giving me a headache. I went to see The Black Crowes on Saturday night in Hollywood, my 3rd time seeing this great band. While I love the Crowes hard-rocking-blues-based-southern-crunch grooves, Whenever Chris (Robinson, thier singer) plays a harp straight into his vocal mic, which I believe is either an SM or Beta 58, the shrillness and volume is enough to send me to straight to the bar.  I know that most if not all big time rock bands use harp as an effect more than anything else (Zeppelin, Stones, Niel Young, Bruce etc...), and most fans don't really know the difference however, it just mystifies me why they dont at least use a different mic through some kind of preamp or processor to warm up the tone. I know Popper of Blues Traveller uses a 58 but his tone is amped through a Mesa-Boogie half stack. By the time his signal reaches the board, processed doesnt begin to describe the tones he achieves.

I have to assume thier sound staff is charged with moving the slider down on thier vocal channel when they cup thier vocal mic. I have seen Jagger and Plant use thier vocal mics cupped and sounded halfway decent without blowing out the venue. I know when I attempt to do the same through my SM58, if I dont significantly drop my acoustic volume or back way off the mic, the volume alone is so out of contrast with the rest of the band, it elicits nasty looks and even nastier comments. Add to that the "uber-clean" nature of modern PA systems and the tone is to sterile and cuts straight through like so many razor blades.  Very unpleasant to my ears. I think maybe the soundman was not on his game that evening as there were a few other issues with guitar and keyboard leads not being emphasized in the PA as they should have been.

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you pros out there know why, with all the technology available today and a seemingly unlimited budget, the "big boys" would not use a seperate rig for thier harp playing. By contrast, the opening band's singer had a Green Bullett attached to his mic stand below his vocal mic. He also played guitar but whenever he played harp, he would cup the bullet which was amplified through a miced Champ-like amp sitting on his Fender Twin Reverb. He didnt play it much but when he did, it sounded great.

Happy Holidaze!