Re: [Harp-L] mic for acoustic playing

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"John F. Potts" wrote:
<...although a Fireball stays clean, does not overdrive and has no  
<proximity effect, I think it sounds pretty cool in the way it does  
<respond to cupping variations.  So, with all due respect to Greg, I  
<do not consider it to be a mic that only sounds good in free air.

I agree that the Fireball sounds different when it's cupped--darker and deeper--though it doesn't respond to hand articulations the way a good Bullet does.  

One of the great things about a Fireball V is that it has a very smooth, beautiful tone even when it's cupped.  This makes it an ideal mic for recording acoustic-sounding tracks in rooms with less than ideal acoustics--instead of exposing the mic to the room (and whatever horrible sounds live in the room), you cup it and get a great acoustic tone without room sound.  I have recorded a number of tracks for clients on the road in hotel rooms using the Fireball, and I have never had any complaints about the sound of the harp. 

No mic does everything.  That's why I own more than one mic.  And my tests show that an amp that sounds awful with one mic might sound brilliant with another.  But the Fireball does a lot of things very well.  For players whose work is mostly acoustic, or (as per John's comments) those who use lots of effects, especially those who don't need the mic for vocals too, the Fireball V is a great workhorse mic at a very reasonable price.  

Regards, Richard Hunter

author, "Jazz Harp"
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
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