Re: [Harp-L] Performance setup - hearing and feedback

[Jesse <jvboden@xxxxxxxxx>]

Welcome to the club! Feedback drives a lot of us nuts. There are lots of
good sources on set up for harp amps - Harmonica for Dummies, for one.
Seriously. Or just Google. Guitar amps are not really ideal for harp,
usually. When using a regular guitar amp, other than a Bassman, perhaps - I
have always used some sort of pre-amp like the Harp Commander. That works
great with a PA too. But those are expensive. Many folks will lay it on the
soundman, but how many places have a soundman? I use a Rocktron Hush pedal
with good results to kill feedback, the new version. I swear I like it
better than the Kinman, which is very expensive and colors your tone in a
way that to me was unacceptable. Others love 'em. My personal solution is to
use a dedicated harp amp, one that has some level of anti-feedback
properties already. Putting them up on a chair or otherwise off the floor
helps. Having them off to the side, rather than right behind you helps.
Right now I can play at a fairly great volume, no need for a mic in fairly
large clubs, using just those simple techniques - after a lot of trial and
error and money spent. You are wise to ask first and invest second. Good
luck with it, you will find a way.

On Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 5:29 PM, Sean Murphy <taser8@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I've been taking lessons for about a year and a half now, and have been
> asked by a friend to sit in with his band a couple of times for gigs. I've
> encountered some issues I'd love to get everyone's thoughts on!
>
> The first time I played, I ran my bullet mic right into the PA, which had
> some monitors at the front of the "stage". I could hear myself okay when I
> was really cutting loose on solo-like bits, but when I was trying to just
> provide backup I found that I couldn't hear myself hardly at all! I hadn't
> practiced with the band and consider myself to be still at a beginner
> level,
> so I didn't want to stink up my friend's band's music so I did a lot of
> just
> standing around, but I would love to have been able to provide some backing
> accompaniment.
>
> The same friend asked me to sit in with them again recently, and this time
> I
> brought an amp (my fender guitar amp - not ideal, but it's something); I
> figured I could set that up behind me and mic it, and have it function as
> more of a monitor so that perhaps I could hear myself better. It worked to
> some extent but I then found that I was getting huge amounts of feedback
> out
> of the amp! I ended up having to turn the mic down so far that I found
> myself back in the same situation - once the band started really thumping
> along I really couldn't hear myself except when I was really cutting loose!
>
> So I wanted to poll the list - I'd love to hear suggestions, observations,
> etc. on how to set up right, mic'ing an amp, etc. - any random thoughts or
> pointers are appreciated!
>
> Thanks!
> Sean
>