Re: [Harp-L] Feedback?

[MARK BURNESS <markwjburness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Feedback is something to be "dealt with/handled" by pretty well anyone who plays 
through a mic & amp. Tubing down & using a lower output mic are definitely 
options (it makes sense to use the techniques found easily at hand), but usually 
make the amp feedback at a different point on the volume pot (it chsnges the 
tone too, of course, but does not "eliminate" feedback)...the critical thing is 
really the tone & volume you get...whether this occurs at "2" on the volume, or 
"10". If a lower output mic, or tube subs give you a more useable sweep on the 
volume AND a pleasing tone, then all well and good, but if you have an amp that 
you can turn fully up (volume against the stop) with tone controls dimed, then 
your amp is either broken, or unable to exploit the full potential output...you 
are going to hit feedback at some point with a stage powered amp.

Harp players seem irrationally concerned with "getting the volume up 
to...(insert desired number)" when really what is relevant is tone & dB at the 
speaker. The number painted on the chassis/volume knob is not a measurement of 
anything tangible. People often tell me that they can get their volume up to 
"8", that's lovely, butt "8" what, decibels, Watts, volts, amps, Maids a 
milking? Volume sweep can be easily "tuned" by adding a resistor in parallel 
from the volume pot output to ground, doing this changes the sweep, without 
significantly affecting other perameters.

I have amps that give it up at "2" or can be turned full up (with sympathetic 
tone control settings)...this in itself is not the issue, it's more about taking 
the "leap of faith" and trusting your ears regarding tone & useful volume. The 
trick is really to exploit these as best you can before feedback sets 
in...largely irrespective of pot numbers.




________________________________
From: Peter Madcat Ruth <madcat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, 29 April, 2011 18:26:06
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Feedback?

Another approach to avoiding feedback is to get a harp mic with a lower output.
For decades I've been using a Shaker/Madcat Harmonica Microphone which has a 
much lower output than a bullet mic.
This is an advantage rather than a disadvantage.  With a lower output mic there 
is much less problem with feedback in any guitar amp and no need to change tubes 
in your amp to compensate for a hot mic.

Here is a video clip of me (with the Big Joe Manfra Blues Band) using a 
Shaker/Madcat Harmonica Microphone:

http://www.youtube.com/user/petermadcatruth#p/f/2/fWs9vNdTBfY

At one miniute and 8 seconds into the video I leaned into the speakers and got 
my mic 6 inches away from the speakers to get one little intentional squeek of 
feedback...

Peter Madcat Ruth
Musician - Grammy Award Winner
madcat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.madcatmusic.net
www.youtube.com/user/petermadcatruth