RE: [Harp-L] When do get started with amplification?

[Buck Worley <boogalloo@xxxxxxx>]

Just wanted to share a little something about mics for harp.
 
You never know. What looks like a piece of junk might be a jewel for harp. I call it the "cheezy factor".
 
The other day our bass player brought a little mic to the studio and gave it to me as a joke. It looks like junk and with a wink and a grin I plugged it straight into a champ that I was noodling around with and said "you never know". I had my usual mic and effects plugged into the #2 input so I plugged his little 'joke' mic into #1 totally dry. Much to his surprize that little mic had/has a great tone and it just blew him and the others away.
 
I googled it and here is what I found that shows a photo of the mic:
 
http://auctions.canadaspace.com/detail_product/360371535135/bullet_microphone/
 
Thhis site shows a picture and the auction price was $124. However, I saw others for as little as $30 but can not find the web site. The bass player thinks it is a mic that came with a tape recorder. Japan made.
 
Point being that you do not have to invest a lot of money to get started with experimenting. Heck, when I go into a grocery store I always have this urge to grab the cashier's mic and play a harp thru it.
 
Find a cheap mic and get a used pignose for a start. Cheezy mic + used pignose + a harp and you could easily be under $100.
 
Good luck
BW
 

> Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 10:08:57 +0900
> From: jeikuman@xxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] When do get started with amplification?
> 
> I have been playing harmonica for about a year now, I have been doing a
> little bit of research of mics and amps and I am really interested in
> getting an amplified Chicago bluesy kind of sound. But I also believe it
> might be too early to start doing that as I am sure my acoustic sound still
> needs improvement. How far were you in your harmonica adventure before your
> harmonica sound was devirginized with amplification? Was it a sudden
> epiphany of readiness? "Now is the time to amplify." permission from a wise
> harmonica sensei? "You are ready, young harpling." or a simple curiosity?
> "That sounds purty" or some sort of mixture of reasons? "gonna do this."
> What are some important techniques I should need before diving into
> amplification? Much appreciated.
> 
> Sorry for the silliness, no one is talking to me at work.
> 
> ~Jake