[Harp-L] no line out on amp-monitor solution

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

 "The situation I am looking to solve is I have a jam I'd like to  
play at, but they play rock and the 3 or so guitars seem to all vie  
to see who can be the loudest. I've seen some harp players go up and  
be inaudible. I've come to the conclusion I will need to take my  
biggest amp, but I'm not sure I will be able to hear myself play, and  
if I get in front of my big amp, it's feedback city."

Practical solution:  Use  harp friendly XLR mic, bring a sufficiently  
long XLR cable and PLAY THROUGH THE PA.  For rock, you should be able  
to get a very acceptable tone, especially if you use a mic with  
proximity effect and know how to overdrive the mic element with  
cupping technique.  Frankly, getting a decent blues tone is very  
doable through the PA, so for a loud rock gig, why not use the PA?   
After all, it's the loudest amp in the room and you probably will  
have a monitor.

The EQ on PA board is also very flexible.  Roll off some highs, pump  
the mids a little and give yourself some reverb or delay,  If you  
want a little dirt, turn up the gain (or pad) SLIGHTLY (but you may  
need to adjust the volume down a little if you do in order to avoid  
feedback).  Be careful not to get the mic too close to the monitor,  
but if you have no choice but to stand near a monitor, hold the mic  
with the grill pointing straight up in the air when you are not  
playing and this usually keeps you from feeding back.

Personally, i wouldn't bother with an amp in the situation you  
describe.  Just plug into the PA and rock out.

FWIW,

JP