RE: [Harp-L] Audix Fireball... And other harp mics.

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

chicago bluesman wrote: 
<Elizabeth's point about the Fireball limiting the use of hand effects is a good observation.  Its clean, natural tone is <suitable for much, but not all of the material I play,  but I often miss the high compression, hand effects opportunities when <using this mic as compared to a JT-30 or other bullet mic design.  I can get some degree of whaa-whaa with the Audix but nothing <like the tonal variations through hand effects which are available with a JT-30 design.   I've got a Greg Heumann modified <Ultimate 545 with the bulletizer cup--I've thought about the idea of trying to design something similar for the Audix <Fireball--a cup around around the end of the mic, placed so it doesn't interfere with the volume control.  I'm so accustomed to <the diameter of a JT-30 that I'm aware of the slightly smaller diameter of the bulletizer and, in fact, I rarely use the <Ultimate 545, even though it delivers terrific tone.  Will probably put up the Ultimate 545 for sale at some point.  If anybody <has had success in bulletizing an Audix Fireball I'd be interested in hearing how they did it.
***

I agree that the Fireball doesn't offer the same degree of tone shaping via hand that a Bullet does.  But if you want a mic that sounds like a Bullet, why not buy a Bullet?

The point of the Fireball is that it has its own sound.  No mic does everything, and the good news is that mics are relatively cheap compared to almost any other part of the signal chain between the harp and the amp.  If you want more than one sound, changing mics is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to go.  I have a Shure 545 in my collection with a Blowsmeaway Bulletizer on it, and when I want maximum Chicago in my sound, I use it. 

The previous comment about not liking a lo-hi-Z-transformer on the end of the mic cable strikes me as a bit excessive.  The transformer is itself inexpensive and takes up very little room in a case or a rig.  Granted that it's one more piece of gear; it's not a big piece, and it's pretty easy to put it on the end of your XLR cable and forget about it.

As I wrote long ago when the Fireball was first mentioned on this list: if you like the sound of the Fireball, you're going to like the sound of the Fireball.

Regards, Richard Hunter

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