Re: [Harp-L] Pre-Amp

[Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike, you are right. All amps we use - whether guitar amps or PA's - have preamps. For blues, a preamp with a vacuum tube or two fattens tone nicely - where one with transistors can be harsh when overdriven. A product like the harp commander (or Lone Wolf Blues' Harp Attack pedal) is most often used in front of a PA to help achieve a "tube amp" sound - as modern PA's are otherwise too clean. Some people DO use them in front of regular amps to help shape their tone. You have to be a little careful to manage the total gain of the system and keep it low. Excess gain is the root of feedback evil.


/Greg

http://blowsmeaway.com
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> From: Mike Best <mike.d.best@xxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Pre-Amp
> Date: September 14, 2013 5:42:57 AM PDT
> To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
> What does it mean when something is called a "harmonica pre-amp"?  For example a Harp Commander is a pre-amp, and I think various distortion pedals are also pre-amps. But I thought a standard amplifier includes a pre-amp stage.  Can anyone cast some light on this?
> Cheers
> Mike