[Harp-L] Bass harmonica on stage

[Michael Rubin]

You can play the bass just fine with no diaphragmatic air pressure. It
takes VERY kittle breath control to play the bass.

On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 1:05 PM Richard Hunter <rhunter377 at xxxxx> wrote:

> I appreciate that the original poster wants to know how to amp up a bass
> harmonica, but I have a suggestion for anyone who doesn't already own a
> bass harp:
>
> 1) Get a pitch shifter that can handle 1 or 2 octaves down.  The
> Electro-Harmonix POG used by Wade Schuman in Hazmat Modine, the pitch
> shifter in the Digitech RP series devices (some of which sell used for $50
> and down), or any number of other products will do.
>
> 2) Set the effect output to 100% wet, i.e. no original harp sound in the
> output.
>
> 3)  Plug the output from the device into the nearest amp and play.
>
> A few years ago I experimented with this approach, and found that it
> produced a remarkably natural-sounding bass harmonica tone that preserved
> the characteristic attack of a vibrating reed. I very much doubt that
> anyone would know the difference when the instrument is presented in the
> context of a full band.
>
> For most players, it'll be easier too than learning to play the bass
> harmonica, which instrument is a different beast in many ways (for
> instance, all the reeds are played with on the exhale, and it takes a lotta
> air to move them, both of which mean a lot more attention to breath control
> than you need with a blues harp).
>
> Regards, Richard Hunter
>
> Check out our 21st Century rock harmonica record "The Lucky One" at
> https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/richardhunter
>
> Author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC)
> Latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
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>