"Tone"BluzHarp Nirvana!(How To Get The Perfect
Tone)
- O.K. all of you Amplified Blues Harmonica players out there,it is 5:30 AM
on Jan. 16th. I have just awoke from a dream giving me the inspiration to
write this article along with the assistance of two cups of super strong
coffee(I love triple esspressos).Like writing reviews on CDs,this subject of
"Tone" will have a slightly subjective and personal bias to it.My objective is
to enlighten you to all of the different things I do to acheive the sound that
I have worked on over the years. Hopefully you can learn from these and better
your own style and technique in turn.
I feel that everyone is going to
find a path in life musically just like people do with religion,some will be
Baptist,Catholic,Hindo, what works for one may not be effective for another
individual.So take my advice and find the tips that work for your style and
disregard the ones that do not pertain to your style.As I pointed out to my
students when I use to teach Harmonica,after you have learned all you can from
me,go and learn from other harp players.Ingest it all and come up with your
own style of playing,as long as you play only previously written material or
follow only proven styles of playing,you will always be second
best.
Now do not get me wrong,there is nothing wrong with playing
written material,I am a bit more of the pioneer/individual type,I like to do
my own thing and go where no one has gone before,(YES-I may have gotten that
last quote from StarTrek).Anyhow,any given individual is going to require a
different formula,(mic-amplifier-harmonica),to obtain the sound he or she is
looking for.So with those words of wisdom in tow,here are my thoughts to
enlighten you on,"TONE-BluzHarp Nirvana".
- "HARMONICA"=Once again, this is probably the most personal and sensitive
part of the formula in our quest for "TONE".Each person has a different shaped
mouth,lips,tongue,this along with the size of your throat,lungs,chest and
torso all figure in the equation or destiny of the sound you are eventually
going to produce on your harmonica.
As I have already stated,this is
going to be the most personal of any aspect in the formula of Tone.You will
have to find this on your own but I will tell you what I like the most.My
students use to say,"My harmonica does not sound like yours and I am using the
same brand!",and I would explain what I just have to you.I think it is much
more exciting to have my own individual style and tone and this is what I
stress when I teach to everyone,strive to find your own tone/voicing/style on
the harmonica.
.I use "Hohner"
Special 20s with TurboLidcovers.I now like
the Special 20 by "Hohner" more than any other harp out there.I use them stock
and also with "Turbolid" covers,they have such a warm and full sound that is
suited to my aggressive style of playing!
- "MICROPHONE"=Over the years I have gone thru a lot of mic/amp changes and
have found that the "Shaker" Dynamic Harmonica Microphone works best for my
needs and style of playing.On almost all of my mic/amp setups I have the
volume control on my mic set at wide open or one click back.
The
"Shaker" mic fits my hand well,is small in size,has a great volume control,and
is very technique sensitive!I think that by being able to cup and form such a
tight seal you can manipulate it just like playing a harp accoustically.By
being able to cup it tight and compress/mute it or using your hand in wah-wah
fashion more options for advanced playing are at your command.This is a great
harp microphone at a great price.
Shaker Mics P.O. Box 613,Payson,Az
85547 U.S.A. Website www.bluenight.com/shakermics/
Phone/Fax 520-474-2448 Toll Free 1-888-260-4247
- AMPS=At the moment I am using various amps for different situations.My
favorite amps that I like to use are the "Tophat" Portly Cadet and the Prince
Royal,they are both 5 watt amps but the Portly uses a 5Y3,6V6 and a 12Ax7 and
the prince uses a 5Y3,EL84 and a EF86 tube.Just turn either one up to about
two o'clock and you will have the smoothest/creamy overdrive a harp player
could ask for.
I am also in love with "Victoria" amps,specifically the
518 Champ copy,these are fire breathing monsters.Turn them up to 10 or 11 and
you will swear that you are playing a mid size "Marshall" stack.I am also a
big fan of the old "Alamo: amps from the fifties and sixties,at the moment I
have an Alamo "Challenger" that I will be taking with me to my grave for
sure.Check out my Gear Page
to see all the action
I have been bowled over by the incredible
"Pignose"Hog-20 Recharging Portable amp!In all my life I have never seen such
a small amp be capable of so many functions and have features usually only
seen on bigger/more expensive amps.When I play my Hog-20 I have the controls
on the following settings.SQUEAL=Set on (10) VOLUME=Set on (5) TONE=Set on
(-2) The TONE CONTROL is (-)on the left have and (+)on the right half.These
settings will give you great singing/velvety sounding distortion.When I played
at "First Nite Raleigh 2000",people where taken back by the volume/singing
distortion/and bass response from this little monster.This is one of my
favorite amps as well as one of my most highly recommended.You can find them
for less than a hundred dollars if you shop around.
Pignose Industries
400 w. Alondra,Gardena,Ca 90248 Phone 1-323-770-4444 Website http://www.pignoseamps.com/
- STEREO AMPS(Splitting Your Signal)Here's the Deal.I to use a A/B/Y pedal
to switch between two amps,sometimes using only one and then two for leads.I
also had a custom four channel switcher made by "Looper" that serves my purpose to
a tee.Now I can use four amps all at once,or use any combination of them when
I am playing with a full band that has a loud lead guitar player and banging
drummer.
- NOTE=To achieve better TONE on your harp,go back to my main page and click
on "Private Lessons Over The Internet",these are Intermediate to Advanced
techniques but I use to challenge my Beginning students with them.Untill next
time ,practice everyday so that you will stay familiar with your harp.It will
soon become an extension of your brain and body,just like a limb.Your
functions on the harmonica will eventually be automatic,just like using your
arm and hand to pick up a glass of water.
With a constant practice
routine and patience you will become one with the harmonica and be able to
produce instantly what you are feeling in your soul thru the harmonica,even if
you have never played it before.I call it "Musical Memory",by knowing where
all the sounds are in each hole,all the bends,lose yourself in the harp and
the music you are experiencing and you will then become one with the
universe.Is this not what we are all looking for on this planet?We all chose
different paths and means for getting there and then let God guide
us!
This article was written by Steve"Big Daddy BluzHarp"Harvell 6013
Brack Penny Road,Raleigh,N.C. 27603 U.S.A. Website http://bluzharp.tripod.com
or bluzharp.cjb.net Phone # (919)662-8388 E-Mail bluzhrpn@yahoo.com
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