blues harp amp settings
Amplified blues harp class recording (stream and/or download): this video comes some bullet point notes from Ronnie and is 2hr 40 min long. The cost is $20: https://www.harmonica123.com/product/amplified-blues-harmonica-class/
One thing I should mention that I did not say in this video is that the mic you use really can make a significant impact on amp settings. I was using a Greg Heumann mic with the Heumann element in this clip. It is very bottom heavy which also influences just how low I go on the bass setting on my Bassman amp. If I had a brighter mic, I’d absolutely make some adjustments by adding some more bass in and lowering the treble a touch.
#blues #harp #amp #settings
Originally posted by UC_G2hOC6-8EkPKiasftIxLQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi8T7jTepig
One important thing I failed to mention is that the Heumann element in my mic is very bass heavy so this is also playing a bit of a roll (to a point) in my bass setting on the amp being as low as it is. If I were playing a much brighter mic, I'd likely be near 4 on the bass setting for this amp and perhaps 4-5 on the treble. I would not, however, ever set the bass past 4-5 likely in any situation. It's all a balancing act.
I am by no means a harp player, but a recording studio guy. My question is this: What if one were to raise the midrange a bit more for getting more bass (or "false" bass)? I would like to hear anybody's opinion on this. Thanks in advance for any replies!
Thx very much Mr Shellist. I was making exactly the mistake you describe: trying to thicken harp tone by pushing the bass setting up and the treble down. I'll reverse that a bit and see if it clarifies the harp within the total mix with the other instruments. My system is Bulletini mic, TrueBlue tone pedal and Pignose Hog 30 (which is a bass amp). Cheers from Jersey
Ronnie, what do you think about the cable from the normal to the bright on a bassman?
THANK YOU!!! I've had some problems recently with the lower frequencies of my harp blending in with the mid/high frequencies of my guitar player. I've been trying to give the harp more "meat" by boosting my low, when…as I finally realized at our last rehearsal…what I should be doing is pushing my mid and particularly my high to "put an edge" between our sounds.
Side Note: I've been using a highly rated Shure SM-57 knock-off, and it's like pulling teeth to get any dirt in the sound. I have owned two Hohner Blues Blaster bullet mics (one was a warranty replacement for the other), and neither of them ever gave me any dirt either. Is my problem in the microphones or the amps…or do you have some other suggestions?
Thank you ronnie great video it really helped I'm brand new to amping the harmonica
To be honest I really like having the bass up really high…
great tips as usual Ronnie. When I was young I used to crank the bass too and its a lot more forgiving when you are playing alone but with a band you you have to dial in a frequency that cuts in the mix and you need treble to do that. After 45 years of playing my Fender Princeton set up is pretty close to the bassman settings you described. bass on 3 with a Greg Heumann element bullet or 4 with a shure 545 or sm57 and treble on 5 or 6. Volume around 5.5 to 6.5 . Just one tube swap from a 12AX7 to a 12AY7 in V1. If you are trying to find your way on amplified harmonica, sign up for Ronnie's lessons, it will save you a lot of time to get you on the path to great tone.
????????good bonjour Ronny,the song is very nice.(seine et marne) FRANCE harmonicalement Alain ????️
Hi Ronnie! What do you think about fender pro junior 4? Is it good for harmonica blues? Thanks.
You, I need that hoodie!
Fascinating. Thank you sir for sharing your insight in this matter. I would be making the mistake of having the bass up to high . This is essential viewing for anyone wanting to play the harmonica through an amp. Thanks and best wishes Brian.
I’d love to get a Stage 5, they sound really good for the price and size, but it’s impossible in Europe. Nice video, Ronnie. Cheers!
3:10 … reminds me of anyone who wears a mask and talks to me 🙂
It would have been nice if you’d discussed the settings on the smaller amp, which only has a tone setting, and not separate bass, treble and mid settings. I happen to own one of the smaller amps.
Nice one Ronnie
Thanks for sharing
More great advice ronnie just got a amp so perfect lesson for me thanks
Great follow up video! Thank you Ronnie!!
Volume is very low on video Ronnie.
That's pretty much how I set my Blues Deville (I'm also running 12AY7's in the preamp to tame this beast). I've met more than a few players who claim that using presence for harp is a mistake. Experience tells me otherwise. If you have a presence control on your amp, definitely give it a tweak.
My Blues Junior however is not so harp friendly and has no presence control to provide extra clarity. There seems to be no combination of control settings that will produce the desired sound. After years of dicking around I've found that a Lone Wolf Harp Break does the job for the Junior very nicely (even then I have the bass boost turned down quite low). The next step for the Junior is a custom cabinet and a conversion to two ten inch speakers. Ten inch speakers seem to be the sweet spot in speaker size for amped harp, IMO.
What about a smaller amp? I have a fender rumble 1 10 inch speaker By the way I also struggle for a more basser sound Thank you for this tip!
Very helpful video ????????????
That's for this Ronnie.
I'm 6 months into learning/playing but picking up so much. This was exactly what I'd been doing. Cranking the bass all the way up and almost no treble. I use a Hohner Harp Blaster through a Vox Valvetronic VT30 but use a Lone Wolf Harp attack pedal.
Will have a look at the webinar as I couldn't make it live. Thanks for all the help you give. ????
Solid tips. Thank you.
Is that amp modded for Harp?