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Post by Pistol Pete on Aug 19, 2014 3:43:20 GMT -5
My Hohner Blues Blaster is starting to suffer from the abuse I've given in recent years, so I was thinking it might be time for a new harp mic. In the past I've used a Superlux D112 but I plugged one in not long ago and found it unpleasantly muddy compared to the Hohner.
So what should I get? I'm up for something weird and wonderful!
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Post by dadfad on Aug 23, 2014 11:16:22 GMT -5
I'm mostly a guitarist, but I also play harp. When I play rack I usually play into an old Shure 55 (late '50s or early '60s, with the older style pinkinsh-tan internal windscreen). When I play "harp only" I generally use a mic I made from an old WWII tank mic. When I first began using it, I just cut the handle off and used it like that. Later I modified it, using half of a plastic toy Easter-egg which I lined with lead foil and added a tiny volume control knob, which was much better for being hand-held. I usually play it through an old Gibson GA-20 (a great harp amp). Over the last twenty-five years or so I've kind of tried a lot of things. I tried making a "ring-mic" out of an old tiny cassette-player internal mic that I wore with the mic on the ring inside my hand. Not bad, as far as being able to use your hands while playing pretty well. And (a dumb experiment!) an actual full-sized SM-57 mounted in front of my custom-made rack. (The rack was (and still is) great. After I cut the mic-mount off!) So I've pretty much settled on using the stuff I mentioned. The quest for the "perfect harp-mic" and set up can get as all-consuming as the quest for the "perfect guitar!" Below, the first picture shows three of my racks. (I've got a few more.) One is just a regular Hohner rack I keep in my guitar gig-bag for "harp-emergencies", the middle one is the custom rack I made mentioned above, and the third is just another music-store rack I added a couple of chest-supports to that helps keep it in place. The last two photos are closer details of my custom rack, showing how I made it totaly adjustible in every direction up and down, closer or farther away. (Double springs make it almost impossible for the harp to move or slip when being played.)
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Post by fishfeathersmacteeth on Aug 28, 2014 7:33:53 GMT -5
...for durability there is nothing to beat almost anything with a Shure CM (Controlled Magnetic) element...
Pretty well indestructible...I've been abusing a few for years..the sound quality is how you make it of course..I also sometimes use an Electrovoice 605 with the original dynamic element. It hasn't broken for many years...:-)
The high impedance CM Elements ones are the most straightforward ones to use with an amp. Low Impedance elements often seem to be cheaper though and with an impedance converter will work fine.
Plus, if you just buy the element it will fit into your Blues Blaster shell without to much difficulty...
I had an old Blues Blaster shell with a CR (Controlled Reluctance) Element that I used for years before I sold it when skint... :-(
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Post by Pistol Pete on Aug 29, 2014 15:07:44 GMT -5
I do have a superlux shell kicking around somewhere I may look into re-elementing(?) it. I've ordered the palm mic & one of these bullets, just because they were both cheap enough to be worth a punt.
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Post by julianmyrick on Aug 31, 2014 16:26:58 GMT -5
I Never played Live only for recording Depends on what I am after It it is a blues sound i Use an Old Sure 585SA ANd usually through a Soldano Series 11 Pre amp I also use a Fender Revalver if I don't use the Soldano But if it is a country thing I use An Electrovoice PL84 Condenser Mike And ad some Reverb Live i would not even know where to start. Well that is my two cents worth
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gipsy
Gold
Posts: 14
Musican: Harp
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Post by gipsy on Aug 31, 2014 16:42:01 GMT -5
It's difficult to know what to suggest, without knowing how you intend using the new microphone. Hi Z into valve amp for overdriven Chicago sound? Low Z into PA for clean sound with perhaps a pedal or two to modify sound on the way. Do you want to sing through the same mic? Can I suggest you check out Richard Hunter's website about the subject. It lays out a fairly simple set of guidelines about what to look for.
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Post by Pistol Pete on Sept 2, 2014 20:36:41 GMT -5
It's difficult to know what to suggest, without knowing how you intend using the new microphone. Hi Z into valve amp for overdriven Chicago sound? Low Z into PA for clean sound with perhaps a pedal or two to modify sound on the way. Do you want to sing through the same mic? Can I suggest you check out Richard Hunter's website about the subject. It lays out a fairly simple set of guidelines about what to look for. I did clarify it was Hi-Z into an amp.
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gipsy
Gold
Posts: 14
Musican: Harp
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Post by gipsy on Sept 3, 2014 2:40:48 GMT -5
My apologies Pete. I completely missed that.
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Post by Pistol Pete on Sept 13, 2014 7:26:04 GMT -5
Them palm mic & the Alctron bullet have both arrived now - the Alctron is a pretty good sounding mic for the money. I was finding it a bit feedback-y at gig volume, but it was a feedback-y gig with too many hard surfaces anyhow, so that might be the issue. I've ordered an in-line on/off switch to make it a bit easier to control. It's also very pretty in chrome with a red grill! [laughing] [drooling] The palm mic is a bit delicate feeling, and comes with the world's shortest lead, so whilst it's a nice little toy to have around I'm not sure it's gigable.
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