Amplifiers
Equally important to your choice of microphone is the amplifier you select to plug it into. Amplifiers come in all shapes and sizes, and the amp that's right for you will depend on the purpose you're using it for. That said, there are certain qualities in an amp that are considered desirable for harmonica players. The first is that tube amplifiers are generally considered to be better than solid-state amplifiers because they have a warmer, rounder sound. The second is that smaller amplifiers are generally considered to be a better choice than large amps, both because they are portable and easy to carry and because their volume controls can be turned up much louder, which creates the smooth, distorted sustain that many players are looking for. Note that small amps might have to be amplified themselves with a microphone through a PA system to bring you up to the volume level of the other instruments you're playing with.
The unique sound of the harmonica is sought after even by those who don't play harp. Artists using sampled harmonica sounds include John Wesley Harding on his Awake album, Ministry on their song “Worm” from the Houses of the Mole album, and New York hip-hop producer Blockhead on his mix of “Sunday Séance.”
The following sound demonstrations illustrate some of the approaches to amplifying your harmonica that are available to you.
Peavey Mark IV
A solid-state vintage Peavey Mark IV bass head with two fifteen-inch speakers is one example of the clean, big-amp approach, which has two primary advantages — it provides a very clean sound, and it provides a very loud sound. Bass amps have the advantage of not boosting the high and midrange frequencies that cause feedback, as well as emphasizing the desirable bass range of the instrument. This particular rig is quite large — the speaker cabinet takes two people to carry — but it's perfect for projecting loud, undistorted harmonica sound. Cost varies across stores and auction Web sites.
The microphone makes a big difference in your sound, and also your amplifier makes a big difference in your sound. The following tracks are examples of different amplifiers. The first is going to be a solid-state bass amp, using a Shure Green Bullet microphone.
FIGURE 12-4: Solid-state bass amp with Shure Green Bullet mic — demo
TRACK 44
Fender Super Reverb
A Fender Super Reverb tube amp is an example of the mid-size amplifier approach. This is an all-tube forty-five-watt amplifier in a combo cabinet with four ten-inch speakers and built-in reverb and tremolo. This amp weighs sixty-five pounds, so it's moderately portable. It provides a loud, warm sound, and because it is equipped with a master volume control, it's easy to create a beautiful overdriven sustain that can be either loud or soft. It is currently available for $1,200.
The next example will be the Shure Green Bullet mic played through a Fender Super Reverb tube amplifier.
FIGURE 12-5: Fender Super Reverb amp with Shure Green Bullet mic — demo
TRACK 45
Fender Blues Junior
A Fender Blues Junior tube amp is one of the most sought-after amplifiers among harmonica players, and is an example of the small amplifier approach. This is an all-tube fifteen-watt amplifier in a combo cabinet with one twelve-inch speaker and built-in reverb. This amp only weighs thirty-one pounds, so it's extremely portable. Because the amp is small it can be turned up to a loud volume to create overdriven sustain without being too loud compared to other instruments. The Blues Junior amp also has a “fat switch” that fattens up the bottom end of the sound and makes the overall sound rounder by boosting the input signal. It is currently available for $450.
And now what is probably the most popular amplifier used by harmonica players, especially in the blues genre today, the Fender Blues Junior tube amplifier, played with the Shure Green Bullet microphone. Notice that in the case of the two tube amplifiers, they both have their own distortion that is already part of the sound of the amplifier.
FIGURE 12-6: Fender Blues Junior tube amp with Shure Green Bullet mic — demo
TRACK 46
Other popular harmonica amplifiers include the Fender 59 Bassman reissue bass amp, which combines the advantages of a bass amp with the advantages of an all-tube amp for another mid-size option, and the small Fender Pro Junior (a smaller version of the Blues Junior) and Fender Champ amps. Note that none of these amplifiers have built-in reverb.
Here are a couple of general tips about using an amplifier when playing harmonica. First, if you're using a guitar amplifier as opposed to a bass amp, you'll have to turn the treble and middle knobs down pretty low to avoid feedback.
Feedback is usually responsible for the sudden accidental high-pitched shrieking you've heard at events where microphones are being used. It's a result of a loop being formed where the microphone is taking in sound, amplifying it, and sending it out through speakers, and the resulting louder sound is then taken back in by the microphone. As this process is repeated the loud shriek builds in the speakers.
Second, the further you place your amplifier away from where you are standing with the microphone, the less chance of feedback you'll have. That's because feedback is created when the microphone is pointing at the speakers of the amp. Another good trick for avoiding feedback is to place your amplifier in front of you with the speaker facing away from you.
