SpecialSean
4 posts
Mar 06, 2014
4:21 PM
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Hi All!
I am sure there have been plenty of threads on this topic already, my apologies.
I have been playing for a little over two years and was wondering, what do you guys recommend for a first amp?
I am looking for something simple that will amplify my sound and am not really looking to distort. My friends have been pestering me to play small gigs with them and need something to keep up. If possible I would like to be able to pick it up at a store like a Guitar Center, if possible.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Sean
Last Edited by SpecialSean on Mar 06, 2014 4:22 PM
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Frank
3957 posts
Mar 06, 2014
4:25 PM
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Scout the used amp section in stores around town don't be afraid to travel some to get to them - bring your mic and harp - plug into the nasty old little looking ones and honk away, if you like it- give the guy 100 bucks for it and your set for life :)
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bluemoose
949 posts
Mar 06, 2014
4:28 PM
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read the "HARMONICA AMPS for sale" link on the left orange menu. Scroll down and Adam discusses first amps.
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MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
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SpecialSean
5 posts
Mar 06, 2014
4:46 PM
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Thanks Blue Moose, my question has been answered.
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Frank
3961 posts
Mar 06, 2014
4:48 PM
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Don't mention it...Glad I could help Sean :)
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Udderkuz03
45 posts
Mar 06, 2014
5:11 PM
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Try different ones out at the music store...but if you're looking for a cheap tube amp(solid state rectifier) then I highly recommend the bugera v5 combo amp..it don't feedback(with green bullet & ultimate 545) it goes from .1watt to 1watt to 5watts with a slide button in the back...separate gain tone volume & reverberation for less than $200..it built solid and sounds quite professional..big differences in it just by changing tubes...and it looks totally neat...
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bluemoose
950 posts
Mar 06, 2014
5:20 PM
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@Special - don't think that one answers gonna do it! :)
We're up to 3 so far...and probably a long way from finished.
+1 to Frank's advise to plug into the nasty looking ones. Picked up a sweet late 50's early 60's vintage Electro all tube, 8 inch speaker fender champ circuit in a suitcase amp for around $200 doing that.
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MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
Last Edited by bluemoose on Mar 06, 2014 5:21 PM
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Rick Davis
3031 posts
Mar 06, 2014
7:46 PM
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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jbone
1528 posts
Mar 06, 2014
7:50 PM
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First question: What are you using for a mic? A lot depends on that right there.
Next: Is this for practice mostly?
Next: Have you played through any mic/amp combos as yet?
That's a start.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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SpecialSean
6 posts
Mar 06, 2014
9:48 PM
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I want to play small gigs with some friends and need to be heard. It will not be just for practice and I have never played any combos before.
And of course, thanks Frank ;)!
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Kingley
3490 posts
Mar 06, 2014
10:30 PM
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You say you don't want a distorted sound. I imagine you're friends would be using a PA system to amplify the vocals. So why not just use a vocal mic into the PA? No problem with being loud enough, nice clean sound and you can vary between pure acoustic sound (playing of the mic) and cupping the mic for a more hard edged sound (think James Cotton, Junior Wells, etc).
If however you feel you must use an amp, then I'd suggest something like a small keyboard amp. Very clean sound, will cut through quite well, will take pedals/effects units later on if you decide you want more distortion, delay, etc.
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jbone
1529 posts
Mar 07, 2014
4:10 AM
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I'm with Kingley on this. Sm57 or 58 and set the channel with highs very low, gain low, bass up a bit and effects to taste. If you get feedback or squeal drop more highs and gain. One caution, put only what you have to have to hear yourself in the monitors and this will reduce feedback chances as well.
My very first harp rig was a Crate II solid state amp and a lavalier mic. It was so dry it would make you cry. I got a Boss digital delay pedal and things sounded somewhat better. I could have spent the $$ much better if I'd listened to some friends. Back then a used Fender Champ was really cheap and a bullet mic was also.
Another way to go which would cost a few bucks would be a small tube amp modded for harp and a crystal mic like an Astatic 332. Nice clean sound. Not much bass response. I like a crystal for jazzy swingy stuff in 3rd position.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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Slimharp
231 posts
Mar 07, 2014
5:47 AM
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If you have the money get one of Rick Davis Memphis Mini. You cant go wrong. If your not going that route get a solid state. Take your mic with you.
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Rick Davis
3033 posts
Mar 07, 2014
7:20 AM
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There are lots of good choices for a first harp amp. I suggested the Memphis Mini amp because it is a true custom harp amp. You won't have to fuss with it, and you sure can't blame the amp. If you can't get a good tone out of this amp it's not because you need to change a tube or a speaker or buy a pedal.
The MM amp sells for $490. You could spend more tweaking a cheap guitar amp, trying and failing to get good tone out of it.
It is an amp you will keep and use your entire career, for practice, recording and gigging.
Interestingly, one pro player who tried the amp said he loved it because of the crunch. But another pro player said he loved it for of the cleans. The amp will respond to what you are doing.
One of the goals when I started the company was to make the perfect first amp for blues harp players, one that could also be used for gigging in any venue. I am pretty proud of the way it turned out.
This is a video of me playing the amp on a loud jam stage, and then Nic Clark trying the amp for the first time. Kinda cool...
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Goldbrick
327 posts
Mar 07, 2014
7:35 AM
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Nic Clark would sound great thru anything he played. His full tone is amazing
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Mar 07, 2014 7:36 AM
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Rick Davis
3034 posts
Mar 07, 2014
8:54 AM
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Goldbrick, ask Nic about playing through "anything." He is very particular about amps.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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SpecialSean
9 posts
Mar 07, 2014
8:59 AM
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As mentioned in the beginning of the thread I am new to the instrument and so new to this forum. I have to say you guys are an awesome community with very thoughtful information. I really appreciate you sharing you wealth of knowledge with me.
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Kingley
3491 posts
Mar 07, 2014
9:11 AM
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SpecialSean - Whilst I think that a small amp can be beneficial to players. I just don't think it's the right choice for you in this instance. In my opinion you will find it gets too dirty sounding, too quickly for your current needs. As an investment for the future, if you wanted to pursue a "typical" amplified sound it could be a worthwhile investment. Laying out a few hundred dollars on a rig that you may or may not like though would be sheer folly. I'd suggest you play it "safe" and spend your money wisely. In my opinion by using a Shure SM57/SM58 into the PA and either on or off a stand is the way to go. It's a relatively cheap option. A mic stand is around $20-$30 and a mic is around $80. So for around $100 dollars or so, you have gear which will always be useable in whatever musical path you choose to take. It also means you would have multiple options for a amplified sound. That same mic and stand could be used to mic any amp you may have in the future. It can be used for vocals, used directly into an amp. An SM57/SM58 and a mic stand is one of the single best investments any musician can make.
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SpecialSean
11 posts
Mar 07, 2014
10:32 AM
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Excellent advice, thanks.
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Martin
624 posts
Mar 07, 2014
11:32 AM
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If it so happens that you find yourself with a PA that does not make you sound very good (I´ve been going on and on about that here) you can find some help from an EQ-pedal. Boss parametric is my choice.
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Rick Davis
3036 posts
Mar 07, 2014
11:48 AM
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Kingley's advice is good. But if you want to sound like the videos I posted, you can't get there with a mic plugged into the PA system.
If you add a few pedals to your PA rig -- as many new players do -- you will quickly approach the cost of the Memphis Mini amp without nearly the tone.
All the advice in this thread has been solid. It depends on your budget and on the tone you aspire to. I don't think anybody has mentioned a refurbished Kalamazoo amp from Greg Heumann at BlowsMeAway.com -- excellent. The VHT Special 6 is very good. A used vintage Silverface Fender Champ can sometimes be found on eBay for a reasonable price.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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