[Harp-L] Amp purchase help

[pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx]

hey list - I'm in the market for a new gigging amp, and I need some help figuring out the somewhat complicated amp/mic/fx landscape to make the best choice. I'm somewhat new/lame when it comes to electronic harp amplification.  My band plays frequently in mostly small  venues 100-200 people, and for the most part I have been playing through a Harp Commander II direct into the PA, using a Madcat Ruth hand mic. This has worked pretty well so far as I play mostly cleaner melody lines and generally play a more acoustic sound than a dirty sound. Lately we have added some trance blues tunes with a much louder and dirtier cigar box guitar sound which I love, but my harp sound isn't dirty enough with my current rig.

I also own but seldom use a really nice custom mini-bullet mic with a Shure black label CR element and have recently purchased a lone wolf harp delay to fatten my sound. I also own a stock Silvertone 1482 amp that I have gigged with on occasion, mic'd to the PA but don't really like the sound of it for either the acoustic melody stuff for the trance blues material. Not sure why I don't like it, so I might be able to upgrade it with a new speaker or different tubes + FX to get the right sound.  

I need a mentor!  My specific questions:

1)  Is there a mid size boutique amp (ex. harpgear double trouble / HG30 / Sonny Jr. Cruncher ) that is best for the size venues we play?  (I think my Silvertone 1482 is about 15 Watts) Do I need one with two channels and a line out to the PA that I can quickly set up a clean sound and a dirty sound and switch between them on stage? Would I need an A/B switch for that? 

2)  Should I consider something like a Fireball V on a mic stand for the acoustic clean melody stuff and the amp/mic for the dirtier sound? Does anyone use a Fireball V handheld as opposed to on a stand? Does this work well for you? 

 3)  I also want to experiment with a wireless rig and have no clue what is the best one and how to adapt one to the mic -   I'm thinking that I might use a Shure 57 or a Fireball V for this.

4)  What FX other than the Lone Wolf delay pedal should I consider? 

Thanks for any assistance! 

Ross
www.myspace.com/sassparillajugband