[Harp-L] RE: Anti-Feedback Alternatives

[Glenn and Debbie Woodhouse <gwoodhouse40@xxxxxxx>]

Bruce, I like the Dunlop MXR 108 EQ pedal as an inexpensive means to dial out feedback.  You can find them on-line for ~$100.  This is a very well made guitar pedal with a true bypass switch, 10 individual frequency sliders (the Devil typically lives somewhere in the the 1K range), an input gain control, and an output volume control.

 

This pedal allows you to manually dial down the offending frequencies based on the setup/room conditions.  Although I don't need it for my Sonny Jr. Cruncher (I did use it with my vintage Rauland 2135 mixer PA amp and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe previous to that), I still use it for smaller venues and practices for playing directly into the PA.  You can adjust the degree of distortion you want in your sound with the gain and volume controls and then set the final volume level at the mixer.  If you want to be able to jump between PA clean and distorted you can set the gain/volume levels such that when engaged you are getting an overdriven sound (to your taste) and then when you hit the bypass switch you are clean through the PA at the same volume (I've had less issues with feedback through the PA than I have had with guitar tube amps and you can dial down mids on the PA mixer if necessary).  I've had harp players come up to me after a gig and complement me on my tone and ask what amp I am using and they are surprised when I point to the MXR in my stage case!

 

Finally, having ten sliders from 32 Hz through 16K Hz allows you a little more flexibility in tone shaping than the 1-3 tone knobs you get on an amp or PA.

 

As always, I have to credit Richard Hunter for turning me on to this affordable, yet effective tool.  

 

Glenn Woodhouse

The ColdRail Blues Band

www.ColdRail.com


> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:12:19 -0500
> From: "Bruce K Ritter" <Ritterbk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re anti-feedback
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <002001ca5a23$6555afb0$30010f10$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
<snip> 
> "any opinions about other, possibly less expensive anti feedback devices?
> Something more affordable for the hobbyist, rather than the professional?
> I'm suspect the Kinder is a wonderful device, based on the mostly favorable
> comments, but I read a comment that it was $389. Even the Feedback Stomper
> above, at $189 is more than I can justify for a hobbist."
>