Re: [Harp-L] Bass amps for amplified harp

[George Miklas <harmonicat@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have always had different amps around the house.  Since I also perform on
electric bass as well as bass harp, there is NEVER a time when I don't have
a bass amp of some configuration.  I presently play both electric bass and
bass harp on a Gallien Krueger MB112 (microbass).  This amp features 100w @
8 ohms when only the internal 12" speaker is employed and 150w @ 4 ohms when
connected to an extension speaker ( I built an enclosure to Dick Gardner's
specs using a stamped basket 15" and my cabinet is under 50# loaded).
The GK line is most noted amongst bass players, however they did make guitar
amps too.  I presently use a GK 200MV (mini vocal / pa), which features 100w
@ 8 ohms when only using the internal twin 6" speakers.  This amp features a
lo-Z input/channel, hi-Z input channel, and line level auxiliary channel.
 While the hi-Z and lo-Z channels have separate volume controls, they
operate together through a 5-band graphic EQ and spring reverb.  This amp is
obsolete.  Good luck finding one used on eBay.  This is my
chromatic/diatonic/chord harp amp.

gm

On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 10:18 AM, John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Since the end of last year, I've been playing through a small SWR Baby Baby
> Blue bass amp,   i think it's primarily designed for acoustic bass.  It has
> a 10" speaker, a piezo tweeter (which i turn off), a tube preamp (solid
> state power stage), and very sophisticated 3 band semi parametric EQ that
> gives me almost total control over tone shaping.  Nice deep, dark, thick
> tone, with a little texture from the tube pre.   No reverb, but I put a
> delay set to slap back in the effects loop since i don't like to play dry.
> 120 watts and won't feedback, even at relatively loud volumes.  Has a line
> out and an XLR out, which i've never had to use.
>
> I'm very happy with this amp.  I get very, very close the sound i hear in
> my head.   Really wonderful harp amp for my style of play and the sound i
> want to create.  Works well both with and without the effects pedals I've
> started to use.  And I can get as loud as i need to without fear of
> feedback.
>
> Now, I assumed this amp was special because of the elaborate EQ and the
> tube pre. I also happen to have a strong preference for 10" speakers.  But,
> a few months ago, due to a peculiar combination of circumstances, I wound up
> playing through the second input of a bass player's Behringer bass amp that
> had one 15" speaker (which the bass player kept telling me was an EV Black
> Widow) and my harp sounded GREAT through that bass rig, too.
>
> Now, I've started to wonder if bass amps in general may be well suited for
> playing amplified harp.  Certainly, a bass amp does not provide the
> distorted tone that some harmonica players like to get from an overdriven
> tube amp, but that's not the sound i go for anyway.  I prefer a basically
> clean, dark, thick sound with some body and texture (and that I can make
> respond to my mic handling and breath techniques) and my limited experience
> playing through bass amps has given me just that.
>
> Anyone else have experience playing harp through a bass rig? What do you
> think?
>
> JP
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