Amp effects on harp mics

[MatchBookNotes]

I don't know which forum this should go in but here goes.

I'm thinking of getting a harp mic to use with an amp for harps and vocals so are those mics effects pedal friendly?

has anyone else done such a thing?

[lpdeluxe]

I don't know why not. I have a Green Bullet I plug into a hotrodded Pignose G40V using a Danelectro reverb stomp box.

Other than reverb, I never use effects on harp: you can do so much with embouchure and breathing effects that effects per se are pretty superfluous.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by MatchBookNotes

I don't know which forum this should go in but here goes.

I'm thinking of getting a harp mic to use with an amp for harps and vocals so are those mics effects pedal friendly?

has anyone else done such a thing?

Some would, I guess, but you'll have to be careful, since Hi-Z harp mics into guitar amps typically skate along the bleeding edge of howling feedback, and compression, EQ, boost, or distortion can easily push you over the edge. A little reverb or delay might work for you, though. Wear earplugs when you are experimenting. ;^)

[MatchBookNotes]

what is Hi-z?

So it should be treated like a semi-hollow I guess, what about putting something to filter out some vocal volume but still keep some articulation?

didn't dan akroyd use a harp mic for some of the blues brothers songs?

[acidrock]

My Bullet mic has a volume knob,you may want to get one like that.
You can plug whatever you want box wise,if it sounds good,it's right.

I'm thinking of getting a harp mic to use with an amp for harps and vocals

I'm not too sure you'll be happy with vocals through a bullet,unless you're doing lo-fi-distorted stuff.A harp mic is really just a crappy mic that works like a wicked filter.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by MatchBookNotes

what is Hi-z?

High impedance, which is normally unbalanced, i.e., you can plug it into a 1/4" input jack on a guitar amp. Most mics have Low-Z (low impedance) balanced output, which is usually over an XLR connector, but harp specialty mics are usually Hi-Z.

Many are built on the old Astatic model, which I believe is a carbon grain design. They produce a lot of midrange and distortion, especially with proximity effect, so harp players love them. They completely suck for any sort of vocals.

[MatchBookNotes]

I'm not looking for any sort of 'good' vocals, would other types of mics work if i got the male-female 1/4" adapter? is that was Robert plant did with his delay box?

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by MatchBookNotes

I'm not looking for any sort of 'good' vocals, would other types of mics work if i got the male-female 1/4" adapter? is that was Robert plant did with his delay box?

I'm not sure what you are asking. Do you mean that you want to run a "normal" mic through guitar effects? You can't do that with just an adapter; you'll need a transformer to change balanced low-Z to unbalanced hi-Z.

[stevieb]

Originally Posted by MatchBookNotes

didn't dan akroyd use a harp mic for some of the blues brothers songs?

My God, please don't confuse Akroyd with world-class harp players...

I don't yet own a "real" harp mic. On the prowl for one, but the sound/price combo I want/need has not come along, yet. So, for now I use a SM57 or similar, into either my Fender Deluxe Reverb or my Airline-made Monkey-Wards 5-watt amp (both have tremolo, which I use with the harps.) I have gone thru my Ibenez Tube-Screamer TS7 and even a Dunlop Wah pedal. I kinda think of the Wah as cheating- a good harp player can get the same effect with technique, but there are times when having that pedal just puts me in the ZONE!

EDIT: I have made the vocal mics work with those amps by either 1) using a XLR to TS cable, and going thru a stompbox EQ, or 2) using a XLR to XLR cable, plugged into my Digitech JamMan's mic input, or 3) using a XLR to TS cable, and going thru a Digitech RP-7.

When my Dad died, my Mom GAVE AWAY all his CB radio equipment- I was majorly lusting for his Turner +2 mic...