Recording harmonica

[LI Slim]

Primarily blues harmonica. Does anyone have advice? Presently, my mic choice is limited to an AT4047 and SM58. I'm recording through an Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 and using N-track. Should I use the AT4047 and treat it like a vocal? Should I get closer to or further from the mic? Do I really really need a different mic or some other piece of equipment? Do you have suggestions as to compression and EQ? Thank you and God bless Junior Wells.

 

[bvaleria]

Unquestionably the Green Bullet by Shure - run thru some sort of tweed amp (or at the very least, a POD equivalent).
That is THE classic blues-harp sound....

http://www.shure.com/520d.html

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound

 

[Track Rat]

Absolutly the Shure Green Bullet. An SM-58 will do nicely too, but the Bullet has that nasty sound I love.

 

[LI Slim]

Thanks Bruce, TR-

So we go the hand-held route, even for recording?

 

[bvaleria]

Yeah... the Bullet's shape easily fits a harp-player's cupped hands as he plays.... all part of the sound - it's really an extension of the harmonica itself (especially when you see them live). My lead singer uses it all the time, and for recording it's no different...

Bruce