Comments for JT30 - Amplified Blues Harmonica

Comment on What brand harp to buy by Smoke Leland

Smoke Leland — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:34:46 +0000

Hohner service dept. seems to be a real pain in the wallet to deal with. I am a student but do feel that the Pro Master from Suzuki is hard to work as far as the high notes. The Lee Oskars I am just starting to try out and am liking them so far.

Comment on What mics are suited for harp playing? by Tom

Tom — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:49:40 +0000

I use Hohner VooDoo and I’m relieved -no more cramps from
bulky Bullets and Sennheisers. Tone is real, for drive/distortion
use pedals/effects

Comment on A Blues Harp Guide to Amplifiers – Amp Picks by Keith

Keith — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:04:15 +0000

That was written about 10 years ago. As soon as I say an amp is good the price goes up. Nobody ever heard of the Premier Twin-8 until I reviewed it here. I bought my first one for $35. I then bought another one for $95. Now you can’t touch them for under $500 and the go for much more.

Keith

Comment on A Blues Harp Guide to Amplifiers – Amp Picks by marcos

marcos — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:38:52 +0000

“Sears Silvertone 1483. I have been told this is the best alternative to a ’59 Bassman that you can get and the heads go for about $75. The cabinets are very cool and you can slide the head into the back of the cabinet for transportation. For $150 you can get an amp combo that sounds even better than the bassman.”

Right now on e-bay these are being offered for $400-780.

Comment on A Blues Harp Guide to Amplifiers – Amp Picks by Bob, "Diddley"

Bob, "Diddley" — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:04:02 +0000

I know all you players are purists and rightly so for those
real honkers. However, I thought I’d risk an onslaught of
abuse by asking if anyone has tried the Fender Super Champ?
Since it has 1 12AX7 tube and 2 6V6 tubes, a built in
preamp, delay and voice settings, it occured to me that
Fender may have broken the code for new harp amps.
I’ve tried some of the older lunkers but it would be nice
to have something more portable for these aging joints.

Comment on Blue Notes by Keith

Keith — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:37:15 +0000

Yishai,

The best example I can give was when I was staying in Washington DC on business. There was a blues bar about two blocks from hotel and I went every night. Most nights they didn’t have an act and it was just an open Jam. Anyone who wanted to play just got up and sat in.

One night there was a Trumpet player, A Sax player and me. I became part of the horn section. The sax player would start things by holding up one two or three fingers.

If he held up two fingers he would play two notes. At the beginning of the 12 bar blues that would be the “I” chord and we all played the tonic. (If it was in the key of G, we all played G) If he held up three fingers we all played 3 “G” notes. We did that for the “I” “IV” and the “V”. we just played a rhythmic set of notes and the Sax player would either hold up fingers or he would play an example of some syncopated series of notes, but nothing that would interfere with the soloist.

The horn section became a simple rhythm section. It sounded good. When the singer stopped singing or the guitar player stopped his solo, the sax player would point to one of use and that person did two or three rounds of the 12 bars and then the sax player would point to another person.

It was a great night of blues and we didn’t have to do anything difficult or complicated. I wish that I had recorded it.

Comment on Blue Notes by Yishai

Yishai — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:21:01 +0000

Fair enough. I would never have considered doing any of the above mentioned, especially not after your descriptive portrayal of the consequences. But what I am more after is carrying rhythm and harmony, even in the most basic way, just to outline the chord progression. for situations where there is only one guitar and I would want to give it some 12-bar backbone. if you have some points or examples of how to do that.
thanks

Comment on Blue Notes by Keith

Keith — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:52:28 +0000

Accompanying vocals or guitar is easy – never ever step on the singer or soloist. You are a color instrument at that point, used to decorate the fringes. When the singer is singing, you should never ever play. When the singer takes pauses between bars you can add a little color. You are basically the horn section, but the soloist is the star and should be the center of attention, and you don’t want to rain on their parade. You can create a little color to lead into their phrase, but shut up until they stop playing or singing – then you can play a fill.

A guitar play will shoot you if you play over his riff. A singer will stab you if you make a peep while they are singing. You also stand the chance of being strangled with your own mic cord by someone in the audience.

Comment on Blue Notes by Yishai

Yishai — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:37:20 +0000

Thanks a lot for putting together so much stuff I’ve had floating arround in my brain for such a long time, and in one page!
very informational, interesting, clear, right to the point. I very much like your stile. would like to see what you have to say about accompanying 12-bar-bluse. for vocals or to let others improvise too. if you have some basic tips/some examples…

Comment on Dating Vox Amps by frank may

frank may — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:36:58 +0000

my vox amps have BULLDOG speakers in them … what are those speakers?

Comment on Harp Key Chart by bob barcus`

bob barcus` — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:30:21 +0000

Thanks for info I have played harp for 35 yrs and never knew what key to use or be in with a blues guitar riff

Comment on Why Play Positions by bruce

bruce — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:51:02 +0000

just listen to a song say a skynard song play along its tuf for begginners but practice that song suck in and hold it then twist that tongue back more suck suck into that 2nd windpipe let it go then ruffle the reeds snake that tongue in and out you may ruin and blow out a few reeds and buy new harps or buy new reed plates that the name of the game ive destroyed quite a few harmonoica in my days i used to hold them in my teeth and bite on them ,also try singing the song thru the reeds as you practice it takes a while maybe a year or so hang in their youll get it i can play just about any song by ear to live music when a band comes to town i try to get in a song or two with them sometimes more in the last 2 years ive jammed with 18 bands on my harmonics i dont know diddley about music notes its all in the ears

Comment on A Blues Harp Guide to Amplifiers – Amp Picks by AM. Funk

AM. Funk — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:47:44 +0000

Silvertone 1483 Amp Head
Has their been any responce to Buck’s questions about…any modification or tube swap recommendations that might bring this unit to it’s full potential.

Comment on Mesa V Twin mod by Rick

Rick — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:48:22 +0000

I just pulled my V-Twin out of retirement. I hadn’t used it for a number of years & decided to try it again. It is a fantastic clean preamp that gives you a nice full sound with lots of definition. I use the clean channel on all the time & the boost for crunch or leads. I have the first version with no mods, but I use a nice old Telefunken 12AX7 on the right side (clean channel) & a black plate RCA 12AU7 on the left side (boost). (The tubes are in opposite positions from where the seem like they should be.) The low gain of the 12AU7 balances out the ridiculously high boost when you use the stock 12AX7. For leads it’s pretty much right on & I just roll off a little volume on my guitar for a crunch rhythm. I can’t believe it took me this many years to figure this out! I hope this helps someone else. It’s a hell of a lot easier that modding the PCB.

Comment on The JT30 Pages by al

al — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:01:38 +0000

Just wanting to let you know there is a new harmonia shop in the UK. The JT-30 site has lots of UK readers but there isn’t much abut help, advice or products in their country. Hopefully this is it. International shipping is available too so is worth a look where ever you are.

Please check out http://www.honkin-harmonica-shop.com

thanks
al

Comment on Blue Notes by RON KENNY

RON KENNY — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:46:05 +0000

This is all good stuff: keep it going for I know many with degrees in music, really don’t know this material…..many cannot separate the idea of a “paper-note” from an actual sound.

Comment on A Blues Harp Guide to Amplifiers – Principles by Milwaukee Slim

Milwaukee Slim — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:02:15 +0000

I totally agree, tube amps are the way to go and the tubes play a huge role in your tone, of course along with your “cupping” style. I think it’s also a good idea to have a wide variety of amps, meaning….low watts to high watts, a good 5 watt amp can be killer in a small venue and you’ll sound amazing. Then for the shows that require some serious volume, you’ll need something like a 50 watt tube amp, otherwise you won’t be heard over the rest of the band. And it all comes down to what you can afford.

Comment on A Blues Harp Guide to Amplifiers – Amp Picks by Buck Mooneyhan

Buck Mooneyhan — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:13:45 +0000

Just bought a Silvertone 1483 Amp Head to play harp through. I’m interested in any modification or tube swap recommendations that might bring this unit to it’s full potential.

Can anyone help with info?

-Buck Mooneyhan

Comment on A Blues Harp Guide to Amplifiers – Amp Picks by Michael Hebner

Michael Hebner — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:20:47 +0000

No one seems to mention the red knob ‘evil’ twin.
I know it’s heavy but this rig played on the low power setting has such great low end and power w/o feed back, when used with a low-z mic, that I can stay with the guitar players that are using small suitcase amps no problem.
I use a Presonis pre amp to switch the low to hi z, and an SM57 to get the 40hz lows.

Comment on Why Play Positions by Keith

Keith — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:16:49 +0000

It is probably not the mic. If you use a cheap cable you get noise. I had a cable that used to get radio stations.

Keith