I also have a Fender Champion 20 amp, a Shure SM57, and a Blows Me Away Productions Bulletini. The mic I currently use is a Shure PGA48 (which is the same as an SM58, also from Shure) with an on/off switch.
Typically for my live shows, I play a cupped vocal mic and through the PA, not only because how accessible it is, but I like the tiny boost of the bottom end adds to the sound from the way I cup. It adds a slight warm and a tiny bit of compression (because my hands are small), and I also feel very comfortable with holding mics that either have a ball tip or are compact in size (which is why I kind of like the Bulletini).
@Dai I bought a guitar noise gate but haven’t used it yet. I have a line 6 pod guitar pedal that I really like and another multi pedal called a reverberry by cool misic I also like it and it was my first pedal. I have tried a few overdrive and booster pedals but they cause a lot of line noise and feedback. @KeroroRinChou I have been thinking of trying the American joyo pedal as well but it can be difficult to get because it’s so popular.
I just got a New Old Stock Ab Hohner Golden Melody in the mail and this thing plays absolutely great. It was listened on a Reverb page as B-stock and I thought from the packaging shown that it was an unsold Progressive series era Golden Melody Classic like the ones I’ve owned before, but it’s actually older than that. Judging from the box it came in having HANDMADE printed on the front and the cover plates obviously being more defined that the later ones, I’d guess it was made some time in the 2000s or maybe early 2010s before the Progressive series was introduced.
This is probably my best playing older harp other than my F Golden Melody as not only does look completely brand new, but it’s also incredibly responsive. It has a light and raspy quality to its timbre for being such a low key (I love harps with that kind of sound), especially in comparison to a later Golden Melody Classic that I have in G which sounds a lot warmer and not as harsh or when compared to the Golden Melody Progressive’s punchy and solid timbre. My main issues are that sometimes the reeds can get stuck when I play really hard on them and they don’t respond as well to overblowing compared to the later versions (whether OOTB or customized). But then again, I’m not someone like Howard Levy who is an overblowing wizard.
This harp is set up pretty well for bends and has a versatile tone that can sound rich and powerful for the blues (especially with tongue blocking) or gentle and sweet for melodies. I feel like I can just wail on it for days until the reeds give out. Although it’s not as airtight as I want it to be (I think that the harp is generally airtight, but there are points where it could sound a little breathy on the bends) and it tends to go flat when wailing super hard on it, I think those are more of traits of it being an older Hohner harmonica. I have not opened up the harp yet to see if it is held together with all screws or all nails, but it sounds amazing for its age. Here’s me giving my new Golden Melody a little test drive:
@KeroroRinChou I’m glad you got a new harmonica and you are enjoying it so much. I started putting together my pedal board. I tried adding a picture hopefully it worked. Will hopefully try it out soon.
First pedal is a line pod 6 guitar express pedal second is a reverberry cool music pedal next is a chorus pedal (was given to me and don’t remember the brand name) then a joyo little blaster distortion pedal next a cry baby wah last is a lone wolf pad deluxe anti feedback pedal. Hopefully it will work good together.
@Dai a gate is a very simple thing - volume threshold falls before level X and the gate closes by specified amount. I can’t imagine that guitar gate would be any less effective than a harmonica gate?
@Moman This is my setup at the moment. Using a little 9 volt battery connector for the space verb works fine. Not sure about how I’d go about building a peddle board with the American Sound got a walking stick sticking out the side of it.
@Dai nice set up I believe you would put the verb pedal after the American pedal and the mojo feedback pedal last. Then plug in the wireless into the mojo pedal.
Started with the Fender. It’s great for what it is, a low end harp. Saw the Golden Melody and had to have it, so I bought that and the guy threw in the bluesband for free, I played the Bluesband once and retired it, don’t care for it. LOVE the Golden Melody, plays great, sounds great. Then being the collector I am I had to get another and I love the way the Manji looks and it had great reviews so that’s number 4.
Obv. the Manji and the Golden Melody are my favs and they both sound completely different. single notes seem so much easier on the Manji for some reason.
Oh, I’ve been playing for less than a week. Just bought the “Beginner to Boss” course.
The case is just a case I got at harbor Freight and the foam insert from Michael’s.
It’s been a while since you posted this but does changing the comb or coverplates change the harmonica in anyway? I’ve looked at bluemoon and thought of ordering both combs and covers…
Some people believe it does. Richard Sleigh, a famous customizer, says that there really isn’t any appreciably change and no one can really tell the difference by just listening. That said, it all comes down to what you like and want. Remember, when you are playing your hand are hiding most of the harp, so you may be the only person who notices. Now, as for cleaning, wooden combs are a little more work to clean. Ultimately, it depends on what you like.
The recessed brass combs from blue moon definitely enhance the volume, tone and fullness of sound. I have used silver, chrome and brass cover plates. They have no effect on the sound.
Just got this. I was hesitant on buying something Chinese but the quality looks great. I like the curve of the covers, it falls right where I want it to in my fingers and it’s very comfortable. I haven’t gotten to play it much and I haven’t gotten into bending or overblows so I can’t really say anything about that. Sound wise I think it falls somewhere between my manji and my golden melody but as I said I haven’t played it much and I’m very much of a beginner so what do I know? Seems easy to find single notes.
Anywho, I added another to my stable. I think it will get a lot of use.
Edit to add, I really like the raised bubble with the C on it.
