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Forums :: Ask Harp Mic Expert Greg Heumann

Re: I need to replace my Shure Green Bullet Harp mic

3 replies [Last post]
Thu, 04/22/2010 - 11:36
honusong
honusong's picture
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Joined: 04/22/2010

Hi Fritz and anyone else out there:

I'm brand new to this site ,just subscribed. I'm also self taught on the harp and play as an acompaniest to a guy I write songs with, he plays guitar and I play harp usually through a Shure vocal mic. The style is mostly "singer songwriter " with a few semi-blues or rock tunes, we have a bass player but no drummer.
The songs are good though and we have been developing a growing following, but in that setting I mostly play ornamentation and occasional leads
My question is :
I recently lost my Green Bullet Harp mic (Shure) and I want to replace it. I love to play Blues and R&B whenever I get the chance, which is rarely.
What models and make of Harmonica mics do you recommend in the $200.00 range and do you find any mic that can work for folk music accompaniment and blues/distortion type playing as well?

Thanks for whatever info you can share
Bob Hahn

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Thu, 04/22/2010 - 12:02
#1
Mic Expert Frit...
Mic Expert Fritz Hasenpusch's picture
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Joined: 01/16/2010
REPLACE GREEN BULLET / NEW AMMO...

Welcome aboard Bob,
Sorry to hear that your "Green Bullet" has turned-up missing in action. As for its replacement there are plenty of candidates ranging from the communications mics of which the "GB" is a member to the more utilitarian designs that have seen duty as PA / sound reinforcement units. As you will see elsewhere on this site, considering the fit of the mic along with its signature sound can go a long way toward getting the desired results you seek. For the dual purpose of folk/acoustic along with a more overdriven blues tone you might consider some form of HI-Z dynamic that has the response to be applied acoustically and can also be "cupped" for more impact. Let me know if you need more detail... -Fritz

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Thu, 04/22/2010 - 12:31
#2
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Comment

A Shure 540 or 533 may be a good choice...

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Thu, 04/22/2010 - 23:00
#3
Mic Expert Frit...
Mic Expert Fritz Hasenpusch's picture
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Joined: 01/16/2010
THE DUAL PURPOSE TRACTION AGENDA...

Another branch of the same tree, Bob. The 533 and 540 SHURE mics David has mentioned are outstanding performers for punchy, over-driven tone and share the same basic innards. The 533 (Sphere-O-Dyne) is a wand/ballmic while the 540 (Sonodyne) is a "pistol" or stand-mounted mic. Considering and weighing the dual-purpose application, the SHURE 545 (wand) would yield excellent acoustic imaging when played at a short distance while positioned in a clip mounted on a micstand (witness if you will Mickey Raphael's work with Willy Nelson) and can certainly go to overdrive for the blueswerx (Butterfield being the prime example). -Fritz

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