Shure USA 99A405 AF

Jowel · Shure USA 99A405 AF

Hi everybody,

I've been playing with a Turner Challenger CX with a Shure 99A405 element inside ! I usually play on a Gibson G100A (Transistor 100W from the 70's) since I've got no other amp (I'm still a student in Montreal Smile

).

The output is almost as high as a guitar output would be in that amp... but the sound is quite bright... I've tryed the mic on a National 10W tube amp from the early 40's and (in the microphone input) it sounded much more round with much more tone (The instrument input of this amp sounded much like the Gibson amp). I was wondering if the Hi-z of the element is causing this difference... How can i get a warm tone ???

I do have an rare Astatic mic made in Toronto in the early 30's... The element is dead... is it a good idea to replace the element by a Shure 99A405 (I've got another one) ??? I might not be playing with that one since the geometry is not confortable, but I'd like to repair it.

Cheers !

Joel

jbone

there are probably a few pedals you could try with the g100, but for true warm round tone there's not much competition- a tube amp is IT. i know there are guys around who rehab and sell kalamazoos for very reasonable $$. brian purdy at harpgeardotcom has some great amps he builds, as does randy at bluesbox.

possibly a small tube amp as a pre amp may give the same results. i myself swear by a silvertone 1482, or a replica bassman modded for harp, built by steve clark at sligo amps.

then again i have little experience with bigger ss amps like yours. one exception for me is the danelectro dirty thirty, which is small but incredibly powerful. built as a guitar amp, it has a distortion setting along with tone and volume. i use a cheep low-z condenser m9ic with it very occasionally, and it has a kind of fuzzy smartass tone. but it kind of gets old before long.

i'm not familiar with your mic. i use one of a few mics in my tube amps: a bullet with a 99b86 cm, a bullet with a shure crystal, or sometimes a shure 545s dynamic mic from the 70's.

i will be interested what type of responses you get from other members here. esp greg heumann, who builds some fine mics.

gheumann

99A405 is a small Shure crystal out of a CB radio mic. They're honestly not great harp mic elements. But I agree with JBone - a 100W transistor amp is EVIL for harp. EVIL.

I rebuild Kalamazoo's if you want a small practice/recording amp. And they rock to be sure. But they're not gig amps. Jbone mentioned Brian Purdy - he makes great amps, as does Scott from Meteor amps and Sonny Jr of the Cruncher and SJ Four-Ten fame.

harpslinger · TONE

Yea I agree ,
The good thing is you are instinctively realizing that there is a tone out there that you do not have. (yet) The thing to be thankful for is. You have a mic and an amp. Now you realise what is possible. The turner shell is great but I agree you need a different element. I wouldn't bother using your spare in the Astatic either.
Definitely give Greg's Kalamazoo a listen. They have beautifull tone and are great value for your dollar. I use a Gibson G9 (1950's) and I mike it through the PA for gigging.
You will have to find out if you like crystals or magnetic elements. I am a huge fan of older Shure CR's and Cm's. See www.greenbulletmics.com for a bit of an education.
Happy Harpin fellow Canuck
P.S. Listen to this (be patient, wait for the harp lead)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEa42uDdOyk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X_dh2kHpkM

Tim the old gasket man

I really want on of those 'zoo amps. One of these days, Greg, Lord willing! Keep me on the list.

Oh, and greetings to all. I've been totally absorbed with getting my MA degree. I'm done now! Time to find a band and dust off the mics and harps.

JBone, you ready to get together? Gordon teased us, then didn't follow up. Let's do it!

gheumann

We have been in the studio - and I used the Kalamazoo for a tune - got a really good tone out of it. Take a listen to

http://carguystuff.com/expressions/04%20Prison%20of%20Love.mp3

This is a ROUGH MIX only - we haven't mixed anything formally yet - so it doesn't sound as good as it will on the album.....

gheumann

We have been in the studio - and I used the Kalamazoo for a tune - got a really good tone out of it. Take a listen to

http://carguystuff.com/expressions/04%20Prison%20of%20Love.mp3

This is a ROUGH MIX only - we haven't mixed anything formally yet - so it doesn't sound as good as it will on the album.....

Tim the old gasket man

Great tune, Greg. Nice tone on the harp track. You've got some great chops!

1bluzboy

I second that emotion Greg...great stuff !! You, the 'zoo, and the band all sound really good.

gheumann

Thanks, guys!

Ray

Excellent. Nice harp work.

1coastbluz

hey who are those car guys? nice, i really enjoyed it, it seems to be really hard to get a blues band together these days so getrdone. thanks for sharing

Jowel

Thanks guys for the answers !

Right now, I've been playing with a shure sm58 threw the PI to get a more natural sound (more like Sonny Boy Williamson II)... or with my Turner mic (still with the CB cartridge) into my litle Roland amp (DAC 20 with 4x4 inches speakers with integrated reverb/delay) which can get more tone than my Gibson (wnich is really clean) for a dirty sound. For recording, I still can use my old 1940's National amp.

I'll still be trying different settings and I'll let you know how things are going ! I'd like to try out some magnetic and cristal cartridges to find out which I prefer before investing !

Thanks

Joel

Shure USA 99A405 AF

TONE