How do a mic and amp change the sound of a harmonica?

A blues harmonica pro offers quick answers to common questions about the instrument. With Adam Gussow of Modern Blues Harmonica.

For more information on this topic, check out my "Amping the Blues Harp" video:

The bullet mic used in this video is the Bulletini, sold by Greg Heumann at BluesMeAway Productions:

The amp is a HarpGear2:

[richardoboyd]

You instruct the way my brain understands, entertaining and practical. Thank you

[tomminou]

You made me laugh, you made me learn, you make me happy! 😄

[michaeltellurian]

I've been playing for many years and I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. This one was packed full of info and I get the feeling you just scratched the surfaced of what you know. Thanks!

[nibbles]

Teachers love to teach hey? Brilliant, flawlessly explained and engaging throughout. Bravo

[mannys]

I'm getting goose bumps to go play outside my house... I have been trying for years to get one of those sounds....let me go find my jaw it's on the ground some where....whew I gotta do this...just thank you! Thank you very much!!! I'm goin

[darkdave]

Awesome. I remain in awe of your tone, and vibrato!!

[iler]

What a cool presentation of microphone and harmonica

[djvycious]

You know, this video and your Crossroads videos explains the sound of 'Good Love' by Poison, which evidently is an amplified harmonica. What a beautiful driven sound!

[javierf]

I have just bought my first harmonica, a Fender Blues Deluxe, which is an affordable one, very good though.
I also have my Fender Hotrod Deluxe amp and I can't wait to get my harp to plug it with a Shure sm58 microphone... Great video as all of yours.

[mrarkane]

Love your work and you are quite right being a fan more of the stick mics than the bullets. The late great Little Walter pioneered the distortion sound in spite of only having a JT30 (so I've read) at his disposal. You can't beat a sure 57 or equivalent. I read and looked at a lot of videos and nothing really pointed me in the right direction. I worked it out for myself and the key ingredient is sending the SM57 through a graphic equaliser first and killing all frequencies above 1000Hz, then clipping the signal through a little tube amp. This results in the smoothest trumpeting sound as close to Blind Owl as you can get. It is a sure fire way. Feedback still remains an issue, but try building a dummy load in parallel with with the speaker. 1 or 2 Watts is plenty to get the sound.

[SamAndreAKATensorringman]

Amazing. You're funny and really good at explaining. I am a beginner, and I scrolled a lot for videos, and your videos are far better than most. Thank you so much

[rickeydenler]

Great video taught me to open my hand when i want to accentuate the high notes thank you so much

[deltabluesdavidraye]

I enjoy your videos as a musician who understands theory it is easier to understand

[RobKlomp-wq]

Jij bent gewoon top hoe jij het vertelt serieus en speels van jou leer ik veel 😊🎉

[TerrellCooper]

Great video. Gave me some things to try out next time I'm on stage

[Ledvolta]

Great video, my man! Thanks, Dr Gussow. 🆒👍🏻😉

[Ndisalvio]

Thanks for the lesson gussow, i was looking for it! Can I ask you to do another video about the texture? a bit more specific, I can't get satisfying results about the texture.

[mikelovitt]

Fantastic lesson and great slippers Thanks

[Johncalvin]

If you can't learn SOMETHING from Adam then you must be dead, Great tips from Mr Gussow on getting older sounds 5.08 :) and harp mic sounds .Thanks for taking the time to show us this stuff that you learnt' the old school way "LIFE"

[sonnyboywalter]

Thanks Adam-great video! I recently bought a Buletini harp rack with the mic built in and cant afford a Harpgear amp yet, but it sounds superb even through my Marshall guitar amp