Harp Amp Taste Test is Back
Several years ago, I started kicking around the idea of a Harp Amp Taste Test. I've been gathering email addresses for a while, but I never got anywhere with the idea. The project needed more of a leader than I was willing to be. Since good ideas never die, a local harp player, Dennis Moriarty, came up with the same idea totally independently. Where I dropped the ball, Dennis found a completely new ball and is running with it.

Here's what has been discussed so far.

Sometime in the next few months, in a venue to be named, somewhere in or near New York City, there will be a row of cool amps and a pile of great mics available for testing. There will be a great blues band to back up us harp players. Hopefully it will be in a bar so they’ll be cold beer and free spicy wings to keep us powered up. It will probably be on a weekend.

The Place: Dennis is looking for a good place to hold the Taste Test in New York City. I have spoken with some people up here in the burbs, and got some definite maybes.

The Time: I am thinking a Sunday afternoon, possibly going on into the evening. This is slow time for some bars. I think the sooner the better. It would be nice if this could be done soon.

The Amps: Dennis has some connections with amp builders and has some amps promised. I have a bunch of vintage amps and I will bring what I can fit in the truck. The idea is to bring smaller amps rather than large ones. Harp players generally sound better on the lower wattage amps and since there will be many amps and many people playing, we don't really want to hear a stack of Marshalls.

Mics: I will bring mics. I have a few hundred vintage mics and I will bring a nice variety of styles and elements.

Players: I have heard from some surprisingly famous players who have wanted to be notified when the taste test happens. I don't know how many will show up.

So let me or Dennis know that you are interested and watch this space. With any kind of luck this will happen!

Contact Dennis Moriarity at http://www.myspace.com/blowintheblues

Contact me by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

Last, I have to take credit for the name Harp Amp Taste Test. It's about all I can take credit for except moral support and an email list. 
¶ Monday, November 05, 2007