New Gear

I have been neglecting this blog while waiting for some new gear.  I still have some Buddha harps in transit, but I have also purchased a new amp.  Yep, I traded the Double Trouble and some cash for a HarpGear HG50 1210.

In the last couple of months, I've realized my need for more headroom.  The DT is a clean amp, and with my tube/speaker choices, even more so, but I need something more versatile.  Something with more watts and volume (although, the DT was 95% there for volume and 110% for tone).  It isn't that I need to be really loud or fill the house with a 4x10, but I had noticed that when the band plays a loud passage, I would get drowned out onstage and start playing harps harder.

I should have the amp the end of this week or early next week.  NiteRail has a few sweet shows lined up and I'll get video of the new amp!  I've actually turned down four new shows today.  Our bass player just had a baby, our guitar player's wife is due the end of April, and we are expecting baby number two in early May.  So I'll have to make the most out of the gigs we do have and negotiate some June/July dates!

SPAH is in MN, an hour from my house, this August.  I'll be around for that and will bring the HG50 when appropriate.  For now check out the sound bytes below!

HarpGear

I can't direct link, but click on "Amps", and then on the HG1210.  Jason Ricci and RJ Harman have clips with the same mic I use.  My two favorite tones are Carlos del Juno on his album "Just Your Fool" and Jason Ricci on "Done with the Devil".  Hopefully, this rig will let me find an amped sound that is influenced by those sounds.

"Splittin' at the Seams"

Finally!

If you’re interested, you can now preview tracks from the album, “Splittin’ at the Seams” at NiteRail’s MySpace page.  I would love your feedback on the previews.  The disc is 11 songs long, 10 of which are originals, and around 50 minutes.  If you have any questions about the tunes, the gear used, etc., feel free to ask away!  We recorded at Pachyderm and Two Fish Studios.  Both of which feature awesome musical history....we talk a bit about that here.  A huge thanks to Wes Schuck for his stellar mixing and mastering!

The first review of the CD is in the March edition of “Blue Monday Monthly”.  This is a semi-national blues rag. You can read the review online.

If you find yourself interested in ordering, here is a PayPal link (the album is $15 shipped in the lower 48).

I am told NiteRail.com is being updated and you will be able to preview all of the tracks on the disc soon.  If I can talk the band into streaming the whole album on MySpace, I will update the blog with said info.

Look for some pics and descriptions of a few harps I’ve been working on for myself and a few I ordered from Buddha Harps soon.  I am hoping to have an update next week or so.

This weekend I have two shows in the Twin Cities and will hopefully end up with some new YouTube material.

Metta,

Mike