http://www.ehx.com/blog/effectology-blues-harmonica

Thanks Scott and Hi everybody!

Here are the settings for “transforming your guitar into a Blues Harmonica”

The pedals I used were the MicoSynth into the HOG.
Adjust the settings for what works best with the amp or recording system you have.
I recorded this direct with out an amp,if you are using a amp adjust the volume and tone knobs
for a clean flat sound.
Don’t be afraid to drive the HOG input light into the red.
The HOG’s distortion gave the sound a cool over driven combo amp effect.

It helps if you play things that are in the style of what a real Blues Harmonica player would play.
Things like two note chords (4ths and 3rds) on the 2 and 3rd string sound great.

Good luck and thanks for watching!

Bill Ruppert

Hey Bill, I have a question: where did you get those graphics that you’re using to record your settings?

I know the HOG one is from the PDF instruction manual.

Scott,

I scanned the fronts of the boxes and with Photoshop cleaned them up and added the settings.
The HOG pic was a scan the first page of the manual.
I have pedal templates for all the sounds that will be featured.
Just double click the pic and its life size.

There are some very cool sounds coming up in the upcoming clips.
I hope everyone stays tuned.
There will be something for everyone in many different styles.

Bill Ruppert

Bill Ruppert - 02 June 2009 05:23 PM

Scott,

I scanned the fronts of the boxes and with Photoshop cleaned them up and added the settings.
The HOG pic was a scan the first page of the manual.
I have pedal templates for all the sounds that will be featured.
Just double click the pic and its life size.

There are some very cool sounds coming up in the upcoming clips.
I hope everyone stays tuned.
There will be something for everyone in many different styles.

Bill Ruppert

Somebody a while back suggested I should try to add “blank templates” for the pedals—that people could print and then mark up—I’m still hoping to get that done one of these days—useful, right?

Scott Matthews (EHX Staff) - 02 June 2009 09:30 AM

http://www.ehx.com/blog/effectology-blues-harmonica

That was incredible!!! It really did sound like a harmonica.

Here are the settings for the rhythm guitar in the blues clip.
I used the Wiggler for a slight tremolo and found that the tube unit adds this slight over drive to the sound that reminds me of the old small tube combos I have played in the past.
Combo tube Amps like the Magnatone, Kay, and Danelectro all had this great OD when cranked up.
The Wiggler has the sound nailed.
In fact there is a little bit of hum in the signal just like the old amps!

Here is the Tremolo setting. I have the output on 10:

For even more dirt, I have used the pedal in the ACEY or WURL mode with the rate control at zero and the intensity control very low.
This setting gives you the OD effect with very little to none of the vibro effect.
Great for that dusty old amp sound.
It also fattens the over all sound of the guitar.
Here is the OD setting to try.

Bill Ruppert

Amazing stuff Bill, it’s so great having you contributing your stuff. It’s very appreciated.

electro-melx - 04 June 2009 07:25 AM

Amazing stuff Bill, it’s so great having you contributing your stuff. It’s very appreciated.

Stay tuned, we’re just getting started!  :metal:

Here is the reverb setting I used in the Blues Harmonica clip.

The Holiest Grail was set to sound like the clip was recorded in a small club.
The decay time slider is set low and the damping and diffusion sliders are set low as well.

The damping and diffusion controls the amount of sound that bounces around in a space or room.
Damping acts like a giant carpet or curtains that sucks up the reflected sound.
A room full of people in a club would soak up more of the sound that bounces off the walls and tables.
For this the sound the Danping slider is set low.
For an big empty reflective room the damping slider would be set higher up.
Here is the setting I used in stereo.

Bill Ruppert

Thanks so much, man. It’s really appreiciated.

Would you mind making future clips a bit longer, by the way? I love the sounds you’re making, and it’s a shame they end so quickly.

Thanks Chumley!

The clips are all different lengths.
I am a studio player and I guess I have gotten use to the 60 second format from doing countless TV and Radio commercials.
On the plus side its way better than having people wanting it to end sooner:-)

I will do a longer clip next time for you!

Hey I LOVE your EHX synth Avatar.
Man it looks just like the keyboard from one of the old EMS Synthesizers.

Thanks for listening!

Bill Ruppert

Bill, I am absolutely amazed by your guitar playing skills. Is it possible for you to show me the tabs that you were playing? That would be awsome! thanks.

Limon.
Thank you very much for the compliment!
I am sorry I do not have music or TAB written out for the harmonica riff.
It was just something I made up on the spot to show the sound off.
The harp riff was all around the 5th to the 7th fret in a standard blues scale.
I used a lot of two note chords playing intervals of a third.
Its pretty easy to play, I am sure if you use your ear you will find the notes.
Thanks again and have fun!
Bill

Hi, i am trying to follow your example using a bass micro synth , I get very close to the sound but cannot play chords of any type without a horrible distorted sound. I did some research and it seems that even with the micro synth it is only able to play chords with just the guitar signal running through the micro synth, please explain how to play chords using just the ocatve up…