Jon May Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 Originally posted by misterdregs: ...it seems like a lot of hassle to add a mixer/preamp just for a little fun toy. Toy?! Splutter, snort! OK, perhaps, but I would like it be a viable instrument to take to jam sesh's. But in those cases there is probably a mixer available so hopefully 'buzz-be-gone". What about the placement of my pickup compared to yours. Is it much different? I'm thinking of swapping the positions of my pickup and jack socket(just haven't got a round tuit). "I'm well acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Link Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Originally posted by Jon May: Originally posted by misterdregs: ...it seems like a lot of hassle to add a mixer/preamp just for a little fun toy. Toy?! Splutter, snort! OK, perhaps, but I would like it be a viable instrument to take to jam sesh's. But in those cases there is probably a mixer available so hopefully 'buzz-be-gone". What about the placement of my pickup compared to yours. Is it much different? I'm thinking of swapping the positions of my pickup and jack socket(just haven't got a round tuit). OK, OK... maybe "toy" isn't the right word. For some reason "novelty" sounds even worse. When I showed up for a gig with my new melodica and pick-up, I was showing it to the guys and explained that I was trying this pick-up as it was really hard to mike the thing . The other keyboard player kinda sniffs and deadpans "There's a reason for that, you know". I guess he's not a Don Fagen fan. BTW, check out an old record by the "New York Rock and Soul Revue" for some tasty melodica work by DF, especially "Chain Lightning". As far as position of the pick-up, I can't imagine it makes a whole lot of difference. There's no "bell" to place it in like a horn and the tones are generated all up and down the length of the instrument. Let me know if it makes any difference, though. An old buddy (who incidentally introduced me to the melodica) recently played his at a gridiron show for the local bar association and explained that it was the bastard child of an accordian and a Casio piano. aka âmisterdregsâ Nord Electro 5D 73 Yamaha P105 Kurzweil PC3LE7 Motion Sound KP200S Schimmel 6-10LE QSC CP-12 Westone AM Pro 30 IEMs Rolls PM55P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon May Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 <> Ah yes! I have that CD and Mr Fagen is to blame for my melodica leanings. Chain Lightning is a personal favourite. I'll let you know how the repositioning goes. Also I just dug out my Pro3T which has been in storage.I need to get a power cord to suit these-here Australian sockets (don't worry, voltage is the same) and then look out!! "I'm well acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd8 Posted August 17, 2006 Share Posted August 17, 2006 Wow, guess melodicas are back, huh? Medeski playing melodica: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Link Posted August 17, 2006 Share Posted August 17, 2006 Jon May- You know, I haven't played it much with the pick-up (other than a couple of tunes at a moderately loud outdoor gig) and didn't really notice the "buzz" that is there in a quiet room. Can't say as it's noticeable at full band volume. Any suggestions, anyone? aka âmisterdregsâ Nord Electro 5D 73 Yamaha P105 Kurzweil PC3LE7 Motion Sound KP200S Schimmel 6-10LE QSC CP-12 Westone AM Pro 30 IEMs Rolls PM55P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leberwurst Posted August 20, 2006 Share Posted August 20, 2006 Minor point, but the liner notes for "Godwhacker" say Fagan is playing a synth. There is a little pitch bending on some notes. But it's an awesome solo and one that begs to be played on a Melodica. I've tried on my Chinese made "Angel" brand, but at 31 keys I run out of notes. Cheers.....Jon Chinese made? Dudehead! I got mine from China, a "Bee-Melodika" by the price of 16 or so. It covers 3 octaves, is incredibly out of tune, but still my best friend The Dromb Bopper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Link Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Originally posted by leber_wurst: It covers 3 octaves, is incredibly out of tune, but still my best friend You just don't see this sort of loyalty nowadays. Gotta love the man and his attitude. aka âmisterdregsâ Nord Electro 5D 73 Yamaha P105 Kurzweil PC3LE7 Motion Sound KP200S Schimmel 6-10LE QSC CP-12 Westone AM Pro 30 IEMs Rolls PM55P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Link Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 BTW, a keyboard playing friend loved my new Hohner. I was thinking of getting him the Melodyman 37 Key as a gift from his wife based on some positive comments from this thread. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than the Hohner (not that as a dear friend and drinking buddy he's not worth it, of course). Comments? Any other experience with these melodicas? aka âmisterdregsâ Nord Electro 5D 73 Yamaha P105 Kurzweil PC3LE7 Motion Sound KP200S Schimmel 6-10LE QSC CP-12 Westone AM Pro 30 IEMs Rolls PM55P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I've had a Melodyman 37 for almost 2 years, and never had any trouble with it. Bought another for a niece, and another for my old music teacher, and both have been fine. As for miking, it'd be interesting to try holding a "bullet mic" like the harpers use under one. "A cheerful heart is good medicine." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Link Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Thanks for the reply, Ricochet. I think we'll get one ordered for my friend. As I recall, playing into a mic doesn't work that well as there isn't an outlet for the sound like a horn or even a harp. aka âmisterdregsâ Nord Electro 5D 73 Yamaha P105 Kurzweil PC3LE7 Motion Sound KP200S Schimmel 6-10LE QSC CP-12 Westone AM Pro 30 IEMs Rolls PM55P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon May Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 The Melodyman sounds interesting, both frompositive comments here and those on their website which suggest a more harp-like bite and attitude to the tone (suited to blues, R&B) compared to the Hohner, "I'm well acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Somewhere in the Universe is a sofa, underneath which are millions of single, unmatched socks, and several hundred lost Melodicas... Botch In Wine there is Wisdom In Beer there is Freedom In Water there is bacteria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 There's not a single outlet, but there are lots of little slots along the sides of the bottom that the sound comes out of. All connected, not individual outlets for particular reeds. "A cheerful heart is good medicine." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Angus McAninch Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 I play the harmonica, diotonic and chromatic. I just got a hohner student 32. It has vents in the "back" of the keyboard. I took gaffers tape and taped off the vents except for three vents. It seems now that the sound is sort of concentrated toward those vents. I hold It up to the shure 58 mic and it works well,,,good tone and volume.. I have a "TubeAmp" pre amp and that helps eliminate the clicking from the keys, although I don't experience excessive clicks using the tape and the shure 58 on mic stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Angus McAninch Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 I play the harmonica, diotonic and chromatic. I just got a hohner student 32. It has vents in the "back" of the keyboard. I took gaffers tape and taped off the vents except for three vents. It seems now that the sound is sort of concentrated toward those vents. I hold It up to the shure 58 mic and it works well,,,good tone and volume.. I have a "TubeAmp" pre amp and that helps eliminate the clicking from the keys, although I don't experience excessive clicks using the tape and the shure 58 on mic stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 For what it's worth, count me among those who purchased the Hohner 32 and wishes he sprang for the more professional (and more expensive) 36 key model. I found the 32 in a local music store and picked it up as a bit of an impulse buy (although it was definitely at the edge of impulse buy pricing for me). I had wanted one for years (I'm an unrepentant Hooters fan from the 80s) and couldn't resist. I confess that the thing is tons of fun to play, but the model I bought seems relatively cheaply built and has some intonation problems that are fine when I'm just messing around with it but would be more troublesome if I ever wanted to actually use it in a live group setting. My two cents, Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmcq Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 What's the opinion among the melodica cognscenti; hose or mouthpiece? (I could be stepping in it here....) myspace.com/AlteredDominant www.Prymary.com NordElectro3/S90XS/SteinwayS(midi'd)/KX88/Apple MBP, iMac/MainStage2/Scrbee/NI Komplete/ApogeeDuet/QSCplx1804/JBLmrx512/SpcStnSRX/LogicPro9/DP/ProTools Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon May Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I used to use the hose, with the melodica crooked in my left arm - easy to see the keys, but I started to think of the hose as "trainer wheels" and have been trying to get used to the mouth piece. I think if we want the M to be considered a serious instrument we gotta go for the mouth piece! (and wear Raybans). The shades are so the audience can't see that you are cross-eyed from looking down the keyboard. Actually, the fingers do start to find their way into position with practise. "I'm well acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 I was purchasing a variety of things for my recording arsenal yesterday and stumbled across the melodica. If you would like to hear a melodica just go to www.youtube.com and perform a search. I decided I didnt have an immediate use for one, perhaps Im missing something. On a side note what I did end up purchasing was a drum dial as a friend of was telling me about them over lunch. If any of you are drummers and havent heard of one you might want to take a peak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Oh,,,,I'm sorry this is darn funny: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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