[Harp-L] how do you set the kinder afb?- even more questions

[B Boggs]

Hello,
 
Thanks for all the time members have taken to post instructions for the Kinder AFB+ query.
In a discussion with a harp equipment tech; it was shared that the Kinder unit is sensitive to temperature (I quess if it went from a cold car to a warm room) and that could effect the settings.
Also, I set it for each mic, each time- with the middle knob, as John K. has posted.
With some amps, in my case, a Danelectro-made Montgomery Ward Airline, the sound is incredible dimed in an ear-bleed stage setting.
Crispy Crunch.
 
Best~
 
B
 
                       ^<:-:>^
 
: 10
: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:02:59 -0700
From: Steve Shriver <steves...@cox.net>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] how do you set the kinder afb?- more questions
To: "\"har...@harp-l.org\"" <har...@harp-l.org>

I¹ve also recently bought one of these and while I love the feedback
suppression thing, I¹m still having some trouble dialing it in.
Specifically, the gating effect (ie, dropout below a specific volume level)
can be very pronounced with certain settings. Does anyone have a more
precise description of what exactly the two outside knobs do? I understand
the center knob idea, but it might help to have a more informed approach to
getting the others to work consistently, especially when trying to adjust
after the band is up and running. Also- there seems to be differing opinions
on sequencing other pedals with the Kinder. I know Jason had it first in his
chain (after the wireless) but now I¹m hearing no distortion pedal should be
after it. Does that include delay? I¹m finding that I don¹t really need my
Blues Driver with the AFB, in fact it seems to add feedback unless I back
the output off a lot.
I¹m using a bassman RI with reduced gain preamp tubes and either a JT-30
ceramic or a 520 with a fairly hot CM element.
-- Steve

 
 

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Har...@harp-l.org
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[John Balding]

Concerning the "temperature sensitivity issue" in B Boggs' post:

Here is an excerpt of an email from me to John Kinder concerning a weird sound I experienced using the AFB+ outside, in direct sunlight, on a hot day, back in 2006. Following is JK's reply.

John [Kinder],

I experienced a little glitch while using my AFB+ with my Fender Blues DeVille 4X10 during an outdoor gig this past weekend, and I was hoping that you might be able to clear it up for me.
I had the AFB+ connected and ready to play, when I got some severe crackling and "flubbing". The flubbing sounded like a 60Hz hum, but it shook the speakers very hard. In addition, there was no signal getting to the amp during the episodes. When I plugged the mic straight into the amp, the problem stopped. I played "straight-in" for my hour-long set, and did not experience any difficulty. Before and since that one occurrence, I have had no problems with the AFB+. It seems to have been an isolated incident.

Hi John [Balding],

Thanks for the email! The noise/flubbing sound problem you experience may have indeed been the AC line or perhaps a short-lived strong radio frequency (FM or un-modulated AM) pickup. In any case, if it does not re-occur, then a mystery it remains. The AFB+ should be able to operate in "Death Valley" outside in the sun during a scorching summer day and show no ill effects. However, if any condensation of moisture occurs inside the box on the PCB, then you could experience noise/unstable operation. One possible way for condensation to occur is if the AFB+ itself was cold and then suddenly moved into a warm, moist environment so as to cause a dew-point effect.

If you should have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I wish you and yours a happy weekend!

Sincerely,
John C. Kinder
Kinder Musical Instruments
http://www.kinder-instruments.com

[Monsterharp]

Sometimes a cell phone's will create interference with some electronic
devices. Especially wireless mic's.

I HAVE A QUESTION....................................

I use a rackmount Sabine feedback exterminator (2400) wich im quite happy
with ...............but I'm always looking for the next best thing.
My question................ has anyone compaired the Kinder with the
Sabine...........and what did you think.
Thank's
man..............................................................Dane Paul

[ben bouman]

When I put the AFB on top of my amp it's humming like hell...it's the
transformer...
Nowadays I have the AFB + and some other equipment in a gig case...no
problems..
Ben Bouman
www.beta-harps.com
Ben Bouman
www.seydel1847.de
www.marbletones.com
www.marble-amps.com
www.harmonicainstituut.nl

[John Balding]

I have tried an Alesis "feedback eliminator". It was a little box-type
thing, similar in size to the Behringer Shark (which I have not
tried...but always wanted to...)
I ended up returning the Alesis. The problem I had was the "lag time"
between the time it "located the feedback frequency" and the time it
eliminated the squeal. It worked, but a slight squeal every ten seconds
or so was just not gonna cut the mustard for me. That was some time back
(1989?), and technology may have caught up with that issue by now. But
in any case, the device would still have to go through a "learning
period" in each venue until the problem frequencies were identified,
filtered and "memorized" by the device. Okay if you have the luxury of a
preliminary sound check, but not always doable in a jam or a spontaneous
situation.

Since the Kinder AFB+ does not "locate" problem areas, it does not have
a lag time. It works on a totally different principle.

I think that the biggest issue with the AFB+ is the price. It is hard to
part with $360 for something sight-unseen; or at least thing-untried.
Yet, we do it with $1000+ amps all the time. I've said it a hundred
times and I'll say it again: The AFB+ is the best piece of gear I have
ever bought. Period. I would give up my amp before I gave up my AFB+,
even though I paid $900 for my amp. When I go out of town, on vacation,
etc., I take my harp case with two mics and my AFB+ in it. If the
opportunity ever arises to share the stage or join a jam, I feel assured
knowing that I can plug in to whatever amp is available and just wail
away. That is something I could never do with a 50lb,
"customized-for-harp" amp. That flexibility has no price tag, in my
opinion.

In addition, I believe that most tube amps work great for harp with no
modifications. The problem has always been that we (harp players) have
never been able to get the volume up into the "sweet spot" before
feedback occurs. Guitar players get to experience this as a matter of
course. You read all the time of guitarists like Page, Clapton, et al
going into the studio and plugging into an old tweed Champ with the
volume knob pegged. Harp players can't just do that; even with tube
swaps. Let alone do that with a Bassman. The AFB+ gives me confidence,
total freedom and the ability to choose the right amp for "my tone".

I was so nervous when I sent the $360 away for the AFB+ that you could
have sharpened a pencil in my butt. But I am so glad I did it. I can do
nothing now but think of all the money I could have saved
"experimenting" with so many amps over the years. Once I got the AFB+, I
went and bought the amp I WANTED. Before, I was relegated to buying an
amp that "worked best". That, too, has no price tag.

John Balding
Tallahassee, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: Monsterharp [mailto:Monst...@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:52 AM
To: John Balding; ceud...@yahoo.com; har...@harp-l.org
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] how do you set the kinder afb?- even more
questions/ ME TOO

[ben bouman]

I can fully agree on what John stated...
I always have my AFB+ with me when I tour/jam/gig...

Ben Bouman
www.beta-harps.com
Ben Bouman
www.seydel1847.de
www.marbletones.com
www.marble-amps.com
www.harmonicainstituut.nl
----- Original Message -----

From: "John Balding" <John.B...@myfloridacfo.com>
To: "Monsterharp" <Monst...@comcast.net>; <har...@harp-l.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 4:48 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] how do you set the kinder afb?- even more questions/
METOO

_______________________________________________

[Daniel Gage]

Dear List,

I recently bought Rod Piazza's "spare" AFB unit. It definitely is a less refined version of the device that's being sold by Kinder. I would call it a "development model" There is no label in the middle, the middle knob is from an amp, and the left/right knobs are the kind that go onto Rod's mics. The labels of the knobs are hand written too. Appearance doesn't matter to me, as long as it works. (one trial so far, but I had too many variables going that night)

My question:

Since Kinder currently sells the AFB +, I wondered if there was a "non-plus" version of the AFB. I intend to ask Rod or Kinder which one I have, but in the meantime, I thought I'd see if anyone knew the unit's development history. I can't remember if he sold AFB, and then improved to the AFB+, or not.

dan g.

[John Balding]

My opinion only -

The "+" in AFB+ is the "added" features of the unit. In addition to
eliminating feedback the unit does two things: (1) It calibrates to the
input level of the mic, whereas most devices take the level as-is, for
better or for worse and (2) The output is 5M impedance, so it will make
the most of any amp you plug it in to.

To me, those are the "pluses" the "+" represents. i.e. - anti-feedback
plus mic calibration and impedance matching.

As far as your unit - Rod Piazza and John Kinder have collaborated for
decades on the HarpKing amp and the anti-feedback circuit it employs;
the same AF circuit in the AFB+. Before there was a HarpKing, John would
modify Rod's amps; usually Bassmans, etc. Kinder still does the
"HarpKing Mod" on Bassman-style amps, by the way. Eventually, all the
tinkering and experimenting produced the HarpKing amp - all the do-dads
in one complete package. What you have is probably a prototype of the
AFB+. My guess is that it is identical to the production AFB+, except
that yours has a "history" associated with it. Very cool!

John Balding
Tallhassee, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-...@harp-l.org [mailto:harp-l-...@harp-l.org] On

[Mike Fugazzi]

I sent this to myself by accident, so I am forwarding it to the list.

--- On Thu, 9/11/08, Mike Fugazzi <mfuga...@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Mike Fugazzi <mfuga...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Fwd: RE: [Harp-L] how do you set the kinder afb?- even more questions/ ME TOO
To: "mfugazzi67" <mfuga...@yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, September 11, 2008, 11:48 AM

Great post.  I agree that the AFB+ is the most important piece of gear and the best money I've ever spent on harmonica.

That being said, I still do everything I can to avoid using it.  I have a pedal phobia, I suppose.  What I love about the pedal is that I can run my big amp (Allen Old Flame) into the sweet spot in any room.  I am not a huge fan of very distorted harp, but the Old Flame is based off the Fender Blackface sound.  At the sweet spot, there is the perfect amount of cut, compression, and bite for me (without sounding like a cranked tweed).  I tender to favor and clean and aggressive sound and use my technique to get dirty/raunchy.

The pedal has worked great with any amp I've tried.  It is perfect for sitting in or backlines, or etc.

Mike Fugazzi

Harmonica/Vocals

http://www.myspace.com/niterailband

http://www.myspace.com/mikefugazzi

"Music should be healing; music should uplift the soul; music should inspire. There is no better way of getting closer to God, of rising higher towards the spirit, of attaining spiritual perfection than music, if only it is rightly understood."

-Hazrat Inayat Khan

--- On Thu, 9/11/08, mfugazzi67 <mfuga...@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: mfugazzi67 <mfuga...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fwd: RE: [Harp-L] how do you set the kinder afb?- even more questions/ ME TOO
To: mfuga...@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, September 11, 2008, 11:24 AM

--- In harp-l-...@yahoogroups.com, "John Balding"
<John.Balding@...> wrote:

John Balding
Tallahassee, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: Monsterharp [mailto:Monsterharp@...]
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:52 AM
To: John Balding; ceudoazul@...; harp-l@...
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] how do you set the kinder afb?- even more
questions/ ME TOO

Sometimes a cell phone's will create interference with some electronic
devices. Especially wireless mic's.

I HAVE A
QUESTION....................................

I use a rackmount Sabine feedback exterminator (2400) wich im quite
happy
with ...............but I'm always looking for the next best thing.
My question................ has anyone compaired the Kinder with the
Sabine...........and what did you think.
Thank's
man..............................................................Dane
Paul

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org

Harp-L@...
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l

--- End forwarded message ---