Greg Heumann
2731 posts
Jun 02, 2014
10:00 AM
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If you've followed me here for very long you know I've always been a huge Mark Ford fan. Mark is one of the most creative and musical modern blues harp players I know of, and was a big influence on my playing. Unfortunately around the time I started to learn harp, he backed away from it for a while. But there's Good News! Mark is back! He retired from his day job, is back writing songs and is about to go out on tour with the Ford Blues Band. And to put icing on the cake, he's blowin' a BlowsMeAway wood mic! Here's what he has to say about it:
"As a long time Harp player, I've had the chance to play through just about every mic there is out there, and I mean it when I say this is the best mic I've ever had. Not only does it sound great, but it's absolutely beautiful. It's light weight compared to the pair of Green Bullets I'm used to working with, and fits in the palm of my hand like it was made for it. Greg makes each of these mics individually out of beautiful hardwoods and metals, machining and turning each piece, creating what is not just another harp mic, but a true and unique work of art. A harp players dream mic!" -- Mark Ford
Here's a bit from their debut performance Sunday 6/1/14 - That's Volker Strifler on guitar and vocals, (Mark Sings too), Pat Ford on drums, Duane Pate on bass.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
Last Edited by Greg Heumann on Jun 02, 2014 10:05 AM
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robbert
315 posts
Jun 02, 2014
8:41 PM
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Great news on all fronts!
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Gus
10 posts
Jun 02, 2014
8:53 PM
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Awesome news, just today I was listening to some of the early Ford Brothers CDs. One of my all time favorite harp players!
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Mojokane
758 posts
Jun 02, 2014
10:24 PM
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me too...thanks so much for this clip...he is amazing!
And the mic is nice, too. LOL!
What a treat...
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Why is it that we all just can't get along?<
Last Edited by Mojokane on Jun 02, 2014 10:30 PM
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groyster1
2614 posts
Jun 03, 2014
6:44 AM
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I have a very old lp of the Charles ford band....I understand mark retired and was working as a paramedic in California....if he has gotten more active that is great news....he has great tone
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Ted Burke
5 posts
Jun 03, 2014
12:10 PM
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This is some very fine playing by one of my favorite harp players. Mark Ford is nearly the perfect stylist. Thanks for posting this.
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HarpNinja
3889 posts
Jun 03, 2014
12:28 PM
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Any info on the element? The rest of the rig? Looks like a Peavey Valve thingy with a Super Reverb?
He and Andy Just have a great modern blues tone.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
Rock Harmonica Lessons
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Greg Heumann
2733 posts
Jun 03, 2014
9:40 PM
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The element is a black label CR. Mark came to my house and hand picked it at the start of the project.
He uses a tube preamp box and then an Alesis effects box on top of his Super. He showed it to me but I was too jazzed about the mic to remember any of it. I will try to learn more next time I see him. But I heard him dry through my amp - and he sounds pretty much like that anyway.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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bubberbeefalo
84 posts
Jun 04, 2014
1:57 PM
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Love his playing. It' good to hear he's back.
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1847
1848 posts
Jun 04, 2014
2:09 PM
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he is adding gain to the preamp....
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Frank
4487 posts
Jun 09, 2014
12:02 PM
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Kingley
3590 posts
Jun 09, 2014
12:17 PM
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Nice work Greg. Another feather to your cap and very well deserved. It was great of Mark to mention you in the interview. You could tell how much he appreciates the mic and the gesture. The interview with Dave Barrett is very interesting. It seems that Mark has changed or is changing the way he approaches things. I like the fact that he says he is trying to avoid playing his old style as much as possible. To me that shows great maturity and advancement as a musician. His hunger to try and take it some place new for him is an adventurous step and one which I applaud. He could have so easily sat on his laurels and done "I'm Mark Ford" thing, like so many players do. I hope he does get around to recording some new stuff soon. He comes across as a really nice, humble and knowledgeable guy. I bet it was great for you to be able to spend some time with him and hear him play through your gear.
Last Edited by Kingley on Jun 09, 2014 12:17 PM
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Greg Heumann
2738 posts
Jun 09, 2014
9:20 PM
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Kingley thanks for bringing it to my attention - I didn't know it was up yet (though i helped Dave reconnect with Mark.)
Mark was just like that with me - very honest, easy and ego-free. He was very nice, gracious, and grateful.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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slaphappy
22 posts
Jun 10, 2014
11:53 AM
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agreed, that was a cool interview. I don't really know his playing very well but was still pretty surprised to find out he U-blocks! It was cool how Dave ferreted that out during the interview..
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1847
1866 posts
Jun 10, 2014
1:49 PM
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he said he tongue blocks.... 3:58
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Last Edited by 1847 on Jun 10, 2014 1:50 PM
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joy
1 post
Jul 26, 2014
1:36 AM
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Yes, Mark is back. Saw a couple of shows this summer (2014) with the Ford Blues Band in Europe, and Mark is as good as ever, even chasing new territory with his harp. Really exiting, and I think there's no one out there doing what Mark does. How come he's not on everyone's top 10 list ? He's on top of mine ! Mark will be doing some shows with brothers Robben and Pat in California this summer, and we can hope there would be some recordings, and that Mark stick to the music business for a while this time.
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DoubleJ
64 posts
Jul 28, 2014
10:21 AM
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What a genuinely humble guy!
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Greg Heumann
2787 posts
Jul 28, 2014
5:53 PM
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FYI - Mark will be performing with brother Robben for a few gigs here in Nothern California soon - including "Sundays in the Park" series in their home town of Ukiah on Aug 17th, and before that at the Sierra Nevada Brewery on Aug 14th.
And now for your listening pleasure - here's the current band from their recent show in Finland:
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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1847
2006 posts
Jul 28, 2014
6:04 PM
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was that from the sound check?
the bass is way too loud, drowning everyone out
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Greg Heumann
2788 posts
Jul 29, 2014
8:32 AM
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@1847 - I have no idea - I wasn't there - but I totally agree with you, at least in the recording.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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