praefect
4 posts
Feb 02, 2010
6:45 AM
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Hey guys,
I've been playing in the car commuting to work for about 3-4 months, it gives me great pleasure in what is somethings the best hours of the day, I get about 1h30 practice time everyday and that is the only harmonica time I have (this is my woodshed). As most of you already know, this is a great opportunity if you're commuting to work on a boring straight highway.
Now for the fun part, I bought my first amp yesterday, an epiphone valve junior that I use with an old 520D, so I took the time this morning to set this up through a cheap inverter, I get a pretty clean sound (no buzzing from the alternator or anything...). So I came to work this morning playing amplified harp for the first time in my life, it was awesome.
Now for the question part, I live in Canada, it was -30C this morning (-22F). So I took my amp out of the car at work so the tubes don't break when they heat up again. Anyway, I would like to know if this is necessary.
I know it doesn't sound good to have tubes at -30C get back to +60C when you power the thing but I would like to have an informed opinion on the subject.
For you information I leave my harps in the car and they get to -30 at night, no problem despite the obvious metal contraction/expansion, but with the amp I'm not ready yet.
Obviously as it gets warmer here the amp will stay in the car all the time (the woodshed) and I'll be ready to fire that tone up 24/7.
Can't wait to get back in the car now... maybe I'll go and have lunch out today =)
Adam said most of the harmonica players are a little crazy, so... what do you think?
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toddlgreene
701 posts
Feb 02, 2010
6:49 AM
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HaHa! Playing amplified in your car? That's cool and nuts at the same time! Speaking of nuts, if you're cupping a mic and holding a harp, that involves at least one hand, which means you presumably have one hand on the wheel. If someone pulls out in front of you, the instinctive reaction is to grab the wheel with both hands. Now, the harp would stay in your mouth, but that bullet's gonna fall-guess where? Also, that temp change is brutal on the soft metals of the reed plates-I'd take them out of the car with you.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Feb 02, 2010 6:50 AM
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jaymcc28
228 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:02 AM
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I used to play while driving all the time. It's pretty dangerous so I've cut it back. I try to only play on open highway and I ALWAYS keep one hand on the wheel. I use more of my driving time to just LISTEN. What I've switched to is trying to jump out to my car, while it's PARKED, and play at lunch time. When the weather gets better I sit outside or lean on the hood and play. I also try to take a quick 15 minute break in the afternoon and jump out to play.
I've also considered how to play amped in the car and figured one of those small practice amps would be the best route. However, it's not on the top of my list to purchase just yet.
I'd really warn you about driving and holding TWO things in your hand and up to your face. We don't want to be reading about you in the "Darwin Awards" any time soon.
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"Take out your false teeth, momma, I want to suck on your gums."-P. Wolf
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praefect
5 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:07 AM
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Hey,
Yeah I know it's nuts, the thing is, even before the amp I played with both hands cupping, so that was zero hand on the wheel, the main problem is driving with your knee; it limits the ability to tap your foot. (this is serious)
As for the danger of someone pulling in front of me, I don't see it anytime soon, I barely see any cars coming and going, this isn't exactly Los Angeles, let's just say rush hour is inexistant here. The risk is more of leaving the road, getting wounded and dying from cold before someone sees you (it happens sometimes here).
A law was passed last year prohibiting the use of a cell phone without proper hands-free gizmo. This law doesn't say anything about eating a cheeseburger or playing amplified harp...
Just wait for the summer when I'll be going around town blasting this thing really loud with the windows opened.
BTW, I don't have any feedback problem although I'm in a relatively confined space (honda element) with all windows closed.
Cheers
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Bluefinger
35 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:17 AM
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I never thought of using an amplifier in my car but otherwise it's the same here. The ninety minutes I spend in my car Monday to Friday is where I have the time and oportunity to practice. I can't do it at work for obvious reasons and at home I would drive my wife, my dog and the cats insane.
I never leave my harps in the car when it's freezing or extremely hot. I don't know if it would actually hurt them but I don't want to find out.
Freezing temperatures are harmful for the tubes of the Valve Jr. Well, actually not the low temperatures but the quick temperature change when they are cold and you turn on the amp or when it's cold and you bring it to a warm room. If you bring a cold amp to a warm room the moisture in the air will condense and you have water in places that should stay dry. None of this will probably kill your amp immediately but it might shorten it's lifespan.
I would use a cheapo solid state amp for the car. They are less fragile and if it's dead it's dead. OTOH, why not remove the back seat and install a pair of Harp Kings?
Last Edited by on Feb 02, 2010 7:19 AM
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jaymcc28
229 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:19 AM
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@praefect: I hope you have those "moose whistles" on your car then...LOL. Good luck, Bro.
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"Take out your false teeth, momma, I want to suck on your gums."-P. Wolf
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Hollistonharper
151 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:38 AM
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A little tough love here--no hands on the wheel, only been playing 4 months--uhhmm, sorry, that's kinda dumb, even if there isn't a lot of traffic. When you're learning a new skill, it takes way too much attention away from your driving.
And why are you bothering to play amplified at 4 months anyway? You'd probably be way better off practicing acoustic, unless you're some kind of mega-talented harp freak (there are a few of those on the forum).
The issue as I see it in learning to play while driving one handed, for the sake of disucssion, is that you don't ever learn how to do hand effects to color your sound.
Go ahead and tell me to f*** off if you want, but really, keep in mind that you're putting others in harm's way.
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praefect
6 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:48 AM
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@Hollistonharper: I've played for many years 15 years ago, I just got back to it 4 months ago and this time I do it in a more serious manner, I was on the net 15 years ago (I'm in IT today) but the internet changed so much, now with all the resources available it really helps my learning.
So no, I'm not that a newbie, after 15 years without playing I had catch up to do but I would say I'm better now than I ever was.
jaymcc28 probably has it right, a moose could well stop my carreer in its track.
Anyway I just wanted to share my excitement with you guys, playing amplified for the first time in so many years, it is awesome, did I tell you I bought this 520D 15-20 years ago but never connected it to an amp, I trashed all my harps when I stopped playing but I kept the mic, it was a very emotional moment when I inserter the penis-shaped connector in the VJr, IT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER GUYS !!!
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jonsparrow
2022 posts
Feb 02, 2010
8:22 AM
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your pretty crazy. i bet you would be fun to drink with.
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Pluto
35 posts
Feb 02, 2010
8:28 AM
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I became interested in playing harp will delivering pizza's in the 70's. I've been playing while driving for 35 years! Chromatic is a bit tricky, but I always keep a hand on the wheel, and eyes on the road. Typically driving is a time to work on scales or runs. I don't feel the harmonica is any more distracting than a cigarette or a cup of coffee.
Pluto
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Bluzdude46
429 posts
Feb 02, 2010
8:40 AM
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I Practice when I drive, No amp though I would spend too much time trying to dial in the room
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The Original Downtown Philadelphia Fatman... Accept No substitutes!
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Shredder
133 posts
Feb 02, 2010
1:28 PM
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I've played in the truck also for years. used to be 22 miles one way on the interstate to work, now its 10 min. on a rural road. Yeah, one hand on the wheel just running over the basics. It's a good time to practice that vabrito and just coloring the sound with the mouth, tounge and throat.Put it down when the traffic gets heavy!
Mike :)
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nacoran
981 posts
Feb 02, 2010
2:03 PM
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I predict a terrible accident at the crossroads.
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bluzlvr
309 posts
Feb 02, 2010
2:17 PM
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My car is my main woodshed but never when driving.
Most of the time I use the little Smokey for amplification, but once in a while I'll drag my battery powered Mico Cube out there.
It actually gets a pretty good sound from the passenger side floor...
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harmonicanick
583 posts
Feb 02, 2010
2:38 PM
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Hey,
On my way to work I have a 59 Bassman RI on the backseat of my Renault, thro' a power pack, and a shaker mic hangin' off the sun shield.
I like to get the tubes warm, so I fire the baby up while I'm scraping ice offa the windscreen.
Ten minutes later, the motor and the amp are cookin'..
So its just fire in a cd, maybe a 'march' jam track in E, grab an A golden melody, and 'ere we go...
Its legal :-) and open 'em winders
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Aussiesucker
532 posts
Feb 02, 2010
5:34 PM
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An accident going somewhere to happen!
Driving and the safety of you and others is far more important than practicing the harp. Plenty of other time to practice ie when you can give it full concentration. I do practice in the car ie when parked and waiting to eg collect grandchildren from school.
Not sure how the police would respond? Over here drivers are not even allowed to use mobile phones and there are moves to also ban smoking in cars.
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Buzadero
294 posts
Feb 02, 2010
5:55 PM
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I can tell you first hand that the drive from California back and forth to Louisiana is a long slog. Texas is 24hrs by itself. I can also tell you that the old school traditional Pignose has a 9vdc power input in the back and that Radio Shack carries cigarette lighter plugs that drop it down to 9 volts for cheap. That, a Shaker mic and time on your hands can burn a lot of miles of masturbatory entertainment.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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LeonStagg
111 posts
Feb 02, 2010
6:28 PM
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@ Buzadero,
Next time you head through Houston on I-10, let me know and I'll meet you for coffee.
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Delta Dirt
96 posts
Feb 02, 2010
6:28 PM
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Let me get this right ....you are playing amplified with a mic while driving? Wow! Ive been playing while driving for years but not amplified. No big deal if you can drive with your knee and be careful. Here in the hot south if you leave harps in a vehicle long it will guarantee a death sentence on them. But i usually keep an A,C,and D cheap special 20 anyway to jam along with my xm radio blues station.
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Jim Rumbaugh
144 posts
Feb 02, 2010
6:59 PM
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the original question::: can I leave an amp in the cold??
I probably would and do leave mine out.... but.....
going cold to warm could cause condensation to form inside the amp. The moisture MAY cause problems in the long run.... do you feel lucky?????
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Gwood420
88 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:30 PM
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there are ALOT of things worse to do while driving.. at least while playing harp, you have your eyes on the road... changing the radio, texting, putting on makeup(ladies and some men..), placing a call from a cell phone, dealing with kids in the back, eating.. the list goes on.. but my eyes are locked on the road while playing harp.. you would be a moron to drive with your knee in bumper to bumper traffic, but on back country roads.. i drive 35k per year at least, and 99% of the times i have ever been close to an accident, i was driving with one or two hands, but either doing one of the afore mentioned things that took my eyes off the road, or someone else was..
as for the amp thing.. no idea.. but i wouldnt wanna find out if it was bad with my amp :)
Last Edited by on Feb 02, 2010 7:32 PM
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harpwrench
162 posts
Feb 02, 2010
7:56 PM
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A lot of cars (sorta) had tube amps in them from the factory before solid state came along, they were called radios. Right?
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Jim Rumbaugh
145 posts
Feb 02, 2010
8:16 PM
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Harpwrench is right about radio's and amps
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Bluzdude46
442 posts
Feb 03, 2010
2:12 AM
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ROFL yea but where do I plug in my Bullet, Harpwrench??? Hysterical
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The Original Downtown Philadelphia Fatman... Accept No substitutes!
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praefect
8 posts
Feb 03, 2010
3:33 AM
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good point about the radio tubes. I'll probably leave it in the car full time starting in the spring, it's just too new now... Next winter it will be allright.
For those who do it, it is pretty obvious that playing harp on the road is far less dangerous than doing anything else that would get your eyes off the road, I agree with Gwood. I drive a motorcycle during summer and this is also more dangerous.
I still do it because I love it, I have 2 small children and a very good life insurance, life is short guys, you gotta enjoy it a little!!!
If it wasn't from my car I would be down to 1 hour a week of harp playing, totally unacceptable.
Cheers
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praefect
9 posts
Feb 03, 2010
3:40 AM
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harmonicanick: There ya go, I know I couldn't be the only one, another guy freezing his ass in his car and playing amplified!
Where are you located?
I'm in Quebec (french Canada, yes there is such a thing).
When I saw on the net that some americans are calling us frostbacks, I laughed my a** off I think it's a pretty good nickname. I'm poudly using it myself.
BTW, I put my pin on MBH's map. Frostbacks represent!
Last Edited by on Feb 03, 2010 3:41 AM
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jaymcc28
233 posts
Feb 03, 2010
7:04 AM
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@preafect: Let me know when you master playing harmonica while driving your motorcycle! That would be something I'd want to see!
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"Take out your false teeth, momma, I want to suck on your gums."-P. Wolf
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The7thDave
23 posts
Feb 03, 2010
8:05 AM
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Glad you brought the harping while driving thing up--I've been meaning to broach the subject myself. I've been doing this since I started a year ago, and the ability to do this is one of the reasons I took up this instrument. Commuting and lunch breaks constitute the bulk of my regular, daily woodshedding time.
Harmonica and kazoo have got to be about the only musical instruments you can safely play while driving, and I suspect the majority of harmonica players do this. A friend told me that he once saw a guy driving down the road playing a sax, though.
I get some really strange looks from time to time...
Last Edited by on Feb 03, 2010 8:59 AM
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Bluefinger
42 posts
Feb 03, 2010
8:11 AM
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"A friend told me that he once saw a guy driving down the road playing a sax, though."
Now if I only could figure out a way to play my double bass while driving ...
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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RyanMortos
597 posts
Feb 03, 2010
8:38 AM
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I practice daily during my hour lunch break in my car when it's not mobile. I haven't really enjoyed playing one handed while driving but sometimes I will practice something simple like vibrato, warbles, & overblows cause they don't require much thought. I appreciate bluzdude not playing while driving and having passengers :D .
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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gmacleod15
32 posts
Feb 03, 2010
8:48 AM
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I also play in the car when driving conditions permit. I don't play in traffic so to speak. The amp thing sound interesting but I can't imagine adequately handling the harp and mic with one hand. I use this time to hone my acoustic skills.
I have left my second string harps (LOs)in the vehicle in cold Canadian temperatures without any obvious affects from the cold. However I do try to minimize condensation by heating them before I play.
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