Harp Blaster (HB52) cable
Hi all,
I have tried, without success, to get an answer on how the cables for a Harp Blaster are wired. Honer has no official wiring diagram in the manual. Most posts online suggest it's the same wiring as the Blues Blaster, but some explicitly warn it's NOT the same as the Blues Blaster.
I found some links to cables that supposedly work, but wanted to make my own from some old ones I have. Has anyone first hand knowledge if it's pin 2 or 3 that is hot?
Greg and "mlang":
Lots of interesting stuff about this when one goes down the Google rabbit hole. Including mention of folks who rewired the Blues Blaster mic itself, rather than re-wiring other types of cables to match Hohner's wiring.
While I've never owned either mic (I'll stick with my two BlowsMeAway mics and the one ancient Shure you worked on for me), quick question: Are both the Blues Blaster and the Harp Blaster high impedence? (I've from time to time given quick advice to folks who've purchased a low impedence mic, plugged it straight into an amp, and wondered what was wrong with the output. And once I've directed them to different places they can get a hi-lo impedence converter, all of a sudden the mic comes alive!)
Hi, Rob
Yes, both mics are high impedance. LOW impedance + XLR is standard the world over. Low impedance XLR is wired in "balanced mode." Everyone looks at an XLR connector an assumes it is low impedance.High impedance + XLR is wired in "unbalanced mode" and just messes with the Universe. It violates a rule we've all come to hold sacrosanct - that "if you can connect Cable A between Thing A and Thing B, it must be right!"
Thank for the quick reply. That's the authoritative answer I was looking for!
Just weird that Hohner doesn't have an official wiring diagram online give that this is a popular mic and so many seem to be confused about the proper cable.
"Hohner Messes With The Universe" souns like the perfect title for the next Disney/Marvel superhero movie!
Next time.... you might consider a dedicated AHEM like me. :)"Amplified Harmonica Equipment Manufacturer".
Finally getting around to wiring my cables and have a quick follow up question. For the 'Pin 2 hot' cable does it make a difference if I ground pin3 or do I leave it unconnected?
Hi - doesn't really matter. I found ONE XLR wireless transmitter (Nux or Joyo, can't remember which) that wouldn't work if Pin 3 was NOT grounded - but no mic I know of requires it.
Great, thanks for the info!
Hi M
The HarpBlaster cable is definitely NOT the same as a BluesBlaster cable. They both use XLR to 1/4" mono cables, and you can't tell one from the other just by looking at them. Both cables have the cable shield connected to the "sleeve" of the 1/4" connector. However the BluesBlaster wants the tip of the 1/4" connector connnected to Pin 3 of the XLR connector, while the newer HarpBlaster wants that connected to Pin 2. These two "unbalanced mode" wiring schemes are refered to as "Pin 3 Hot" and "Pin 2 Hot" respectively.
Don't feel bad - this confuses everybody and they didn't teach it in high school. But I I have to deal with it frequently,, and I promise my answer is "1st hand!"