CurvyMama is a special preamp that will give flesh, curves and grain to harps or guitars …
It can fatten and overdrive tight sounding amps.
In that aim, it features an original tone control and a germanium output preamp.
CurvyMama, Harp version
This preamp came to my mind in contact with harmonicists who could not find anything to offer a basic sound neither sour nor deaf to their instrument – and at an affordable price.
One must said that the sound of harp, the very typical tone of bullet mikes rarely fits to the range of adjustment of ordinary tone controls…
At that time, i was experimenting with controls working at Low-medium and medium-treble boundaries. I went naturally to the sound of the harmonica, under the interested gaze of amateur and professional musicians.
And here is CurvyMama, ready to give flesh to harps and guitars.
Main features
• Adjustable gain to adapt the grain or overdrive to the mike.
• Original tone circuit, improving the nuances
in the low medium and at the medium-treble junction..
• Specific presets in Harp and Guitar versions ***.
• Output stage with germanium NOS transistors,
producing a mild and organic overdrive.
• High level low impedance output.
To know more :
CurvyMama’s special tone controls
Powering
CurvyMama is powered by a 9V battery or an external supply (7 to 12V, center negative).
Specific consumption at 9V : 8mA.
By 7V, the output preamp overdrives easily, and the sound is naturally more dirty.
By 12V, the tone stays clear longer, and output level is raised 3dB.
An internal active filter eliminates common power noises:
Hiss from switching power supplies, hum from poorly filtered transformer supplies.
2 Versions
Harp version
• Bandwidth and tone settings studied specifically for the harp.
• 5 controls: Gain, Bottom, Biting, Contour, Volume.
The universal input can take all the microphones usually used for the harmonica :
• Antique piezo or crystal (bullet) microphones (JT30, Green Bullet)…
• Old dynamic microphones with high impedance (Shure Control Magnetic, 545, 588)…
• Modern dynamic microphones with output at low level low impedance (SM57)…
CurvyMama suits to all these sources thanks to its high input impedance (which can do the most can be the least) and the wide range of gain control (0 to 45dB).
Special features in the harp version:
• Invert Phase switch : phase inversion to minimize feedback risks.
• Less Mids switch : 1,5kHz attenuator when a vintage microphone sounds too arsh.
Guitar version
This version is dedicated to guitars with some thin sound.
CurvyMama gives them a denser low end, and enriches their medium / treble spectrum.
• 5 controls : Drive, Bottom, Biting, Contour, Volume.
• No switches.
To order
1. Choose the version.
2. Specify a tone option.
3. Specify the shipping zone.
4. Click <Add to cart>.
5. Click ‘Cart’ on main menu, or keep on visiting.
CurvyMama
Harp version
Price down : 169 €
Preamp-corrector for harp,
as described on this page.
• 5 basic controls :
drive, bottom, biting, contour, volume.
• 2 switches : invert phase ; less mids
LikeYourFace, harp
CurvyMama
Guitar version
Price down : 159 €
Preamp-corrector for electric guitar.
• 5 basic controls :
drive, bottom, biting, contour, volume.
• No specific switches
LikeYourFace, guitar
PCB of the 2018 prototype.
To know more…
Technical links
Technical sheet (downloadable pdf )
Clarifications concerning CurvyMama tone controls
Audio links
