Editing Harmonica (section)

===Accessories===
[[Image:Mark Wenner of The Nighthawks plays amplified harmonica Fridays on the Square downtown Harrisonburg VA July 2008.jpg|thumb|right|upright|125px|[[Mark Wenner]] cups his hands around a "bullet mic" as he plays amplified harmonica.]]

====Amplification devices====

Since the 1950s, many blues harmonica players have amplified their instrument with microphones and [[instrument amplifier|tube amplifiers]]. One of the early innovators of this approach was Marion "[[Little Walter]]" Jacobs, who played the harmonica near a "Bullet" microphone marketed for use by radio taxi dispatchers. This gave his harmonica tone a "punchy" midrange sound that could be heard above an electric guitar. Also, tube amplifiers produce a natural growling [[distortion (music)|overdrive]] when cranked at higher volumes, which adds body, fullness, and "grit" to the sound. Little Walter also cupped his hands around the instrument to create a kind of flexible chamber, giving it a powerful, distorted sound somewhat reminiscent of a saxophone, hence the term "Mississippi saxophone". Some harmonica players in folk use a regular vocal microphone, such as a [[Shure SM 58]], for their harmonica, which gives a clean, natural sound.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

As technology in amplification has progressed, harmonica players have introduced other [[effects unit]]s to their rigs, as well, such as [[spring reverb|reverb]], [[tremolo]], [[delay (audio effect)|delay]], [[octave]], additional [[distortion (music)|overdrive]] pedals, and [[chorus effect]]. [[John Popper]] of [[Blues Traveler]] uses a customized microphone that encapsulates several of these effects into one handheld unit, as opposed to several units in sequence. Many harmonica players still prefer tube amplifiers to [[solid-state amplifier|solid-state]] ones, owing to the perceived difference in tone generated by the [[vacuum tubes]]. Players perceive tubes as having a "warmer" tone and a more "natural" overdrive sound. Many amplifiers designed for [[electric guitar]] are also used by harmonica players, such as the [[Gibson Kalamazoo Electric Guitar#Kalamazoo Amplifiers|Kalamazoo Model Two]], [[Fender Bassman]], and the [[Danelectro Commando]]. Some expensive handmade [[boutique amplifiers]] are built from the ground up with characteristics that are optimal for amplified harmonica.

====Rack or holder====
[[Image:Joan Baez and Bob Dylan.jpg |thumb|200px|[[Joan Baez]] and [[Bob Dylan]], 1963:  Dylan is wearing a harmonica holder.]]

Harmonica players who play the instrument while performing on another instrument with their hands (e.g., an acoustic guitar) often use an accessory called a neck rack or harmonica holder to position the instrument in front of their mouth. A harmonica holder clamps the harmonica between two metal brackets, which are attached to a curved loop of metal that rests on the shoulders. The original harmonica racks were made from wire or coat hangers. Models of harmonica racks vary widely by quality and ease of use, and  experimenting with more than one model of harmonica rack is often needed to find one that feels suitable for each individual player. This device is used by folk musicians, [[one-man band]]s, and singer-songwriters such as <!-- THESE ARE SELECTIVE EXAMPLES, NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST. GET CONSENSUS TO ADD MORE. -->[[Bob Dylan]], [[Edoardo Bennato]], [[Tom Harmon]], [[Neil Young]], [[Eddie Vedder]], [[Billy Joel]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], and blues singers [[Jimmy Reed]] and [[John Hammond Jr.]]<!-- THESE ARE SELECTIVE EXAMPLES, NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST. GET CONSENSUS TO ADD MORE. -->