NBC: Volume

[c. n.]

As some musicians are aware, sometimes guitarists want to crank it way up in 
search for that holy grail tone (the one that they hear in the back of their 
mind....and are after). More than a few times over the years I've heard the 
tone conversation summed up with the declaration that among current blues 
guitarists that Jimmie Vaughan leads the pack (something I concur with).

He doesn't do it anymore, but back in the 70s (and early 80s) he used to use 
some sort of loud as hell vintage Fender amp (probably a Twin...since it can 
be loud as hell), that he would face backward towards the wall so he coulp 
play it louder. Then, I think it was him, who went to the plexiglass 
partition to deflect the sound. I think he eventually moved on to one of 
those high dollar amps whose name escapes me--but somewhere along the way he 
figured out how to get what he was after without anyone's ears having to 
bleed for him to get it.
chuck


>From: pat boyack <pat@PATBOYACK.COM>
>I agree that there are many players who are just plain loud. Its almost 
>like an addiction. You get used
>to it and want it more and more. But on the other hand there are those who 
>will just see a band or
>guitarist and put their hands over their ears. And then there is the ripple 
>effect, someone sees it
>(oh.....lets say the leader of the band or club manager/owner) and 
>automatically assumes its too
>loud. There are also sound men who want to have control of every aspect of 
>the sound and want the
>guitar the same volume of the drums, bass, etc. One time I opened for Derek 
>Trucks at the House of
>Blues in Orlando in '97 and the sound man there bitched me out for being 
>too loud yet licked Derek's
>butt when the then 16 year old was twice as loud.  Then there are the 
>singers who want me to be
>louder one day and quieter the next. As a player you always have to adjust 
>for the situation and deal
>with the neurotic assumptions and misconceptions of musicians/singers who 
>don't have a clue.
>
>Basically, its a classic battle that has been going on for years. I always 
>try to play for the room. I have
>a '56 Deluxe I use for local gigs that call for less volume and my Super 
>Reverb for others. If I see a
>patron putting their hands over their ears I evaluate my volume. If I think 
>they are a "fuddy duddy" (as
>Hendrix would say) I ignore it. If others comment then I try to make 
>everybody happy. Having an
>attitude about being too loud in some guitar circles is considered cool 
>until the gigs stop and there
>are guys who do it.
>
>Anyway, that's my poorly written rant about the subject.
>
>Pat B
>
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