[Dixielandjazz] Ear amps--advice for Ingle et. al.

[Charlie Hooks]

on 7/19/03 2:51 PM, Don Ingle at dingle at baldwin-net.com wrote:

> got two just to be sure!!

    Be sure they are programmable with more than one mode.  These new
digital amps are 1000% better than the old ones, but they're still only a
crutch.  Great for watching TV, for hearing your wife give orders you could
previously have ignored, for attending the Opera (fantastic there!  You can
hear literally everything, with no side interference.

    But step out into the hall for intermission and you're in ear amp hell:
all you can hear is EVERYthing, but no one thing.  My new digitals have a
tiny shaft sticking out that when pushed once cuts out the omni mikes and
turns on the directional ones in front: this does make a good bit of
difference.  It doesn't completely solve the problem, but it takes a bite
out of it.  This problem ain't gonna get solved, not like eyeglasses at all.

    Push the lever again and it changes the mode on that ear to facilitate
phone use: instead of having to remove the amp, I can prevent feedback by
just poking the switch.

    Mine cost almost $3000 apiece, and I'm thinking of suing Barrett's
estate for the bread.  Of course, sitting in a section in front of nine
brass for many years didn't help, either.   And they're all in the Eternal
Symphony now anyway, sitting through those hundred year rests that, I'll
bet, put Barrett up against the wall, especially when he's counted all that
time, and then the leader says, "OK, guys, now take it from the top."