[Dixielandjazz] Too Loud

[Trumpetom at aol.com]

A pet peeve of mine is loud bass. I've noticed that some (most?) electric 
bass players enjoy placing their amps on the floor. They turn their volume high 
enough so the band is balanced to their ear. HOWEVER the bass sound manly goes 
forward (not up toward their ears). If the band is on an elevated stage riser, 
that riser seems to act like an auxiliary speaker. The audience hears pure 
thunder; the bass player hears normal balance. I''ve irritated a few bass 
players when I was the bandleader by requesting the amp go up on a chair or table 
behind the player so they can hear themselves. 

Some sound guys seem to be burned out half-deaf rock & rollers, not 
musicians. They may not know what a band with horns is supposed to sound like. We can 
buy instruments, take music lessons, practice & rehearse; all that work can get 
undone by a bad sound guy. They are operating their equipment & playing with 
the gadgets instead of presenting the band sound to the audience. When 
possible, our attractive girl singer goes to the sound board & tries to charm the 
sound man adjusting what the audience hears; she succeeds sometimes. 

Tom Loeb
California
<A HREF="www.hotsytotsyboys.com">www.hotsytotsyboys.com</A>