[Dixielandjazz] RE: Cloddish bass players

[john petters]

Bill said
>One evening the clarinet player in the group noticed this and, as our mate
was adjusting his amp, duplicated the 'feedback' note, prompting
readjustments down until the audio level was almost back to zero.
After the first bracket the banjo player, puzzled by the fact that he could
>not hear himself, turned up the amp volume

Great story Bill. I personally hate amplification, although sometimes it is
required. I do not like bassists using pick-ups - horrible wasp in a jam jar
sound. I do have to put up with amped basses when I work with other bands.
Some of them are so loud that I can't hear the front line. This in turn
forces them to overblow and forces me to play louder. Another problem - if
the bass or piano player has dicky time, they can't hear me if I'm on
brushes and the rhythm section falls apart. Bring back live acoustic music.
We played our Hoagy show on Friday at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge
Wells, every body could hear everything. Only amplification was for the
vocals

John Petters
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
www.traditional-jazz.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Haesler [mailto:bhaesler at bigpond.net.au] 
Sent: 07 September 2004 11:00
To: john petters; Butch Thompson; dixieland jazz mail list
Subject: Re: Cloddish bass players

Dear Butch, John and all,
Many years ago a Sydney banjo player/vocalist (a jazz identity who shall
remain nameless at this stage) who suffers from industrial deafness
regularly used an amplifier for his own benefit.
Each night before a gig, after tuning up, he adjusted the amp audio level by
turning it up until he heard 'feedback', then dropped the level a notch.
.
But the clarinet player was waiting.
By the third bracket however, he was caught out.
Laughter all round -  including the banjo player.
Very kind regards,
Bill.