-
Two words: "Visual volume."
Most bandleaders perceive your volume based on the size, complexity and pointiness of your gear.
If your amp is a 25W Mesa Subway Rocket it should sound right.
If it's a Mesa 5:25 with 12 knobs and five sliders, "Back it down, will ya?"
Similarly, if your guitar is an ES-xx5 you will be heard.
If it's an SG it's too loud even though it's 100% mahogany and rosewood.
For better or worse this is a thing, and you can't give people a personality transplant.
-
01-10-2022 05:30 PM
-
In my universe the answer to "X or Telecaster?" is invariably "Telecaster" unless "X"= "Stratocaster" so then it's a coin toss or a question of color; the Tele is a dignified sunburst, the Strat a rather forward green (Thanks again, Hammertone!).
Last edited by citizenk74; 01-10-2022 at 06:43 PM.
-
Originally Posted by Sam Sherry
I shouldn't complain - the two leaders for whom I worked the most and the longest were fine people and wonderful musicians, although many of their colleagues were all hat and no cattle. All 200+ sidemen on the office roster were serious players with top equipment, and I don't recall ever hearing that any of the leaders criticized anyone's instrument.....except for my amplifier. But it wasn't visual volume - I wasn't loud enough!
I played a 175 through an Ampeg B15 from high school through college and into graduate school. By 1970, rock and pop had become at least as important as dance music for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs etc. As I played the most important instrument and was the youngest band member (not to mention the best looking), I was given most of the rock tunes to sing and front. But the B15 was hardly a great amp for rock. So I bought an ElectroHarmonix LPB-1 (Linear Power Booster - a decent and fairly clean little overdrive) and thought I was rockin' out with the best of 'em until the leader sheepishly asked me if I'd please get a more suitable amp. He even offered to lend me the money if I couldn't afford one. I bought a Kustom 150 covered in rolled and pleated black naugahyde, and I was loud enough. But then, feedback from the 175 was a problem. So I started bringing my orange Mustang to the gigs too, and we all lived happily ever after. And I haven't been told that I wasn't loud enough by anybody since then!
I'm sure we all have enough stories to fill a long, sticky thread.
-
Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
There doesn't seem to be a point where the difference in attack and sustain between my Strat copy and my GCS-1 makes an audible difference for comping. I can hear the overall EQ of the instrument and I prefer the thinner sound for comping in that situation. That's a Lil 59 on the Strat copy and it's the coil split on the GCS. I already have the bass knob on the amp rolled all the way off.
-
Bringing the wrong gear at a gig can sometimes cost you the gig, and the more high profile a gig is, the more the chances of that happening. Many times you just have to use what's expected, and the sound is the least of the issues..
Can't comment on trumpet players harassing the guitarist, haha i always tell them it's a scandal that they only carry so little. My favorite is when they bring the piccolo trumpet, as if the regular trumpet wasn't light enough..!
-
OK, so I did a gig last night with the big band. Brought the Tele. It covered all the bases, from Ellington, to "Mustang Sally". Band leader announced "best guitar solo I've heard in this band" to the audience. Believe me it wasn't that good. But this will be the axe from now on. Thanks again guys.
-
Awesome!!!
Don't forget- Eldon Shamblin played a STRAT with Bob Wills' big band (western swing is usually a slightly brighter guitar tone than the Freddie Green/Charlie Christian thing, but that's where the tele's neck pickup HELPS.)
-
Originally Posted by Alter
* We had a bunch of trumpets and clarinets, at least a dozen each. Many, including myself, were recruited to play other woodwinds and horns, so we had quite a large and varied ensemble. It was a wonderful experience.
Jazz Ballads by Jeff Arnold
Today, 05:41 AM in Chord-Melody