The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
Reply to Thread Bookmark Thread
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Posts 26 to 50 of 95
  1. #26

    User Info Menu

    I do a lot of acoustic big band Gigs, and I gotta say it does work.
    BUT: I use a non-cutaway Eastman, that's set up especially for big band rhythm.
    For me the biggest concern is the Room you're playing in, especially the ceiling. If It's fine i go completely unplugged. But i always carry a small Clip on mic with me for less ideal rooms.

    In A Mellow Tone by Swingcat - Listen to music

    The Clip above was recorded with a Zoom recorder in front of the Band, no amp, no microphone.

    Paul

  2.  

    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #27

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by rNeil
    Bonists never get no respect.
    I wasn’t able to find a photo of Rodney Dangerfield playing trombone, so this will have to do. Big Band Playing unplugged?

    Trumpet and reed sections do tend to dump on the bone section. I’ve only known one bone player who deserved that kind of treatment.

  4. #28

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Webby
    I do a lot of acoustic big band Gigs, and I gotta say it does work.
    BUT: I use a non-cutaway Eastman, that's set up especially for big band rhythm.
    For me the biggest concern is the Room you're playing in, especially the ceiling. If It's fine i go completely unplugged. But i always carry a small Clip on mic with me for less ideal rooms.

    In A Mellow Tone by Swingcat - Listen to music

    The Clip above was recorded with a Zoom recorder in front of the Band, no amp, no microphone.

    Paul
    UGH, it sounds so... GOOD!

    And you did that on an Eastman...

    Here we go...

    Your point about the ceiling makes sense. James Chirillo kept telling me to angle my guitar to the ceiling to get more projection--so if the ceiling is made of that cheap stuff...

    Kinda like this: Ceiling Tiles | Mineral Ceiling Tiles | USG 2310 Radar™ Ceiling Panels, Mineral Fiber, White, 48" x 24" | B1627299 - GlobalIndustrial.com

    I could see how that ruins the sound. I only know this because I'm a school teacher--I've seen those types of ceilings a lot... especially while I'm looking up waiting for kiddos to be quiet.

  5. #29

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by KirkP
    I wasn’t able to find a photo of Rodney Dangerfield playing trombone, so this will have to do. Big Band Playing unplugged?

    Trumpet and reed sections do tend to dump on the bone section. I’ve only known one bone player who deserved that kind of treatment.
    T-bones get revenge in brass bands though. Which is all the rage these days. There are tons of them in NY, and tons of gigs. Bad news for us guitarists, usually we are not needed there.

  6. #30

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Webby
    I do a lot of acoustic big band Gigs, and I gotta say it does work.
    BUT: I use a non-cutaway Eastman, that's set up especially for big band rhythm.
    For me the biggest concern is the Room you're playing in, especially the ceiling. If It's fine i go completely unplugged. But i always carry a small Clip on mic with me for less ideal rooms.

    In A Mellow Tone by Swingcat - Listen to music

    The Clip above was recorded with a Zoom recorder in front of the Band, no amp, no microphone.

    Paul
    Great drummer. Barely heard him.

  7. #31

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Irez87
    UGH, it sounds so... GOOD!
    Thanks a lot!

    Quote Originally Posted by Irez87
    And you did that on an Eastman...
    Actually that recording was made before I got the Eastman. What you're hearing there is a cheap plywood Höfner 456, it still works though even though that one doesn't have a solid top and isn't particulary large too.


    Quote Originally Posted by Irez87
    Your point about the ceiling makes sense. James Chirillo kept telling me to angle my guitar to the ceiling to get more projection--so if the ceiling is made of that cheap stuff...

    Kinda like this: Ceiling Tiles | Mineral Ceiling Tiles | USG 2310 Radar™ Ceiling Panels, Mineral Fiber, White, 48" x 24" | B1627299 - GlobalIndustrial.com

    I could see how that ruins the sound. I only know this because I'm a school teacher--I've seen those types of ceilings a lot... especially while I'm looking up waiting for kiddos to be quiet.
    These are the worst. Any "dead" room is really bad, since it just sucks up the tone. No other chance than micing the guitar. Same thing for outdoor gigs. Without a ceiling to reflect I always feel like the sound gets completely lost. You really want some reflection in order to project. I think wooden floors help a lot too.

    Paul

  8. #32

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
    T-bones get revenge in brass bands though. Which is all the rage these days. There are tons of them in NY, and tons of gigs. Bad news for us guitarists, usually we are not needed there.
    Moar bonez



    Do you know Josh Holcomb by any chance? I thought he was making this shit up haha.

  9. #33

    User Info Menu

    Thanks for all the tips and examples.
    We were supposed to play outside last night, had my Roland JC 55 loaded to go when it started pouring. Plan B was inside, a carpeted church assembly room, so I switched to a 1x12 Fender Mustang, had it up on a folding chair. I was seated off the end next to the saxes, electric bass and fairly loud drummer behind me. I could barely hear myself, after sound check and even during our set I was asked to turn UP! I'm not used to playing that loud- things get a bit boomy..

  10. #34

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by JGinNJ
    Thanks for all the tips and examples.
    We were supposed to play outside last night, had my Roland JC 55 loaded to go when it started pouring. Plan B was inside, a carpeted church assembly room, so I switched to a 1x12 Fender Mustang, had it up on a folding chair. I was seated off the end next to the saxes, electric bass and fairly loud drummer behind me. I could barely hear myself, after sound check and even during our set I was asked to turn UP! I'm not used to playing that loud- things get a bit boomy..
    Yeah modern big bands get legit loud

  11. #35

    User Info Menu

    Can't seem to find that video that shows close-ups from Freddie Green's guitar playing. His string action is about 4-5 centimeters.. unbelievably high!! Don't think anything other than the small voicings he used to play would be comfortable on his guitar!

    And I do think they used to mic him in the later years, I recall seeing many videos where they is a mic in front of his guitar.

  12. #36

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Alter
    Can't seem to find that video that shows close-ups from Freddie Green's guitar playing. His string action is about 4-5 centimeters..
    I'm sure you meant 4-5 millimeters.

  13. #37

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo
    I'm sure you meant 4-5 millimeters.
    I'm not so sure about that:


    Paul

  14. #38

    User Info Menu

    Yeah man that was the video, thanks! Talk about action eh? I used to play with my strat like that for years, action as high as I could get it without sounding out of tune. Doesn't do legato though! Don't think I could manage today, and I still play with 13s on my Taylor..

  15. #39

    User Info Menu

    Here’s a good photo:

    Big Band Playing unplugged?-f9938060-887f-4fca-a995-74e9782de16b-jpg

  16. #40

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by grahambop
    Here’s a good photo:

    Big Band Playing unplugged?-f9938060-887f-4fca-a995-74e9782de16b-jpg
    Call that a high action?

  17. #41

    User Info Menu

    could you imagine playing bebop on that

  18. #42

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by joe2758
    could you imagine playing bebop on that
    About 10 years ago I would have been up for it

  19. #43

    User Info Menu

    Looks like there’s a lot of relief on that neck

  20. #44

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by christianm77
    About 10 years ago I would have been up for it

  21. #45

    User Info Menu

    bebop chops

    Big Band Playing unplugged?-ef899f05-1cf6-4320-80f5-ca8618c50c74-jpg

  22. #46

    User Info Menu

    When all sections of the sixteen piece band are playing I use a foot control to set my 25 W Fender amp volume that I can barely hear. When one section or a soloist is featured I use the foot control to eliminate amplification . The section players and soloists appreciate my laying down the rhythm and chord sounds they can hear. Members of audiences have often commented to me that they cannot hear the guitar. I advise them they are correct, and I control the volume so that the band hears the rhythm and chord lines. When I play solo or fill parts behind the singer I adjust the amp foot control to a level the band, the singer and the audience can hear. I play a Gibson L-5. I recently purchased a hand crafted arch-top guitar by Australian Sean Hancock, which projects non-amplified rhythm sounds greater than the L-5, and I am anxious to play for the band at our next bi-weekly rehearsal.

  23. #47

    User Info Menu

    That rookie Freddie Green played with his archtop tilted toward the ceiling, not parallel to the walls as required. How did he ever keep a job doing that?

  24. #48

    User Info Menu

    There’s a web site devoted to Freddie Green and his technique.
    Freddie Green Style: Instruments & Setup

    I found this quote there:
    Rhythm guitar is like vanilla extract in cake.
    You can't taste it when it's there, but you know when it's left out. — Irving Ashby

    Of course, these days a lot of the big band repertoire is not in the Basie style. The last big band I played in ranged from swing to latin to polka to rock (including some guitar solos), so I had to be ready to shift styles instantly. It was an amateur community band that didn’t require close replication of period recordings — it just needed to be listenable and danceable. I tried a variety of guitars, but my Ibanez AF105NT (Ibanez Artcore AF105NT | Vintage Guitar(R) magazine) seemed the most versatile in that situation. Unplugged was not an option, so I’d fiddle with tone control settings and playing technique to try to approximate the harmonic content appropriate for each tune. I usually dialed the bass down and set the volume to be felt more than heard.

  25. #49

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by KirkP
    There’s a web site devoted to Freddie Green and his technique.
    Freddie Green Style: Instruments & Setup

    I found this quote there:
    Rhythm guitar is like vanilla extract in cake.
    You can't taste it when it's there, but you know when it's left out. — Irving Ashby

    Of course, these days a lot of the big band repertoire is not in the Basie style. The last big band I played in ranged from swing to latin to polka to rock (including some guitar solos), so I had to be ready to shift styles instantly. It was an amateur community band that didn’t require close replication of period recordings — it just needed to be listenable and danceable. I tried a variety of guitars, but my Ibanez AF105NT (Ibanez Artcore AF105NT | Vintage Guitar(R) magazine) seemed the most versatile in that situation. Unplugged was not an option, so I’d fiddle with tone control settings and playing technique to try to approximate the harmonic content appropriate for each tune. I usually dialed the bass down and set the volume to be felt more than heard.
    I’ve used a tele for gigs like that

  26. #50

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by grahambop
    bebop chops

    Big Band Playing unplugged?-ef899f05-1cf6-4320-80f5-ca8618c50c74-jpg
    I’m just saying cellists kick sand in our faces.