Heritage Johnny Smith a Month later..

[Max405]

ps..johnny smith had many js guitar models, had the upward firing ampeg fountain of sound amp and had his own set of gibson strings..roundwounds with a flatwound heavy (58) E

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I have stayed in touch with my fathers boyhood friend, who is also a very prominent jazz guitarist here in New Jersey who has one of those in his garage. Cool right. Johnny used that at the Birdland so he didn't offend the customers sitting in the 1st row. He didn't want his amp blowing right on the customers. Somehow, I don't think most them would have minded..

[citizenk74]

I like the idea behind the "fountain of sound". Letting the sound bounce off the ceiling gives better dispersion (speakers tend to be directional) and offers a path with fewer sound reflectors/absorbers to the listener's ears. I have always gotten the best results in places with no P.A. by either aiming the amp at the ceiling or tilting the amp to project over the audience's heads. Less earburn for the front rows, better over-all dispersion of the sound, and some ambiance in a lively room; in a dead room, a little 'verb does the trick. All without blasting out your bandmates or your customers.
In situations where there is FOH and a good soundman, I angle the amp toward my ears, always. YMMV.

[neatomic]

johnny s credited dizzy gillespie as the inspiration behind the fountain of sound pointing upward idea



btw johnny played trumpet himself...it was his instrument while in the armed forces bands

cheers

ps- an idea also explored with tilt back legs on fender amps