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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Damn, I hate that.
Damn, I hate that.
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Leatherlips
226 posts
Jan 30, 2014
5:51 PM
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Just started practicing in a studio environment, so it seems everyone has to play loud now.
I said to our band leader, that I was not prepared to play in such a loud manner simply because we now could.
I must be getting old ( getting? ) because when the music becomes muddy as a consequence of loudness, I just don't want to be there.
He says he understands where I'm coming from, but it quickly got back to where it was.
Anyway, we're having a meeting next Monday night to decide what's to happen with gigs etc and I'll bring the subject up again.
Just needed to have a whinge, so there you have it.
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jbone
1481 posts
Jan 30, 2014
6:12 PM
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Good luck to you. It's a tough situation sometimes.
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didjcripey
688 posts
Jan 30, 2014
8:05 PM
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Yeah, good luck.... and join the club
(musicians earplugs are pretty good, actually sounds less muddy with them in)
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Lucky Lester
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SuperBee
1649 posts
Jan 31, 2014
1:03 AM
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It's not just me then
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jbone
1482 posts
Jan 31, 2014
5:35 AM
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I've found that once the volume creeps up it pretty much will NOT go back down. The exception is if anyone else in a band feels that things are off track and is willing to form a new project with you and it's understood from the git-go that volume IS an issue.
One band I worked with in the 90's, we played small venues mostly and nobody had more that about 25 watts on stage. We put our amps up front tilted back and facing us for use as stage monitors and miced everuything to the p.a. We played mostly small venues like cafes and wine bars and were pretty successful even with 5 pieces and a dedicated female vocalist.
You may have a different adventure but I've left several bands behind over this. Being a vocalist as well, my last project led to me getting a small polyp started on a vocal cord, so I am currently on voice rest until it heals. This was caused by volume, and by my own unwillingness to stand up and make an assertion of what I REQUIRED from my band mates. While everything else was at mid to high levels my vocal mic would mysteriously stay low. As I strained more and more to hear myself and be heard my voice suffered. I left that outfit but not before the damage was done.
I have blown out a lot of harps over this sort of situation as well. In recent years I have usually chosen to leave a project like that. I have even had a modded Bassman on stage and the band was too loud for 40 watts and 4x10's.
I just don't have time for that any more. Wife and I have 12 watts each and a small Fender p.a. when we need it. We do acoustic and we also do cafe's, open mic acoustic stuff, and any venue or opportunity where it's low volume. We are about to bring in drums and bass and the next criteria after skill is ability to lay back and stay reasonable.
Serious good luck wishes to you LL!
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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The Iceman
1432 posts
Jan 31, 2014
5:35 AM
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When the band plays loud, it forces the harmonica to play loud, too. For me, this is very uncomfortable.
So much expression lives in breathing the harmonica and the myriad of subtleties available.
Loud playing is two dimensional. I prefer all three.
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The Iceman
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dougharps
527 posts
Jan 31, 2014
9:02 AM
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Not counting beginner bending problems, 95% of the wrecked reeds I have had over the years have been from playing in situations when I couldn't hear myself very well due to the band being too loud. The others have been when I got excited and bent to the floor or hit chords too hard (usually 4 draw.) Those were my error... and the reason I now have learned to replace reeds.
I avoid overly loud situations now most of the time. Occasionally I may still sit in with a band that is too loud and if I find I lack adequate monitoring and can't hear myself, I know I am placing my harps at risk.
My hearing, too! I don't know if I have tinnitus, because I can't hear it over the constant ringing in my ears.
Lately I have been playing acoustic gigs and jams, and enjoying it. My electric band is reforming, but they like reasonable stage volume, so hopefully it won't be an issue.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jan 31, 2014 9:04 AM
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