Always Too Loud?????

Keith DeLong · Post by **Keith DeLong** » 22 Feb 2002 6:44 pm

Speaking as a lead player using a Tele and a Super Reverb, that being a 4/10" speaker amp, I usually have it standing straight up behind me; depending on the size of the room it may be miked or not. I do like to run a bit of volume on the amp rather than depend on the monitors for my stage sound; also, tube amps sound better when they are cranked up a bit. I did like what was said about DYNAMICS--very important, and it makes the difference between music and noise.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 Feb 2002 10:00 am

I play pretty loud to hear myself. I always appreciate it when someone tells me I am too loud (or too soft). It's hard to know what the balance is out front or elsewhere on stage when you're sitting next to your amp.

I'm moving this topic to "Electronics".

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
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Keith DeLong · Post by **Keith DeLong** » 24 Feb 2002 4:49 am

One of the reasons steel players have to crank it up, I suspect, is that the drums are so loud in the mix, including the monitor mix. I have more or less given up going to concerts because they spend all their time getting the drums right and the lead instruments get buried--the last really good concert I saw here in Halifax NS was RebaMcEntire, Clint Black and Vince Gill in 1991.

Tom Hodgin · Post by **Tom Hodgin** » 28 Feb 2002 7:51 am

Everything that I have heard here has much truth to it...but there is one thing I missed or just didn't get to..Let me put it into a question..how many countless hours have you steelers put into special licks and runs..bar twists, knee moves and ect.?? many I know..just to have a guitar picker or fiddle man play right with you when "its your turn to shine"..I play just a few seconds on most every song and I want my work to be heard and appreciated...so where am I wrong..I play loud enough to get them out of my ear...and most of the time it's louder than it should be I know...let me have my time and I'll play some rythum since many guitar players have forgotten how too these days...DON'T THEY EVER LISTEN TO HOW THEY DO THIS STUFF ON THE RECORDS ?? If you tell them to turn down they'll get p--off and there goes the night...I'm a thirty year steeler..so I get cranky about this subject..Just give me my time, I've earned it..tom

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 28 Feb 2002 11:36 am

I've experienced that....they are usually trying to force you into a "melody mode" so they can play harmony....If I want a harmony note I'll play it myself! (unless it's been rehearsed)

www.genejones.com

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 28 Feb 2002 12:01 pm

Slightly off the topic but . . .
I recall many years ago at St. Louis, there was a long break between players and the ambient room noise got REALLY LOUD. In the midst of this chit-chat, Jimmy Day brought that blue guitar to center stage and plugged in. I don't believe Scotty even introduced him, but my memory may be failing me . . . but Day started playing 'I Love You Because' at a volume that was barely audible. Within 5 seconds YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP. If you have something to say and people want to hear it, whether it be the audience or the other band members, THEY WILL LISTEN.

I must applaud Cal -- plus, I'm jealous that he gets to play with a great picker like Pete Mitchell. I've tried to do this too, from time to time, but it becomes very frustrating when every guy that unpacks a Tele thinks he's the show, so he sets his amp on 11. Johan said it right -- nobody wants to talk to someone who doesn't let the other person get a word in edgewise.

I think it's irrelevant whether everything's miked or not. Different venues, usually dictated by size, have different requirements. I play primarily in four piece bands in clubs where money is tight. We cant afford a sound man and, in most places we play, a large, elaborate PA is WAAAAAAY OVERKILL. The key is for everyone to adjust their volume so that everyone can be heard. This requires EARS, not EQUIPMENT. In a perfect world, this would be true. Unfortunately, it's not a perfect world.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 28 Feb 2002 5:32 pm

Larry reduced all of this to the essential truth........." The key is for everyone to adjust their volume so that everyone can be heard. This requires EARS, not EQUIPMENT."..... www.genejones.com

Sam White R.I.P. · Post by **Sam White R.I.P.** » 28 Feb 2002 5:56 pm

When I go to hear a band play I want to hear the Steel that is what makes a country band and I don't care if the lead player likes the steel or not. he does not make it a counrty band.I don't mean for the steel player to be louder than the rest but I have a freind that was playing in a band and the lead player told him he was to loud and we could not hear the steel only the lead. Thats my Quarters worth.
Sam White

Sam White R.I.P. · Post by **Sam White R.I.P.** » 28 Feb 2002 5:57 pm

When I go to hear a band play I want to hear the Steel that is what makes a country band and I don't care if the lead player likes the steel or not. he does not make it a counrty band.I don't mean for the steel player to be louder than the rest but I have a freind that was playing in a band and the lead player told him he was to loud and we could not hear the steel only the lead. Thats my Quarters worth.
Sam White