The Price OF "Progress"

[John Bechtel]

Today you can go in to the studio and play your heart out on your steel guitar and the studio has the equipment to make you sound exactly the way you've wanted to sound all your life, on the instrument you've put so much effort in to learning! Then, you leave the session and spend most of your time from then on trying to duplicate the wonderful sound that you had in the studio! Has the studio really done you any favors? When a musician gains popularity from his sound on a recording, a lot of times when he goes out to perform in person, his audience as well as he himself is either disappointed with his sound or overwhelmed by how much better he sounds in person! Progress is basically good I suppose, but; can't it also be a great burden to have to wonder "is my sound going to be there?" Perhaps it may have been better when the studio tried to capture the true sound of the instrument. (Any instr.,not just steel guitar) The "Greatest" are still plagued with trying to duplicate their recorded sounds and it seems so unfair to the whole music industry. I'm not puting down the recording business, just wondering if there will ever be a more level "playing field"? Wouldn't it be nice to go to hear someone play and know what sound to expect without the good possiblity of being disappointed? You might argue that when you go to hear someone, they usually sound better than their recordings! I truely hope so, but; probably a lot of times not! If that's the case, then I guess someone will say "we need to have better studios"! My guess is that the problem will go on and on and on! If your trying to match a studio sound, your going to need a lot of luck! Any other thoughts on the matter? "Big John"

[Matt Steindl]

I think "warts and all", live playing always sounds better. Granted, I am a deadhead, and in Jerrys later years, there were an awfull lot of "warts". But it was still thrilling to hear.

I totally understand what you are saying, but in my case, my studio work does not sound as good as it does when playing w/ other musicians live. To me it all comes down to that X-factor of hearing a live band. At a show you have so many sound sources begging for your ears attention, where as on a stereo recording, everything has its place in the mix and it only comes out of 2 speakers.

The only problem I really have, its that when i record a "big" PSG solo, I always try to double track it in octaves, and playing live, I cant do that(unless I wake up w/ an extra set of arms!).

Point well taken, but I love hearing/playing live music on the edge............."warts and all"!!

------------------
Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

[Mark Herrick]

Not precisely related, but, I saw Bob Dylan in the '70s when he started touring again after his long hiatus. The arrangements for all the songs were different, different tempos, etc. I thought it was great! My friend who saw the show with me didn't like it because it wasn't what he expected after hearing the records.

Live is always going to be different than what comes out of a studio, as it should be.

I know what you mean, however. It's frustrating trying to duplicate the great sounds one hears on most recordings.

[John Bechtel]

Refering to my original long winded comments at the begining of this topic, I guess I said all that just to say this! If you wish to emulate someone's sounds, you stand a much better chance if you study their in person performance, because; you can go to a studio, and they will be able to give you anybodys sound that you ask for, but; you "can't take it with you, when you go" Big John

[Donny Hinson]

Sad to say, that's sometimes true. We're sidemen, not "artists" at all (in the studio), just "hired hands"...paid to perform on cue...in the manner they want, to get the sound they demand.

I was recently gifted with a live tape of myself (made 15 years ago in a club, on a cheap machine), that's far better sounding than <u>anything</u> I've ever done in a studio!

Go figure.

[Bobbe Seymour]

Good idea Donny, I'm gonna' go figure!