Re: [Harp-L] Distorted harmonica versus Clean harmonica sound question

[Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sonny Boy II played acoustic, as did SBI and all the pre war players. Some
of them sounded filthy.
RD

On 9 August 2012 02:57, Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Sometime Little Walter didn't have a choice.
>
> The Chess brothers were skittish about letting Walter record amplified,
> both on his own and with Muddy, and his recording career hopscotches around
> between acoustic and amplified playing.
>
> His acoustic attack is usually harder than his amplified attack. His long
> fliud lines seem to appear mostly on recordings where he played amplified.
> You could probably discover a lot about how amplification or lack of it
> changed his approach (or didn't).
>
> Winslow
>
> Winslow Yerxa
> President-elect, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of
> the Harmonica
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
>             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Randy Singer <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 8, 2012 7:40 AM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Distorted harmonica versus Clean harmonica sound
> question
>
> I feel that distorted musical styles in blues fit because they fit the
> distorted life style(s) that blues seem to stereotypically represent. The
> distortion puts you on edge, alerts your self survival systems, gets you
> ready for 'fight or flight', raises your blood pressure and in general gets
> you ready for a big surprise or shock. Clean cut playing wouldn't fit.
>
> I would think that distorted style wouldn't be apropos when playing to
> Mozart.
>
> smokey-joe
>
>
> On Aug 7, 2012, at 1:29 PM, Randy Singer wrote:
>
> > I play both amplifed distorted style AND clean harmonica style into a
> mike and PA.
> >
> > Of course, it seems much more fun to play blues, etc with a distorted
> harmonica amped sound.
> >
> > But here is my question......
> >
> > Some of the greatest blues solos are done with the amped style.
> >
> > I wonder if if some of the greatest amped blues soloists like little
> walter, jason ricci, william clarke, etc, would have played their signature
> songs as well if they played them without distortion?
> >
> > Anyone wish to chime in????
> >
> > Do YOU feel you can play hard core blues all night armed with only a
> mike? Isn't that the true test of a legitimate blues harp player? Not to
> use effects or distortion as "crutch".
> >
> > best,
> >
> >
> > randy singer
>



-- 
Rick Dempster
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