RE: electric vs acoustic

["Allen Stratyner" <astratyner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

       I can appreciate what everyone has expressed on this topic, but I
would still emphasize acoustic practice over amplified practice for several
reasons. First off in terms of relative importance the amp isn't the source
of "the sound" I.E., Little Walter" wasn't "Little Walter" primarily because
he had mastered amplifier technique. I know, Walter was one of the pioneers
of amplified playing. Yes, he certainly knew how to augment HIS tone with
whatever amplifier he was playing through.  However when I listen to him
solo on a cut I am not moved as I am primarily because of his execution of
amplifier skills, I am moved by Walter shaping his tone with his mouth, his
tongue, his resonant chambers, his mind, and all those other things that
money and current technology (Thank God) just can't buy.  I still ponder his
remarkable ability to have developed his approach to and his execution of
phrasing. Put another way Walter was mostly Walter, and one of the all time
harmonica greats when he played unamplified, but if you would have put
Walter's head on another body, and his body on another head, and plugged
them both into any amplifier, 99+++ % of the time those guys would have just
been ok,  Enjoy the holiday weekend,
         Allen



- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
Of wmharps@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 12:33 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: electric vs acoustic



Rainbow Jimmy wrote:
> I never practice amplified harp. Don't like it. Disturbs
> the family because it's too loud, plus I have to turn stuff
> on. It's much easier to practice acoustic. Aside from holding
> a microphone and not using hand vibrato I don't find there's
> any real difference except volume.

My experience differs dramatically from this.  I used to think there was
very
little difference until I started setting my harps up for overbends.  I can
play these harps as hard as I want acoustically, and they don't choke off.
As
soon as I put a mic in my hands I start choking them.  I found that after
yaers
of practicing acoustically, I now need to practice amplified.

One thing that helps is having a place to leave the equipment set up.  I am
fortunate enough to have a very understanding wife, who has donated a large
part of one room of the house for my musical equipment (it doubles as the
computer room, which is fine with me).  My amplifier setup has separate
preamp
and power amp, so I can set the tone and volume separate.  I can play very
quietly enough that the kids can watch a movie in the next room.  I love
being
able to turn on the amp, plug in a mic, pull the harp out of my pocket and
play!

- -tim






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