RE: [Harp-L] acoustic jug band volume

[b2becom@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Steve - good suggestion - normally I set up so I have a line of sight to see the guitar guy's chord changes - Jug band music and the way our guitarist free-forms it being unlike the12 bar blues where you can count on the format - but may need to set up based on acoustic properties as you suggest. We try to play with our backs up against a hard suface or in an alcove that projects better, but all that does is make the aggregate sound project  - I'll experiment - Thanks

Ross 
-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Ross, 
> Another suggestion would be to vary your stage plan until you find a 
> setup 
> that is more acoustically balanced. Move your positions around, spread out a 
> little, set up in a semi circle - placing the louder instrument middle 
> back. 
> 
> Steve 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf 
> Of James Sterett 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 12:23 PM 
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx; ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] acoustic jug band volume 
> 
> 
> Ross, I play with a National Reso (brass) player and a mandolin player as a 
> three piece. those instruments by their very nature cut. Add a washboard 
> in there and I really don't know how you can keep up acoustically. 
> Practice/rehearsal is one thing, but when we play gigs, we have a little PA 
> for the vocals, and I use my vocal mic to play harp into. I don't hold the 
> mic, it's on the stand, and I adjust my volume by moving closer and further 
> to/from the mic. As far as making your harp louder, I've had some luck with 
> increased projection by opening up the back of the cover plates and putting 
> strips of micropore tape on the "wings" (the part where the cover plate 
> screws go through) of the comb for airtightness. 
> 
> jim. 
> 
> >>> "Ross Macdonald" 9/13/2005 4:06 PM >>> 
> 
> Help please - I play / busk in an acoustic jug band - a finger picker 
> guitarist on a really high end national steel resonator, washboard and 
> washtub bass. I play pretty hard to attain the volume that sounds loud 
> enough and right to me and luckily most songs are in C so I can play 2nd 
> position F harp that cuts through pretty well, but audience and friends say 
> I need to be louder to be at the right balance with the guitar. Solos are 
> loud enough, it's when I am chugging rythmn that seems to be the problem. 
> Much worse problem on lower key harp songs, so I got an inconspicuous Smokey 
> amp and use my Shaker Madcat mic to add a little punch - and still the 
> audience wants me louder. I play SP20s and Delta Frosts - Is this a common 
> problem with resonator guitars? or is my finger picker just too loud? or 
> perhaps it might be the position of my harp relative to the audience? I'm 
> stumped - The guitar guy wants the pure Memphis feel to the band (no amps), 
> but it feels like I may blow a gasket if I have to blow hard enough to be 
> heard without amplification. 
> 
> Any jug band street-buskin harp players out there with pearls of wisdom? 
> 
> 
> Ross Macdonald 
> 
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