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

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

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