Buckethead!
"The paths of experimentation twist and turn through mountains of miscalculations, and often lose themselves in error and darkness!"
--Leslie Daniel, "The Brain That Wouldn't Die."
Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1...SV2qtug/videos
The first indicator that a jam is too loud, and probably populated with people unaware of jam etiquette. People can’t hear their own instruments. Then it self perpetuates, people can’t hear and play louder. The eventual ‘Wall of Noise!’
Play em like you know em!
I prefer the slightly more stylish 2-gallon galvanized bucket, which also comes with a nice metal chin strap, and of course can double as a private privy if necessary.
I have worn some wide rim hats which actually do echo the sound of an instrument into the ears. But these hats tend to hit things whenever I walk anywhere with them.
Where are the cones of silence when we need them???
-- Don
"Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
"It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."
2002 Gibson F-9
2016 MK LFSTB
1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
[About how I tune my mandolins]
[Our recent arrival]
Thankfully, all the jams I attend these days are frequented by decent players who understand the need for instruments to be heard, especially in breaks. These are usually “closed” jams. However, I’ve been to some jams in my time that have been wrecked by various individuals who feel that it’s necessary to hammer their instruments so hard that they completely destroy any subtlety and feel.
Perhaps the bucket should be reserved for those players instead?
Don - I hope you clean it out before sticking it on your head!
When i've been in a 'jamming' situation (on banjo) at a festival in the past,mostly,i'm trying to play as i would in a band situation - can i come up with a decent break etc.... ! So, if it's too loud - i take a few steps back into a ''quiet zone'' so to speak, & listen to my playing in the context of what the other guys are playing - does what i'm playing work ?. I'm really not overly concerned about what the others think of my playing,or even if they can hear me or not - i'm trying to play ''to improve - not impress !'' & it'll be the same on mandolin should i ever get the chance ?,
Ivan
Weber F-5 'Fern'.
Lebeda F-5 "Special".
Stelling Bellflower BANJO
Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.
Of course, in a bluegrass jam, the appropriate question to bear in mind is "What would Bill have worn?" After minutes of search throughout the internet, I have been unable to find photographic evidence to answer the question. HOWEVER, given the widespread use of galvinized buckets - especially in rural areas - I feel it safe to say that the proper personal monitoring device for a bluegrass jam is the aforementioned 2 gallon galvanized bucket as identified by dhergert. Any other choice clearly would be "no part of nothing."
Perhaps the answer is in the new Bill Bible...
Make America Grateful Again!
2013 Collings MF, 2017 Northfield NF2S, 2019 Northfield Big Mon F
1968 Martin D12-20, 2008 Martin HD28, 2022 Martin CEO 7
1978 Ibanez Artist "Flying Eagle" Masterclone Banjo
This is probably an unsatisfying response, but when I encounter "bad" jammers I just think, "Okay, here we go... it won't be fun but I'll learn something - just not what I wanted to learn."
And usually you learn what destroys feel, groove, expression, Jamming 101, etc. and exactly how that behavior ruins the groove.
Then I make certain I'm not doing that!
Secondly, there's something to be said for not hearing yourself. I know, sounds crazy, but as an upright player I often don't hear my instrument as well as I'd like. So you develop other senses. Then again, I come from a choral background where you're not always hearing yourself as much as the collective.
---
Cheap Craigslist Guitar | Mandolin Made of Wood | Upright Bass with Strings
That's when I like to break out the Binford 6100 Mandoblaster (TM) and peel the paint with a sucky solo. :-) Darn it! I should've learnt me some pickin first. Oh well, it goes to 11. Seriously though, you can always hang back on volume and say something politely next opportunity. Communication comes in many forms.
Blessings
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