[TetsuoK]

Something that I've realized that has become an addiction over the past few months; I grab my bell when I play.

I've noticed when I play my c through in both octaves, I get alot more volume when I play into the mic from those keys. Nowhere near as good as belltones, but it helps alot in being heard. The little technique I have developed, in order to improve that pickup, involves grabbing the bell while I play, when keying with just my left hand. When I do this, it limits my range of soloability, but depending on how the microphone picks me up, this can make otherwise quiet or unchanging riffs to a new harmonic with added pickup.

I can only imagine that this works by muffling the resonance in the horn, causing a blocking point, and just sending out the whole tones in lesser resonated glory through the tone holes.

In either case, I like the effect it makes to my sound.

 

[cleger]

I'm struggling to understand your technique, but the thread title has to be considered Marty-baiting.

 

[gary]

Sounds like a Michael Jackson thing.

 

[martysax]

The drummer in the Cyclones would always grab it on stage while screaming like a banshee. I would dutifully yell at him to stop and get on with the next song.

He's a great drummer, but he's insane. They all are.



Me, I only grab it on stage when forced to. Never my own.


BTW, You've never played at Jacques, have you?

 

[eldophone]

Tetsuok, I was playing with a big roots reggae band on Saturday. Being that I had to share a mic for my flute and sax with a good man who plays trumpet and trombone...you can imagine the problems I had getting my riffs to be heard. We were playing in concert Gmin...

So...



I GRABBED IT!

I guess you are right with your take on what goes on in the horn...I liked the effect, aswell. (I play tenor, btw)