Posted by fiddlepogo on Monday, June 27, 2011
Today was one of my volunteer gigs, and it's one of my favorites for a couple of reasons:
First, they are a VERY enthusiastic audience, and they lean towards country-folk and country material, and that's right up my alley. Second, the acoustics are very good, so I can hear the fiddles and my voice clearly, so it's a great place to assess a fiddle's sound in a performance situation. And actually a third reason: no sound system is needed- it's the only gig I do acoustically any more, so there's no setup involved except getting a stool and getting things out of the cases. So I think I have more energy to put into the actual performance.
Actually, a fourth reason- the Activities people there right now are EXCELLENT- they know who likes my material, and they get the word out... and in a hospital environment, that's not always easy to do.
Anyway, Booker with the Prims and improved bass response did GREAT- a real delight to play on everything.
One of Booker's fortes now is that I can always dig in and get MORE, whether for a strong accent on a fiddle tune, or a swell on a long-bow in a waltz or air.
I also had the Eastman with me, and didn't think to get it out of the case till after I'd really finished the performance, but I played one tune, and it also sounded really good with the Prim E string and the rest of an old set of Prims on it, plus some tweaks I did this morning. I finally got the E to where it's SINGING at least a little, maybe not as much as Booker, but enough to enjoy. And the low end seems to have some depth, some 3-dimensionality now, which I had been missing.
I'm going to have to find some more fiddles to tweak.
I'm also thinking I may have to get another set of Prims for Stinky... I got the sense that maybe her essential problem is just that the Precision Lights are TOO LIGHT, just not heavy enough to shake much sound out of her too-thick top and finish.
I'm thinking one of the many reasons why Prims are so popular with Old Time and folk fiddlers is that they got the gauge thing JUST right!!! The mediums are just heavy enough to shake a cheap fiddle like it needs to be shook, but light enough to be flexible and easy to play.
1 comment on “First Gig with Prims and Bass-response Tweaks on Booker”
bj Says:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @6:15:29 AM
I think you're right about the gauge. They're my fave string to play on, and when they're the right string for the fiddle (unfortunately not always the case) then they really make it easy to get the dynamics of the tune right while being relatively easy on your fingers.
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
Newest Posts
'Notation' 1 day
'Baroque bows?' 1 day
'Going Across the Sea' 2 days
'Rhythmic Backup' 4 days
'Hieronimus Amati VIOLIN' 4 days
