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Re: PT hearing revisited



Gary M., re:

>Now, here's what I've never understood:
>why can he tolerate the volume of a Boland on stage, and JAE of course, but
>not wish to play at that volume himself? If his monitor and speaker were as
>remote from him on the stage as Boland's, what's the difference, unless
>possibly he can't hear certain parts (the high ends?)? Also, why can he not
>simply play loud electric, only not as loud as the famously loud Who were in
>their prime? 
>

A couple of thoughts: Both JAE and Bolton were on the other end of the stage
during the 89 tour and a plastic baffle was up in front of the drums. PT had
monitors with foot selectors that controlled volume and source (i.e., drums,
vocals, bass, himself, etc.) so that the sound getting to him was very
limited. His old amps, the Hiwatt stacks, weren't behind him as in every pre
85 show.  He had the guitars plugged into preamps which fed directly into the
PA. Therefore there was no sound coming from behind him. Now, the problem
with not having speakers behind you connected to the amps is you don't get
any feedback -- controlled feedback, that is. The quality of an electric
guitar sound comes from the sounds of the amps and speakers and guitars all
together creating natural harmonics. That's how power chords get their
full-chord sound. The levels create natural harmonics above each of the
notes, so that a 3-note chord actually sounds like 5 or 6 notes.
Amplification allows this to happen. Part of that equation is missing when
there's no speakers. 
When Pete played electric on the PD tour, he was, if I remember correctly,
using smaller Mesa/Boogie studio amps, which, given the relatively quieter
setting (as opposed to what the Who would do), probably worked well, and
didn't bother his ears too much. He also wasn't playing a whole lot of the
guitar parts. There was some other 'cat' there doing the lead work, just like
Steve Bolton.

Hey Rich, is this an approved subject? I know I forgot to fill out the proper
form in triplicate to get the subject approved, but couldn't you just let
this one slide? Now let me get this straight -- So, WF, if it's Pete I'm
talking about, it's ok; if I'm talking about Pete's guitars, or Pete's ears,
I should start a new mail group - right?


All right. I'll shut up now.

Litgo