From exp456@cox.net Wed Aug 03 10:25:33 2005
Subject:Loud guitarists

I recently quit a band in which I had invested hundreds of hours, for
the reasons mentioned in previous posts.
The guitarist would not play without loud distortion - even if the
part called for an acoustic or clean sound.
To make matters worse, the bassist loved the sound he would get by
rattling his speakers.
I warned them before I joined, that excessive volume was my number one
gripe; but they couldn't change. And this was at rehearsals.
I brought a db meter to our practice, which showed the sound levels in
the range that caused permanent damage to our ears after very little
exposure.
They couldn't change, so I quit.
Besides the guitarist playing with loud distortion, he had no idea how
to merely accent if someone else were carrying the chords.
I gave him DVDs of concerts, but he never got it.
95% of guitarists I've played with, are this way unfortunately.
It makes me want to play only with acoustic guitarists.

Bob