- Jul 3, 2007
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- 1,036
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- Author of "Soul Fingers." I'm the Duck Dunn expert.
I think we all should keep in mind that this is a young student; and as such, he probably doesn't have any disposable income.
If there's any available funds at all, he could buy a pickup for the school's upright and probably have a decent luthier install it and do some inexpensive fixes (that the school can hopefully cover the cost of). When he leaves the school, the pickup goes with him.
Let me amend: this is probably the cheapest option to get that upright sound. If there's no budget, suggestions should probably be free options.
Here's what usually happens in this exact situation: the student and band director will waste class time playing with the EQ, and ultimately he/she will tell the student to cut all the highs and boost all the lows. Student does this, and band director will say something along the lines of "well it's not great, but it will do."
I usually suggest to band directors who are picky about the bass sound that they might want to plan a program around the instrument, rather than trying to force something to happen that ultimately won't satisfy them like they think it will.
If there's any available funds at all, he could buy a pickup for the school's upright and probably have a decent luthier install it and do some inexpensive fixes (that the school can hopefully cover the cost of). When he leaves the school, the pickup goes with him.
Let me amend: this is probably the cheapest option to get that upright sound. If there's no budget, suggestions should probably be free options.
Here's what usually happens in this exact situation: the student and band director will waste class time playing with the EQ, and ultimately he/she will tell the student to cut all the highs and boost all the lows. Student does this, and band director will say something along the lines of "well it's not great, but it will do."
I usually suggest to band directors who are picky about the bass sound that they might want to plan a program around the instrument, rather than trying to force something to happen that ultimately won't satisfy them like they think it will.
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