Now there's a band

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Andy Volk
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Now there's a band

Post by Andy Volk »

NBC, NYC 1928 Joe Green (on xylo)

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Roger Shackelton
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Post by Roger Shackelton »

Hi Andy,

Nice Pic.

The Only Indication That This Is An Old Photo Is The "Sepia Tone" Picture & The Old Style Microphones.

BTW: Is That A Bass Banjo On The Right Or A Banjo
Style Bass? :)

Roger
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Jouni Karvonen
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Post by Jouni Karvonen »

Looks like a "Timpani Bajo".
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Keith Glendinning
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Post by Keith Glendinning »

Found this on the internet, evidently Gibson made some of these instruments. I'll bet they're hard to locate now.
Keith.
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Michael Kienhofer
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Post by Michael Kienhofer »

Are those mics set up for the "Blumlein" Effect ?
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Mike Neer
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Post by Mike Neer »

I wonder if that is Andy Sannella on Hawaiian guitar? I know they worked together.

What do you think?
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Adam Nero
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Post by Adam Nero »

Michael Kienhofer wrote:Are those mics set up for the "Blumlein" Effect ?
I'm no historian but if this is 1928 then stereophonic sound is in it's very very baby stages. If this were being broadcast, I think it'd probably be done in mono, where problems of phase cancellation are exacerbated. The closely spaced sets, I think, are more likely positioned as such to reduce phase cancellation, rather than produce a wide stereo image. Willing to stand corrected of course.
2 cheap dobros, several weird old lap steels, and one lifelong ticket to ride on the pedal steel struggle bus.
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Blake Hawkins
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Post by Blake Hawkins »

No stereo. Just multiple microphones to allow
for wider coverage. The microphones could have been mixed or just alternated. Announcer on one,
Soloist on the other.
The two microphones on each stand were most likely
connected in parallel.
That looks like a publicity photo. The placement of the microphones in the actual broadcast was probably quite different.
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Andy Volk
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Post by Andy Volk »

Andy S. is a good bet. That's his era and his location. He looks a bit more portly there but that's not a history detective deal breaker.
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Andy Volk
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Post by Andy Volk »

Andy S. is a good bet. That's his era and his location. He looks a bit more portly there but that's not a history detective deal breaker.
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Michael Kienhofer
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Post by Michael Kienhofer »

Thanks Adam and Blake !
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Andy Volk
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Post by Andy Volk »

Here's how this type of band might have sounded. Steel solo at about 1:35 ...

https://archive.org/details/AndySannell ... adAboutYou
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Rune Alm
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Post by Rune Alm »

Wonderful clip! Thanks :)
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Doug Beaumier
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Post by Doug Beaumier »

Microphone placement was critical back in those days. It was an art. A good engineer knew how far (or how close) each instrument and vocalist should be from the mic, where they should stand in the room, etc. For recording sessions the entire band played the entire song start to finish, any mistakes... play the whole song over again. I've heard of bands doing 20 or more takes of a song in a session!
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