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From: Joe Terrasi
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 10:57:13 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: DC Blues Festival

At 02:18 PM 9/11/96 +0100, j~im.enterprise.net wrote:
>
>On Tue, 10 Sep 1996 mstring~earst.com wrote:
>
>> Why is playing through a PA considered acoustic?
>

> In 'Hi-Fi' terms, a, so called, 'guitar' amp alters the signal, as
>well as amplifying it. A PA (theoreticaly) just amplifies the signal,
>without any colouration of the sound.



In terms of harp, I don't *exactly* agree with this explanation. With harp,
I consider playing "amplified" to be playing by using your hands to create a
sort of air chamber between the harp and the mike. You color the tone in
part by altering or opening this chamber. I think of "acoustic" playing as
leaving some open air between the harp/hands combo. I've heard good
"acoustic sounding" playing through a guitar amp, and even some "amplified
sounding" playing through a PA. For me the difference lies mostly in the sound.

It's worth noting though, the the two types of playing demand very different
"hand" techniques as well. This is another reason for basing the distinction
of the arrangement and use of the harp/hands/mike system.