Accessories Sound Back Clip-ons reflector

[Col]

Has anybody used one of these Sound Back clip-ons for gigs?

They almost seem too good to be true. I'm always having problems hearing myself even with a monitor, and last week I didn't even have one of them.

This seems like a cheap and convenient way to hear what you're playing. But does it work?

 

[Pjonah]

Not familiar with this item, but I guess its what I think is similar to a home botch I tried once.

I used a piece of perspex with a hole for the mic, but the problem is, when you're live, the spl of our band was so loud I couldn't hear what was reflected enough to be of much use. Probably okay in an intimate jazz club but useless in a rock band.

Simon

 

[Col]

Perfect description Simon, thought about making one myself as these things sell for ?30+ but given your note I won't bother.

What's the solution then? I play with a loud rock/blues band and I've given up telling the guitars to turn it down, plus we have the loudest drummer on the south coast.

To add to this I try and wear earplugs as I have constant tinnitus and gigging doesn't help.

Perhaps I ought to play lounge/jazz 😛

 

[dooce]

I will be able to report on this gadget on Saturday - it was on my birthday pressy list so it gets it's first outing at a gig on Friday - Pjonah will even be on hand to give a second opinion!

(although my first reaction on undoing the wrapping was "30 quid? For that?" )

 

[Taz]

Hi Col, I used to play with a loud band and found this to be a very good solution. If the post doesnt make much sence its because I've just cut and pasted from an earlier thread. I hope it helps.
I use a clip on made for me by a firm in Oxford. They normally just do PA gear but they made me a clip on mike that has a monitor ear piece attached, so you can hear exactly what the sax sounds like. Its a real bonus if A. your playing with a loud band and B. you are not very confident. I found the latter to be brilliant. If I remember rightly, I paid ?129.99 for it. Its still going strong after nearly 3 years of abuse. The company is called Innerear and you can call them on 01865873118 I cant remember the chaps name. Also i think its got a life time guarantee

 

[Pjonah]

Thats the answer, a clip on ear piece, didn't have one myself but its obvious really.

Taz got a really good deal out of that one.

Simon

 

[Pjonah]

South coast Jazz Hummmmmmm, how bout inviting Mary Gulligan and Desmond Paul along for the Party.

I can see the line up already! We all stand around a seated William Vacation (Miss Holiday), Ben Webster, Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins and said above.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tNSp7MaADM

Classic viewed many times by most of us here no doubt.

Simon

 

[Col]

Taz wrote:
Hi Col, I used to play with a loud band and found this to be a very good solution. If the post doesnt make much sence its because I've just cut and pasted from an earlier thread. I hope it helps.
I use a clip on made for me by a firm in Oxford. They normally just do PA gear but they made me a clip on mike that has a monitor ear piece attached, so you can hear exactly what the sax sounds like. Its a real bonus if A. your playing with a loud band and B. you are not very confident. I found the latter to be brilliant. If I remember rightly, I paid ?129.99 for it. Its still going strong after nearly 3 years of abuse. The company is called Innerear and you can call them on 01865873118 I cant remember the chaps name. Also i think its got a life time guarantee

Thanks Taz, perfect solution, I'll look into getting one of these and carry on rocking rather than lounging
😛
Thanks for all your help, I'll give the plastic a miss.

 

[dooce]

Col wrote:
Has anybody used one of these Sound Back clip-ons for gigs?

They almost seem too good to be true. I'm always having problems hearing myself even with a monitor, and last week I didn't even have one of them.

This seems like a cheap and convenient way to hear what you're playing. But does it work?

Yep. Played with mine last night for the first time and was well impressed. I had a monitor fairly close to me with not much sax coming through it, but got plenty of extremely good quality bounce-back from the gismo. Also used it for the flute, but that feels a bit weird, playing to an audience while looking through a perspex halo!

 

[pete_canter]

I use one of those sound mirrors on a lot of gigs even though most of the stuff I do is acoustic jaz at pretty moderate volumes. I find it really helps to hear myself and also to keep my volume down if I'm in a really intimate venues like a wine bar. The only problem is that the friction ball, which is built in to allow you to adjust the angle of the sound mirror, gets worn and the thing keeps dropping forward. Its also fun coming up with answers to the question "what is that thing on your sax?" .......spit guard.......just checking my hair is Ok...etc etc

 

[mfox]

i use the type that clips onto the mic stand with the mic through a hole. i use it all the time for loud or quiet gigs.. they work a treat but you need to get the position right..

 

[Pjonah]

dooce wrote:

Col wrote:
Has anybody used one of these Sound Back clip-ons for gigs?

They almost seem too good to be true. I'm always having problems hearing myself even with a monitor, and last week I didn't even have one of them.

This seems like a cheap and convenient way to hear what you're playing. But does it work?

Yep. Played with mine last night for the first time and was well impressed. I had a monitor fairly close to me with not much sax coming through it, but got plenty of extremely good quality bounce-back from the gismo. Also used it for the flute, but that feels a bit weird, playing to an audience while looking through a perspex halo!

The photographic evidence shows the offender playing flute with what can only be described as an etherial halo.......I believe!

Simon

 

[Col]

I'm convinced, going to get one and will report back.

Just started playing with (another loud) blues band and can't hear a thing of myself. Might just be age... 🙁

As an aside, why do bands insist on blues in E concert?

 

[pete_canter]

Mainly because E, A, G keys are easy for guitarists who run blues bands i guess - look on it as an education until a good piano player comes along!

 

[Jules]

Pete Canter wrote:
Mainly because E, A, G keys are easy for guitarists who run blues bands i guess - look on it as an education until a good piano player comes along!

Totally with you on that- Playing in a 1950s R&B outfit its great to work with songs that were writen to make life easy for tenor sax and piano players- loads of songs in Bb, F and G# (all concert), the latter is a storming key for tenor sax! No sign of As and Es anywhere, woo hoo!

 

[mfox]

concert E is a fantastic key to play in..once you get your head away from thinking about all the sharps..i love it.. B is another good key especially for tenor players, a real open sounding key great for raunchy blues.. i would avoid concert Bb F and the like for R&B, these keys are great for jazzy blues..