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Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 21:55:56 -0700
From: David Richoux
Subject: [CB] stroh basses?
Hi all,
there is a very interesting new interview with Tom Waits at http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3820/avfeature_3820.html
and one of the many topics covered is a mention of "Stroh" instruments:
O: You used a lot of unusual instruments on these albums. Can you
tell me about any of them? I was intrigued by the stroh violin [a violin
with a trumpet-like bell attached to it].
TW: Well, you know, there were stroh basses, and there were stroh
violas, stroh cellos. Have you ever seen one?
O: No, I don't think so.
TW: It's a horn attached to the bridge, and it has a hinge on it. It's
like a brass flower designed in the same configuration or shape as the
old 78 players. You could aim it at the balcony. The string players were
disgruntled. They felt they were constantly competing with the brass.
It gave 'em a little edge. I don't know, you don't hear it anymore. I
guess because before the advent of amplification, you were dealing
purely with physics all the time. It's an interesting solution to that
problem.
anyway, I have seen stroh violins and violas but I don't think I have ever seen anything lower - any links or knowledge?
Dave Richoux
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 00:04:36 -0500 (EST)
From: "Dr. Carole Nowicke, Applied Health Science"
Subject: Re: [CB] stroh basses?
On Tue, 28 May 2002, David Richoux wrote:
> anyway, I have seen stroh violins and violas but I don't think I have ever seen
> anything lower - any links or knowledge?
Never heard tell of such a thing and when i was working at the Henry Ford Museum, Bob Eliason didn't mention larger sizes. Henry Ford used Stroh violins and big Sousaphones in his square dance band. No, I don't know which model...
Carole Nowicke
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