Piano

Piano

The WoS was only used for about five months in 1974. The Dead's keybordist at that time was Keith Godchaux, who played a full concert grand, organ, and a Fender Rhodes. Your question would be a good one to ask Mr. Curl.

My understanding is that the design of the WoS gave each of the six instruments in the band its own channel with amplification and speakers. So each amp and speaker in the array was voicing only a single instrument. A minimal amount of live mixing was done from the house console, probably by Owsley himself or Dan Healy. The concept was that the musicians were hearing what the audience was hearing and could attenuate themselves in real time.

I agree that the Dead was a guitar-driven band, but the keys were critical to the sound. Pigpen was the originator, but Keith was probably the most talented keyboard player the band ever had. They were never known for being tight, but things really went downhill after Keith left.

. . . in theory, practice and theory are the same; in practice, they are different . . .

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Virtual Event: John Curl and the history of the Grateful Dead's "Wall of Sound" - Tuckers 16:12:47 03/04/25 (19)

RE: Virtual Event: John Curl and the history of the Grateful Dead's "Wall of Sound" - lokie 16:52:32 03/08/25 (1)

Vocal Mics - Inmate51 15:24:22 03/09/25 (0)

Thanks ! I'm registered - AbeCollins 15:55:26 03/06/25 (2)

RE: Thanks ! I'm registered - Tuckers 15:07:58 03/09/25 (0)

Don't look at - oldmkvi 08:33:25 03/08/25 (0)

The virtue of a scene - farfetched 14:25:28 03/05/25 (0)

"Wall of Sound" - Mike B. 08:59:16 03/05/25 (0)

Interesting on how much was utilized for piano in "Wall of Sound" - Edp 07:24:15 03/05/25 (5)

Piano - tlea 11:10:13 03/05/25 (4)

not tight, but right. - beach cruiser 00:03:15 03/08/25 (3)

RE: not tight, but right. - Inmate51 05:46:06 03/08/25 (2)

RE: not tight, but right. - beach cruiser 13:23:00 03/08/25 (1)

RE: not tight, but right. - Inmate51 16:18:08 03/08/25 (0)

just one of the reasons I always try to remember foam earplugs whenever I leave the pad. - beach cruiser 16:50:00 03/04/25 (5)

RE: just one of the reasons I always try to remember foam earplugs whenever I leave the pad. - Steve Franklin 11:20:33 03/29/25 (0)

RE: just one of the reasons I always try to remember foam earplugs whenever I leave the pad. - Sherlock 07:33:39 03/05/25 (0)

RE: just one of the reasons I always try to remember foam earplugs whenever I leave the pad. - Tuckers 17:50:12 03/04/25 (2)

RE: just one of the reasons I always try to remember foam earplugs whenever I leave the pad. - Tuckers 15:03:16 03/09/25 (0)

RE: just one of the reasons I always try to remember foam earplugs whenever I leave the pad. - beach cruiser 04:15:04 03/05/25 (0)

Follow Ups

Piano - tlea 11:10:13 03/05/25 (4)

not tight, but right. - beach cruiser 00:03:15 03/08/25 (3)

RE: not tight, but right. - Inmate51 05:46:06 03/08/25 (2)

RE: not tight, but right. - beach cruiser 13:23:00 03/08/25 (1)

RE: not tight, but right. - Inmate51 16:18:08 03/08/25 (0)

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