Just back from 3 weeks away from my PC....

Murray, I have wondered for years how Leadbelly got that great bass sound. When I leave the octave strings on the bottom E, A and D strings, they overpower the bass strings. Consequently I usually take them off.

Have you learnt whether he used a normal setup? I gather that he did not use fingerpicks - did he use a plectrum?

Regards
Chris