Inspired by a post in another thread in this forum:

I don't mean blisteringly, annoyingly loud, but just a good volume that'd be heard pretty much throughout the store. I haven't been playing for too long, but I'm learning guitar and bass simultaneously (but not as if they were the same instrument, you all have taught me better than that ;))...anway:

I usually am a bit self conscious and don't want to turn up where anybody can really hear me. I went in with a buddy this past saturday as he wants to buy an electric guitar (he's our bass player, but likes noodling on guitar too, I'm technically our lead guitar, but we're all learning together so it doesn't much matter) and I just thought "eh, screw it." We plugged into a nice Ampeg Combo with 2 12s IIRC and I just turned it up and had at it with some Gibson SG's, Xplorers, and a few Schecter/Jackson/whatever, ending it up with a Highway One Strat. We'd each play it, then go try something else.

It's probably because I'm getting a bit better so I don't sound like utter trash, but I just figured "what the hell, who cares what they think, I want to hear how it sounds".

How about you guys? Just wonder how you do it. I think we can all agree we don't want to be "that guy" sweep picking or slapping as fast and loud as possible, but what do you do?


P.S.
If anyone wonders, he didn't end up buying anything, but we're going back soonish to decide. He really likes SGs, but the one we played felt like crud to me. The Xplorer was the only one I didn't really spend much time on but he liked it the best. I'd have to try again. The little $400 schecter felt dang good, but the Jackson (around $1k I believe) had a few dead notes that ruined a thing or two I played (specifically the intro to One Last Breath). The highway one wasn't bad, but had about the highest action I've ever seen on an electric. I loves me my American Fat Strat (H-S-S).

We were just headed over to the bass section when the friend we'd been waiting on called and said he was headed our way (we were randomly building a 6 foot trebuchet, so we had to meet up at my buddy's dad's shop), so that cut the second half out.

Depending on what I'm there for it's different.

If I'm serioulsy shopping for a bass, head or cab, I turn it up enough to get a good idea of what it's going to sound like in 'real life' application. If it's a cab I crank it to see what it can do! Not for too long though.

If I'm just f'n around and noodling (checking out 5,6 strings, high $$$ basses that I'll never be able to afford, etc) I turn it relatively low.

I'm no ace by any means and there's nothing worse than fret buzz turned up to 11!

If im considering buying something, you better beleive that its getting cranked.
I cranked up the GK 1001 before I bought it...

Now if im just in there checking different stuff out but not really looking at buying anything I keep the volume low... Well... Somewhat low.

I'm no ace by any means and there's nothing worse than fret buzz turned up to 11!

You aren't kidding. I had it turned up decently loud practicing last night and got grooving pretty well and forgot what I was doing, then "BZZZZZZZT"! Ouch. Time to turn down...and pay more attention.

If I'm not buying anything that day (no money in my pockets), I keep it pretty cool while I'm checking out equipment brands.

If I'm thinking of buying, I'll get a salesman to come over and I'll let him/her know that I want to check it out at a high volume for a minute or two. They are much nicer to you if you ask them first.

If I'm not buying anything that day (no money in my pockets), I keep it pretty cool while I'm checking out equipment brands.

If I'm thinking of buying, I'll get a salesman to come over and I'll let him/her know that I want to check it out at a high volume for a minute or two. They are much nicer to you if you ask them first.

+1

Agreed

Depends where i'm at. the store in town here is run really badly. the owners don't really know much ("theres no such thing as a wireless system. period. doesn't exist.") So if i'm in there i tend to play louder.

When I'm at the good shop (1 hour drive) I always ask if its alright if i play at higher volumes when testing amps/cabs/basses. If I'm trying effects i keep it pretty low.

I'll do it in a heartbeat if I need to in order to test out a piece of gear. That's rare though...

I had a friend who wasn't a bass player but who always thought it was funny to go over to the bass section, pickup a bass, plug it in, turn it as loud as possible, and try to play the verse line to "fistfull of steel" by rage against the machine (the one bass line i'd taught him). I'd be sitting there in some part of GC and hear this complete noise of fret buzz and muffed notes, loud as hell...

Depends where i'm at. the store in town here is run really badly. the owners don't really know much ("theres no such thing as a wireless system. period. doesn't exist.") So if i'm in there i tend to play louder.

you should buy a w/less system and bring it in to the shop "I want to see what it sounds like with my wireless"

if i'm checking out an amp or cab or bass, i'll crank it up for a little bit, yeah. if i'm just trying a few things out or fooling around, then i'll keep it pretty quiet.
http://planetsmilies.net/vicious-smiley-1815.gif

I crank it!

I usually keep it fairly low if I'm just looking. If I would be buying, I'll step it up a bit.

Last time I was in GC looking at an amp, 7 Nation Army by The White Stripes came on, and I couldn't resist going louder. Little did I know, someone was playing guitar in there at the same time and did the exact same thing as me. Needless to say, you couldn't hear the song on the speaker system.

if the guitarists are playing as loud as GC will let them, ill turn up as loud as they are. its especially fun at the Accessories part of the local store. i start playing the riff to one song, and they try to follow me, and then i switch to a different riff. :)

Inspired by a post in another thread in this forum:

I don't mean blisteringly, annoyingly loud, but just a good volume that'd be heard pretty much throughout the store. I haven't been playing for too long, but I'm learning guitar and bass simultaneously (but not as if they were the same instrument, you all have taught me better than that ;))...anway:

I usually am a bit self conscious and don't want to turn up where anybody can really hear me. I went in with a buddy this past saturday as he wants to buy an electric guitar (he's our bass player, but likes noodling on guitar too, I'm technically our lead guitar, but we're all learning together so it doesn't much matter) and I just thought "eh, screw it." We plugged into a nice Ampeg Combo with 2 12s IIRC and I just turned it up and had at it with some Gibson SG's, Xplorers, and a few Schecter/Jackson/whatever, ending it up with a Highway One Strat. We'd each play it, then go try something else.

It's probably because I'm getting a bit better so I don't sound like utter trash, but I just figured "what the hell, who cares what they think, I want to hear how it sounds".

How about you guys? Just wonder how you do it. I think we can all agree we don't want to be "that guy" sweep picking or slapping as fast and loud as possible, but what do you do?


P.S.
If anyone wonders, he didn't end up buying anything, but we're going back soonish to decide. He really likes SGs, but the one we played felt like crud to me. The Xplorer was the only one I didn't really spend much time on but he liked it the best. I'd have to try again. The little $400 schecter felt dang good, but the Jackson (around $1k I believe) had a few dead notes that ruined a thing or two I played (specifically the intro to One Last Breath). The highway one wasn't bad, but had about the highest action I've ever seen on an electric. I loves me my American Fat Strat (H-S-S).

We were just headed over to the bass section when the friend we'd been waiting on called and said he was headed our way (we were randomly building a 6 foot trebuchet, so we had to meet up at my buddy's dad's shop), so that cut the second half out.

If I'm not shopping to actually buy/compare I don't fill the whole store with my incessant yammering on a bass or guitar.

I just can't stand that. Several times I've been to sam ash or GC to look at a specific bass, and there was always some dope just there to play the guitars with obviously no intention to buy. Meanwhile I can't hear what I'm trying to do over whatever crap version of the cover tune these guys are trying to impress the room with.

Just quit and go to a jam night. It's one thing to try a guitar to see how it sounds. It's another thing to walk into these stores every day and make it your personal reherasal session.

Just fricken rude. To make matters worse 95% percent of the people yammering away play really badly.

you should buy a w/less system and bring it in to the shop "I want to see what it sounds like with my wireless"

That is a good idea, maybe I will.

The owner also says theres no such thing as bass effects. :rollno:

I came back with all my effects and played threw an ampeg stack. Shut him up.

There selling 15 feet of Neutrek Speakon cable for 85$ CDN!!!:eek:

rip off i say.

It what I ALWAYS do when I'm there.

If I'm just browsing for guitars I never even plug in. I'm really more interested in the feel.

If I'm serious about buying, I'll take it to a practice room or 'amp room'. That goes for instruments or amps.

I NEVER annoy the other store customers.

I work, literally, a block away from a GC, and am always in there. All the salesguys/gals know me (some by name).

I pretty much keep it quiet, when I'nm playing something, and I think they appreciate it.

When I'm in there, at lunch hour usually, I hate it when someone's in there just blasting. I don't get it. If you're good, you usually don't need more than a minute of volume to know if the gear is right, right?

i have some friends that work in stores and they have given me a different point of view on this type of thing...
when ever i go into a store and i want to try something out, i always , without fail, ask someone who works there if it is ok. there are a whole lot of people who say that you should just go in and crank everything and treat everthing like it is your own but imagine how angry you would be if you were playing a gig and in your set break some one picked up your gear and started playing on it without asking. i dont know many people who wouldnt be having a few words to say, jus because it is on a wall in a shop doesnt mean that the guy who paid for it to be on the wall (the owner) wont be as angry.

by all means test the gear to see if it is going to do what you want but if you just want to turn it up and show how good ( or usually bad) your playing is, do it at home. chances are the staff will end up being more open to hooking you up with some good deals. the bottom line is respect i think

jb

Nope. In the GC, my volume is as low as it can possibly be while still being able to hear the tone of whatever equipment I'm demoing.

Most, if not all, Guitar Centers have insulated 'Loud Rooms' which are pretty much sound proof if you really want to crank up an amp... But even in there I think it's kind of rude to turn up the amps all the way if you don't intend to buy it because you're wearing out equipment that other people may want to demo.

If you're really interested, then go ahead and play with it as much as you want to be sure you're going to be happy with your gear.

When I'm buying a amp ,I have the salesman play while I screw with the amp.
If's it's a bass ,I play without a amp to concentrate on it's feel.
I RARELY play in a music store.
I save that for the young slap and poppers.

I do that all the time. EVERY TIME i go to GC first thing i do is run to the geddy lee bass on the wall, and plug in to a mesa/boogie bass amp that goes for like 2 grand.

I turn it up pretty loud, to the point where it blasts my face (im infront of it), and every one in the bass section/center section(pedals,stands,books,strings, etc) can hear me.

I actually have played only about a year, but I constantly get compliments (much to my delight), and im currently (not to sound cocky) the best bass player i know in my age range. thank god for bass. :)

I do it occasionally to test an amp, but never for long. And never to show off. :rolleyes:

I do it, much like low-ender, I do it, but i only go up to 3/4 volume so I don't push it TOO much, but it's still pretty loud, but if I'm only trying out a bass If I'm gonna buy it, I just play unplugged to get the feel and natural tone of the wood + listen for fret problems/buzzing etc.

There selling 15 feet of Neutrek Speakon cable for 85$ CDN!!!:eek:

rip off i say.

neutrik speakon, I've heard about that stuff, isn't it to connect a head to a cab? I usually use the AXL, it's just easier to modify into banana plugs when needed.

I do that all the time. EVERY TIME i go to GC first thing i do is run to the geddy lee bass on the wall, and plug in to a mesa/boogie bass amp that goes for like 2 grand.

I turn it up pretty loud, to the point where it blasts my face (im infront of it), and every one in the bass section/center section(pedals,stands,books,strings, etc) can hear me.

I actually have played only about a year, but I constantly get compliments (much to my delight), and im currently (not to sound cocky) the best bass player i know in my age range. thank god for bass. :)


:rollno:

:rollno:

+1


I went in yesterday to waste some time and ended up enjoying the heck out of a double buck, which I may have to look into purchasing, but that isn't the point. There were two ~15 year old guys in there playing a pair of ibanez guitars through line 6 combos at 11. They were tearing through 2 seconds of this, 2 of that, 3 of something else (metal/nu-metal), all hideously sloppily and out of time. I asked the salesman about it and he said they'd been there since opening and it was becoming annoying.

Moral of the story: modesty = good. Try out your stuff and make sure you'll be happy with it, but save the rest of us showing off how great you believe you are.

I can't stand walking into GC or Sam Ash or any other music store and there's people in there (mainly guitarists) on full Marshall or Mesa or whatever stacks with them cranked just as loud as they can possibly go and then they only play one riff over and over and over and over and over. The last time I was at GC this kid kept playing the intro to Smells Like Teen Spirt over for a good half hour straight while on a full Marshall stack with it cranked up to 11. I love going into GC and places like that when there's nobody else in the store and it's not super loud. Now as for me, depending on what i'm buying depends on the volume. Head and cab's they usually get turned up a bit and then I just run scales and different things. If it's a bass then I get somebody to set up the same rig I have and play on it at a decent volume but not to where i'm shaking things off the walls. Probably 2-3 out of 10.

I keep it to a point where I can mess with the tones and see the range.

If a guitar player is loud nearby I'll turn mine up and play a groove to what he's doin ..

When I bought my Fender Aerodyne friday I played probably about 10 different basses .. this really being the first time I can understand tone / adjustments .. etc.. (been playing for 8 months now) ...

A guitar player started playing Pride and Joy and I plucked along on bass .. he was at the other end of the store .. couldn't even see me .. then peeked around a hall and gave a thumbs up after he was done .. lol.

Had probably 5 - 10 people that day stop to listen to me play as I was tinkering along .. mostly doing scale runs, arpeggios, mix and match major / minor and various chord combinations ..
most of the stuff that I practice on a daily basis.

Kinda fun now that I know what I'm doing and hearing people say your pretty good!

The last time I was at GC this kid kept playing the intro to Smells Like Teen Spirt over for a good half hour straight while on a full Marshall stack with it cranked up to 11.

Maybe the solo was too hard :hmm: :confused:

Or perhaps he forgot the verse :D

Cranked up to 11? Hmm, reminds me of that movie with Spinal Tap...

Anyway, the closest GC is like 3-4 hours away from me, so I'd have to make it an all day jam to make it my gas' worth.

I sure as hell wouldn't be showing off though, I mean, It took me like 3 days to get the first 3 minutes of Classical Thump, and other than that it'd just be random Metallica riffs, and Iron Man.

Well, I'd raise the volume I guess. But who wouldn't crank it up for Iron Man though?

Duuun Duuun DUN DUN DUN dundundundundundun DUN DUN DUN.....

there's a kid that's almost always at my local GC playing drums. I asked him about it one time. He said he's saving up to buy a kit. He was pretty decent for not owning his own kit. I kind of enjoy listening to people jam there, even the annoying ones for a little bit. The most important thing if you are going to do this is to wear clothing without metal buttons, jewelry, and for god's sake NO BELT BUCKLES. Don't go in and scratch the instruments. I once made a kid stop playing so I could hear the bass I was considering buying. I just told him to take a break for five minutes so I could hear the bass. No problem.

I'LL DO IT
I'LL DO IT TO THE LIVING END, STARRING JAMES BOND

Do recall when I bought my first bass. A guy came in to try out this guitar, started paying sweet child o mine that I couldn't resist quietly playing along to. The salesman then turned up and amp and joined us on the drums. Ending up jamming for an hour or so. Walked out with a new bass =P

Do recall when I bought my first bass. A guy came in to try out this guitar, started paying sweet child o mine that I couldn't resist quietly playing along to. The salesman then turned up and amp and joined us on the drums. Ending up jamming for an hour or so. Walked out with a new bass =P

Ah, those are always fun. I was up at bellones music (in Ontario, Canada) and I was rocking out to some metallica, trying out a few different cabs and such. I started playing king nothing, and to my delight, the geetar deptartment guy starts playing along to. After about 30 seconds of that, someone in the drum area starts playing too. ANOTHER kid who was in the guitar area starts playing to. It was the greatest thing ever, having a staff member and 3 customers jamming in different parts of the store. When we finished the song we all carried on our business and such, like nothing had happened. The other people in the store were like " :eek: whoa!" and clapped. I felt so good inside :):bassist:

I do that all the time. EVERY TIME i go to GC first thing i do is run to the geddy lee bass on the wall, and plug in to a mesa/boogie bass amp that goes for like 2 grand.

I turn it up pretty loud, to the point where it blasts my face (im infront of it), and every one in the bass section/center section(pedals,stands,books,strings, etc) can hear me.

I actually have played only about a year, but I constantly get compliments (much to my delight), and im currently (not to sound cocky) the best bass player i know in my age range. thank god for bass. :)

At least tell me you are playing "Higher Ground". That'll make your story so much more worthwhile.


:rolleyes: :rollno:

I do that all the time. EVERY TIME i go to GC first thing i do is run to the geddy lee bass on the wall, and plug in to a mesa/boogie bass amp that goes for like 2 grand.

I turn it up pretty loud, to the point where it blasts my face (im infront of it), and every one in the bass section/center section(pedals,stands,books,strings, etc) can hear me.

I actually have played only about a year, but I constantly get compliments (much to my delight), and im currently (not to sound cocky) the best bass player i know in my age range. thank god for bass. :)


There's two important things for a musician to learn in order to achieve musical maturity and wisdom:

1- Being humble

2- Be aware that every guy you see in the street could kick your ass in bass playing, and if he's going to buy a bass or a guitar or a damn tambourine, and wants to try it, you're going to be there messing around with your nearly-null bass chops at an obnoxious volume, and he will be pissed.

Be more respectful.