Best way to try out amp in store?

Denial · #1 04-02-2011, 01:42 PM

What's the best way to try out an amp in a store?

I find it really difficult. Lots of amps sound great at low volume, but you also typically have to boost the bass. If you turn it up loud, all you do is rattle all the stuff in the store, and you still can't really tell how it works in a live band setting.

My method has been to try to see someone else playing the same rig live.

My horror story on a bad amp was a Peavey 200 watt head in the 80s. Matched with a 1x15 and 1x18 cab, it sounded great in the store and at home. Once on the gig, the thing just disappeared and the band wasn't that loud. Fortunately, I've never had that bad of an experience since, but it did leave me with a bad impression of Peavey amps.

Any other ideas?

Ibanez Bassist · #2 04-02-2011, 02:15 PM

If your using a Guitar Center to purchase an amp, there should be no problem playing the amp loud or very loud, you could also buy the amp and you have 30 days for Cash refund if you dont like it or it doesn't work out for you or your needs..

**IvanMike** · #3 04-02-2011, 04:37 PM

I find if you talk to the store personnel ahead of time and let them know you would like to turn an amp up, a time can be arranged to do just that.

Next, set the EQ flat, and do not use any contour or enhance controls. See how it sounds turned up like that.

last, with the setup you were unhappy with live, if you still have it, try not boosting the bass and perhaps boosting some mids if that doesn't work.

Robby Hoinsky · #4 04-02-2011, 04:41 PM

I always liked daddy's junky music 14 day return policy on used gear. I would buy 3 or 4 things, try them out at practice or home and return what I didn't like. When I played drums, I would buy the a few of the same 'exact' cymbals and pick the one that sounded best.

Return policies are your friends.

Robby

Ibanez Bassist · #5 04-02-2011, 04:54 PM

Used stuff is almost as much as new stuff at GC especially if you have a coupon and there always floating around.. 30 days on new gear cash back after that still return it for FULL store credit to buy something else.. cant go wrong..

Timmay on bass · #6 04-02-2011, 04:55 PM

I always buy an amp right before a local gig, so I can field test it within the trial period. Playing though an amp in a store sounds completely different than playing on stage with drums, guitars, other instruments, and a PA.

pasta4lnch · #7 04-02-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmay on bass

I always buy an amp right before a gig, so I can field test it within the trial period. Playing though an amp in a store sounds completely different than playing on stage with drums, guitars, other instruments, and a PA.

BIG +1 My amps sound totally different in the bedroom than on the stage . . . make sure you can return it (and make sure you don't kill it on the gig

)

tjh · #8 04-02-2011, 05:15 PM

If you are seriously on the hunt, bring your own bass in with you ... you just removed one of the major variables by not grabbing something off the wall to try the amp ... and a big +1 on setting everything flat, other than seeing what everything does, if it doesn't sound acceptable (or better) flat, there is no sense chasing it to make it work in the store, because that sound will more than likely be unusable out in the world ... +1000 on return or exchange for at least a credit ... JMHO

Edit to add: If you like it, pick it up and carry, drag, or roll it around the store for a while ... thats the real world once you adopt it and take it home ...

4Mal · #9 04-02-2011, 11:52 PM

I use the guitar part from Smoke on the water, but an octave down of course. The bass line is too much bother to listen for... If the amp in quesrion won't shred Guitar Center's demo cones, I won't be happy with it.

. If the amp does demolish the cab then obviously the head is defective in some way and I'm headed back to the mall to catch my ride home...

Saturday at GC is one of the horrors Marlon Brando was muttering about I'm quote sure.

(just kidding)