People using my amp in a shared rehearsal place

[dukeisdog]

I always take my rack home with me from the rehearsal space, but my cab stays there. Guitarist is in another band and the other bassist sometimes plugs into my cab but we gig with their band and I know that they respect their gear.

No way would I trust my stuff with strangers..

[Floyd Eye]

I would never share a rehearsal space with another band, but if I were forced to I most definitely wouldn't leave my rig there. Especially if it was THAT rig.

[lpdeluxe]

I've told this story before, but the lesson remains fresh: I left my Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x15 at our rehearsal space. I came back a couple of weeks later, plugged in, and -- for the only time in my life -- heard bad tone come out of the amp!

Talking to our rhythm guitar/vocalist, he admitted that he had invited his "other" band in to rehearse, and the bass player plugged into my M/B. The guy is -- or should be -- experienced, being about 10 yrs younger than me (I'm 70, going on 22). This musical genius had turned every knob on the amp fully clockwise!

You know, 18-year-old guitarists brag about "diming" the controls, thinking everyone will be blown away by their macho cool. Guess what? It doesn't work with a sophisticated Mesa/Boogie (it doesn't work with guitar amps, either, but I guess everyone goes through adolescence).

The amp went home with me thereafter.

[petrus61]

I personally like to rehearse with the gear I plan on gigging with so I can understand any apprehension about bringing in some rig with less testicular fortitude just to rehearse with. Having to mount the head from a case to the cab at every rehearsal is a small price to pay, IMO. You shouldn't have to sacrifice tone in this situation.

[fercorellia]

Thanks everybody for the comments. Good advices out there, I'll remember lots of them.
I would like to clarify some aspect maybe I didn't explain correctly because of my English. My band is sharing a room with other 3 bands; we’ve been there for more than 6 years (the typical place for music bands to play, you know, with lots of rooms, gigs hall, bar, shop… We rent an empty room to use our equipment and paying per months, not those rooms with amps and drums to rent per hours), and only us and other band have been there all the time, the others has been changing time after time, are these people who I’m worried about using my rig, they bring friends, other bands... But we have to share, it’s too expensive.
We all leave there our things; I only take home with me my bass and effects.
Why an Ampeg fridge? We play metal, our drummer play so loud, guitarists use great Marshalls… I’ve to fight it Bass has to kick ass!!!
As soon as I take any action, I’ll post some pictures of the result.
Thanks again!

[SnowCal]

What dB level are you playing at in that little room?

[fercorellia]

Not healthy level, for sure.
I don't know how many db, we have no way to test it, but we try to keep a safe level I think!

[Noosh]

I would definately invest in some decent ear plugs. If you think its too loud, its definately too loud. Your ears will thank you for it, I promise. I for one got tired of having ringing ears every night after practice. Though My band dosent play at rediculous levels either.

[Kmonk]

Originally Posted by fercorellia

Hello everybody.

I’m sharing a rehearsal place with other bands and I’m having some problems because of that. The other bassists have been using my Ampeg svt cl. + Ampeg “fridge” and, after changing some tubes (I had to pay them), I buy a hard case for my SVT with a padlock. But any time I have to use it, I have to get it out of the case and put it on the top of the fridge (30 kg, remember). I’m a little bit tired of that, you can imagine.
So, I’m pretty sure that somebody has had this same problem and can tell me some good advice to come across with that situation.
Thanks!

This is the reason, I refuse to rehearse in a shared space. My band currently rehearses in a facility where all the gear is provided. There is a Gretsch drum set, Fender and Marshall guitar amps, Ampeg SVT head and 810 cab, Korg Triton keyboard and a full PA. The cost is $20 per hour. All I do is bring my bass.

[georgestrings]

My band has been sharing rehearsal space for a little while with another band - I have an old Peavey 215 loaded with Kappa LFAs that I leave there, and take a head back and forth... I used to use a 700rb-II for that, but am currently using a Streamliner 900 - the "other" bassist has a 700rb-II... For the most part, that cab is pretty bullet-proof, but it helps that the other band is made up of good guys that are pretty trustworthy and responsible...

If I were the OP, I'd get a micro to transport back and forth, and take the SVT home until gig time... If I could afford it, I'd get a "beater" cab for the rehearsal space, if not I'd probably leave the 810 there and hope for the best...


- georgestrings

[murphy]

It is the same as living in a shared house with roomates.
If you move into somewhere you have to respect each others property......or get kicked out

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

This is the reason, I refuse to rehearse in a shared space. My band currently rehearses in a facility where all the gear is provided. There is a Gretsch drum set, Fender and Marshall guitar amps, Ampeg SVT head and 810 cab, Korg Triton keyboard and a full PA. The cost is $20 per hour. All I do is bring my bass.

That's the way forward, if you wanted to bring your own rig to check out, not be a problem? just like here I expect.

I think it builds more of a community among local musicians as they often meet up on rehearsal session finish and starts.

I don't hold with those spaces where more than one band rehearses at the same time, in different rooms, as there never seems to be enough sound insulation to make that idea really work.

Also in my rehearsal room there is a monitor system comprising of six 15" drivers, eight 12" drivers, two 10" drivers and 6 x 2" horns, 4 x 1"
horns and 4 x Hf bullets all controlled by a JBL active system controller.

Its got racks of crown amps and all this is time aligned and EQ'd with audio spectrometers and your rehearsal console settings are saved in Protools.
+ the room is acoustically treated with wide band absorbers and 720 cu ft of bass traps.

What does that all mean? it means that you can actually hear what people are singing! now there's a first!!, also we have the advantage of being able to show your guitarist on a meter, exactly how much louder he has decided to be playing in the same room than say Olly the lead guitarist of Extreme Noise Terror or Paul Allender of Cradle of Filth.

If you keep turning up to rehearse with an SVT IIP controlled rig with settings left on it by a god of metal, the chances are you might begin to notice that he seems to be playing with a heck of a lot more midrange and a lot less bass than your average smiley face bedroom EQ choice.
It's amazing what young bands can learn if they get to work with lots of people that really know what they are about.

[bass4worship]

Put a .50 amp fuse in your amp, when they go to use it they will think they blew your amp and leave it alone. Do this about twice.

[will33]

Originally Posted by IPYF

The only thing of mine that I let people use when I'm not watching is my toilet.

Quotable and Signature Worthy.

[Gearhead17]

Originally Posted by bass4worship

Put a .50 amp fuse in your amp, when they go to use it they will think they blew your amp and leave it alone. Do this about twice.

Would be a good way to test the honesty of friends....

I agree with the others, the SVT CL SHOULD be at your house and not for use by others. Tubes are pricey.

[rtav]

Originally Posted by Chef

I would never leave -anything- I cared about in a shared rehearsal space.

Yeah. TOTALLY +1

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Chef

I would never leave -anything- I cared about in a shared rehearsal space.

Amen brother, amen.

[fender099]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Interesting. The rehearsal places I frequent are full of supplied equipment for the bands use. I wouldn't dream of leaving anything I own in a shared space. I guess I learned a lesson after losing three basses.

3 basses? What happened?

[lpdeluxe]

I have a dB meter app on my iphone. It may not be exact, but it tells me when to get everyone to turn down. Fortunately we have moved to a much larger space recently.

I just checked: it's "dB Meter Pro."

[adivin]

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

I have a dB meter app on my iphone. It may not be exact, but it tells me when to get everyone to turn down. Fortunately we have moved to a much larger space recently.

I just checked: it's "dB Meter Pro."

At what db do you decide to turn down?