Listening/Playing Volume

[HuntYouDown]

I am interested to know fellow TB'ers' opinions on volume. Being a past guitarist, I have the addiction to crank the volume on my amp at home. Although, I am only listening to a shelf sized stereo and practing/learning covers by ear. I find it much more difficult to learn the low tones this way. Seems like all my ear wants to hear is whiny screeching guitars going 100 mph. I find it easier to play stuff on a small amp, like an Epi Valve Jr. Vs. My GK 400RB combo. I love jamming out though. I am just interested in your opinions on bass volume, compared to other instruments.

[tangentmusic]

I find (esp at home) learning, practicing & writing tunes at a low volume suits me well.
You can really hone in on what you're doing for hours on end without the ol' ears getting burnt out.

[jaywa]

I prefer lower volumes for both casual listening and performing stage volume. And especially for band rehearsals where there is no need EVER to come close to concert volume SPLs.

But what's more important to me than volume is EQ. I have a real aversion to excessive midrange which is why I don't listen to a lot of today's music, I loathe MP3s and I tend to keep guitars and all vox except lead out of my monitor mix as much as possible.

[Steve]

loud does nothing positive for me

[viper4000]

Oddly enough I learn a lot of the cover tunes I play by playing my electric bass guitar without an amp. I would actually feel the note a lot easier than hearing the note at low volumes. Helps with ear training too. I could recognize the songs that were tuned up or down a 1/4 step, Eb, etc

I have lived primarily in apartments the last few years, so I practice at very low volumes when plugged in. For rehearsal, I always get there early, so I can really let it rip before we start. Full volume, unadulterated bass. Then rehearsal starts, and we all go down to very low volumes. I tend not to have any guitars in my monitors. I can usually hear that well enough through their stage amp.

I've mentioned in other threads that we play at volumes that most would say is low. But we also get compliments from audience and staff. So it works for us.

[Rattman]

Originally Posted by Steve

loud does nothing positive for me

This is where I live. I'm not open to taking physical damage via selfish players that should already know better.

[rubbadubdub]

I dont mind loud and clear but i won't put up with any sound system being pushed beyond it's best. I have thoroughly enjoyed having my eyes rattled in their sockets by reggae sound systems but also walked out of many gigs where the idiots mistook sound pressure for quality.
I also have to wind up my bass amp or guitar amp once a day just to get it out of my system. Having said that I keep the headphones down when listening and would rather play with a drummer who has a grasp of dynamics than some tub thumper who forces a loud stage sound. If I played metal I may feel different about stage levels but I still think the comment about system headroom applies whatever the genre.

[jmclearnon]

EQ and tone is king, i don't mind what volume as long as i can hear myself.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by HuntYouDown

I am interested to know fellow TB'ers' opinions on volume. Being a past guitarist, I have the addiction to crank the volume on my amp at home. Although, I am only listening to a shelf sized stereo and practing/learning covers by ear. I find it much more difficult to learn the low tones this way. Seems like all my ear wants to hear is whiny screeching guitars going 100 mph. I find it easier to play stuff on a small amp, like an Epi Valve Jr. Vs. My GK 400RB combo. I love jamming out though. I am just interested in your opinions on bass volume, compared to other instruments.

The problem is that you need a better stereo. I have never understood why guitarists like to crank their amp for their knees to hear.

lowsound

[oniman7]

At home, I use an active bass and Sansamp through an Acoustic B200. I like to have it just loud enough that the frequencies start to fill out (You can almost hear the air moving) and I get a tiny bit of reverb in a tiled room. Enough that I can hear (loud and fun) over headphones, but not to the point that I have to turn my headphones up to cause any physical discomfort.

[blastoff99]

I hear better when stuff's not too loud.

[HuntYouDown]

Thanks, for all the replies, I see I must not be mentally challenged after all. Yes, most of your posts indicate that bass does not need a lot of volume in the mix to blend with others. As for why guitarists like it so loud, is where they drive the tone in their tube amps. But, when bass amps have so many watts and low frequencies, I now have learned it need not much volume at all. Thank you all foryour educated replies.

[mellowinman]

I like to feel bass.

I don't like to damage my hearing.

I think there is a point where rock music is at the right volume. Too soft is bad. Too loud is bad. Same is true for other types of music.

I like to hear classical music at the same volume I would hear if the orchestra were in the room.

I can rehearse at any volume, but I usually keep it down.