Band Practice Volume

[drpepper]

I've lamented on my band's volume at practice at times (I tend to blame the guitarist).

Our guitarist has Marshall and a Carvin amps. He seems to almost always use the Carvin, but I walked into band practice and



I thought, my goodness this is going to be ridiculous!

It actually turned out to be the most reasonable volume that we've ever practiced at. I guess having speakers at ear level made things just right.

The singer commented to me afterward that there was even a point that he was going to ask him to turn up a little, but based on history, he thought better of it.

If you have practice volume issues in your group (and we'll just assume that the guitarist is the problem), maybe a bigger amp is the solution

[MrRumble]

One of our guitarists went smaller with 1x12 and that new Mesa 25 watt amp. It helped but I'm still wearing plugs. I blame the drummer and our small space. The cymbals are killing me!

[Art Araya]

@MrRumble - consider electronic drums or a drum shield. Heck when I played in a drummer's bedroom, he put towels on the cymbals...

[tangentmusic]

Originally Posted by MrRumble

One of our guitarists went smaller with 1x12 and that new Mesa 25 watt amp. It helped but I'm still wearing plugs. I blame the drummer and our small space. The cymbals are killing me!

Cymbal Basher eh? That hurts more than a overly loud guitarist. Especially when you're standing right next to the drum kit.

[deepBassie]

I've found that the non-electric drummer is typically the instrument that sets the noise level; no volume knobs and whatnot. IMO most drummers don't seem to realize that they don't always have to swing their sticks at full force. But drummers are what they are and must be tolerated. Sort of like guitarists. And vocalists. My band had volume issues for years until we switched over to a headphone distribution system driven by a PA allowing each player to adjust the volume of every other player to his own taste. Works brilliantly, can hear the vocals clearly, and no more volume wars! Great for small practice rooms and surly neighbors. And no, the headphone system doesn't impact ones ability to adjust volumes and play ambiently when it's gig time. We've all had enough practice doing that for one lifetime.

[bggeezer]

+1. The drummer sets the volume

[Floyd Eye]

I agree about the drummer setting the volume, but there is definitely something to be said for putting the guitar cabinet up at ear level and pointing it directly at the guitar player.

[deepBassie]

Yes, Floyd Eye, stick that cab right in the guitarists ear. One in each ear should make it happy and, perhaps, absorb some of the noise. As happy as can be without turning up to 11 in any case.

I've also found that, if possible, put your bass cab across the room from where you're playing. It seems to give those low frequency waveforms time to develop. You'll get better thumpin and bumpin (technical terms).

[Winnb]

Drummers and electric guitar players are to blame 99% of the time for the volume being too loud. 99%. I don't give a crap what kind of music is being played.

@ the OP. Good for you. Let's hope they keep the volume down. It's rehearsal. It's not a ****ing outdoor gig at a baseball stadium.

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by Winnb

Drummers and electric guitar players are to blame 99% of the time for the volume being too loud. 99%. I don't give a crap what kind of music is being played.

@ the OP. Good for you. Let's hope they keep the volume down. It's rehearsal. It's not a ****ing outdoor gig at a baseball stadium.

I must be the 1%
But our drummer has very light hands and I have more amp & cab than both GP's combined.
When they turn up, I turn up even more and I always win!

[Winnb]

Originally Posted by hdracer

I must be the 1%
But our drummer has very light hands and I have more amp & cab than both GP's combined.
When they turn up, I turn up even more and I always win!

Then yes, you would be the 1%.

[Vakmere]

I shut my head off, pull the plug, wait for the message to sink in or go home. Simple.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by deepBassie

Yes, Floyd Eye, stick that cab right in the guitarists ear. One in each ear should make it happy and, perhaps, absorb some of the noise. As happy as can be without turning up to 11 in any case.

I've also found that, if possible, put your bass cab across the room from where you're playing. It seems to give those low frequency waveforms time to develop. You'll get better thumpin and bumpin (technical terms).

You referred to him as it.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by hdracer

I must be the 1%
But our drummer has very light hands and I have more amp & cab than both GP's combined.
When they turn up, I turn up even more and I always win!

My rig is loud enough to render the guitar inaudible, but at that point no one can hear the vocals. We have a 1000 watt PA, but in a small room you can't really turn it up too loud without feedback.

[s_mcsleazy]

my bands problem is our guitar player. he feels he must use 2 fullstacks running at 11 to get "his sound"

you know you have a loud guitar player when you feel a pressure diffrence in the ear thats closest to his amp

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

he must use 2 fullstacks running at 11 to get "his sound"

This is the same line of reasoning I've heard for the volume "needing" to be at a certain level when we play out.

He also freely admits that he simply likes it loud...and we practice at his house.

[steddy2112]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

My rig is loud enough to render the guitar inaudible, but at that point no one can hear the vocals. We have a 1000 watt PA, but in a small room you can't really turn it up too loud without feedback.

And as much as everyone wants to be the lead guitarist and rip mean basslines

A band is useless without vocals.

Drummers seem to determine the sound level...and good ones can back it off a little to let everyone else turn down so you the vox can be turned up

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by steddy2112

And as much as everyone wants to be the lead guitarist and rip mean basslines

A band is useless without vocals.

Drummers seem to determine the sound level...and good ones can back it off a little to let everyone else turn down so you the vox can be turned up

Absolutely. Our drummer is a little on the loud side, but it's not real bad. The guitar player is the singer so he is just as concerned with hearing himself sing as he is with hearing the guitar. The fact is, I usually have to tell him to turn his amp up.

[rmkesler]

Believe it or not but it's the VOCALS that get to me in the cover band I'm in. At rehersal the drummer is behind the plexi shield and the guitarists and myself match his volume. However they run the full PA with stage monitors to boot and the vocals are just screaming. Sometimes I hide behind the plexi shield.

[Edward G.]

Having even one hearty 12" guitar speaker aimed at your head is enough to deafen you.

When players are trying to prove something, volume escalates. It's all about ego. Even in practice.

Just another playground.