| First off, don't confuse watts with decibels. Sound volume is measured in decibels, and power is measured in watts. No-one has ever had complaints filed against them for too many watts. Noise ordinances aren't defined by a limitation of watts. Watts are used to create decibels. Some 40W amps can push more decibels than a 100W, it all depends on the amp and speaker.
Talk to your neighbors. It's always harder to call the cops on someone you know, than some faceless stranger. Give them your phone number and let them call you if you get too loud (if you can hear the phone). Work with your neighbors, if they are willing to work with you. They may have practical reasons for their complaints, such as a baby who needs sleep or a person who works a night shift. Who knows? It's not for you decide why they are complaining, so talk to em.
Turn down the volume. It's practice, not a stadium gig. It probably won't hurt you guys too much to turn it down a notch, and it may actually help your practices by letting you hear nuances and practice dynamics. Would you rather go hunting for a new rehearsal space, or bring down the volume a little?
Another option is to acoustically shield your rehearsal space. This is an expensive option, but if you can't compromise your sound, and your neighbors aren't willing to put up with your volume and you can't find another rehearsal space, it may be your only option. You can put acoustic foam or eggcrates on the walls to reduce the amount of sound that leaves your rehearsal space. Do a search on google and I'm sure you can find plenty of info on how to do this.
Last edited by jive1 : 11-03-2003 at 01:16 PM.
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Practice Volume Issues 
