700w amp rig can't keep up with guitars.

[dbsfgyd1]

I am annoyed AF at the guitarists in my one band. One just got his first tube amp ever and his tone is garbage. The lows sound dimed. It's a 50w Bugera into some garbage cab. Our other guitarist who is on the other end of the practice room has an EVH 5150iii combo which is also going into an oversized 5150iii 412 cab with excessive gain. They are playing really loud. I had pain in my ear at the last practice and my ears rang for days. I started using ear plugs because they will not turn down. Another problem is that my rig can't keep up and I have trouble hearing myself. I have a Peavey Firebass 700w and a GK neo 410 (8 ohm) stacked on an older acoustic cab. The Acoustic is not being used because of faulty jacks on the back. When I do use both, there is little perceivable difference in volume.

Lows are at 2 o clock, mids are at 11 o clock, highs are at 3 o clock. Contour is dialed up all the way. The active input setting is off, speaker protection is on, I am using a compressor. Sound only cuts when I use overdrive. My cab appears to be clipping with a clean sound with gain at 10 o clock and master dimed. Help!

All else fails, I will just get vengeful and direct into PA with full volume, both cabs. Seriously, the practice mix is so bad, I hardly hear the drums or vocals. It's just guitar distortion, mostly the EVH one.

I'm not sure what effect the Contour effect is, if it is the equivalent of a "loudness Button" on an old stereo, what that will do is cut the low mids, boost the very low frequencies, and boost the highs.

What I would do, besides finding a band without guitarists that don' t understand that amps can be used at practice with the volume set at 1, is to turn the control to zero, boost you low mids, and you should be able to hear better.

One other dastic measure is you could with a pair of wire.... nevermind

 

[foolforthecity]

This is one of those few threads where all I have to read is the OP's initial discourse and my prejudice immediately sends me to this response. You're playing with immature non-musical idiots. You already know what you need to do, and it has nothing to do with amping up.

Save yourself, now.

 

[jbybj]

Didn't read the whole thread but I have to pile on the previous post.

Your gear IS NOT THE PROBLEM.

 

[bucephylus]

This is a "for fun" band. They all have the serious attitude and want to become successful musicians, but they lack IMO the fundamental skillsets outside of musical ability to do so. I think that for that reason, this band will never become a "working band" in any capacity - covers or originals. I would like to see them become successful; I see problems with the music we're playing and I see problems fundamentally, like with the band mix and whatnot, but they do not want to change anything. I think our guitarist is too noodly for most people who are not Petrucci fans to appreciate - I also play guitar and I find most of what he does to be annoying or showy instead of quality. Our vocalist/guitarist has a decent voice, but does not choose the best melodies and phrasing. I do not like his lyrics at all. They are not catchy. His crowd interaction is boring. He thinks he is funny but comes across as overcompensating for something. I have started to write my own music for the first time in my life (I recording my first track ever this weekend) and I'm hoping it goes somewhere. I really wish the problems in this band would just resolve on their own... our drummer is just awesome. He is probably the only one that legitimately considers my suggestions and he is easy to work with. My only qualm with him is that he just isn't great at jamming stuff.

All of this makes me just not want to play bass. I would rather pick guitar back up, find a good bassist and drummer and go from there. I sincerely doubt I will ever find a guitarist I like to play with... so I should become what I hate now that I am sympathetic to the issue.

Nah, trust me; there will be other and better gigs. Bands come and go. The main thing is to keep playing. Meanwhile, protect your hearing and have fun. At some point, you will run into players who hear the whole mix, and appreciate what you are doing

 

[Five String]

This is one of those few threads where all I have to read is the OP's initial discourse and my prejudice immediately sends me to this response. You're playing with immature non-musical idiots. You already know what you need to do, and it has nothing to do with amping up.

Save yourself, now.

This

 

[10cc]

I am annoyed AF at the guitarists in my one band. One just got his first tube amp ever and his tone is garbage. The lows sound dimed. It's a 50w Bugera into some garbage cab. Our other guitarist who is on the other end of the practice room has an EVH 5150iii combo which is also going into an oversized 5150iii 412 cab with excessive gain. They are playing really loud. I had pain in my ear at the last practice and my ears rang for days. I started using ear plugs because they will not turn down. Another problem is that my rig can't keep up and I have trouble hearing myself. I have a Peavey Firebass 700w and a GK neo 410 (8 ohm) stacked on an older acoustic cab. The Acoustic is not being used because of faulty jacks on the back. When I do use both, there is little perceivable difference in volume.

Lows are at 2 o clock, mids are at 11 o clock, highs are at 3 o clock. Contour is dialed up all the way. The active input setting is off, speaker protection is on, I am using a compressor. Sound only cuts when I use overdrive. My cab appears to be clipping with a clean sound with gain at 10 o clock and master dimed. Help!

All else fails, I will just get vengeful and direct into PA with full volume, both cabs. Seriously, the practice mix is so bad, I hardly hear the drums or vocals. It's just guitar distortion, mostly the EVH one.

It's you. Put your lows at noon, mids at 3 o'clock highs at 1 o'clock, Contour off, active input off, speaker protection off, compressor off. Gain @ 10 o'clock and master at whatever level gets you heard.

And steer clear of guitarist with a Bugera amp. Haha

 

[byacey]

I know this is the amps and cabs section, and this won't be the answer you want, but for your long term health, what you need to do is get out of this band and find people willing to play at a reasonable sensible volume.
Tinnitus is no joke, and has ruined a lot of people's enjoyment of music and life.

Exactly. Find some real musicians that are interested in quality, not quantity.

 

[Slater]

I would walk if they can't get the volume under control. The frustration, and especially the hearing damage, isn't worth it. If they would rather play loud over sounding good, then why bother.

 

[MDBass]

Not area, volume.

You're suggesting that an 810 doesn't "push air", which just isn't true.

The OP's problem has everything to do with the obscene guitar volume and his own EQ settings, nothing to do with the 410 cab he's using.

 

[MDBass]

This is a "for fun" band. They all have the serious attitude and want to become successful musicians, but they lack IMO the fundamental skillsets outside of musical ability to do so. I think that for that reason, this band will never become a "working band" in any capacity - covers or originals. I would like to see them become successful; I see problems with the music we're playing and I see problems fundamentally, like with the band mix and whatnot, but they do not want to change anything. I think our guitarist is too noodly for most people who are not Petrucci fans to appreciate - I also play guitar and I find most of what he does to be annoying or showy instead of quality. Our vocalist/guitarist has a decent voice, but does not choose the best melodies and phrasing. I do not like his lyrics at all. They are not catchy. His crowd interaction is boring. He thinks he is funny but comes across as overcompensating for something. I have started to write my own music for the first time in my life (I recording my first track ever this weekend) and I'm hoping it goes somewhere. I really wish the problems in this band would just resolve on their own... our drummer is just awesome. He is probably the only one that legitimately considers my suggestions and he is easy to work with. My only qualm with him is that he just isn't great at jamming stuff.

All of this makes me just not want to play bass. I would rather pick guitar back up, find a good bassist and drummer and go from there. I sincerely doubt I will ever find a guitarist I like to play with... so I should become what I hate now that I am sympathetic to the issue.

It's a "for fun" band.

It's not fun.

You should probably quit.

 

[HolmeBass]

I will try playing flatline. If I use an EQ pedal, can I "scoop the mids" there without this problem?

At this point I have been considering quitting for a while. I have some criticisms of the music we're writing and they're just not listening to my suggestions or willing to change anything. That coupled together with personal problems, and problems like this are going to lead to my exodus. I am kinda trying to wait it out through this Hard Rock Cafe battle of the bands competition before I do that, though. For me, that's the make it or break it for this band.

No! Scooping mids is scooping mids no matter where the EQ is in your chain. The OD sounds good b/c it's adding some mids back into your tone.

 

[Kro]

You're suggesting that an 810 doesn't "push air", which just isn't true.

I took that to be a correction of area vs. volume displacement... which is pretty fair. Maybe I misinterpreted.

No doubt your typical 810 is impressive as far as both types of volume are concerned.

 

[MDBass]

I took that to be a correction of area vs. volume displacement... which is pretty fair. Maybe I misinterpreted.

No doubt your typical 810 is impressive as far as both types of volume are concerned.

His initial response was "tens can't pump air", which I suppose is what I should have quoted for clarity.

I'm fairly sure the size of the individual speakers in the OP's cab isn't his problem

 

[MDBass]

No! Scooping mids is scooping kids no matter where the EQ is in your chain. The OD sounds good b/c it's adding some mids back into your tone.

Never, EVER scoop your kids

 

[Bass_Pounder]

This is a "for fun" band. They all have the serious attitude and want to become successful musicians, but they lack IMO the fundamental skillsets outside of musical ability to do so. I think that for that reason, this band will never become a "working band" in any capacity - covers or originals. I would like to see them become successful; I see problems with the music we're playing and I see problems fundamentally, like with the band mix and whatnot, but they do not want to change anything. I think our guitarist is too noodly for most people who are not Petrucci fans to appreciate - I also play guitar and I find most of what he does to be annoying or showy instead of quality. Our vocalist/guitarist has a decent voice, but does not choose the best melodies and phrasing. I do not like his lyrics at all. They are not catchy. His crowd interaction is boring. He thinks he is funny but comes across as overcompensating for something. I have started to write my own music for the first time in my life (I recording my first track ever this weekend) and I'm hoping it goes somewhere. I really wish the problems in this band would just resolve on their own... our drummer is just awesome. He is probably the only one that legitimately considers my suggestions and he is easy to work with. My only qualm with him is that he just isn't great at jamming stuff.

All of this makes me just not want to play bass. I would rather pick guitar back up, find a good bassist and drummer and go from there. I sincerely doubt I will ever find a guitarist I like to play with... so I should become what I hate now that I am sympathetic to the issue.

If ANY situation wants to make you stop playing...........then RUN, in fact RUN NOW

If you have ANY of the doubts you listed after just a FEW practices, it is time to LEAVE.

Save yourself, and your sanity

 

[Kro]

His initial response was "tens can't pump air", which I suppose is what I should have quoted for clarity.

I'm fairly sure the size of the individual speakers in the OP's cab isn't his problem

D'oh, didn't go back far enough. You win this round.

 

[HolmeBass]

Never, EVER scoop your kids

Gotta love autocorrect!

 

[zon6c-f]

I am annoyed AF at the guitarists in my one band. One just got his first tube amp ever and his tone is garbage. The lows sound dimed. It's a 50w Bugera into some garbage cab. Our other guitarist who is on the other end of the practice room has an EVH 5150iii combo which is also going into an oversized 5150iii 412 cab with excessive gain. They are playing really loud. I had pain in my ear at the last practice and my ears rang for days. I started using ear plugs because they will not turn down. Another problem is that my rig can't keep up and I have trouble hearing myself. I have a Peavey Firebass 700w and a GK neo 410 (8 ohm) stacked on an older acoustic cab. The Acoustic is not being used because of faulty jacks on the back. When I do use both, there is little perceivable difference in volume.

Lows are at 2 o clock, mids are at 11 o clock, highs are at 3 o clock. Contour is dialed up all the way. The active input setting is off, speaker protection is on, I am using a compressor. Sound only cuts when I use overdrive. My cab appears to be clipping with a clean sound with gain at 10 o clock and master dimed. Help!

All else fails, I will just get vengeful and direct into PA with full volume, both cabs. Seriously, the practice mix is so bad, I hardly hear the drums or vocals. It's just guitar distortion, mostly the EVH one.

Buy a vintage Acoustic 370 with Acoustic 408 cab (4-15s)

Tell them if they don't turn down ... you'll turn up to 3

Same can be done with Sunn Coliseum or Acoustic 361

Better yet quit now. Your hearing is far more valuable than THAT band

 

[Frank77]

Get out of there and save your hearing. It doesn't sound like you really enjoy anything about this band, anyway.

 

[SactoBass]

for your long term health, what you need to do is get out of this band and find people willing to play at a reasonable sensible volume.
Tinnitus is no joke, and has ruined a lot of people's enjoyment of music and life.

Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig +1