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Apartment practice

Wademeister63

Wademeister63

Aug 30, 2004
1,541
193
62
Denton Tx
#1
I might have had a little whoops this week. Seems two of the people in my building sent in complaints of noise. Rather vibrations I guess but they couldn't tell where it was coming from. I suspect it was from me and I told the apartment manager so and that I'd make sure I didn't do it again if it was from me. So no doubt my 15" speaker told on me even though I had it turned down to about normal speech level.

If I get a real small speaker, would I be able to turn it up louder without worrying about the sound carrying through the walls? I live on the ground floor so I may be able to use a down firing setup or something for a decent and contained sound for practice. Maybe I can lay the 15 cab on the floor face down? Would it damage it to play it that way? I think I'd like to get a combo but the right cab along with one of the heads I already own could do the trick.

Or there's always headphones. I've used them before but I don't really like them much. Then again I never had any really good headphones. Maybe I just need to get some really nice cordless headphones?? Can I find such a thing?

It's important to me that I don't bother the neighbors. I've been on the other side of that situation and I know how it can drive people bananas. So besides moving or quitting the bass, what suggestions does anyone have?
 
#2
As an apartment dweller myself, a good pair of headphones, I think, are the way to go. And if you don't have a headphone jack, you could buy the same, very highly recommended headphone amp that I just did:
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#3
Wademeister63 said:
I might have had a little whoops this week. Seems two of the people in my building sent in complaints of noise. Rather vibrations I guess but they couldn't tell where it was coming from. I suspect it was from me and I told the apartment manager so and that I'd make sure I didn't do it again if it was from me. So no doubt my 15" speaker told on me even though I had it turned down to about normal speech level.

If I get a real small speaker, would I be able to turn it up louder without worrying about the sound carrying through the walls? I live on the ground floor so I may be able to use a down firing setup or something for a decent and contained sound for practice. Maybe I can lay the 15 cab on the floor face down? Would it damage it to play it that way? I think I'd like to get a combo but the right cab along with one of the heads I already own could do the trick.

Or there's always headphones. I've used them before but I don't really like them much. Then again I never had any really good headphones. Maybe I just need to get some really nice cordless headphones?? Can I find such a thing?

It's important to me that I don't bother the neighbors. I've been on the other side of that situation and I know how it can drive people bananas. So besides moving or quitting the bass, what suggestions does anyone have?
Click to expand...

Either do the headphone amp thing or just turn down the bass.

When you are practicing at home there's no need to 'feel' the bass except for self gratification...which ain't necessarily a bad thing until people complain, of course.

Just turn down the bass. It'll be cool.

:D

Joe.
 
#9
I have amps and cabs in every room of my apartment. Of course Im a fanantic though.
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#10
I don't think that down firing is the way to go. Thats putting the sound directly into a medium thats going to alow it to travel better and faster and generally less impeded.

Perhaps a gramma pad might make a difference to remove any coupling your speaker has with the floor or maybe just putting it on a chair might do.

If you were to get a new cab I you would probably need one that has less losses through vibration of the cabinet. Not a different speaker size.

At the end of the day your safest bet is to go with the head phones
 
#13
90% of my at-home practice is unplugged. For the few times I get a chance to plug in, mostly it's through headphones. I've found that using a good set of studio-quality headphones (the big ones that cover your ears, not the iPod/portable type) make a huge difference.

Nothing compares to standing in front of a speaker stack and having your arm-hairs vibrate and your pant legs flap, but for the sake of my family and our neighborhood, good headphones do the job for me.
 
#18
I was in the same boat once. You've got a few options here

1) Play unplugged-might not work that great if you play light and are playing to something (i.e. CD, Radio, Computer etc.)

2) Get headphones-You'll be able to hear yourself fine, but playing to a CD will be a little tougher.

3) Raise you cab above the ground-A milk crate works well. Will eliminate most vibrations, and you'll be able to hear yourself better with the cab at ear level.

4) Buy an acoustic bass.

I've actually done all of these, lol, and now I'm at #4. I love playing an acoustic bass in the house. I have it with me if I'm watching TV, hanging around the house etc. And the best part is that I don't have to worry about pissing anyone off!
 
#20
Just my opinion, since you asked:

Spend $30-$200 on a good set of headphones.

Example, if you do not want to do any research:

AKG's K-55's are cheap, they have decent response, and they are very comfortable to wear extended periods. If they do not have enough bass response for you, you are likely playing too loud.
 

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