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Best Solution to Play Bass Without Disturbing Others?

#61
three rules:

Play Quiet - low volume on amp/headphones if applicable to situation

Play in the day - or whenever your playing will not disturb sleep or anything else

Play well - people are much more willing to deal with hearing a lot of good sounding practice than hearing you play like a bum
 
#62
I have the same problem except i don't want to wake the kids...I use my BP200, it a boss bass effects pedal the you can run a mp3 player(or laptop in my case) into the "jam-a-long" port, plug your bass into the input and a set of head phones into the "phone out". it works great and sounds somewhat decent...i think the pedals run about $150
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...ng-Processor?sku=150162&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0
 
#63
needmoney said:
I've tried the Earwig, and while it's nice, it doesn't sound anywhere near as nice as a Raven Labs PHA-1, and even better again a Cafe Walter HA-1.

The CW is an amazing box with the right cans. I use Sony MDR-7506 and I can hear every little nuance in my playing, helps me iron out the kinks.
Click to expand...

Excuse me for asking yet another question in this thread but -

What is the cost for the Cafe Walter?

Thanks
 
#64
I have a little mixer that has an instrument input (made by Rolls) and I have it connected to the tape loop on my integrated amp in home office. For cans I use Sony MDR-V7's which are very much like a 7506 but mine are now almost 20 years old!

Like others have said not the oommpphh of an amp but very effective for practice and it does sound very acceptable. The advantage of my set up I can use either the CD or the iPod for source material. I also have a Korg Pandora's box which is good for "on the go" but it is pretty sad power wise. I am playing mostly in a praise band these days and my set up is really good for practicing after the kids go to bed.

The Cafe Walter is probably another great option as others have suggested. I had all the parts for my rig so no need.
 
#66
Dub56 said:
I have a bit of a problem:confused:

I need a way to play my basses privately and quietly (in a dorm, for example) and I'm pretty picky about my tone. I'm not expecting it to me the same as fully amplified, but I want it to sound pretty decent.

I have tried the following:

1.) I bought a pair of nice Audio Technica studio headphones, but they crackled and distorted just like the $30 dollar headphones I already have.

2.) I have a Line6 Guitarport I found for really cheap, and I could use that on my laptop, but it isn't the best bass software and I would still need some sort of headphones.

My main amp is too large, so what I'm most likely going to do is buy a small practice amp and possibly some nice headphones (If I can find some that suit my purpose).

Anyway, what would you suggest? Practice amp? If so, what brand/model? Headphones? If so, what brand/model?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Tascam CDBT1 or the MP3 version. I've had the CD version for years and not only is it a way to keep the noise down but I've used it to slow down songs while trying to learn and/or transcribe them. There is a line in on mine so I can plug in my Ipod as well for play along purposes.

It gets a LOT of use in my house and I've even plugged my Korg Triton Extreme in it. Now it's NOT the best sound for keys being that it was designed for bass but it still sounds good nonetheless.

Great sound and great product. And no, I don't endorse Tascam. I'm just telling it like it is. :) You will not be sorry you bought one of these.
 
#68
MikeBass said:
I'd be willing to bet that my technique is about as light as his any day.
Most guys who pick up my bass make it do nothing but buzz and rattle.
I play with a VERY light touch, yet still don't use an amp most of the time to practice.

And on a fretless.........I can say almost 100%, that I never used an amp to practice with.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah? Well, I play so light that you can't hear me when I'm plugged IN. So THERE! ;)
 
#69
Dub56 said:
I have a bit of a problem:confused:

I need a way to play my basses privately and quietly (in a dorm, for example) and I'm pretty picky about my tone. I'm not expecting it to me the same as fully amplified, but I want it to sound pretty decent.

I have tried the following:

1.) I bought a pair of nice Audio Technica studio headphones, but they crackled and distorted just like the $30 dollar headphones I already have.

2.) I have a Line6 Guitarport I found for really cheap, and I could use that on my laptop, but it isn't the best bass software and I would still need some sort of headphones.

My main amp is too large, so what I'm most likely going to do is buy a small practice amp and possibly some nice headphones (If I can find some that suit my purpose).

Anyway, what would you suggest? Practice amp? If so, what brand/model? Headphones? If so, what brand/model?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

I suggest the Pandora 5 Invalid Link Removed

I used it briefly as I was sent one to review and it worked out great. Plug in your ipod to it, connect some headphones and rock out. Just don;t try to sing loud enough to hear it with the headphones on, you may disturb someone! :)
 
#73
I use my RNP preamp and a modified Sennheiser HD600 with one of the side connections reversed so that the balanced output from the RNP is in phase. Okayed by the folks at RNP and no problems whatsoever. Great clear full sound. No extra cost to me since I already have both of them.
 
#76
I've got a 2 month old baby now, so I plug my old Sony MDR-V600 headphones into my Ampeg BA-110. It would be nice if I could run a metronome through the headphones too, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. BTW - I've had the headphones for over 17 years now and they still sound good.
 
#77
Jerry J said:
I found the new address for the Earwig amp.

Link Removed

Can anyone comment on these?

I would love to get a Cafe Walter but they are just too expensive for my needs. Plus I need something small to fit in my gig bag for practice on my lunch hour at work.
Click to expand...

Yeah i was spelling challenged when typing the link,
i just got a earwig that i run bass>vt bass>earwig>mp3
a great solution for late night practice..

I was thinking cafe walter but at three times the cost:eek:
the earwig fit the bill perfectly
 
#78
HooDoo said:
Yeah i was spelling challenged when typing the link,
i just got a earwig that i run bass>vt bass>earwig>mp3
a great solution for late night practice..

I was thinking cafe walter but at three times the cost:eek:
the earwig fit the bill perfectly
Click to expand...

That's great that they are still making the Earwig. But weren't they something like $39(USD) not too long ago? If they are decent then it's worth it.

That Altoid pocket amp that Hoon linked to is way cool. Too bad it doesn't have an MP3 input. ( I know...I want everything!).

I do practice a lot with the bass not plugged in. But if I'm trying to learn songs I need to be able to hear what I'm playing as well as the song.
 

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