Do you practice plugged in?

[Yools]

I almost always practice unplugged, mainly because the overwhelming majority of my practice these days is related to learning music theory (chord tone exercises, modes, etc.) and I like to be able to focus on the fundamentals of learning the fretboard and how that relates to musical concepts. My primary bass has a really loud acoustic tone anyway, so I can hear everything just fine when I play like that.

The only exception is when I'm trying to learn a bass line for a cover song; in that case, I plug directly into track 4 my old TASCAM 414 cassette 4-track, which I use as a mixer with my computer's audio output running into tracks 1 and 2 and the output going into a set of computer speakers with a subwoofer. That setup lets me pan and do a little eq on the audio input from the computer, which helps with picking out bass lines and playing along with songs. I get a really nice tone out of that old TASCAM, and I have a cassette in it so I can record myself playing along with the song if I like (or if I happen to come up with something and want to save it).

-Y

 

[jeff62]

The only sounds that matter are the ones that come through the amp. If you practice unplugged you don't know what you sound like.

Also, half of playing is playing the amp. You're only half practicing.

I’ve been playing long enough to know exactly what each bass sounds like through my amp. Open your mind, you might find you’ll learn something new.

 

[MVE]

Both...
If I’m working out on learning a new line or memorizing something through repetition, then yeah sit in front of the tv and wiggle my fingers for hours on end.
But, practicing through your amp is very important for your technique. You need to hear what the audience will hear.

 

[eldorado2001]

Always plugged in.

 

[Dabndug]

Unplugged 90% of the time. When I practice it's to maintain dexterity and familiarity with the fingerboard. I've been playing for long enough to know exactly how I sound amped up.

If I'm writing new material or experimenting with a new tone I'll use an amp, but only when I won't disturb the household and/or neighbours. This practice has saved my hearing and a number of relationships.

By the same token, I understand why other people's practice regime would be different.

 

[SactoBass]

Ampeg SCR-DI with Sony MDR-7506 headphones.

 

[fishdreams]

Loudness to me is a relative experience, as to how one mixes in within one's immediate environment. I've slapped a string, not being plugged in, outside at night in the countryside, and it felt like breaking the silence violently

Had a great session once not being plugged in at all with cigar box guitarist Stephen Cohen for example, in a wood-panelled room. Once the ears adjusted themselves, it felt quite loud.

I practice between 6-8am in the morning. Sometimes I plug in into a small battery amp, but often I do not plug in at all. The house is quiet the streets are quiet, and I hear actually much better what I really sound like - which can be quite confronting. The other thing is that it enables me to walk around unencumbered by cables etc. It helps with practicing scales in time (a trick I picked up form Steve Lacy's book Findings, which has great practice ideas)

Unfortuntely, practicing with pedals requires amplification. The battery amp really sucks for that. Haven't worked that one out yet to my satisfaction.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

My practice amp is a Fender Rumble 40. I mostly play along with me studio monitors.
A few years ago I decided since my wife had gone to bed when I usually practiced I would go quiet. I ran my computer sound (headset jack) to the Aux In on the Rumble and used headphones. I found it to be a great way to practice. After a few days my wife asked my why I hadn't been practicing. I told her. She asked me to go back to the way I was practicing. She said she like to fall asleep listening to me practice.

Yeah, Mrs. Thumpenstein knows I'm staying out of trouble if she hears the thumping from the basement.

I find it helps me keep my attack and muting more consistent if I'm plugged in; I can't hear subtleties if I'm not amplified. BL has been recording rehearsals lately and that's something that I have been woodshedding a bit; sometimes I get to digging in a bit too hard when we're really cooking.

I sometimes practice upstairs through cans, but I like being able to move around a bit and I have a hard time doing that when I'm tethered.

Plus, I DO love the sound of my rig these days!

 

[superheavyfunk]

Most of the time, I practice unamplified. Mainly because it's easier and I'm lazy.

 

[Wasnex]

we are all otherwise not worthy? I rarely plug in to practice (at home) because I can hear my electric bass just fine acoustically. And, as mentioned, above, practicing acoustically helps with the ability to hear sounds that might otherwise create a problem later.

side benefits: I save my hearing over time and don’t annoy family

I almost always practice plugged in. My observation is many of the people I have met who practice unplugged tend to have very aggressive technique and really attack the bass, so they have no trouble hearing. I have a light technique, and to be honest I can hear most of what I am doing unplugged in quiet room as well, but a lot of nuance is lost.

Here's the dilemma. When we practice with an amp, we get used to hearing ourselves very clearly and develop this intimate and addictive connection with our instrument. As soon as we start playing with others, we have to deal with masking. So it becomes much harder to hear ourself and the intimacy and connection we feel with our instrument is gone. It can be extremely frustrating to many players that they can never hear themselves as well as they want in a live environment. In support of my supposition, it's a fairly common complaint that the bass is too loud.

So although I always practice with an amp, perhaps there are advantages to practicing sans amps . If you take this approach, you may not be as frustrated and inclined to turn up so much that you blow out the room when it comes time to play with other musicians.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Yeah, Mrs. Thumpenstein knows I'm staying out of trouble if she hears the thumping from the basement.

I find it helps me keep my attack and muting more consistent if I'm plugged in; I can't hear subtleties if I'm not amplified. BL has been recording rehearsals lately and that's something that I have been woodshedding a bit; sometimes I get to digging in a bit too hard when we're really cooking.

I sometimes practice upstairs through cans, but I like being able to move around a bit and I have a hard time doing that when I'm tethered.

Plus, I DO love the sound of my rig these days!

I hadn't thought about the mute and attack thing. My practice rig is very different from my gigging rig, mostly. As previously stated, I practice with a Rumble 40. For full band gigs, I use a Bassman 500 and a pair of 1x15 Bassman neos. For acoustic gigs I use a Rumble 100.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Practice amp. Its a convenient place to set my beer. Just don't think about setting your beer on it too.

 

[five7]

50/50 Plug in when I am practicing songs but when practicing everything else I don't. Practicing un plugged really helps because you don't have the benefit of an amp. One of my oldest friends taught me this. It will clean up your technique and make you a more honest player.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Electric Bass -> Mixer -> Studio monitors (or Headphones late at night).

I have a hollowbody that I like to play acoustically for brief noodling.

 

[Fat Freddy]

ALWAYS plugged in.....

 

[Mike Sorr]

I can't imagine practicing without being plugging into something.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I remember Billy Sheehan saying practicing unplugged is a good idea because you can hear all the noises of the instrument that would get covered up with an amplified sound. Fret buzz, rattles etc... So when you play unplugged, you can work on your technique to get a good clean acoustic tone that will translate to an overall better amplified sound.

I never considered that. Good point.

 

[hennessybass]

My practice of late has been more about mechanics, scales, patterns, fingers, etc... Playing unplugged has been woking just fine for that. Especially in a quiet house, or sitting in front of the TV.

If I'm learning songs, I'm plugged in.

 

[jeff62]

I almost always practice plugged in. My observation is many of the people I have met who practice unplugged tend to have very aggressive technique and really attack the bass, so they have no trouble hearing. I have a light technique, and to be honest I can hear most of what I am doing unplugged in quiet room as well, but a lot of nuance is lost.

Here's the dilemma. When we practice with an amp, we get used to hearing ourselves very clearly and develop this intimate and addictive connection with our instrument. As soon as we start playing with others, we have to deal with masking. So it becomes much harder to hear ourself and the intimacy and connection we feel with our instrument is gone. It can be extremely frustrating to many players that they can never hear themselves as well as they want in a live environment. In support of my supposition, it's a fairly common complaint that the bass is too loud.

So although I always practice with an amp, perhaps there are advantages to practicing sans amps . If you take this approach, you may not be as frustrated and inclined to turn up so much that you blow out the room when it comes time to play with other musicians.

all good points. My original response was really to help one of the thread responders to realize that “my way or the highway” is not appropriate for every individual.

 

[Rayjay]

I believe that practice should always be amplified. That way your feel is the same on stage. Having said that, I’m lazy and practice mostly in amplified.