Etiquette at the jam session?

[mmbass21]

You did the right thing asking to use your amp. I don't travel without one if I don't know the situation I'm getting into.
I'll also not hesitate to ask someone to turn down. I always use ear filters no matter the situation if I'm with a live drummer but I simply use the excuse that I can't hear the kick drum over their guitar. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

looking for a little open discussion and input/opinion...

A hodgepodge group of us gathered at someone’s house for a couple of hours to jam over the weekend. Me, being a bass player want to use my own gear so, I bring the lightweight rig of elf head and 2x8 cab. It was stated in group text that she has a bass practice amp in the studio of which, I didn’t have much faith.
This is what it turned out to be:
Invalid Link Removed

The guitars were playing through a fender 25 watt (not bad at all for the space) and the other through some off brand 150 watt that sounded like nails on a chalkboard with a guy on the other end of it that doesn’t understand excessive volume levels and constant noodling is grounds for multiple wounds induced by an ice pick.

Anyhow, after seeing what she had and hearing the volume of two guitars, a keyboard, and her vox I politely asked, does she mind if I use mine since, I brought it? She said yeah, no problem. With eq @ 12:00 and volume & gain at 10:00, I was getting drowned. I bumped gain to 11:00 and volume to 1:00 and mixed in nicely.

So my question is, was it bad form to invite my own amp in this situation? On some level I know I’m treating this with some hypersensitivity but, when I get invited into someone’s home the last thing I want is to be intrusive or unappreciative. However, when I get invited into someone’s home studio for a jam session I’m assuming it’s the norm to bring your own equipment. I also assumed that asserting my territory in the frequency range of my responsibility was better than coming in and immediately asking the guitars to turn down.

There, I’m done venting.

NO!

My amps are as much a part of my sound as my instrument. I have different configurations for different sized spaces and different instrumentation. Some amps cut through and sit better. Big and small.

The extra amp was likely there to make it easier for the players. Did she have a drum kit?

I would have passed on that amp too.

Now if you had showed up with a large setup, that would have likely pushed the dynamic in an uneasy way.

You were polite, no issues.

 

[klokker]

If someone says "amp provided" I always ask what it is. If I don't like it, I'll just offer to bring my own. Never been a problem.

I have a couple of guys I play with who always bring the gear they want out there, bass amp included. I wouldn't bring my own amp in that situation.

 

[TheDayMan]

I don’t see how this could have been considered rude even if the provided amp was useable, unless you dragged something bigger in, banged it into walls, and were obnoxious about it. Why buy nice portable stuff you like in the first place if you’re just going to settle for whatever someone might have collecting dust in their basement studio?

 

[zubrycky]

If you don't wear earplugs, wear earplugs!

Amen to that!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

looking for a little open discussion and input/opinion...

A hodgepodge group of us gathered at someone’s house for a couple of hours to jam over the weekend. Me, being a bass player want to use my own gear so, I bring the lightweight rig of elf head and 2x8 cab. It was stated in group text that she has a bass practice amp in the studio of which, I didn’t have much faith.
This is what it turned out to be:
Invalid Link Removed

The guitars were playing through a fender 25 watt (not bad at all for the space) and the other through some off brand 150 watt that sounded like nails on a chalkboard with a guy on the other end of it that doesn’t understand excessive volume levels and constant noodling is grounds for multiple wounds induced by an ice pick.

Anyhow, after seeing what she had and hearing the volume of two guitars, a keyboard, and her vox I politely asked, does she mind if I use mine since, I brought it? She said yeah, no problem. With eq @ 12:00 and volume & gain at 10:00, I was getting drowned. I bumped gain to 11:00 and volume to 1:00 and mixed in nicely.

So my question is, was it bad form to invite my own amp in this situation? On some level I know I’m treating this with some hypersensitivity but, when I get invited into someone’s home the last thing I want is to be intrusive or unappreciative. However, when I get invited into someone’s home studio for a jam session I’m assuming it’s the norm to bring your own equipment. I also assumed that asserting my territory in the frequency range of my responsibility was better than coming in and immediately asking the guitars to turn down.

There, I’m done venting.

As a member of a “hodgepodge” group, I see no difference in using you own bass or your own amp.

 

[dlb1001]

I have only once, not brought my own amp for a practice/jam. The BL had an old GK combo that had scratchy pots and it squealed because someone had max'd out the Boost setting. Fortunately, it worked fine, after setting the controls to a decent level.

 

[MichelD]

Well, there were nine guitarists, a drummer and me. Average age (not counting the 25-year-old drummer) was 70. Played a variety of old pop standards, CCR, Jerry and the Pacemakers, Stones, Tom Petty, etc.

Highlight was a retired bus driver who was well versed in blues and a good rhythm and lead player. He played though a Fender clone amp my friend built, my friend played a Blues Junior, they provided me with little but loud Line 6 bass amp. You could hear everybody but I had to roll off the bass and turn the treble up and use my bridge pickup to cut through 9 guitars to be heard.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Etiquette? At a jam session?

 

[mongo2]

I always ask if I should bring my amp when asked to jam. If the organizer says they have one I ask what it is and if I think it's not up to the task (they often aren't) I ask if I can bring my own small rig. If they say I have to use the less than adequate amp they have, I'll pass on the jam.

I also bring ear plugs because so far there has always been a reason to use them.

 

[MichelD]

I brought plugs and used them this week even though the guitarist were using 15 watt amps for the most part.

I have chronic tinnitus any way so I had custom fitted plastic plugs made earlier this year. Mostly for duck hunting, but they really block out loud guitar amps too.