For cryin out LOUD

[GManfromOz]

Rehearsal yesterday. 4-piece band, singer also strums a guitar and blows a harp. The guitars were deafeningly loud. Again. Both of them dialled in so much bass, I had trouble discerning what I was playing vs. what came from their amps. Makes me wonder why I bother playing fretless.

I've had the discussion with both of them quite a few times now, and am getting tired of asking them to lower their volume. I could easily (and I mean EASILY) overpower them both in terms of volume, but I won't. Instead, I decided to start overplaying fills left and right - it's not like anyone hears them anyway, and I get to practice that aspect a bit. Pretty sure at one point all three of us were in a different section of the same song, and no one seemed to notice.

This is a low-maintenance band, and we've started working on some original tunes as well, so it's fun. Usually. Last night it was not. Too fast, too loud, no nuance or subtlety whatsoever. Makes me want to play the ukulele more ....

[/rant]

All I can say is "ditto". Sometimes I think I should have just stayed at home .

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

Maybe change the EQ on the guitar amp? I used to play with a loud guitar player. I would play the volume wars with him at first, but eventually gave up. At our final gig together, the sound guy walked over to his amp, turned the bass knob down to about 8 o'clock and turned his volume UP. He then said "You don't need that much low-end", pointed at me, "That's why he's here". Sound guy got a big tip that night.

 

[12BitSlab]

Fretted PBass
Ampeg SVT II pro
6×10 Fridge

The End

Sometimes the only winning move is to not play the game.

 

[Element Zero]

Nope. No thanks. I simply refuse to play with players such as that.

 

[hieronymous]

You can cover up a lot of mistakes with volume.

Or at the very least, have a very inaccurate view of how it sounds to others. It definitely shows that you aren't listening to everyone (anyone?) else.

 

[Chains]

How loud is your drummer? Seems like that is first question that I would have.

 

[Tommy V]

as an old guitar player, i understand the need to crank up.. elevating the cab to ear-level usually solves the problem.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I hope you're wearing hearing protection.

At some point we all started wearing hearing protection, cos we're playing loud. I honestly think that is part of the problem - they proceeded to crank the levels similar to pre-protection levels to make up for said hearing protection

What's with all the passive-aggressive stuff? No one willing to stand up to protect their ears and reputation as a musician?

I've done the assertive thing a few times: "Hey guitarist, you're too loud, and your ears are not located at ankle-level." For some reason, that did not work.

Have issues with sound ruining your day is not what I call low maintenance....

Agreed - I was having a bad day overall. This just made it worse. But in the grand scheme of things, this is a low maintenance band.

Sometimes the only winning move is to not play the game.

Indeed, I refuse to play the volume game.

How loud is your drummer? Seems like that first question that I would have.

He's about as loud as the average average drummer (not a typo there). But I rehearsed with him in the same room, with different lead and singer and we never had this sort of issues - so it's not him.

as an old guitar player, i understand the need to crank up.. elevating the cab to ear-level usually solves the problem.

You are a rare breed, then. This one simply does not get it. Worst thing is, he used to play bass! I expected more from him

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Life's too short to deal with that nonsense. Guitar players that play too loud and don't even notice what part of the song they're in are a dime a dozen.

I agree. There are a lot of folks who “play” guitar vs. those who listen to the band, play with the band, and make their guitar sing.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Rehearsal yesterday. 4-piece band, singer also strums a guitar and blows a harp. The guitars were deafeningly loud. Again. Both of them dialled in so much bass, I had trouble discerning what I was playing vs. what came from their amps. Makes me wonder why I bother playing fretless.

I've had the discussion with both of them quite a few times now, and am getting tired of asking them to lower their volume. I could easily (and I mean EASILY) overpower them both in terms of volume, but I won't. Instead, I decided to start overplaying fills left and right - it's not like anyone hears them anyway, and I get to practice that aspect a bit. Pretty sure at one point all three of us were in a different section of the same song, and no one seemed to notice.

This is a low-maintenance band, and we've started working on some original tunes as well, so it's fun. Usually. Last night it was not. Too fast, too loud, no nuance or subtlety whatsoever. Makes me want to play the ukulele more ....

[/rant]

Basic thing that I believe helps
Volume wars a lot is to practice like you play. As in set up like you do onstage with all amps firing the same direction. Often times at band rehearsals bands set up in a circle and stand in front of their amps with their amps facing in so everyone’s amp is blowing by their legs and across the room are too loud for everyone else. For my band our louder guitar player is on the other side of the stage so his rig isn’t firing at me. Our singer who keeps his amp on the same side as mine, just uses a little 112 combo so the guitar isn’t stupid loud on my side. As far as guitar players having too much low end. I just make endless jokes about how they secretly want to be a bass player until they do something to fix it.

 

[hangman]

Rehearsal yesterday. 4-piece band, singer also strums a guitar and blows a harp. The guitars were deafeningly loud. Again. Both of them dialled in so much bass, I had trouble discerning what I was playing vs. what came from their amps. Makes me wonder why I bother playing fretless.

I've had the discussion with both of them quite a few times now, and am getting tired of asking them to lower their volume. I could easily (and I mean EASILY) overpower them both in terms of volume, but I won't. Instead, I decided to start overplaying fills left and right - it's not like anyone hears them anyway, and I get to practice that aspect a bit. Pretty sure at one point all three of us were in a different section of the same song, and no one seemed to notice.

This is a low-maintenance band, and we've started working on some original tunes as well, so it's fun. Usually. Last night it was not. Too fast, too loud, no nuance or subtlety whatsoever. Makes me want to play the ukulele more ....

[/rant]

If you want to stay with this group, you really need to get earplugs. And I mean quality, musician’s plugs, not foam.
The thread at the top if this forum has good information. Please protect your hearing/inner ears.

 

[rollerskatedog]

In the same situation. It’s frustrating as a mf. Both guitar players have been playing longer, but I have worked my arse off the past few years and have surpassed them in terms of knowledge on recording, eq, dynamics, live sound, etc... Even in terms of volume aNd rhythm guitar playing. Yet they blow it off as an insult or it is inferior information.

Leave them behind, my friend. I will be doing just that after our last wedding gig in June this year.