This a thousand times this. If the guitarist is in his own sweet spot, he can turn it up as loud as he wants. Louder! If you want to be amazingly loud, I want you to be willing to pay in pain.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Guitarists and the volume war
- Thread starter gotly
- Start date
-
- Tags
- guitarists volume war
This a thousand times this. If the guitarist is in his own sweet spot, he can turn it up as loud as he wants. Louder! If you want to be amazingly loud, I want you to be willing to pay in pain.
they need those ampeg 410 combos the stones used, when our guitarist uses ours it even drowns out the drum machine
With the guys I play with it's the harmonica player, he would want to mic up the harp amp in venues that were vocals only through the PA. The guitar player got a wireless and 1st song he would go out front and check levels and usually come back and turn him down.
A harmonica should never be played through a mic that is set up for vocals. Vocals are at level 1 and Harp is at level 25. If you want to play harp, you should provide your own mic and dedicated amp, which can then be put through the PA if necessary.
Send 'em out in the street with a mic and they can crank up as loud as they want. Also, you won't have to look at them all night. Neither will anyone else
Oh he has his own amp, and it's plenty for the juke-joint style venues we play.
So plexi shields are popular in Dad Bands is what you're saying.
Last show I played on guitar i used a 5 watt amp through an oversized 112 and didn't mic it. The amp fit in my palm. I've found size of box matters more than watts. I actually market that my band keeps its volume low.
@Stumbo always has great advice and I learned a new word today!
What I always used to hate is guitarists with Marshall 412's who cranked their bass so they'd have that low deep chording sound. I finally left the stage during one song and had a beer and listened. The band was shocked and felt the difference without the bass. When they asked me after the song why I did that, I said, "either I play bass or the guitarist plays bass. But not both." He turned down and lightened up the bass after that.
I'm currently doing a big band gig (playing and leading the band). Huge hall, 6-700 people, dinner and dancing. Brought my smallest combo. 10", 300 watt. A little bit of bass in the PA. Playing at half volume. The drummer gets softer, the band gets softer. People are happier. If the band turns up I still keep it down. The drummer follows me, so the band has to turn down to hear us. Try bringing a smaller rig, and keep turning down until they can't hear you.
They could be, if your guitar players had more sense and experience and weren't so selfishly married to their flawed approaches.
And I am currently playing lead and rhythm guitar in my main band. I always tilt my rig back. I always even out my volumes between effects patches and I know how to appropriately boost for solos. I use a dedicated cabinet mic to the board. On small to medium stages I've never needed more than a 15-20 tube watt combo (Fender tweeds and small Marshall tube), which can get hella loud enough for my ears. My tone is at least well above average (I think is sounds plenty full) from clean to fuzz and all points in between. I don't hear the Marshall Plexi Stack guys sounding all that much better.
The rule for all string instrument players in my band is to ring out your rig, make it consistent, eliminate ambient unwanted noise, and don't play louder than the acoustic drums. When we all play by that rule, I can run a set-it-and-forget it mix from the stage and avoid a sound man altogether in small to medium venues.
Last edited:
I had a friend say something like that too - "If you cannot play then just turn the volume and gain to the max, it usually sounds somewhat like you can solo then."
Guitarists who perform with their bedroom and drummers who pound it like they're beating a dead horse pretty much can ruin any mix.
Especially for electric instruments, knowing how to equip yourself to perform at an appropriate volume is part of "knowing how to play."
In my experience, the best guitar sound comes from solid state amps, because they can be controlled. This is true in any genre or venue. Players who could make tube amps sound good tended to be exceptionally good players overall.
In my experience, the best guitar sound comes from solid state amps, because they can be controlled. This is true in any genre or venue. Players who could make tube amps sound good tended to be exceptionally good players overall.
I just got home from playing guitar in a play that featured rock music. The band was onstage with the actors and the director/drummer warned us at dress rehearsal that we needed to keep our stage volume under control. The drummer used e-drums, an acoustic snare, and Hot Rods, and has a really light touch. The bassist and keyboardist ran straight through the PA. I knew if anyone would be told to turn down, it would be me. I set my amp on a stool and aimed it right at my ear. No one said a word about my volume. I don't understand why more guitarist don't get this.
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
Post a funnier picture than the one above - Parallel Universe Edition
- Latest: Richland123