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Loud Guitarists, What are my Amp Options?
- Thread starter twc1313
- Start date
SVT and an 810 will bury them, but that's not always an option. So, if they're scooping mids and boosting lows you should take over that midrange spectrum. Boost the heck out of the mids, you'll be heard loud and clear and they'll disappear into the mix.
A 610 or 810 would help the most though.
A 610 or 810 would help the most though.
SVT's were made to be Marshall killers, one or two cabs (810's). I've been using them for over 40 years and have never had to buy anything else unless I wanted something smaller for practice, small room etc..
While some would say you’ve sold out I’d say way to go! Taking care of you and yours is the first responsibility. I’ve been able to play the music I want, when, where and with whom.
As a “yout” I always saw my day job as my side hustle and music my life. I still see it that way. Music I bring hard like my life depends on it. Yet with a relaxation like it doesn’t.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
My wife actually earned a living in the 80s singing and playing keys … but now she enjoys her good day job with salary, paid vacation, holidays, 401k, and medical benefits …
I like my day job … I make enough money to live comfortably and buy a few basses and I get to bed before midnight
I'd say add two more Rumble 210s. That'll give you the 8x10s at 800 watts, with two vertically arrayed 4x10s for that coupling effect that regular 410s don't have. But, it'll be much more mobile than an actual fridge.
It never works out. Just find another band.
My ears rang for 3 days after one rehearsal despite wearing foam ear plugs for protection, so I quit. I’m in MUCH better bands now.
My ears rang for 3 days after one rehearsal despite wearing foam ear plugs for protection, so I quit. I’m in MUCH better bands now.
Probably not going to consider this, but for humor's sake....would I run a 2 twistlock cables from amp to a 2x10 then daisy chain the other 2x10s to those cabs, then flip the 2ohm switch and put on an adult diaper?
Well, it is an option! Yeah, just daisy chain the extra cabs. But I don't think twistlock is what . . . uh, ... he-e-ey!!! Wait a minute! Now I see what you did there!
As if that much power would require industrial strength twistlock cables . . . 
.
Wholly agree
I have constant problems with feedback from the bass back thru the side of stage vocal PA. We have five microphones on stage.
The lead guitarist/vocalist insists on bass boost to enhance his voice, which only accentuates the feedback and makes it harder for me to match the average volume of the whole band
He has no less than four foldbacks on the floor, three PA speakers on stands out front and a 2 x 12 100W amp. He also suffers from industrial deafness so tends to play and sing at a high db level.
After years of experimenting in small and medium sized venues - many with small stages where the whole band is squeezed in close together - I find the solution is to mount the bass speakers as low to the floor as possible.
I normally use a combination of one, two or three 15 inch speakers but prefer 18's - depends upon floor space.
Where possible have only one low down speaker or combo on stage (so you can hear yourself and for appearance) and one or more extension speaker units on the floor below the raised stage at the side.
This does three things -
1. It gets the bass sound down low below the singer/lead guitarist's ears so the bass volume can be much higher before he can hear it (He is mostly focused on hearing his own voice and playing so the bass volume can be as high as I can reach without him being distracted from his own performance by competing sound). Bass is not directional so happily travels around the room reasonably evenly.
Floor mounted bass cabs will deliver much better floor and wall shaking bass.
2. It reduces irritation to the singer/lead guitarist who is distracted by bass notes which do not fit his preconceptions or threatens his wonderfulness
3. It allows the audience to hear a more balanced sound, noting the whole purpose of bass is to provide aural balance to the mostly mid-range to HF of the other instruments and voice. If there is no bass the overall sound is shallow, so the audience needs BASS.
Other tricks are to boost the HF (treble) and some mid-range so as to accentuate the harmonics.
If using a pick, pick noise and clicks help to be noticed but can also irritate.
Position the bass speakers on both sides of the stage. This distributes the power more efficiently and evenly, puts the whole band in the sound zone and enhances the whole performance.
But for a big full bass sound there is no substitute for more speakers - the bigger the better - but keep them as low as practicable to the floor and angled sideways slightly to eliminate standing waves in the room. For best effect some experimenting is needed for each situation.
The bass needs to be present but not dominant.
All of the above is contrary to big event sound systems where the speakers are hung from the ceiling - but in those systems there is usually a control desk with the capacity for independent management of the overall sound balance. They also tend to shake the audience but not the building - is not quite the same as conditions on stage.
Get rid of your cabs and buy some earphone monitors and see how long before anyone notes a lack of bass.
With a good sound man you and your audience will enjoy some low end, even if your guitarists don’t.
You answered your own question yes bring your carving rig absolutely perfect for a bar or Club gig
Wholly agree
Is a constant challenge for me to weave around the guitar's strong chords and loud full sound that wholly fills the room - particularly when he never plays a song the same way each time
If I play low end for a solid bass sound platform he complains it's boomy because of modulation effects but if I play high range it disturbs his pre-programmed brain and puts him off
My salvation is to play the fancy stuff during the verse while he is singing and focused on the lyrics, then play simple bass during his show-off solos
1.For show
2. The audience loves a big full bass sound in the mix
3. If guitarists do not have a bass and drums to support them then they are just a solo guitar act which, even with pre-recorded backing tracks is not counted as a band
you've had enough people give you advice about your ears... so I'll only shake a vigorous "YES" to their warnings.
My rule of thumb is that the bass needs 10X's the power and at least the same speaker area as the lead guitar player. Assuming they're playing Marshall 50's, your head is fine but you're way under with the speaker area.
Get a 610 or 412 and you should be fine assuming they are of reasonable efficiency. Don't think you can add another 210 or a 410 to one of your 210's as you'll have issues either with too low an impedance (4 ohm + 8 ohm cab - 2.67 ohms = blow your head) or unequal power to the speakers as the ones in the 210 will be getting 2X the power of the ones in the 410 and you'll likely blow one plus you won't be getting the total volume you want/need.
My rule of thumb is that the bass needs 10X's the power and at least the same speaker area as the lead guitar player. Assuming they're playing Marshall 50's, your head is fine but you're way under with the speaker area.
Get a 610 or 412 and you should be fine assuming they are of reasonable efficiency. Don't think you can add another 210 or a 410 to one of your 210's as you'll have issues either with too low an impedance (4 ohm + 8 ohm cab - 2.67 ohms = blow your head) or unequal power to the speakers as the ones in the 210 will be getting 2X the power of the ones in the 410 and you'll likely blow one plus you won't be getting the total volume you want/need.
Played with a band where the guitarist needed counseling. Only three of us in the room but he had to play so loud you thought your ears would bleed. Used my Markbass K1 with a 102P. That kept up with his huge Marshall stack and didn't break my back. In the end the only answer was find another band.
