This...
Although I haven't gone there, since I like my rig (GK 1001RBII with a Traynor 410NEO). But, from a purely logical perspective, IEMs are the way to go... Just have to get my heart to follow my head.
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Loud Guitarists, What are my Amp Options?
- Thread starter twc1313
- Start date
Although I haven't gone there, since I like my rig (GK 1001RBII with a Traynor 410NEO). But, from a purely logical perspective, IEMs are the way to go... Just have to get my heart to follow my head.
It's a losing battle. They can do more with 50 watts than you can with 800 watts.
I had an Eden WT800 with 2 4x10 XLT cabinets and a 2x10 XLT cab. My wife heard me across the street, but I heard mostly the guitarist on the stage.
My wife asked him "John, why are you so loud? It's just a pub gig...
John replied "I'm getting my sound ready for Wembley (stadium)."
He had a 50 watt Peavey Renown I think...
I had an Eden WT800 with 2 4x10 XLT cabinets and a 2x10 XLT cab. My wife heard me across the street, but I heard mostly the guitarist on the stage.
My wife asked him "John, why are you so loud? It's just a pub gig...
John replied "I'm getting my sound ready for Wembley (stadium)."
He had a 50 watt Peavey Renown I think...
Thanks @Rolling Thunder, that's what a well maintained Olympic White J looks like after 34-years of use. It's a late '82/early '83 that I bought in mint condition in 1985. Eventually it will get more yellow but I like your "buttercream" description of it a lot. I think that currently nails it.Nice buttercream J bass
Only cure is Ampeg tube head with 8x10 cab. Very expensive... and heavy to lift.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Might be interesting to turn your Amp down. See if they are actually in a band, or just musically masturbating in public. 'Cause if all you want to hear is yourself, that's what you are doing.
As a concert-goer, I hate bands like this. They're physically painful to be in the same room with; I can't hear a bloody thing but the concussively loud bass (even with -15db earplugs), and can't enjoy myself because I want the set to be over. Then I get to spend the next day or so with my tinnitus running rampant across the whole frequency spectrum.
It's almost reached the point that when I see a backline with Kempers, I know they're going to be too loud.
It's almost reached the point that when I see a backline with Kempers, I know they're going to be too loud.
You will NEVER win the volume war with them. Do your future self a favor and maintain your hearing by getting out now. You could use an SVT into two 8X10 cabinets, they'll just keep getting louder. You can't use logic to convince someone who is irrational.
Wow, a ton of great replies and some very funny ones too!
Some clarification:
1. The 2x10s are vertically stacked.
2. I've used earplugs since 1997 when I started and have the audiologist ones.
3. The P-bass does make a difference.
4. I tried the no volume thing for the last six songs of the night, no one said anything during the gig, but then after said, "Did something happen to your bass at the end there? I couldn't hear it anymore."
5. If all else fails, I'll get two fridges and two SVTs and a bass tech and my own PA lol.
Some clarification:
1. The 2x10s are vertically stacked.
2. I've used earplugs since 1997 when I started and have the audiologist ones.
3. The P-bass does make a difference.
4. I tried the no volume thing for the last six songs of the night, no one said anything during the gig, but then after said, "Did something happen to your bass at the end there? I couldn't hear it anymore."
5. If all else fails, I'll get two fridges and two SVTs and a bass tech and my own PA lol.
Your amp is fine. It's them that needs new gear. They are stuck in the 80s. Most of the 412 guitar cabs you see on big stages these days are dummy cabs, they aren't even real.
I play in an originals metal band and most of the nicer venues I play are getting more and more used to the bigger touring bands coming through who are touring with axe fx and kempers for guitars and using in ears. As the soundguys get more and more used to ampless stages they are getting more and more strict about stage volume. And I can tell you from experience that having 412 guitar cabs and an 810 bass cab turned down onstage kinda sucks. It doesn't really sound good and it sucks moving big gear every gig to run a stage volume that smaller gear can handle. And if your guitarist want to argue with the soundguy when they are told to turn down you'll actually lose gigs over it.
Anyways as for solutions. For one is this the rumble head you have?
I see a headphone out. Does the headphone out work while the cabs are working or does plugging in headphones automatically mute the cabs? It they work simultaneously I'd get some active over the ear headphones that have a volume control for rehearsals. if you're into gaming usb powered gaming headphones will do the trick as they will allow you to turn up or down the volume of the headphones independently. That way you're reducing the volume from those 412 guitar cabs some while also helping you hear yourself better.
But yeah Iof I was you I would encourage the guitar players to get with the times. 412 cabs are out of style these days. 212 guitar cabs and even some 112 cabs are plenty loud enough especially with guitars in the floor monitors. And even average floor monitors can handle guitars just fine. As for the wanting that cranked big amp type of sound. Tell them to go digital. I get 20 years ago digital sucked I remember playing with guitarist who had the old line 6 stuff lol. but it's 2019 and digital doesn't suck anymore. I play metal and the guys I play with got tired of carrying all the big heavy stuff and now use the fractal AX8 which is basically the axe fx 2 built into a pedalboard. I'm using a Mesa d-800. 800w class D just like your amp. Here's a picture of my rhythm guitarist AX8
And this is what he runs when he needs stage volume for gigs with minimal PA support.
When the floor monitors are nice he doesn't even need a cab. And the crown amp which he bought from me is super overkill for guitar rigs but it's 8lbs and stereo so it actually powers both of their cabs independently.
You are correct that is the amp, but the headphones mute the cabs. That being said.....
My other band handles things professionally, that band's guitarist uses a Kemper and we all have in-ears. Stage volume is dictated by the drummer, who plays to the room. We each have our own mix and life is great.
The other band's guitarists are for sure 80s fans and their tone/gear reflect this. We have high powered floor monitors that are used for IDK what and they're just as loud as the mains! I've dropped the hint many times about IEMs, the drummer is all for it as well.....we can only hope. Furthermore, the guitar players don't wear earplugs because it "effects the tone they hear".
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I'm with the option of going IEM (whether they do or not). Let the sound guys tell them they're ridiculous.
I think I would not have any options cause I woud not get contracts for bar gigs this way.
This is the most crazy thing about all of this....we don't play where there are soundguys lol. We play bars that hold about 75 people max, the rooms are like 30x30. Can you imagine the pain these people have to go through hearing the volume of this band? It is insanity!
They are right. That's why grown-ups set their tone and then put in their ear plugs. It's easy - I do it all the time, even though we don't play very loud.
