Please help me keep the lows in my own house

[Guild B301]

Iv

OH! and drums are out, though I would have guessed bass would pose much more of a problem. My most musically inclined kid seems like more of a keys and electronics guy right now, anyway.

I've been playing Roland Vdrums electronic kits for about 10 years. Before that, I played Hart Dynamics. They used to all be incredibly expensive, professional gear. But, you can get your kid a pretty decent sounding silent kit for a couple hundred dollars used nowadays.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I think the D-800+ is exactly what I need, but I would have to move a lot of gear before I could make it a reality.

That's a really nice amp too!
The ONLY reason I have my WD is Sweetwater had a deal on last year, 36 months same as cash.
It worked out to $28 a month

They had the same deal last month. I wanted to get the SW 115 but mama said I needed to pay off the WD first. We'll get it next time

 

[silky smoove]

I would have guessed bass would pose much more of a problem.

The kick has a lower fundamental than most bass guitars and has a higher amplitude at that fundamental than basically any bass guitar. That's what gets you when it comes to drums versus bass. That's not always the case (playing an 18" bop kit for instance) but it's pretty common.

right or wrong but I kinda view roofing felt as a poor man's MLV

It can definitely work as a substitute for MLV, albeit a lower performance substitute. Unfortunately, neither felt nor MLV are very good for sound isolation. The real use for MLV is in acoustic treatment as a Helmholtz resonator.

 

[Chrisk-K]

$500 won't help mitigate the issue. Use headphones unless you want to see cops knocking on your door.

 

[Basslice]

I have migraines, I have children, I have trouble sleeping. What I didn't have until I got that note was the knowledge that I was disturbing anybody. The instant I found the note, I started this thread to find out whether I had any options to solve the problem that I hadn't already thought of (and having carefully read every reply, it sounds like "no;" I saw no harm in asking). I don't know where people are getting this idea, but continuing to disturb the neighbors was never an option to me.

I like the fact that you are asking us. Right on. You obviously care, or you wouldn't have posted to begin with. We all hope you work it all out.

 

[VolverseLoco]

$500 won't help mitigate the issue. Use headphones unless you want to see cops knocking on your door.

I think he kinda knows that by now..But $500 would sure get you a nice set of CANS!

 

[joelns]

Iv

I've been playing Roland Vdrums electronic kits for about 10 years. Before that, I played Hart Dynamics. They used to all be incredibly expensive, professional gear. But, you can get your kid a pretty decent sounding silent kit for a couple hundred dollars used nowadays.

I'm debating getting my daughter an electronic drum kit next year. Thankfully, the neighbors haven't complained about her Ludwig kit. But she'll be prepping to go off to college in another 18 months and there's no way an acoustic kit will work in an apartment.

 

[VolverseLoco]

I'm debating getting my daughter an electronic drum kit next year. Thankfully, the neighbors haven't complained about her Ludwig kit. But she'll be prepping to go off to college in another 18 months and there's no way an acoustic kit will work in an apartment.

An acoustic kit does work in an apartment. It did for me, 2nd floor, for a month, until the letter came from the leasing office telling me they are not going to renew my lease. That's when I rented a storage garage thing, indoors in Florida, air conditioned. Of course this was 1990 when the storage garage business was booming for bands/musicians. I don't even know if they will rent those out today for bands or individuals with loud instruments.

 

[MuttThud]

Moderators: the Amps/Cabs forum seemed like the best fit for this, but obviously we have more to consider than amplification here; please move this to Live Sound or elsewhere if more appropriate, with my thanks and/or apologies.

Contributors: I have read a bit about this subject on TalkBass and elsewhere, but obviously do not have a comprehensive knowledge of the topic or what has already been said on TalkBass. I hope you will kindly provide advice with my specific circumstances in mind. I would strongly prefer to solve this problem by containing my sound rather than changing or eliminating it. In that light, please do not suggest turning down, using headphones, or radically altering my settings. I can figure out any of those approaches easily enough on my own if containing my current decibels and frequencies proves infeasible. I can probably spend up to 500 USD if necessary.

With the preliminaries out of the way:

2020 forced an unexpected and unwanted major relocation upon my family, but at least we landed somewhere wonderful. We moved from a very rural location to a relatively dense neighborhood of single family homes in a college town, and I have literally no complaints about my neighbors. I wish they could say the same about me! We found this on the door this evening:

View attachment 4032003

The care they took to put this as kindly as they did indicates just how good we have it with neighbors, I think. (I suspect that this would have come up in an equally friendly conversation if not for the ongoing pandemic.)

I DO NOT want to be "that guy" around here, but I would rather not retire my big iron. Can I contain my sound? If so, how?

I currently have things set up like this:
View attachment 4032008

Things I have tried:

•1x15 solid state 80w combo on a stand facing the outside wall. This seemed unobtrusive until that 30-year-old combo stopped working.

•Tube 200w 1x15 combo on floor facing outside wall, or solid state 200w head w/1x15 cabinet on casters facing outside wall. Perhaps not surprisingly, these setups seem to project into my neighbor's home

Things I could do now but have yet to try:

•I could put my extremely heavy tube combo on the stand.

•I could face any rig in any other direction.

Fun things on the way:

•I have finally cracked and will receive a brand new 200w Class D combo with a neo 1x12 by the end of the week. I can easily put that on the stand.

•I also have a period correct 2x12 on the way, but unless I use it as a somewhat expensive platform for elevating other speakers, it won't help matters.

Things I am considering that would require expenditures:

•Something other than a stand to elevate the modular solid state rig

•Gramma pads or similar

•furniture blankets hanging everywhere

•garage door insulation, if it would allow continued use of the garage door

•a (relatively) inexpensive drum booth

It also occurs to me that I probably haven't thought of everything.

What should I do?

Thank you for any helpful suggestions (or clever jokes).

Oh: nobody playing but me just yet, but my son's acoustic drums will likely enter the picture soon as well.

Similar problem here, in my case it's other family members inside the house trying to work/study rather than neighbours but the challenge is essentially the same. As many posters have said, bass frequencies radiate everywhere and it's all too easy for something in the house (furniture, windows, the floor itself if raised) to resonate. I tried turning down as much as possible but it got to the point where I couldn't really hear as much of my playing as I wanted and it wasn't a lot of fun. So, reluctantly, I switched to headphones and amp modelling. But.... everything changed for me when I realised that adding a good quality stereo reverb room setting to the bass signal (at about 25% wet/75% dry) felt like standing in a room about 6 feet away from my amp at full crank. Essentially, simulating the effect of hearing an amp in a room (or a bigger space like your garage) made a HUGE difference. I now don't miss using an amp at all... the amp (and the room it sits in) can be as loud as I like.

Adding acoustic drums to the mix won't help of course. Drums are LOUD (unless the drummer is experienced) and will have your neighbours at the door in no time. An electronic kit is probably your best bet there (although for a drummer they don't feel exactly the same as an actual kit).

 

[VolverseLoco]

Similar problem here, in my case it's other family members inside the house trying to work/study rather than neighbours but the challenge is essentially the same. As many posters have said, bass frequencies radiate everywhere and it's all too easy for something in the house (furniture, windows, the floor itself if raised) to resonate. I tried turning down as much as possible but it got to the point where I couldn't really hear as much of my playing as I wanted and it wasn't a lot of fun. So, reluctantly, I switched to headphones and amp modelling. But.... everything changed for me when I realised that adding a good quality stereo reverb room setting to the bass signal (at about 25% wet/75% dry) felt like standing in a room about 6 feet away from my amp at full crank. Essentially, simulating the effect of hearing an amp in a room (or a bigger space like your garage) made a HUGE difference. I now don't miss using an amp at all... the amp (and the room it sits in) can be as loud as I like.

Adding acoustic drums to the mix won't help of course. Drums are LOUD (unless the drummer is experienced) and will have your neighbours at the door in no time. An electronic kit is probably your best bet there (although for a drummer they don't feel exactly the same as an actual kit).

You are so right about the drums. When the cops came out to my house when I had band practice, it was the old man across the street, Kenny, who complained about the drums. Not the bass, not the guitar, it was my drums.

 

[byacey]

Although it will not completely cure the problem, my experience is that insulation on the garage door does help noticeably. 2" foam panels and silicone sealer/adhesive on the back of the metal doors seems to reduce low end transfer. I think it has more to do with stiffening the thin metal door panels than the actual insulation. In any case, your garage will stay warmer in winter and won't make as much noise when you open or close it.

I knew a guy that tried that. It attenuated the highs and upper mids, but that was about it. He used fiberglass wafer board fastened to the door, which was also made of fiberglass. It made the door so heavy that one of the torsion springs broke due to the excessive weight.

 

[Loudart]

Moderators: the Amps/Cabs forum seemed like the best fit for this, but obviously we have more to consider than amplification here; please move this to Live Sound or elsewhere if more appropriate, with my thanks and/or apologies.

Contributors: I have read a bit about this subject on TalkBass and elsewhere, but obviously do not have a comprehensive knowledge of the topic or what has already been said on TalkBass. I hope you will kindly provide advice with my specific circumstances in mind. I would strongly prefer to solve this problem by containing my sound rather than changing or eliminating it. In that light, please do not suggest turning down, using headphones, or radically altering my settings. I can figure out any of those approaches easily enough on my own if containing my current decibels and frequencies proves infeasible. I can probably spend up to 500 USD if necessary.

With the preliminaries out of the way:

2020 forced an unexpected and unwanted major relocation upon my family, but at least we landed somewhere wonderful. We moved from a very rural location to a relatively dense neighborhood of single family homes in a college town, and I have literally no complaints about my neighbors. I wish they could say the same about me! We found this on the door this evening:

View attachment 4032003

The care they took to put this as kindly as they did indicates just how good we have it with neighbors, I think. (I suspect that this would have come up in an equally friendly conversation if not for the ongoing pandemic.)

I DO NOT want to be "that guy" around here, but I would rather not retire my big iron. Can I contain my sound? If so, how?

I currently have things set up like this:
View attachment 4032008

Things I have tried:

•1x15 solid state 80w combo on a stand facing the outside wall. This seemed unobtrusive until that 30-year-old combo stopped working.

•Tube 200w 1x15 combo on floor facing outside wall, or solid state 200w head w/1x15 cabinet on casters facing outside wall. Perhaps not surprisingly, these setups seem to project into my neighbor's home

Things I could do now but have yet to try:

•I could put my extremely heavy tube combo on the stand.

•I could face any rig in any other direction.

Fun things on the way:

•I have finally cracked and will receive a brand new 200w Class D combo with a neo 1x12 by the end of the week. I can easily put that on the stand.

•I also have a period correct 2x12 on the way, but unless I use it as a somewhat expensive platform for elevating other speakers, it won't help matters.

Things I am considering that would require expenditures:

•Something other than a stand to elevate the modular solid state rig

•Gramma pads or similar

•furniture blankets hanging everywhere

•garage door insulation, if it would allow continued use of the garage door

•a (relatively) inexpensive drum booth

It also occurs to me that I probably haven't thought of everything.

What should I do?

Thank you for any helpful suggestions (or clever jokes).

Oh: nobody playing but me just yet, but my son's acoustic drums will likely enter the picture soon as well.

 

[byacey]

I suppose another solution would be to buy noise cancelling headphones for all your neighbors. This would be more effective than trying to diminish the bass transmission from your garage structure.

 

[Loudart]

Find out who left the note. Dont fight him recruit them. Get them to help you scout for piles of used cinder blocks. Non permanent cinder block outside stacked gobo block roll down and side door . Wood soft wood particle with asphalt coating (( bucks a sheet) under cdx on the inside of garage door. Get the neighbor involved help them take ownership of your efforts to if you failed they failed you point if possible. Inside cinder block gobo the side door. There is more to do but not for $500 . But used cinder block can often be had for 50cents a block, cheaper than sand bags. On the evil side give their kid bass lessons free for a month.

 

[WoodyJ]

This is not the neighbors' problem.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

•I have finally cracked and will receive a brand new 200w Class D combo with a neo 1x12 by the end of the week. I can easily put that on the stand.

Now you're thinking smart. Sadly we have to grow up someday and play at a level that's acceptable to the neighbors. Wait until you play a gig so quiet that no one's mic'ed and the drummers lightly tapping and they still tell you to turn down!

There is also the added benefit of learning to play better at low volumes. Anyone can boom boom boom but to play bass quietly and sound good is an acquired skill that will serve you well in the future.

Good luck, hope you go with the 112 combo. P.S. normally people don't leave such nice notes!

 

[azureblue]

If you went down to a single 8" speaker you'd reduce the problem a little. but in a room with a 12". No.

 

[Downunderwonder]

If you went down to a single 8" speaker you'd reduce the problem a little. but in a room with a 12". No.

I had a neighbour who told me he 'heard my bass ( a 6'' practice combo ) all the time but never complained on account of his screaming kids running around on his side of the party wall'. I never heard his kids except for the occasional crash into the wall.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Find out who left the note. Dont fight him recruit them. Get them to help you scout for piles of used cinder blocks. Non permanent cinder block outside stacked gobo block roll down and side door . Wood soft wood particle with asphalt coating (( bucks a sheet) under cdx on the inside of garage door. Get the neighbor involved help them take ownership of your efforts to if you failed they failed you point if possible. Inside cinder block gobo the side door. There is more to do but not for $500 . But used cinder block can often be had for 50cents a block, cheaper than sand bags. On the evil side give their kid bass lessons free for a month.

I dunno, his neighbors may have better things to do than scout for piles of used cinder blocks. I'm thinking the neighbors may be nonplussed with new guy if he goes door to door looking for volunteers for his scouting party!

 

[mikewalker]

... So you have acoustic drums you want to control, that's easy, go with a mesh head electronic set. ...

IMHO, mesh head electronic kit is great for gigs in smoky bars, but useless for recording. The problem isn't really the drums as much as the cymbals. Electronic cymbals have nothing even close to the expressive quality of playing real cymbals (acoustic drums are somewhat similar - but their latent expressiveness isn't exploited as much in pop music...)