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Practicing without an amp?
- Thread starter Huda
- Start date
I don't know about plugging into
a iPhone, but there are a lot of
headphone amps out there that
cost as little as $40 like the Vox
Amplug AC30 Headphone Amp,
or $80 for the Rockman Bass
Ace Headphone Amp. If you want
better sound you can spend
hundreds.
The quality of the headphones
makes a big difference,
Tabdog
a iPhone, but there are a lot of
headphone amps out there that
cost as little as $40 like the Vox
Amplug AC30 Headphone Amp,
or $80 for the Rockman Bass
Ace Headphone Amp. If you want
better sound you can spend
hundreds.
The quality of the headphones
makes a big difference,
Tabdog
Check out the Korg Pandora. It's a compact modeling/effects box with a headphone amp (or you can run the output to an amp or recording equipment). The amp / cabinet modeling sounds better than the dry signal of a basic headphone amplifier. Plus, there is a stereo Aux input for mixing in an audio source and playing along with it.
i used to use the pandora mini, great little practice tool, it is a multifx, with metronome, drum beat, tuner, really a handy practice tool, has aux input, so that you can jam a long with songs, you can travel with the thing, plug a headphone into it and practice, going to sell mine though,
as currently i am using zoom b3 to practice, plug a usb into the laptop and you can practice with songs, futhermore it can be use as audio interface which means you can do some computer recording. which is good because listening on how you play will allow you to hear your weakness better. the zoom has also metronome, drumbeat plus looper. really a perfect practice and stage tool due to its versatile fx
as currently i am using zoom b3 to practice, plug a usb into the laptop and you can practice with songs, futhermore it can be use as audio interface which means you can do some computer recording. which is good because listening on how you play will allow you to hear your weakness better. the zoom has also metronome, drumbeat plus looper. really a perfect practice and stage tool due to its versatile fx
if you bass has a pre amp good enough it might work directly but i would no bet on it...
the real solutions are (as many just said):
Multifx box with head phones
The little headphone amplifiers that are relatitly cheap
or a pre amp pedal
the real solutions are (as many just said):
Multifx box with head phones
The little headphone amplifiers that are relatitly cheap
or a pre amp pedal
I do about 99.9% of my practicing unplugged, no headphones, nothing but bass. How loud do you really need to be?
I suppose if you used effects that wouldn't work out so well.
I suppose if you used effects that wouldn't work out so well.
^This. Leave your bass out on a stand where you can pick it up between tasks for a few minutes at a time. Don't even bother plugging in.
Also, search the archives for other threads on the topic. A popular and useful method is a small mixer and headphones; this setup is great for learning tunes if you're in a cover band or transcribing stuff. With a stereo mixer, you can pull your signal into one ear and the track you're learning into another. Works great for the instructional materials that are available, too. My iPhone + DI box + mini mixer + headphones = the perfect practice/tune learning desk.
--Steve
P.S. Added a photo; $60 mixer + DI and you're good to go. Don't even need the DI, really--you can adjust the trim pot on the mixer channel. Again, learning songs is a snap with an iPhone. I don't even have to download the songs we select--just find them on YouTube, learn 'em, and you're off to the races.
Attachments
Most of the time i don't plug into anything, depending on what I am trying to accomplish. Actually for the last 8 months i was away on business and didn't even have an amp and i still played my Fender Jazz acoustically lol
I am just practicing fretting or plucking i don't even care what it sounds like, because its just useless anyway. If your fretting scales you don't really need to hear the note just know that you fret and pluck correctly. Put a movie on, and enjoy!
If I wanna hear what I am doing i will use a pick, which tends to be loud enough.
Only recently have i started plugging headphones into my VT bass, but that's kinda annoying since its mono...
I am just practicing fretting or plucking i don't even care what it sounds like, because its just useless anyway. If your fretting scales you don't really need to hear the note just know that you fret and pluck correctly. Put a movie on, and enjoy!
If I wanna hear what I am doing i will use a pick, which tends to be loud enough.
Only recently have i started plugging headphones into my VT bass, but that's kinda annoying since its mono...
if there's a need for a DI in your future -- for a home recording studio or connction to PA out and about, a lot of those have headphone jacks and some sound shaping with EQ and some sort of compressor
But I think the last time this came up the cheap headphone amp or mixer came out as most cheapest common solution.
But I think the last time this came up the cheap headphone amp or mixer came out as most cheapest common solution.
"Most of the time i don't plug into anything, depending on what I am trying to accomplish. Actually for the last 8 months i was away on business and didn't even have an amp and i still played my Fender Jazz acoustically lol
I am just practicing fretting or plucking i don't even care what it sounds like, because its just useless anyway. If your fretting scales you don't really need to hear the note just know that you fret and pluck correctly. Put a movie on, and enjoy!"
I'm prety sure if I did this I'd develop soem pretty bad habits like not damping opne strings and too much pressure on the fretboard. I switch to headphones once in a while to listen closer to my bad habits. In the summer, it's too hot to get under cans much of the time and I practice through a little Rumble amp and even that hides a lot of poor technique. I can't imagine what playing acoustically for a few months would do.
But that's me and I'm just learning and don't have good habits engrained.
I am just practicing fretting or plucking i don't even care what it sounds like, because its just useless anyway. If your fretting scales you don't really need to hear the note just know that you fret and pluck correctly. Put a movie on, and enjoy!"
I'm prety sure if I did this I'd develop soem pretty bad habits like not damping opne strings and too much pressure on the fretboard. I switch to headphones once in a while to listen closer to my bad habits. In the summer, it's too hot to get under cans much of the time and I practice through a little Rumble amp and even that hides a lot of poor technique. I can't imagine what playing acoustically for a few months would do.
But that's me and I'm just learning and don't have good habits engrained.
i quickly stopped doing that when i got my amp.
been plucking way too hard, because i couldn´t hear what i was playing without amplification, so it sounded like ass through speakers.
not to mention playing with a light touch is easier and less stressful
been plucking way too hard, because i couldn´t hear what i was playing without amplification, so it sounded like ass through speakers.
not to mention playing with a light touch is easier and less stressful
^
I agree, it is either through the amp or a Tascam guitar trainer with headphones for me. I understand any piece of equipment is as likely to be as if not more expensive then a simple 10 watt practice amp. But then the OP seemed worried about space and running chords, not cost
I agree, it is either through the amp or a Tascam guitar trainer with headphones for me. I understand any piece of equipment is as likely to be as if not more expensive then a simple 10 watt practice amp. But then the OP seemed worried about space and running chords, not cost
I have a full studio in the basement, but for most practising I typically plug into the mic in of my desk PC, and listen through two little desktop speakers with a sub. (Or with headphones, depending on time of day.) There I have access to any tunes on my system, Best Practice software if I need it, and the net for anything else.
pignose piggy in the box, stereo to mono adaptor, numark dj headphones(don't put the headphones on just point them towards you)
i'd only suggest this if you want extreme fuzz at very low volume though
i'd only suggest this if you want extreme fuzz at very low volume though
PLUS 1 to waht PaulMcCnj said near top of page 1.
I have a line6 pod, which is also a great headphone amp, as well as pre-amp or to run live; ampless, but the Korg Pandora pxb-4 is frankly more amazing. Both of course have chromatic tuners that can handle a 6 string bass easily.
With Pandora, you can plug in a seperate sound source as previously stated, has looping, drum patterns. Although I have never used it, the Pandora has a phrase-trainer; slows licks down for learning..Amazing little box. Not as many sound choices as line6, but because of the aux line in, the Pandora has become my main-go-to box. Also, the Pandora can run on batteries for remote use if desired; all in a tiny palm-sized unit.
Whether using Line6 or Pandora, emulated sounds are overall pleasing. Both also offer "unusable/strange" sounds that would best be suited for making science fiction back ground music...my opinion; no flames, please...
Importantly: USE A DECENT SET OF HEADPHONES, as bass frequencies and sound pressure levels will quickly destroy cheapy phones. I use a $50 Sony set..Just fine, but I wouldn't chance much lesser quality.
I have a line6 pod, which is also a great headphone amp, as well as pre-amp or to run live; ampless, but the Korg Pandora pxb-4 is frankly more amazing. Both of course have chromatic tuners that can handle a 6 string bass easily.
With Pandora, you can plug in a seperate sound source as previously stated, has looping, drum patterns. Although I have never used it, the Pandora has a phrase-trainer; slows licks down for learning..Amazing little box. Not as many sound choices as line6, but because of the aux line in, the Pandora has become my main-go-to box. Also, the Pandora can run on batteries for remote use if desired; all in a tiny palm-sized unit.
Whether using Line6 or Pandora, emulated sounds are overall pleasing. Both also offer "unusable/strange" sounds that would best be suited for making science fiction back ground music...my opinion; no flames, please...
Importantly: USE A DECENT SET OF HEADPHONES, as bass frequencies and sound pressure levels will quickly destroy cheapy phones. I use a $50 Sony set..Just fine, but I wouldn't chance much lesser quality.
