Certainly the amp and speakers are important, but they can be replaced! Your hearing can't. Been there, done that, regretted it since the mid-70's and it got much worse about 10-yrs. ago (still playing music then as well as now).
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Pushing a head too hard?
- Thread starter BernardBass
- Start date
New head/or 2x 35kgs + 2x2K + delivery to Ireland =
Sadly man that gears just way too expensive... Also the dB levels and RMS are basically the same as my current cab. I'll be honest, I don't have a clue what spl and RMS etc mean lol
Can confirm. Just turned 50 after 35 years of steady gigging. Just got my first set of hearing aids. Damn, they're cool though. You can answer your phone on them and also play music through them. Just wish they worked as IEMs. They're like prescription ear pods, but comfortable.
Legit concern. Not only for the amp which at max is putting out a signal that is not good for your speakers and may also overheat the amp, but more importantly your hearing. It is not so much the low frequencies that will destroy your ears, it is the screaming guitar that makes your ears ring for three days after the gig.
I don't gig, just play at home at low volume to help with my arthritis and carpal tunnel, but I didn't know I also had tinitus until I asked my wife a few weeks ago how it is when everything is quiet, so silence is supossed to be silent and not with that high pitch noice and crickets inside my head.
Same happened with my cataracts when I was driving and asked her about everyday's dense haze and weird looking weather.
... Im just 40 yrs old.
1000 watts can be a lot of things. Continuous? RMS? Program? Peak? Max?(which is useless.)
If it's Max or Program then you are playing through a highly overstated system that is more like 300-500watts peak and 250W RMS If it's 1000w continuous or RMS then you should have no problem and there is something awry with the sustem.
If it's Max or Program then you are playing through a highly overstated system that is more like 300-500watts peak and 250W RMS If it's 1000w continuous or RMS then you should have no problem and there is something awry with the sustem.
Brian Johnson - singer with AC/DC - talks about his hearing going all of a sudden. Pushed it too hard for too long then a lot of not much. Stopped being the front man at that stage.
Same thing happened to a drummer I played with; he woke up one morning basically deaf in one ear and debilitating tinnitus. Had to quit playing.
I was once talking to the repair/parts department at the company that made my 500 watt amp. When I asked how much it would really deliver if all the knobs were at 10 he said "well the man who designed it is sitting right here - I'll ask him." A moment later he gave me my answer: 1300 watts ! ! ! First advice - protect your ears. Second advice - protect your speakers.
No idea man... Markbass little Marcus 1000 limited edition.
Says total is 1200 and 1000 RMS.
Went from a markbass little mark iii and noticeable difference, but main reason was it was the last one on thomann and got it for 1/3 the price lol
The fact it has the footswitch with the lovely parametric EQ on channel 2 and I can have all channels on/off + with my onboard johneast preamp I have a world of tones available to me quickly.
Lol I'm in an acdc tribute... Hence things being loud at times. But yeah booked in for hearing test, specialist ear protection and even a tinnitus specialist. Hopefully I get good news in a few weeks!
Hey BernardBass,
I had the same problem with just one guitarist (and a loud drummer) and also posted questions about it here on TB.
Help appreciated! Not enough power? Cab? | TalkBass.com this is the tread.
Summary of what I have learned:
- turn down the subs (will spare the speakers)
- instead of turning up the master volume, simply turn up the mids only.
- If you have the possibility to use an eq pedal, go for it. (maybe a programmable one, so you can program it for different settings)
- Raise and tilt the cab: I bought an ampstand for it, suits me better than a chair
- Ask for guitarist to turn down the bass and general volume. (although I doubt they will do so, given they are clearly in a dB war)
-> even better, have them buy a smaller amp
- ask for drummer to play more quiet.
- if nothing helps, quit the band, your ears are not worth any band.
But from what I read in the tread, most of it is covered and said: You guys are to damn loud. Even playing ACDC, how is music still enjoyable at that level? Beyond my comprehension.
In my new band I play on a Markbass Micromark 801 - 60watt. I only have to put it to 50%. And do not have to wear hearing protection.
I had the same problem with just one guitarist (and a loud drummer) and also posted questions about it here on TB.
Help appreciated! Not enough power? Cab? | TalkBass.com this is the tread.
Summary of what I have learned:
- turn down the subs (will spare the speakers)
- instead of turning up the master volume, simply turn up the mids only.
- If you have the possibility to use an eq pedal, go for it. (maybe a programmable one, so you can program it for different settings)
- Raise and tilt the cab: I bought an ampstand for it, suits me better than a chair
- Ask for guitarist to turn down the bass and general volume. (although I doubt they will do so, given they are clearly in a dB war)
-> even better, have them buy a smaller amp
- ask for drummer to play more quiet.
- if nothing helps, quit the band, your ears are not worth any band.
But from what I read in the tread, most of it is covered and said: You guys are to damn loud. Even playing ACDC, how is music still enjoyable at that level? Beyond my comprehension.
In my new band I play on a Markbass Micromark 801 - 60watt. I only have to put it to 50%. And do not have to wear hearing protection.
Yes, LOL. I wrote this prediction on page 1, we're now on page 10… I didn't read all the comments, but I'm sure we have equal proportion of "tell your guitarists to turn down", "protect your ears" and "Peak watts are not real watts".
You're pushing enough power to blow people across the room! 
I'm talkin' stupid amounts of power.
I don't have any gear advice different than what the others said above. Here's MY takeaway:
Don't know how old you are, but as people age they WILL develop permanent hearing loss along the path you describe traveling down.
1) Powerful amps are for headroom and running cool.
2) Get the best damn hearing protection in the world. I have custom molded filters that cost a few hundred - it's only money.
3) Strive to run in-ears and a quiet, controllable stage. That's what PAs and good sound techs are for.
4) If others don't share these goals - see ya!
(You can have screamin' guitar cabs covered and mic'd back stage, to get that perfect sound. There are ways to do that. Smaller clubs? You have to chill out with the intense levels & watch your ears. Have someone meter your shows. Most bands don's have to play as loud as they do.)
That's my two cents.
I'm talkin' stupid amounts of power.
I don't have any gear advice different than what the others said above. Here's MY takeaway:
Don't know how old you are, but as people age they WILL develop permanent hearing loss along the path you describe traveling down.
1) Powerful amps are for headroom and running cool.
2) Get the best damn hearing protection in the world. I have custom molded filters that cost a few hundred - it's only money.
3) Strive to run in-ears and a quiet, controllable stage. That's what PAs and good sound techs are for.
4) If others don't share these goals - see ya!
(You can have screamin' guitar cabs covered and mic'd back stage, to get that perfect sound. There are ways to do that. Smaller clubs? You have to chill out with the intense levels & watch your ears. Have someone meter your shows. Most bands don's have to play as loud as they do.)
That's my two cents.
