Putting your amp at a useful height

[-Asdfgh-]

If you are rocking a 2 4x10 or whatever, your amp is at a convenient height for adjustments. If you are just using a single 15" cabinet, it is at knee level.

• Firstly, my knees are not my primary hearing organ, not can I adjust the knobs on an amp with them.
• The first can be solved, if the cab is an on-stage monitor as its primary purpose, by tilting it back. Then the amp slides off, or you put the head on the floor on one end, making it even less accessible.
• I have a keyboard stand, but I don't fancy balancing a 25lb head on top of an X-stand closed enough to balance a head one. It's not stable.
• I could bring 2 x 15 and only use one, or turn them down, but that's large extra bits of gear. It does get the audible sound to closer to ear level, and works better than tilt back if the amp is also providing FOH sound as well as on-stage.
• I could balance the amp on something else - but what?
• I could just use an EQ pedal in the loop as for on-stage sound all I want to adjust is EQ, maybe, and overall level but nothing that goes to FOH. So I could somehow attach an EQ pedal to a stand (music stand - I have one somewhere, I think) or microphone stand.
• I could just go IEM and give up amps, at least for on-stage sound. I do have wired IEMs, but I am not sure if I am ready to try it. Plus wired is one more thing to trip over.

Do other people have solutions to this sort of issue?

 

[ddnidd1]

Not cheap, but it works.

On-Stage Stands KS7350 Folding-Z Keyboard Stand

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Not cheap, but it works.

On-Stage Stands KS7350 Folding-Z Keyboard Stand

I have looked at cheaper versions before. The issue was minimum width.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keyboard-R...folding+keyboard+stand&qid=1651431646&sr=8-12

22 inches minimum width, but my amps are 19 inches rack mounts, but my amps are going to barely straddle that.

It does bring to mind that there are some that are vertical but fold out, a bit like a book on end. I have failed to find a link.

And there are also mixer stands.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stand-Turn...51431960&sprefix=mixer+stand+dj,aps,95&sr=8-6

Also

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Ca...=folding+keyboard+stand&qid=1651431646&sr=8-9

 

[WayneP]

I had the same problem, since with some gigs all I need is my rack but no speaker to carry the house. In those situations, I naturally need to get the rack up high enough to make adjustments. I use an inexpensive A-frame keyboard stand like you mentioned for that. I cut a piece of plywood wide enough for the rack to span across the A-frame, and painted it semi-gloss black. As an added bonus, I added a 2x4 board across the front of the plywood. It allows the rack to be tilted upwards for easier access. Been using this set-up for many years – no stability issues. I caught a Youtube video of Pat Benatar some years back, and noticed that her husband / guitar player was doing the very same thing – rack on a keyboard stand.

Unfortunately, this lousy picture is the best I have of the set-up.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Pedulla Club #45

 

[scottfeldstein]

my solution to this problem is twofold: My "big" rig consists of a pair of 112 cabs stacked vertically for maximum height. My small rig is a Hartke KB112 "kickback," which is wedge-shaped so I do tilt it upward.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Depending on the situation and what gear, I use these.

 

[two fingers]

I have used one of these for over a decade and it shows no signs of wear. Works like a champ. Collapses down to nothing. Adjustable height. Sturdy as an oak.

 

[J Wilson]

I always preferred being 'on axis' with my cabinet(s). I used to take my 215 back in the Flintstone days, find a spare bar table, lay it on its side up on it behind me. I hate trying to hear myself with it blowing around my ankles.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

If you are rocking a 2 4x10 or whatever, your amp is at a convenient height for adjustments. If you are just using a single 15" cabinet, it is at knee level.

• Firstly, my knees are not my primary hearing organ, not can I adjust the knobs on an amp with them.
• The first can be solved, if the cab is an on-stage monitor as its primary purpose, by tilting it back. Then the amp slides off, or you put the head on the floor on one end, making it even less accessible.
• I have a keyboard stand, but I don't fancy balancing a 25lb head on top of an X-stand closed enough to balance a head one. It's not stable.
• I could bring 2 x 15 and only use one, or turn them down, but that's large extra bits of gear. It does get the audible sound to closer to ear level, and works better than tilt back if the amp is also providing FOH sound as well as on-stage.
• I could balance the amp on something else - but what?
• I could just use an EQ pedal in the loop as for on-stage sound all I want to adjust is EQ, maybe, and overall level but nothing that goes to FOH. So I could somehow attach an EQ pedal to a stand (music stand - I have one somewhere, I think) or microphone stand.
• I could just go IEM and give up amps, at least for on-stage sound. I do have wired IEMs, but I am not sure if I am ready to try it. Plus wired is one more thing to trip over.

Do other people have solutions to this sort of issue?

How about a bass wedge cab and put your amp on a small stand?

 

[zontar]

At church we have an amp stand that leans it back so it points up to my face--kind of like a wedge.

 

[Stewie]

I try to stand 5 or 6 feet in front of my amp so I can hear the treble. When there isn’t enough room, I just deal with it. With an upright, a Fender, my Ampeg combo, mic stands cables et.c. I just don’t want to carry anything else

 

[Killing Floor]

You could put your 4X12 on top of your 2X15 and put that next to your other 4X12 and 2X15. You'll hear that ok.

 

[seanm]

I used to just put the cab on a chair. If I hadn't played the venue before, I brought a second cab. But for places I knew I could use a chair (or a milk crate) I didn't bother.

 

[Hasty]

Best $65 I ever spent on Craigslist… it’s a Gibraltar “keyboard” stand that I cut down to rack width. I can then the cab upright, lay it on its side and use it as a wedge, or put it on top of the rack and place the amp below. Been using this for almost a year now and really really like it. Stable and easy to load in/out.

 

[rafitoprtx]

I use a Auralex platform with my 4x10. It's not better that my 2x 4x10 set up it it helps. Also my set up is more consistent at any floor or stage condition.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

If you are rocking a 2 4x10 or whatever, your amp is at a convenient height for adjustments. If you are just using a single 15" cabinet, it is at knee level.

• Firstly, my knees are not my primary hearing organ, not can I adjust the knobs on an amp with them.
• The first can be solved, if the cab is an on-stage monitor as its primary purpose, by tilting it back. Then the amp slides off, or you put the head on the floor on one end, making it even less accessible.
• I have a keyboard stand, but I don't fancy balancing a 25lb head on top of an X-stand closed enough to balance a head one. It's not stable.
• I could bring 2 x 15 and only use one, or turn them down, but that's large extra bits of gear. It does get the audible sound to closer to ear level, and works better than tilt back if the amp is also providing FOH sound as well as on-stage.
• I could balance the amp on something else - but what?
• I could just use an EQ pedal in the loop as for on-stage sound all I want to adjust is EQ, maybe, and overall level but nothing that goes to FOH. So I could somehow attach an EQ pedal to a stand (music stand - I have one somewhere, I think) or microphone stand.
• I could just go IEM and give up amps, at least for on-stage sound. I do have wired IEMs, but I am not sure if I am ready to try it. Plus wired is one more thing to trip over.

Do other people have solutions to this sort of issue?

You're going at this from the wrong direction. Doesn't matter what it sounds like to you on the stage. All that matters is what it sounds like to people in the audience, and the final settings may not have anything to do with your stage preference. You need to get someone to help coordinate the EQ/volume. Whether the amp is next to your ears, your stomach, or your ankles doesn't matter at all!

 

[abarson]

You're going at this from the wrong direction. Doesn't matter what it sounds like to you on the stage. All that matters is what it sounds like to people in the audience, and the final settings may not have anything to do with your stage preference. You need to get someone to help coordinate the EQ/volume. Whether the amp is next to your ears, your stomach, or your ankles doesn't matter at all!

That depends whether you use the cab as a stage monitor or to carry the crowd. Totally different circumstances.

 

[seamonkey]

If you tilt the cab back and don't want your head sliding back then put something like this on top.
BRÄDA Laptop support, black, 16 1/2x12 1/4" - IKEA

Let one of the lips dangle over the front of the cab, the other lip with stop it sliding back.

Or a piece of plywood with a couple of 1x2 for the lips would be a snap to build.

 

[seamonkey]

Here's 25lb workstand that literally takes seconds to setup or tear down and can hold 1000lbs
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-33-in-Folding-Portable-Workbench-DWST11556/301867227
A black table cloth hides the details

 

[Ggaa]

1 cab, I put it on a mixer stand. Bigger place, stack both cabs.