Silent Practice

[TempoGuy]

I am looking for a way to practice quietly. I know I can use the output jack on my amp, but I can't put a song on at the same time or use a metronome (I use an app for that).

What do you folks use for this?

Thanks for your time, J

 

[cheapbasslovin]

I have a valve jr running into a very bad 1x8 ashdown practice cab, and next to it I have bluetooth speaker with 2 4" speakers.

It's quiet enough that my family doesn't notice unless I crank the amp for full fuzziness.

This doesn't sound great, but it's FAR AND AWAY the best setup I've used for learning songs: easily better than any headphone setup I've used. Low end gets real muddled in headphones and it doesn't with this.

If you prefer headphones, there's a bunch of headphone amps with 1/8 inch aux ins, but the bluetooth stuff seems hard to come by on a quick search.

12 Best Guitar Headphone Amps (2021 Update) - Guitar Lobby

 

[joel the bass player]

Currently use a pedal (Broughton Messenger) that has an aux input and a headphone jack. There are others out there that let you do the same. I just pull out my pedalboard and plug everything in and start practicing.

Before this I used a small mixer (Mackie 5 channel or something) that I could run my bass and songs at the same time and adjust the levels to get a good sound. You can get these pretty cheap used or new, I've had some Sony MDR something headphones for years that work well enough.

 

[Joe Nerve]

A Vox AmPlug bass will do the trick.

https://www.amazon.com/AP2BS-amPlug-Guitar-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00NAUKJTY/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=amplug+bass&qid=1637276292&qsid=138-7301730-9038311&sr=8-2&sres=B00NAUKJTY,B084JB519R,B08H5NWC75,B07V4SH5BD,B07W3K92ZM,B079G6Y5Y5,B097XQFR98,B0928VTXRB,B079FWQV3Z,B07JMP2MFN,B07WHTWKMD,B07586DGZ1,B0932PW7MG,B01EJ7G68O,B08B12YCTQ,B08HQCG79H,B07WGQSDGL,B07YLQX31F,B07L5B64RG,B07WFQVX7B

I found though that turning any amp down super low works fine, even if I'm trying to be quiet for someone in the same room. If the clicking of the bass alone won't bother them, neither will a very low bass tone.

Just saw this, too, which will probably do just as good a job as the vox:

https://www.amazon.com/Donner-Headp...H,B07WGQSDGL,B07YLQX31F,B07L5B64RG,B07WFQVX7B

 

[TempoGuy]

I have a valve jr running into a very bad 1x8 ashdown practice cab, and next to it I have bluetooth speaker with 2 4" speakers.

It's quiet enough that my family doesn't notice unless I crank the amp for full fuzziness.

This doesn't sound great, but it's FAR AND AWAY the best setup I've used for learning songs: easily better than any headphone setup I've used. Low end gets real muddled in headphones and it doesn't with this.

If you prefer headphones, there's a bunch of headphone amps with 1/8 inch aux ins, but the bluetooth stuff seems hard to come by on a quick search.

12 Best Guitar Headphone Amps (2021 Update) - Guitar Lobby

Thanks for your response CheapBass,

I do use a small Bluetooth speaker and have my amp pretty low, and it usually doesn't bother my family. The metronome and playing a small part of a song over and over can get annoying for some.

I may just keep with what I'm doing... we'll see.

J

 

[TempoGuy]

Thanks JoeNerve,

That's a cool little doodad.

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

Have a look at the Darkglass Element. Headphone amp, aux in with Bluetooth, Tuner, eq, power amp sim, cab sims.

 

[StereoPlayer]

I am looking for a way to practice quietly. I know I can use the output jack on my amp, but I can't put a song on at the same time or use a metronome (I use an app for that).

What do you folks use for this?

Thanks for your time, J

I use a GK MB-200. It also make a nice little amp head too. 2 lbs. it has an line in jack and a headphone Jack.

 

[BarfanyShart]

My practice amp (Rumble Studio 40) has the headphone out, and aux in, and even Bluetooth in for playing along. Most of the time, I'm lazy with setup, so I just keep one earbud in (like most of my day) to listen to the song from my phome, plug cans into the amp, then throw the cans on over the earbud. Life's too short to fiddle around too much. The Vox Amplug is also very convenient, with an aux in.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

Thanks for your response CheapBass,

I do use a small Bluetooth speaker and have my amp pretty low, and it usually doesn't bother my family. The metronome and playing a small part of a song over and over can get annoying for some.

I may just keep with what I'm doing... we'll see.

J

Gotcha. The one I couldn't remember was the Nux MP-2.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I use an Amazon echo dot and play with my amp right next to me at ear level. I can make it very quiet indeed.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I plug into my computer interface and use Garageband.

 

[two fingers]

Mesa TT800. Headphone jack and aux in. Pretty bice bass head too.

 

[bikeplate]

Just pick up my bass and play it

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Audio interface into computer and headphones out. Works great.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I am looking for a way to practice quietly. I know I can use the output jack on my amp, but I can't put a song on at the same time or use a metronome (I use an app for that).

What do you folks use for this?

Thanks for your time, J

i have a Digitech floor pedal. Unfortunately it's discontinued. But tons of effects, amp models, you can mix in media to practice with and you can use it as an audio interface for recording. Has a head phone out which is much better that any amp headphone out I've ever tried. My son found mine in a garbage can a school and gave it to me. These do pop up for sale occasionally. Best wishes on your search.

 

[jastraw]

I practice silently with Zoom B1 Four. Headphone. I plug my phone into Zoom to play along to song.. Built in drum loops and metronome. Or use your phone app.

Very portable too. Not tied to computer or combo app thing.

 

[esoxhntr]

Currently use a pedal (Broughton Messenger) that has an aux input and a headphone jack. There are others out there that let you do the same. I just pull out my pedalboard and plug everything in and start practicing.

Before this I used a small mixer (Mackie 5 channel or something) that I could run my bass and songs at the same time and adjust the levels to get a good sound. You can get these pretty cheap used or new, I've had some Sony MDR something headphones for years that work well enough.

Also use the Broughton Messenger. Really handy device for this exact purpose.

 

[themickster]

I am looking for a way to practice quietly. I know I can use the output jack on my amp, but I can't put a song on at the same time or use a metronome (I use an app for that).

What do you folks use for this?

Thanks for your time, J

You could get a micro amp such as Blackstar Fly 3. It has MP3 and instrument input and headphone out. Other makes have a drum machine in them.

 

[gstaats]

I use an audio interface and headphones. Sometimes I'll use a preamp to add a little warmth to my tone for practice.