• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

standing close to amps....hearing yourself

M

Mr Grady

Feb 26, 2006
103
2
#1
guys
apologies if this has been posted before.

ive got 1x15 and 4x10 marshall cabs and a DBS head.

normally we play small pubs etc, which means we are crowded in and have to stand close to the amps and cabs.

ive had the usual dispute with our guitarist, asking him to turn down because he is so bloody loud, and its partly down to having a zone where he cant hear anything....see above.

one solution i was told was to swap positions, him in front of my amp, and me in front of his.

another possible solution....i have an output on my head marked "line out jack"..and to quote the manual, this is "for connection to home recording equipment"

can i use a jack to jack lead, and connect this to a small powered monitor i have and place this in front of me...or will this just add to more stage noise and more problems?
again....if he has something similar on his amp, to do the same?

cheers

phil
 
#5
I'm assuming your head (EBS?) is up to the task, and that your speakers are in-phase. If your rig is loud enough, making it louder by adding another monitor isn't the answer.

Does the guitarist seem insane or deaf? (That is, if you stand where he stands, can *you* hear plenty of his amp?) If his hearing's okay, raise the guitarist's amp closer to his ears. He should hear himself better. He will probably turn down, too.

If he's being masked by other members of the band, bring stage volume down, work out arrangements (so instruments aren't crowding one another), or both.

Or maybe he's one of those guitarists whose idea of "hearing the guitar" is that it's 3x louder than everything else? If so, then either put him on in-ears (so he can listen to a guitar-heavy mix without screwing up the stage and house mixes), or else educate or replace him.
 
#6
I take it I guessed correctly on the guitar amp?

You have to get best part of 10ft away from one of those to be getting anything like a proper earful of shriek. It's not unknown to disconnect 3 of the 4 drivers and mic it, pulling half the power tubes and fudging the output tap to match. See the epic thread in band management "my guitarist plays too loud" for instructions.
 
#7
Hi,

We run instruments in the monitors all the time but this is on large stages where we are spread out. Plus our stage volume is reasonable.

But for a small stage this usually isn't a viable solution. So I agree with Mr. derrico1. Keep the stage volume reasonable, drums and guitar are usually the worst offenders. Raise the guitar amp on a stand so that it's pointing at the guitar player's ears instead of the back of his knees. Something like this...

DV019_Jpg_Regular_451065.001_black_with_amp_R.jpg


or a "tilt back"...

STANDBACK.jpg


It's hard to hear how loud you are if your amp is on the floor right behind you and the sound is hitting your ankles.

Bass amp and cab stands are available too. Although if you're using a stack, and all of the speakers are in phase, it should be high enough for you to hear pretty well.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
#10
In the size venue you describe.....you are undoubtedly entirely too loud. Volume wars and speaker add ons will only get you one place- fired from the gig.
At a venue of that size you and the guitarist could both EASILY play through combo amps. Even if youre playing metal.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back