Share This Thread Volume in a band Daniel Verberne (966) Equipment Forum 10/23/2004 12:04:37 AM · 161 Views [Respond to this Message] Hi folks I have recently joined a band and we have started rehearsing. I am a guitarist myself, and another fellow who is quite experienced at playing "pub" gigs is also on guitar. He has a big JCM amplifier, a head and speaker, and he's really LOUD. I have a Marshall Valvestate 2000 AVT 100 watt amp and I swear, I can hardly hear myself, even on top volume, only loud hiss. Should I tell the guy to turn down, or look into testing my equipment? Cheers Daniel V

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• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 1:15:54 AM Ryan Hickie (69) wrote: Usualy i try and base the volume setup for my band on the drums. If the drums arent miked just make sure that you can hear both guitars. If your bubby is drowning out your drums as well as yourself than tell him to lower his volume. I also use a 100 w amp for practice and i find that it is loud enough for practice to hear over drums but i wouldnt use it for a performance obviously. If the other guys volume seems reasonable but your amps sound seems to break up trying to match his volume i would look into find a bit larger amp. Good luck with your band bro. Peace.

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 1:18:19 AM Ryan Hickie (69) wrote: Oh i meant buddy for those of you who havnt already figured that our. I never ekselled at spelling.

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 2:49:24 AM Chris Pinto (22326) wrote: His amp (JCM) may be louder because it's a tube amp? (I could be wrong) BUT, I know for a fact that many Solid State amps tend to get washed-out at higher volumes. Especially the distortion...It gets very muddy at higher volumes, and you'll basically lose any or all tone you had at the lower volumes. You can certainly ask him to turn it down a bit, but, even tho your amp is a solid state amp, it should be able to keep up with his, for the most part? But, like I said, some solid state amps just can't keep up with tube models. Not sure, but, just for the hell of it, have your amp checked-out. Maybe there IS something wrong with it? Who knows????? But, I must admit, my tube head is only 50 watts.....And it can peel paint off my walls, and, that's not even at a high volume! And all my other tube heads have always been 50w models, and ALL of them have been BRUTALLY LOUD! Now, if you guys were playing in a club, you'ld probably hook into a PA system, and then you would not have this problem. Because they could turn your rig up a bit, without sacrificing your tone, and they could turn his rig down to match yours. BUT, while you guys are rehearsing, you might have to ask him to turn it down a bit. Anyway, for some more in-depth info, you could also ask Jeremy Ledford (Germ) here at WholeNote, for a bit more advice in the amp realm. He knows his crap. Chris

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 9:49:27 AM Randy Evans (6446) wrote: Dude Pinto...Shame shame!! Listen..I had a lil 50 watt Johnson JT-5o, wired into either a Fender 2X10 4ohm cab or a Marshall 4X12 cab running at 4ohms......that would make most drummers cry!! The bass player bought like a 1000 watt rig, cause he did'nt believe me about my little ...Modeling Amp. No tubes, chassis weighed in at 4 lbs.!! This little amp would take your head clean off!! With the stock speak though at 8 ohms, it just didnt make a lotta poop. Bottom washed out, distorto was shrilly...But give that little demon a 4 ohm load, and it was "lights Out!!" It drove the bigger cabs well, with good resonance and a lot of balls!! My point in this is...Tubes are great, just not the end-all. A good amp is a good amp!! Tubes or no tubes!! The real trick is taking any equipment and making it sound like ....You!! I still have a raving Pignose that loves that Marshall cab. It puts out I think 5 watts!! You'd never know it though. If this guy is drowning you out still, and you cant hear the bass and drums....Screw em. Go start your own band and show them the ropes on getting a good sound 101. The secret is balance. The other tip.. is a band is a group effort, not a "who has the shiniest car" or "loudest amp" gang. Its about making music, moving people, entertaining the crowd. Sounding good is always better than being ...Loud! Music is an artform, not a gunfight. The guys who sound good really do get all the chicks too man. Plus all the jobs later!!hehe R Evans.>O

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 12:36:48 PM Jeremy Ledford (14385) wrote: Anyway, for some more in-depth info, you could also ask Jeremy Ledford (Germ). He knows his crap. yeah, known about that since the first day i dropped one in my diapers. germ

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 4:24:49 AM Randy Evans (6446) wrote: Dude are you playing thru a 4X12 cab too?? If you are using 1 or 2 12s ....he has got you by sheer wind pressure!! If your budrow has a Marshall half stack, you will need one too!! Not for sheer volume, but for the presence the bigger cab puts out!! Frankly, in a live situation, if you can't hear the other players, you are lost!! You have to hear everything clearly, or at least be able to discern what each player is doing!! Check your gear, check your hearing, then they gotta turn down, volume wars are for teenie bops. You say this guy is experienced.....He dont sound like it. Is he able to hear you?? Does he offer any help to you?? Is he playing for the group, or is he just another loud dumbo?? Honestly, in groups where you have a lot of experience, the guys will rectify the volume problem so everybody can hear everything!! A band is a team, a group, ensemble playing......brothers. Don't sound like your situation does it?? Ask this guy if he can hear you. If he says no....screw him...go find another band. Trying to keep up with prima-donna's does no one any good. Worse yet, if he is that loud, he is damaging your hearing...That sucks!! Toss the problem into the group....if they see no problem, they must not need you. The sad thing I see in your post....you dont mention if you guys sound good!! Are you and they good?? A real player is there for the band...that stuff don't happen when you have some real cat daddies! Be cool man...R Evans.>O

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 7:15:44 AM Stefan Leonhardt (11507) wrote: Depends. Is he so loud that he also drowns out the bass and the drums? If so, he should lower his volume. If you still can hear the drums well (and if they are not amplified), he's not too loud. If yours is a combo amp, have you tried putting it on a chair? You know, your legs don't have ears ... Have you tried moving away from your amp? Some amps sound too low right in front of them, but farther away it's a different story. But in any case:If you have your 100W solid state combo on full volume and still can't hear yourself, he's either too loud or there's something wrong with your amp. Even a 100W solid state combo amp should be loud enough to make your ears hurt pretty badly.

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 7:37:02 AM John Anderton (1034) wrote: I'd suggest investing in a 2X12 or 4X12 cabinet. Try running your amp through his cab first, and see if you notice a huge change in volume. Plus, of course, I always assume that 90% of the people who own half-stacks simply don't need that much volume anyways, so tell him to turn it down!

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 12:24:09 PM Jim Heidinger (8522) wrote: Try this. Next time you play, put your amp on standby for a song and see if he notices that you aren't playing. If he doesn't notice then unless he's willing to work on balance, you are fighting a losing battle. Your best bet then is to move on. Jim

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 12:33:24 PM Jeremy Ledford (14385) wrote: very good advice. ill havta remember that one. germ

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/23/2004 12:46:10 PM Bill North (11973) wrote: You hear a scramble in the corner as bill runs off to write this down. I'm 53 years old. How come I never thought of that one yet. You speak the truth. Bill~~~

• Respond to this Re: Volume in a band 10/25/2004 1:36:08 PM Rick Kelly (2390) wrote: Great advice. I often stop playing when I can't hear what's going on. If anyone else is paying attention, they will play with more dynamics until I can hear myself again, of course when I start playing again, then they can hear me, and all is well in band world, ha hah. Are you playing on the same side of the drummer as the other guitar? Move to the other side. Closed back cabinets are directional. I would be very surprised if both of you have them pointing straight front, on different sides of the stage, that you would then not be able to hear yourself. IMHO the problem is rarely a pure, volume "too loud", but rather too "noisy" or "messy". In fact, if you are the noisy one, you are harder to hear sometimes. I play with a guy who plays through one of those noise, umm stomp..um, whatever multi dsp fx boxes straight through the pa. Most of the time his sound is so washed out, no matter how loud, that you can't tell what the heck he's playing most of the time. My clean but crunchy Fender cuts through no problem. Peace Hope Love and Joy -Rick

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