You're too LOUD. Guitar vs soundman

[The Real MC]

Why do most guys on this forum think soundguys are second to god? In my experience they are total {censored}wits who don't know how to work their own gear, there is no way a band could give their sound to his control. When you move up to higher levels I suppose that changes... But jeez. You guys all seem to have the impression sound guys can do no wrong and all know everything about mixing...

 

 

Why do some guitarists on this forum resort to generalizing?

 

There are competent soundmen out there. Either you're looking in the wrong place, you won't pay the money they're asking, you are incapable of the concept of "teamwork" that a soundman is part of the chemistry as much as the singer, drummer, et al, or you're too egotistical to accept the opinions of experienced authority.

[Stephen Colbert]

The bottom line is this.....

Not really..... but anyways

The stage has to be dominated by someone. Typically it's the drummer (because he's sooo loud) or if not, then usally the guitarist. Then everyone else has to match that db level.

There's nothing you can do about a drummer. Depending if you are miking him or not.

Now here's the BIGGEST problem in this whole situation....

80% of bands don't "know how" to run their own sound (run their gear properly). And 60% of those guys don't want a sound man:
a) setting up their gear
b) changing their settings
c) telling them how to better setup their gear (for the live show Vs practice)
d) or adding outboard gear to their setup (power soaks, dynamic processors, ect, ect.)

[17 Tubes]

i see a lot of noob bands out there, but having the guitar amp too loud is usually the least of their worries sound-wise

 

 

If only they weren't too loud it might be almost bearable. When it's too loud it's the final straw. Hell even when you;re dman good you can still be dialed in too loud...almost as annoying.

[Weathered]

not a 10,000 cap room with a rack full of Crowm 5,000's .

 

 

If you brought in 6 Marshall Major stacks and dimed them, it'd still be too loud.

 

It's all about using the correct tool for the job. If you want power tube distortion, bringing in a Plexi to a 200 person room is a bad idea. If you have a good MV, just be smart about your stage volume.

[this is paul]

it really all depends, but its really harsh on the crowd to have a high gain amp pointed straight out. Youre always going to have some people pissed that they are in the line of fire and others are just going to hear a muffled version of what you want them to hear.

Point your damn amp sideways or backwards and keep the volume decently high. let the man mike your amp. that way everyone will hear your amp how its meant to be heard in your ears.

[cobrahead1030]

If only they weren't too loud it might be almost bearable. When it's too loud it's the final straw. Hell even when you;re dman good you can still be dialed in too loud...almost as annoying.

 

 

i guess it depends on where you're playing & going to shows at

 

around here there are a lot young bands that gig with tiny little combos, because they think with the mic/pa they'll be heard just fine, usually this isn't the case (not talking about quality small combos either, talking $50 practice amps)

 

then you've got the guys that don't have tuners to use, bassists with 8 year old strings, drummers with 12 year old heads, their whole kit outta tune, and their bass drum stuffed with so many bedsheets there's no sound at all...

 

i see quite a few bands like that, and only a handful of overly-loud guys...most are somewhere in between