Members amplayer Posted October 22, 2005 Members Share Posted October 22, 2005 Hello everyone, I recently joined a cover band. I love playing covers, and I have a lot of fun doing it.However, I'm having a really tough time getting my guitar amp at a volume that I can hear without blowing my band members away.I have to stand right in front of the drums, and so once everything is going, all I hear is cymbals, snare, and vocals. When I go out in front of the stage, my guitar is too loud, but when I'm standing on the stage, I can't hear it.I thought about putting my amp on an amp stand and pointing it at my ears, but then I think it would tend to feed back through my vocal mic. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members one4rich Posted October 22, 2005 Members Share Posted October 22, 2005 Actually, yes I do have some suggestions. First, a question: What kind of amp/speakers are you using, and how is the EQ set? The first thing is this...if you do the standard head and 4x12 cab, and then stand in front of it, you're not going to hear it onstage. The problem? Those speakers are pointed at your legs, and you don't have ears (last time I checked, anyway) down there. If you're using a combo amp, generally it's going to be open backed. That makes it a bit easier to hear vs. the 4x12, but you need to get it off of the floor. Use a chair, amp stand, piano bench, something. If you're accounting for directional speakers, have the amp in a location/attitude where it can be heard, and there's still a problem, you have to look at EQ. Many (I'm not saying YOU, because you haven't been very specific...these are generalities directed at a common problem) guys "scoop" their mids to get their favorite bedroom wanker tone, but this won't cut it onstage. The mids are where the guitar lives, and cutting them is castrating your tone. If you've got a healthy guitar sound, the speakers are at guitar-height, and you're not getting blown out by the other musicians on stage, you should be able to hear yourself very well. If you have a problem I have not addressed, please elaborate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members amplayer Posted October 23, 2005 Author Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 I'm using a combo amp for this band, and yes it is open back. Actually, in another band, I use a 4x12, and I have no issues.The problem with this band is that I have to stand next to the drums, but I also sing.If I point my amp at my head, it will also be pointed at my vocal mic.I will try messing with the EQ a bit. You may be right that I need to have a more midrangy sound. I don't know if that's my problem, but I'll try it. Until now, I've just used EQ that seems to sound good in practice. However, in practice, I don't stand right next to the drums. The other guitarist does use an extreme midrangy sound, and he doesn't have the problem I have. However, he also doesn't stand right in front of the cymbals. He's off to the side a bit. I'm actually closer to the cymbals than the drummer is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THB Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 In a word? Monitors. If you're micing your amp for the P.A. just have them run some in the monitors for you. If that doesn't work, move away from the drums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Badside Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 EAR PLUGS!!! Really, if you're not using them right now, do it!Why?Cause they muffle the high-end a bit: instant cymbals reduction!I'm always amazed at how everything sounds clearer with ear plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members one4rich Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 Originally posted by Hardtailed EAR PLUGS!!!Really, if you're not using them right now, do it!Why?Cause they muffle the high-end a bit: instant cymbals reduction!I'm always amazed at how everything sounds clearer with ear plugs. I was about to add this very thing. Ear plugs will reduce the cymbals' high end, and there's a side benefit of hearing your voice better. Another suggestion, which assumes you have the room on stage, is to put the drums on a riser. That gets the cymbals well above your ears, and gets rid of that sizzle. A side benefit of this it that it appeals to the drummer's ego. Another poster mentioned putting the guitar in the monitors. I do NOT recommend this! As a singer, you want to hear the vocals clearly...in my experience it's better to have ONLY vocals in the monitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members amplayer Posted October 23, 2005 Author Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 I do wear ear plugs. Not specifically for cymbal volume reduction, but because I have only one pair of ears that need to last me the rest of my life:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted October 23, 2005 Moderators Share Posted October 23, 2005 Originally posted by amplayer I do wear ear plugs. Not specifically for cymbal volume reduction, but because I have only one pair of ears that need to last me the rest of my life:thu: Then go the next step and try in-ear monitors. They reduce volume like earplugs, but also let you have the mix you want in your ears. Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THB Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 Originally posted by one4rich Another poster mentioned putting the guitar in the monitors. I do NOT recommend this! As a singer, you want to hear the vocals clearly...in my experience it's better to have ONLY vocals in the monitors. As the "another poster" and an interested party, I curious as to why it's better to have only vox in the monitor mix. When we're on small stages the bassman always seems to be between me and my amp and sometimes the only way I can hear myself play is to put some guitar in the monitors. This also helps us keep our overall stage volume down. I've been singing for 14 years on stage and as long as I can hear myself sing, I don't mind sharing the monitors with my guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FlogRock Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 Originally posted by amplayer I thought about putting my amp on an amp stand and pointing it at my ears, but then I think it would tend to feed back through my vocal mic. I don't think this is how feedback works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FlogRock Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 ...so to answer your question: just put the amp higher or aim it more at your ears, and most likely your problem will be solved. Without creating any big new problems. Maybe some more guitar will spill into the vocal signal, but that's hardly a problem live. If you really want to prevent this consider putting your amp on the side of the stage (assuming it's mic'ed of course). I would advise against aiming it directly at your ears though, unless you love icepick tone. Btw what kind of amp is it? Because some amps seem to almost completely dissapear from the mix when wearing earplugs, they're only highs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members one4rich Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 Originally posted by THB As the "another poster" and an interested party, I curious as to why it's better to have only vox in the monitor mix. When we're on small stages the bassman always seems to be between me and my amp and sometimes the only way I can hear myself play is to put some guitar in the monitors. This also helps us keep our overall stage volume down. I've been singing for 14 years on stage and as long as I can hear myself sing, I don't mind sharing the monitors with my guitar. Generally, my bands have used one monitor mix, and it's better to just have vox in there. I know that I don't another guy's guitar blasting me in the face everytime I step up to the mic. My rig is off to the side, and I don't need to hear my guitar loudly while I'm singing. If I want to hear that much of it, I step back a little. I want to hear vocals, particularly if there are harmonies going at the time. That leads me to something that helps with stage sound...put the guitar rigs on the sides of the stage, in a crossfire configuration. This lets the guitarists hear each other and have a volume they're comfortable with without "driving the room". The soundguy can get his levels, and nobody gets "laser-beamed" in the audience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayak Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 Another solution I've seen used is to put the amp on the floor in front of you, tilted back and up at you just like a monitor wedge. If the amp is not a tube amp, you can stuff the back of the amp with a pillow to minimize sound from the open back. Mic the amp. The amp is aimed at your ears, but at the back of the mic, which would minimize the mic picking it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THB Posted October 23, 2005 Members Share Posted October 23, 2005 Originally posted by one4rich Generally, my bands have used one monitor mix, and it's better to just have vox in there. I know that I don't another guy's guitar blasting me in the face everytime I step up to the mic. My rig is off to the side, and I don't need to hear my guitar loudly while I'm singing. If I want to hear that much of it, I step back a little. I want to hear vocals, particularly if there are harmonies going at the time. I see what you're saying here, and don't disagree with it, but part of what we do is always try to keep our stage volume low and a little guitar in the monitor rather than a turned-up amp does that. That leads me to something that helps with stage sound...put the guitar rigs on the sides of the stage, in a crossfire configuration. This lets the guitarists hear each other and have a volume they're comfortable with without "driving the room". The soundguy can get his levels, and nobody gets "laser-beamed" in the audience. We spread the guitar amps out, but don't do the crossfire config. That's sounds like it's worth trying. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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