Music Room

[degroove]

This Christmas, I am asking for stuff to make a cool music area. I have a basement that is finished and has wood paneling. There is an area that used to have a built in bar that I am making a music area. It is not blocked out like a normal room, but has three walls and an unblocked opening to the rest of the basement.

 

I want to make a cool ambience for jamming in the basement. Got any cool advice on the following:

 

Stools or chairs comfortable for seated playing

CD and media storage

Work area for making adjustments to basses

Storage for all my books and binders with music stuff

Lighting ideas

Carpet ideas

Cord/Cable organization ideas

 

Eventually, I am going to hook up a small PA down there for singing and playing.

 

Also, I am not looking for making a recording area, but ideas for making it sound good acoustically would be cool as well.

[fretless]

some acoustic tiles

http://www.auralex.com/

[greenshag]

shag carpet in the color green...

[mikgag]

only treat 2 walls.....you want some "bounce"

[degroove]

Originally posted by greenshag shag carpet in the color green...

 

 

YEah

 

I already found a green shag carpet! Its pretty darn shaggy.

[degroove]

 

Originally posted by mikgag only treat 2 walls.....you want some "bounce"

 

 

Cool.

 

If I am putting stuff on the walls - like shelves and stuff, would I still treat them where the stuff ain't?

[Craig Vecchione]

Originally posted by degroove Cool. If I am putting stuff on the walls - like shelves and stuff, would I still treat them where the stuff ain't?

 

Since acoustic treatment isn't the first priority, finish the room functionally and then listen and treat accordingly if needed.

 

I'd plan for an area that had a fold up worktable, some shelves/media storage above it, that's easily accessed for swapping CD's etc. while you jam. Some vinyl-covered diner/bar stools with your favorite logo should be pretty easy to find....Ampeg and Fender sold them, and other companies of all sorts of products have 'em too.

 

If there's room, a small sofa or comfy chair is a great addition.

 

Lighting; one flourescent or other bright fixture for basic light. Some kind of boom light for the worktable area. I'd then add truss around the ceiling and add Par36 or 38 small cans with gels for mood/effect light. Put these circuits on a dimmer.

 

Plenty of quad outlets all around.

 

Small fridge for refreshments. Microwave on top.

 

Cable organization? Nahhh....that's part of the studio ambience.

[bholder]

Originally posted by greenshag shag carpet in the color green...

 

Yeah, for the walls. But what about the floor?

[degroove]

Originally posted by Craigv Since acoustic treatment isn't the first priority, finish the room functionally and then listen and treat accordingly if needed. I'd plan for an area that had a fold up worktable, some shelves/media storage above it, that's easily accessed for swapping CD's etc. while you jam. Some vinyl-covered diner/bar stools with your favorite logo should be pretty easy to find....Ampeg and Fender sold them, and other companies of all sorts of products have 'em too. If there's room, a small sofa or comfy chair is a great addition. Lighting; one flourescent or other bright fixture for basic light. Some kind of boom light for the worktable area. I'd then add truss around the ceiling and add Par36 or 38 small cans with gels for mood/effect light. Put these circuits on a dimmer. Plenty of quad outlets all around. Small fridge for refreshments. Microwave on top. Cable organization? Nahhh....that's part of the studio ambience.

 

Me likey.

 

I like you lighting ideas very much!

 

Thanks...

[greenshag]

Originally posted by bholder Yeah, for the walls. But what about the floor?

 

how about pink? my current studio has pink and black shag carpeting....

[Craig Vecchione]

I'm right at the point of getting my basement space all nice-like....so far there's hardwood at the pool-table/bar side, and the walls there are deep red. In the middle, soft carpet, black leather sofa, at some point big-assed LDC tv and gaming, and the band end has all the music gear...walls there are two shades of gray. Needs major acoustic work...it's a noisey room, big and multi-shaped but all walls are parallel.

[degroove]

Originally posted by Craigv I'm right at the point of getting my basement space all nice-like....so far there's hardwood at the pool-table/bar side, and the walls there are deep red. In the middle, soft carpet, black leather sofa, at some point big-assed LDC tv and gaming, and the band end has all the music gear...walls there are two shades of gray. Needs major acoustic work...it's a noisey room, big and multi-shaped but all walls are parallel.

 

I got this idea off some homeshow for displaying some guitars and basses. They made these custom frames that were cool. They used:

 

Plywood for the back

A bit of Batting over plywood (to reduce scuffing)

Cool fabric like velvet over batting.

Guitar Hanger hardware

Wood frame (paint of leave wood)

 

They took the plywood and glued some batting to it. Then they added velvet over that. Then they framed it out. I was thinking that would be a cheap, but cool way to protect and disply the instuments.

[Craig Vecchione]

Yeah, I've got the same idea planned here too, but I won't have any framing....just wrap the plywood completely. If it's done right, no wrinkles, just like a speaker grille. In fact, that's another idea....use Fender, Ampeg or other recognizable grille cloth, and frame the edges with Tolex and metal corners to make the thing look like a speaker cab.

[degroove]

Originally posted by Craigv Yeah, I've got the same idea planned here too, but I won't have any framing....just wrap the plywood completely. If it's done right, no wrinkles, just like a speaker grille. In fact, that's another idea....use Fender, Ampeg or other recognizable grille cloth, and frame the edges with Tolex and metal corners to make the thing look like a speaker cab.

 

Like a Custom Tuck N Roll!

 

Here is my only question -

 

Do you plan to..

 

A. Mount the guitar holder harware to the plywood and then mount the frame.

 

or

 

B. Mount the guitar holder hardware directly through to the wall.

 

I am leaning for A as the most secure approach.

[Craig Vecchione]

Originally posted by degroove Like a Custom Tuck N Roll! Here is my only question - Do you plan to.. A. Mount the guitar holder harware to the plywood and then mount the frame. or B. Mount the guitar holder hardware directly through to the wall. I am leaning for A as the most secure approach.

 

I'd mount the holder to the plywood. Probably use T-nuts in the back, flathead bolts in the front, depending on holder. Then mount the panel using a museum rail top and bottom (just a 1x4 cut in half at 45 deg angle, mount half to the wall, half to the plywood, engage the angle slots, voila....) as you'd do with a heavy mirror or art piece. Plan ahead and mount the rail before covering the panel, using nuts and bolts instead of screws, again for security.

[pbass_groovin]

Post pics when its complete

[bholder]

Originally posted by Craigv I'd mount the holder to the plywood.

 

But I don't want to be mounted to the plywood!!!!!

[Craig Vecchione]

Originally posted by bholder But I don't want to be mounted to the plywood!!!!!

 

 

Ah, but I notice you don't object to being mounted. Interesting.