What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

[LatsMcGee]

Looking for some suggestions here on how to use my 6505 60 watt combo without making my daughter wine about how loud it is....I really don't want to buy a smaller amp if I don't have to but I don't want to compromise tone completely either...any suggestions???

[crguti]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

using an attenuator seems to be the best idea to me

[Simon_F]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

In my experience attenuators are great for taming the volume at gigs and band rehearsals but don't sound great at bedroom volume. I've found I get better results at low volume by either using the amp's master volume if it has one (pre-amp volume up, master volume down) or by running the amp clean with a dirt pedal in front.

[DankStar]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

welcome to my world - I don't play through big/loud amps when my family is home. I just switch to no amp or vox ac30 amplug w/matching tiny cab.

[sosomething]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

I understand you like your 6505+, I use high-wattage amps too...

...but I use them live with a band at venues.

At some point you have to concede to the right tool for the job. You'll be happier once you do. A 60-watt amp is not an efficient method of amplifying your sound for playing at home.

Now, I hate to be that guy who goes around the edge of giving you the advice you're looking for, but I don't think there is really any good way to do what you're trying to do and use a 60-watt 2x12 combo in your house. What Simon F says about attenuators mirrors my experience as well.

There are a lot of lower-wattage amps out there that do high-gain nowadays - you'll be much happier in the long run with one of them.

Best of luck!

[mwalluk]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

I understand you like your 6505+, I use high-wattage amps too...

...but I use them live with a band at venues.

At some point you have to concede to the right tool for the job. You'll be happier once you do. A 60-watt amp is not an efficient method of amplifying your sound for playing at home.

Now, I hate to be that guy who goes around the edge of giving you the advice you're looking for, but I don't think there is really any good way to do what you're trying to do and use a 60-watt 2x12 combo in your house. What Simon F says about attenuators mirrors my experience as well.

There are a lot of lower-wattage amps out there that do high-gain nowadays - you'll be much happier in the long run with one of them.

Best of luck!

This.

You essentially have only 2 options;

1. compromise on tone and play lower volumes

or

2. buy a low watt amp strictly for bedroom jammin.

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

I'd suggest buying a little practice amp.

I bought a little Yamaha THR 10 last week...worth its weight in gold.

[Reload in 5]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

I will be honest, unless you have thick walls even a 5 watt tube amp is going to be loud.
just buy this and use headphones, or the optional "cab"

[Ball&Chain]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

Buy a Peavey Vypyr and set the amp model to 6505. Viola!

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

I read somewhere that a 5 watt amp is about as loud as a trumpet being blared at full volume. While I dont know if that is accurate trumpets can be pretty damn loud in an enclosed space.

The little Yamaha I bought sounds great. The little roland cubes sound pretty good too.

[DankStar]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

another option is to 5150-ize your daughter with some earplugs.

[Inkstained]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

I read somewhere that a 5 watt amp is about as loud as a trumpet being blared at full volume.

Don't know about any trumpet, but my Marshall Class 5 arrived yesterday. It was almost distressingly loud. My ears have only stopped ringing this morning. I find myself wondering how to turn it down and get the grind I want -- and it's only a five-watter.

[ArtieToo]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned an isolation cab yet. I'm gathering up the parts to build mine now. The construction isn't really that hard if you have some basic woodworking skills. I just started working B-shift, and would like to jam a little when I get home. (Post 11pm.) An iso-cab will allow me to crank to my hearts desire, and get true amp distortion.

Obviously, you'd also need a decent mic and probably a mic-pre and cheap mixing board. Or run into a home stereo.

Just a thought.

Artie

[Chickenwings]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

Buy a Peavey Vypyr and set the amp model to 6505. Viola!

yep. remember its only for practicing.

[St_Genesius]

Re: What's really the best way to "bedroom-ize" my peavey 6505+???

Assuming we're talking about getting a distorted sound (and there are good reasons to crank an amp that have little to do with anything most of us would call dirt/crunch/etc), you've got four things at work in a loud amp:

1) preamp tubes distorting
2) Power Tubes Distorting
3) Speaker cone(s) distorting -- this varies a lot by speaker model
4) the way your ears/brain process sounds of differing volumes.

Dropping the Master and cranking the Pre is one way to get a distorted sound quietly, and can be a GREAT sound, but it's a totally different sound to what that amp will sound like on 11, because you're taking out steps 2,3 and 4 up there.

Adding an attenuater gives you Step 2 back, but still leaves out 3 and 4.

An iso box will let you get 1, 2 and 3 into a mic, which then (eventually, at the end of a potentially long signal chain) is played back through headphones or monitors at a low level , which, because of both the mic/mixer/monitors/etc and Step 4, will make it sound different than you're used to hearing when you just crank it normally.

So if you want it to sound the same, only quieter...you're boned. But you can get some good sounds using those other techniques.