Amp listening angle

[Quencho092]

Do any of you just stand next to your amp for ease at the controls, and sometimes wonder why the tone isnt so awesome? I've been doing that most of the time because i havent been 'tone hounding', im just doing what's most functional and that's having the controls close by to calibrate the amp to the situation, and just focusing on my playing and working on good jams and improv.

Today, in the middle of a jam, i decided to walk out a few feet in front of the amp for no reason at all and i was surprised at the sound. It just sounded alot better than when standing next to it. It's a deluxe reverb, and i use a surfer loaded strat straight into the amp most of the time.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Amp listening angle

i try to judge the tone from out in front of the amp, because that's what's going to be heard by the audience when i'm on stage, and more importantly, that's the sound that's going to be picked up by the mic on stage and in the studio.

 

[JLagoon]

Re: Amp listening angle

The real tone is when you stand about 8 feet away to the side of the speaker. This is also why mic placement is usually off the center.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Amp listening angle

Off the floor and stand back about 7~8 feet, slightly to the side...

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Amp listening angle

The difference between listening up close and listening a few feet away is huge...even more so with something like a 4x12 cab. The sound doesn't open up until so many feet from the grill. I remember first discovering that. From that point on, I became obsessive about where I stood in relation to my amp or cab when rehearsing or practicing at home. It's like night and day.

- Keith

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Amp listening angle

I've found that 12" speakers don't really develop their tone until you get 20 feet out. Guitar amp speakers are different than home audio speakers and are designed to throw sound out into large areas.

When I get the chance I love to run a wireless and get out into the room when playing gigs. For one it gets me closer to the blondes and secondly thats were the real tone is.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Amp listening angle

For one it gets me closer to the blondes and secondly thats were the real tone is.

The real tone is in the brunettes! :banana:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Amp listening angle

I lay flat on my back, with a 4X12 pushed as close to either side of my head as possible.

Seriously though, I agree with Robert about them sounding better from further away.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Amp listening angle

Yeah, it always sounds better off to the side. Another thing that's fun is using a long cord or wireless and hearing it from another room. Hearing it loud and from another room really shows you what the tone is because it's turned up loud, but you're hearing it at a volume that doesn't buckle your eardrums.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Amp listening angle

i never put my ears in the line of fire of any amp. I alsways stand to the side of them, bever in front. It sounds better, and I get a better idea of what most of the audience hears.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Amp listening angle

Do any of you just stand next to your amp for ease at the controls, and sometimes wonder why the tone isnt so awesome? I've been doing that most of the time because i havent been 'tone hounding', im just doing what's most functional and that's having the controls close by to calibrate the amp to the situation, and just focusing on my playing and working on good jams and improv.

Today, in the middle of a jam, i decided to walk out a few feet in front of the amp for no reason at all and i was surprised at the sound. It just sounded alot better than when standing next to it. It's a deluxe reverb, and i use a surfer loaded strat straight into the amp most of the time.

Another good theing to do with a Deluxe is place it on a chair or an amp stand. Blasting the volume at your shoes is not where you hear it. Its amazing how much better it will sound when you get it off the floor!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Amp listening angle

Another good theing to do with a Deluxe is place it on a chair or an amp stand. Blasting the volume at your shoes is not where you hear it. Its amazing how much better it will sound when you get it off the floor!

Or tilt it up toward you by leaning it against something. My Super Reverb has legs in the back that you can pull out for this very purpose. I wish all large amps had that kind of thing.

- Keith

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Amp listening angle

Yeah, it always sounds better off to the side.

Do you mean when miking the amp or stepping back and listening?

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Amp listening angle

Some guys even lay them amps flat, and blast the lighting rig directly. THis is also where this discussion will go to SRV and his duct-taping the grill to block the harsh higher end beam.... and then to weber's beam blocker.

I use a old CD and taped it on the centre of the grill. It tames the higher end. That way i get to stand a bit closer. But it's not a substitute for the sound waves settling in over say 20 feet... Sounds yummy, makes me wanna strum now....

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Amp listening angle

We recently discovered a GREAT amp stand for 1x12 combos. Open the legs, leave the front support arms folded up, and lean the amp back onto it.

This could work either way. We play with our amps FACING us, mic'd. Check it out. Even better, it's PADDED.

Target linky