Big Amps at home?
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Big Amps at home?
Weber MASS
https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/mass.htm
...but doing anything other than annoying neighbors and damaging your ears will compromise the tone. There is little to get around that. Big amps have to breathe and open up to sound right. Anything that takes them down for home levels will take down the tone also, to some degree or another. But I find what I can get with the MASS to be still acceptable and enjoyable to play through.
Weber MASS
https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/mass.htm
...but doing anything other than annoying neighbors and damaging your ears will compromise the tone. There is little to get around that. Big amps have to breathe and open up to sound right. Anything that takes them down for home levels will take down the tone also, to some degree or another. But I find what I can get with the MASS to be still acceptable and enjoyable to play through.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Big Amps at home?
I live on 5 acres of land 300 yards from the road. My nearest neighbor is across the road, and my second closest is a mile and a half down. I can hold a Metallica gig at my house and no one would hear it.
I live on 5 acres of land 300 yards from the road. My nearest neighbor is across the road, and my second closest is a mile and a half down. I can hold a Metallica gig at my house and no one would hear it.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Big Amps at home?
heh, I used to have a 100W half stack in my apartment.
How did I play without annoying neighbors? at really low volumes. Highest I ever turned it up was a bit above 1. Yeah I had a dedicated room for it, not really soundproofed at all. I had some treatment to absorb some high and low frequencies, but wasn't anywhere close to a fully treated room.
The amp had good tones regardless of volume, but I ended up getting rid of it anyway cuz it was just too much amp for my needs. Too loud, too big, too over the top.
I now have an 18W amp with power scaling down to 1W, and a 2x12. It's small but powerful, can be plenty loud for gigging at a variety of venue sizes, but is also great for home practicing. I actually find myself playing a bit louder at home on the 1W setting than I used to with the 100W.
heh, I used to have a 100W half stack in my apartment.
How did I play without annoying neighbors? at really low volumes. Highest I ever turned it up was a bit above 1. Yeah I had a dedicated room for it, not really soundproofed at all. I had some treatment to absorb some high and low frequencies, but wasn't anywhere close to a fully treated room.
The amp had good tones regardless of volume, but I ended up getting rid of it anyway cuz it was just too much amp for my needs. Too loud, too big, too over the top.
I now have an 18W amp with power scaling down to 1W, and a 2x12. It's small but powerful, can be plenty loud for gigging at a variety of venue sizes, but is also great for home practicing. I actually find myself playing a bit louder at home on the 1W setting than I used to with the 100W.
Brow
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
I play at home with a 100w Splawn Quick Rod and a 50w SLO Clone through 1x12 or 2x12 cabs and don't really have any issues.
The Splawn has a control that lets you control the amount of signal that goes through the FX loop, so you're able to use it as a master volume control. Gearjoneser has talked about achieving the same thing with some sort of FX unit in the loop and using that as a volume control. It's surprisingly useful at letting you crank the channel volumes, and then pulling it back down to useful levels without huge negative effect on the tone.
The SLO sounds good at lower volumes anyway, so no problem there.
I play at home with a 100w Splawn Quick Rod and a 50w SLO Clone through 1x12 or 2x12 cabs and don't really have any issues.
The Splawn has a control that lets you control the amount of signal that goes through the FX loop, so you're able to use it as a master volume control. Gearjoneser has talked about achieving the same thing with some sort of FX unit in the loop and using that as a volume control. It's surprisingly useful at letting you crank the channel volumes, and then pulling it back down to useful levels without huge negative effect on the tone.
The SLO sounds good at lower volumes anyway, so no problem there.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
I use the master volume? Sure its not cranked tones but it still sounds good never had an issue with low volume.
I use the master volume? Sure its not cranked tones but it still sounds good never had an issue with low volume.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Big Amps at home?
I use an iso cab at home, in a closet on a GRAMMA and under 4 Audimute blankets. It then feeds to a mic preamp/DAW interface. Doesn't matter which amp I use, the volume is seriously attenuated, and I can monitor through headphones or studio monitors.
I use an iso cab at home, in a closet on a GRAMMA and under 4 Audimute blankets. It then feeds to a mic preamp/DAW interface. Doesn't matter which amp I use, the volume is seriously attenuated, and I can monitor through headphones or studio monitors.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Big Amps at home?
In an apartment: Go meet the neighbors, find out when they won't be around, and that's when you play. Give them your number so they can call, and always turn it down/off upon request. Powerbrake.
At home? I'm in a house, with all doors windows closed, and 30-50 feet between the neighbors. Let it rock.
In an apartment: Go meet the neighbors, find out when they won't be around, and that's when you play. Give them your number so they can call, and always turn it down/off upon request. Powerbrake.
At home? I'm in a house, with all doors windows closed, and 30-50 feet between the neighbors. Let it rock.
Re: Big Amps at home?
I use my Triaxis/2:90 with a Mesa 4X12 all the time for practice and play at home. I usually play after 8pm when the kids go to bed. I play fairly loud, but I'm in my basement with the door closed and my kids sleep like rocks. They're also on the second floor so effectively they're two floors up with their doors shut. The doors are oak too which helps a ton. (I've only woken one up once!!) Also, the space between houses is really good and it doesn't bother my neighbors. So I have a few things working in my favor and they enable me to play with a big rig at a pretty good volume.
With regards to amps, the 2:90 really sounds good at any volume. It doesn't really have to be cranked. (I don't know if you can or would need to unless you were out doors with no PA) My 50/50 was a bit different in that it sounded decent at low volumes but really needed to open up to sound good. Not so with the 2:90 which is one of the reasons I wanted one.
I use my Triaxis/2:90 with a Mesa 4X12 all the time for practice and play at home. I usually play after 8pm when the kids go to bed. I play fairly loud, but I'm in my basement with the door closed and my kids sleep like rocks. They're also on the second floor so effectively they're two floors up with their doors shut. The doors are oak too which helps a ton. (I've only woken one up once!!) Also, the space between houses is really good and it doesn't bother my neighbors. So I have a few things working in my favor and they enable me to play with a big rig at a pretty good volume.
With regards to amps, the 2:90 really sounds good at any volume. It doesn't really have to be cranked. (I don't know if you can or would need to unless you were out doors with no PA) My 50/50 was a bit different in that it sounded decent at low volumes but really needed to open up to sound good. Not so with the 2:90 which is one of the reasons I wanted one.
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karpathion
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
I use a 1996, VHT Pitbull 50/CL, everyday, and I have houses on both sides of me. But, this amp has some cool little power reducing features on it. I do have a room just for jamming.
I use a 1996, VHT Pitbull 50/CL, everyday, and I have houses on both sides of me. But, this amp has some cool little power reducing features on it. I do have a room just for jamming.
Re: Big Amps at home?
THD hot plate attenuator for years, in a town house early on, but now I'm in a pretty big house with some separation from the neighbors. Never a complaint.
I practice at -12db, and to me that level only suffers from minor tone loss. I honestly can't hear tone loss at -8 or -4, but then those levels aren't too far from unadjusted anyway.
I'd rather have the tubes cranked but attenuated vs low volume and gain with no attenuation.
THD hot plate attenuator for years, in a town house early on, but now I'm in a pretty big house with some separation from the neighbors. Never a complaint.
I practice at -12db, and to me that level only suffers from minor tone loss. I honestly can't hear tone loss at -8 or -4, but then those levels aren't too far from unadjusted anyway.
I'd rather have the tubes cranked but attenuated vs low volume and gain with no attenuation.
tstone2
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
I set up in the basement. Play loud only on the weekend. It's only really loud upstairs in the bathroom that's directly above my rig and sound system. Sound proofing is in the future. Basements are a good thing, every guitar player should have one -or a barn !-
I set up in the basement. Play loud only on the weekend. It's only really loud upstairs in the bathroom that's directly above my rig and sound system. Sound proofing is in the future. Basements are a good thing, every guitar player should have one -or a barn !-
lpmarshall
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
This is the way I went about it. I rarely fire up my 100 watt'ers anymore, but I did have full band practices from time to time. I told him to just let himself in if he needs to sleep or anything, and I told him I won't practice past 8PM. I've been a stickler on that for weeknight practices.
He told me he can barely hear us practice and it never bothers him.
This is the way I went about it. I rarely fire up my 100 watt'ers anymore, but I did have full band practices from time to time. I told him to just let himself in if he needs to sleep or anything, and I told him I won't practice past 8PM. I've been a stickler on that for weeknight practices.
He told me he can barely hear us practice and it never bothers him.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Big Amps at home?
I play black metal on a 200W Head + 480W 4x12 half stack at home. The highest I've ever turned up was to 5 because it was at least 110 decibels in the same room and I was wearing earplugs deep into my external acoustic meatus.
I have done this for years and never once have I had a complaint or the cops called. But then again, my neighbors consist of old Nazis, another musician who plays loud, a neighbor who I would not be surprised if he was ever in the KKK, an old anti-social hoarding Slavik lady, and an old cheapass Italian guy. On weekends, add yet another Nazi, and an old Navy guy. Ironically, there is a Jewish family right next to the old Nazi.
I play black metal on a 200W Head + 480W 4x12 half stack at home. The highest I've ever turned up was to 5 because it was at least 110 decibels in the same room and I was wearing earplugs deep into my external acoustic meatus.
I have done this for years and never once have I had a complaint or the cops called. But then again, my neighbors consist of old Nazis, another musician who plays loud, a neighbor who I would not be surprised if he was ever in the KKK, an old anti-social hoarding Slavik lady, and an old cheapass Italian guy. On weekends, add yet another Nazi, and an old Navy guy. Ironically, there is a Jewish family right next to the old Nazi.
Laughing Kookaburra
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
Yes, especially when I lived in the place where rehearsals were held. At another point I had a 100 watt JCM 900 Dual Reverb that sounded better at apartment friendly volumes, so I certainly used it.
Yes, especially when I lived in the place where rehearsals were held. At another point I had a 100 watt JCM 900 Dual Reverb that sounded better at apartment friendly volumes, so I certainly used it.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Big Amps at home?
I think this describes it better; at least, an amp somewhat cranked through a 4x12.
I think this describes it better; at least, an amp somewhat cranked through a 4x12.
SongsForTheDeaf
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
I just crank it... screw the neighbours
Also what's wrong with combos ? I prefer combos over 4x12s closed backs... too boomy for my tastes.
I just crank it... screw the neighbours
Also what's wrong with combos ? I prefer combos over 4x12s closed backs... too boomy for my tastes.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Big Amps at home?
Might as well play em at home. You will likely get more flak at a pub gig showing up with a big amp than from your wife at home.
Might as well play em at home. You will likely get more flak at a pub gig showing up with a big amp than from your wife at home.
