Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

[howeguy]

When I'm playing with my church band, I have to put my Blues Junior at around 3 on the master volume when it's on the floor, and nobody complains. As soon as I put it on a stand, however, with the volume still at 3, they're all telling me to turn down.

I guess I'm just answering my own question, but do amp stands make it easier for your bandmates to hear your amp?

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I hate ampstands, but then , I do not play out. I actually took my angled amp stand to a welder, and had him cut and re-weld the stand to present the amp level, and not so that it would blow your ears out angled straight towards them.
It didn't work 100%, as the platform is a little shallow when angled flat, but it beats the everloving snot out of the thing pointed straight at your brain.

 

[thespricket]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

It depends on the level of the stage. If it's level with the floor, you're gonna need an amp stand. If your stage is 3ft up then it may be fine on the ground. That's more a concern for your audience. As for stage volume, I'd say an amp stand can totally make it easier to hear your amp from the stage.

Depends on the space and the amp as well.


Guitar->pedals->amp

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

Short answer is yes. Basically your amp is acting like a monitor would. I've played in many a church with and without a PA system and no matter the situation I always try to have my amp on a stand or tilted back in some way. It lets you hear what is coming out of your speaker better rather then pointing down at your knees.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I have an amp stand that I use with my 2x12 when using small wattage amps (sub-5W). Makes a HUGE difference in terms of intelligibility. Easier for both me and my band mates to hear what is going on.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I, too, have an "amp stand".

On the back, the text identifies it as a "Carvin v412m". A look inside shows that it currently contains 4 Rola Celestion g12-65's.... REALLY HELPS WOTH THE VOLUME! Lol

...on a more serious note, though, placong an amp on top of a cab, even WITHOUT ever hooking it upvto the cab, makes a whole lotta difference in perceived volume.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I prefer to have my Blues Jr. on a stand because I can get better interaction between the amp and guitar when I can get right in front of the speaker. In the near field it definitely helps to get it up off the floor so everyone in the band can hear it, too.

The angled stand makes it very difficult to access the controls on the amp, but that amp only has, like, five knobs on it anyway...

 

[Bludave]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

Placing your amp on the floor really doesn't make too much sense, unless our ears were on our ankles. Needless to say getting the amp off the floor or at least tilting it back with legs(some amps have these) will push the sound up. I also prefer to have each amp miked and fed through the monitors so I can hear everything just like I am standing in front of the amps. The real challenge is keeping the volume under control and being able to hear on stage. If you are playing in a church; the natural acoustics would tend to aid the sound going out to the crowd and that should allow you to keep the volume down which will aid in being able to hear. The real question that none of you can answer is how does the balance to the crowd sound. Stage volume is very deceiving. What you hear on stage is NOT what the crowd hears unless you are running everything through the PA.

Edit:: I have an amp stand but I don't use it at rehearsals I just use what the studio has for us(usually a Deluxe Reverb or Vibrolux). The amp stand I have I bought from Musicians Friend for $20.00 Needless to say its not the greatest but I can place my DR or my Marshall on it without any issues. It folds up so I can store it easily & if I could find another I would probably buy it. For the $20.00 I paid for it it has worked really well.

Edit again.... After typing all this I found that MF STILL has them for $20.00

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/musicians-gear-deluxe-amp-stand

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I love ampstands, helps me dial in my sound for what mics will see at gigs and recording. Plus at lower volumes it sounds louder and you don't get your neighbours mad!

 

[everdrone]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

Im saving up for another 212 cab instead of an ampstand

if its too loud I will just unplug one cab and it will look awesome! I do like the tilt of the ampstand or slanted cabs though

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

It will help your bandmates hear you better if the angle up at you is also at them. That is the case for at least two of the other musos in the band in my current live situation. However, the guys on the other side of even these small stages probably don't hear jack, even with my stand.

I've been stuck plugging into a small combo amp in the provided backline that was pointed at my ankles, and no room to maneuver the amp into a better position. Taking my equally small combo with a stand provides a night and day difference.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

Im saving up for another 212 cab instead of an ampstand

if its too loud I will just unplug one cab and it will look awesome! I do like the tilt of the ampstand or slanted cabs though

Amp stands add that cool 1960's recording studio vibe!

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

Cheap amp stand: I always use a couple of heavy plastic milk crates to carry accessories to a gig (cables, etc.), then used two of them lined up under my half-stack to get the speakers up closer to ear level. Worked great, and is cheap, but those good heavy milk crates are harder to find these days, good thing I have about 4 or 5 old ones around.

Al

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

yes! Im kinda late to the party, but wanted to throw in my .02. I didnt have a chance to read all the replies, so if Im duping info, pls forgive.. When the amp sits on the floor, much of the sound waves go into the carpet or to the floor. When you raise it, especially angled back, the sound goes to the air and is aimed more towards the ears.. I had a Carvin MTS3212 and played it on the floor. Bought a tilt back stand and it about tore my head off at the same volume..

 

[Stratman]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

Mike Bloomfield used to use a folding metal chair to put his Fender Twin Reverb on when he played clubs….

So it helps, mostly because even though my feet have soles (e.g. soul) my ankles do not have ears!

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

Mike Bloomfield used to use a folding metal chair to put his Fender Twin Reverb on when he played clubs….

So it helps, mostly because even though my feet have soles (e.g. soul) my ankles do not have ears!

I'm surprised the chair held up and didn't break. Although I find with open back amps it's not that much of a problem if it's tilted back or not. It still helps though.

 

[Securb]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I am also a stand fan. Not only does it project better but it brings the controls of my combo closer to me for quick tweeks.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I am also a stand fan. Not only does it project better but it brings the controls of my combo closer to me for quick tweeks.

Excellent point about raising the controls!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?

I have an amp stand and used it a lot for a while and then got tired of lugging it around. For while I just sat the amp on floor and let her rip.

Another reason was balance with the other guitarist. He didn't use a stand either so we were able to dial on the sound coming off the stage better, even though we did mic as well.

At some point I decided to tilt the amp again but decided to use two of the yellow rubber doorstops stacked on each other instead. Just the right angle.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Do amp stands make it easier for bandmates to hear you as well?