Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

[SJ318]

Hi,
I play with a guy who has a Blues Jr. He plays loud-master way up-gain way up, very loud celest. 30 re-coned with tube tubby speaker material, also he uses a loud booster pedal on all the time. I bought a Blues Jr. for home, but he wants me to use it for the stage with him so our amps "match". His amp sounds twice as loud to the ear as mine. Plus I don't like to push any amp that far.
I do not want play keep up. Will a Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster turned up to 5 or 6 for solos match his volume so I can be heard? It is a long story, but he is the leader and wins all arguments. I have a Blues Deluxe but doesn't want me using it. We are friends and he is a brick wall on his settings. I like my B.DeLuxe on 4 and my sparse pedalboard to boost me when soloing. Also I can clean up and still be heard and he plays loud ALL the time.
To sum up-will a S.Dunc. pup booster allow my solos to be heard without hurting the B.Jr?
Thank you-by the way, i am not trying to be a baby about this and will speak to him as friendly as possible if the pup booster isn't enough for the job.
Steve

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

There's no way to tell for sure without trying...his 'loud booster pedal' isn't even specified, nor is the speaker in your Blues Jr. The relative sensitivities of the two speakers is one factor; the gain factors of the boost pedals is another. And are you playing identical guitars?

Seems like you're dealing (or attempting to deal) with a control freak of major proportions! I'd never have the patience to do that and would probably use the Blues Deluxe since you like it. If he doesn't.....too bad. No need to get into a battle over it, just use it....end of story.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

I don't know what OD pedals you own, but audition them all with the Blues Jr. turned up loud. Maybe see what he's getting at in terms of dual guitar sound. It never hurts to mess around with amp combinations.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

If you want to keep up with him you need a new speaker...plain and simple.

A Blues Jr is only 15 watts but that Celestion is making those 25 watts very loud in his case.

In addition to that you are saying that he runs his up and you do not want to run yours up...if you do not turn it up you will never have his volume.

So, go get a nice loud speaker, something in the new Eminence line comes to mind and then turn that puppy up!

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

The Blues Jr., as you have noticed, has a very non-linear volume knob. I don't like to turn the master up above 4 myself because it gets pretty loud in the near field. But if you are on 4 and he is on 10, you will never be heard.

I wouldn't worry too much about "pushing" that amp. It's built like a tank.

I would give it a try his way for a few weeks. You never know - you might actually find you prefer to drive the BJr. like that. You aren't getting the full tone from your power tubes at 4, so maybe your friend is on to something. And if it sounds like ass, at least you have more ammo for convincing him to bring it down to 8 for a change.

A speaker swap might help, too, but not if you don't crank the master.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

Dude, if he's paying you, just dime the master on your Junior, and turn the gain up until it's as loud as his, and then boost it for solos. If he's not paying you, then tell him you'll use the Blues Deluxe whether or not he likes it.

Seriously, if he's not paying you, then he's NOT the leader...just an egomaniac.

 

[Curly]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

Wow. Where to begin ...
there are really two aspects here: the technical gear problem, and the personal, psychological aspect of the band dynamic

yes, do the speaker change -- specifically a more efficient db rating -- and use some kind of OD to solve the volume problem . go along with the situation for now, but for Goodness sake, use this as an incentive to improve your playing, your band, and eventually the situation you're in ... you also have to decide if you're seriously devoted to music, or willing to settle for playing second fiddle

When I started playing, I played rhythm guitar for years, backing someone who was a better player. Eventually, I got into the blues and woodshedded, practicing for hours a day. As I improved, I found myself back in a band with my old "friend". The fact is, he did not handle my improved playing well. He would step on my solos and just not back me as well as I backed him, and the band suffered for it. I had grown and improved as a player, and he had not.
This is one reason I really respect good rhythm players -- it's harder work, less glamorous, but a good rhythm player just makes for a better band. And the fact is, some players never fully grasp the idea of playing TOGETHER AS A BAND.

Please make the best of the situation and don't develop an attitude ... use it as a learning experience.
But know this: from what you've described, I think it sounds like you have a better idea about tone. If someone is constantly boosting their tone, then it makes sense that they likely need to step up the power of their amp. And I'm not quite sure what the idea of "matching" means in this case ... there are arguments to be made either way ... some bands use similar gear, some use distinctively different gear, and some do both, depending on the song.
The fact is, from what you've described, the Blues Deluxe would solve the problem without having to get a new speaker, but I suspect your "friend" just doesn't want you playing an amp that's potentially louder. THAT is an ego problem, not a gear problem.

Good luck, and keep playing -- at least you're in a band.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

It's a bit of a sad story, Steve. But let me ask you one question:

I don't like to push any amp that far.

Why not?

 

[SJ318]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

It's a bit of a sad story, Steve. But let me ask you one question:


Why not?

I don't like the hissing sound and it is harder to clean up and still be heard. He is my student and when I joined I was hired as a Lead guitarist. Now he has improved some and I am more delegated as a 2nd lead guitarist. Our guitars are similar and he uses a BBpro and I use a Seth Lover. I am on fixed income and I have spent as much money as i can on gear. it is either play with this person or not play at all. He uses an Ego boost which is loud and harsh and he plays as loud on rhythm as on solos.
I am disabled and he is nice enough to help me deal with that and still play, so he is really a very nice guy but again, just a brick wall on suggestions. I ask him to turn down when I solo and he does not. he tells me I need to turn up all the time and says when he stops playing rhythm the band is thin, so therefore I don't play rhythm well. F***, I like dynamics. I have no car so I play with him or nobody. Again, he is gracious in helping me get to gigs, etc. By teaching him the art of guitar soloing and giving him all I know over 45 years of playing he now feels like he is quite good. Maybe you guys are right, if I am not able to play the way I want maybe I should just quit. I am 60 and spinal degeneration gets worse.
It is hard to let go as I can not do anything else that gives me as much pleasure as playing live.
You can see us plying together when we first started on youtube. Look for Eddie Gillan and the Red Roosters. He has a bunch. I am on 2 w/Red Roosters. He has the Tele and I have the re-finished tea colored '66 les paul. You can tell as both the videos are very dark looking till we start playing.
appreciate the response. really
Steve
ps on the idea of "matched" amps-he doesn't want me louder than him, but fails to hear how he is twice as loud as I am. Go Figure.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

As his teacher, show home a thing or two about band dynamics and how it works and that he should not play boosted up like that all the time. Brick wall or not, he needs to knock it down.

I was in this situation with a keyboardist. He was so loud, I couldn't hear myself at all. So, what I did is I turned my guitar down all the way and kept playing. Guess what happened, I kept playing after the song (it was at practice), and they looked at me. I said the guitar was turned down the whole time and nobody noticed during the song. My point was made after that.

Seriously, he needs to lose the 'tude and ego and listen. Another thing that works is patrons watching the band saying he's so loud that they can't hear anybody else. That can quickly knock bricks out of walls like that.

But try some overdrives and boosters that you have and don't be afraid to push the amp a little more. It'll take it.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

Thank you everyone, You are all correct and most importantly-Helpful!!
Sincerely,
Steve B.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

The dood running his blues junior that hard and with a super efficient speaker sounds like he just wants bragging rights about how 15 watt amps are all you need. We all know 15 watt amps are plenty loud enough but as players we all know that there is much more to amps than wattage.
I don't know a single professional musician that will not change their settings to fit the rest of the band, the requirements of the music and the requirements of the venue and the audience. Matching amps? I'm guessing that he only wants "matching" amps as long as his sounds a bit louder and a bit better than yours.
He might be a nice guy, but in a musical and bandleader sense, he seems like a bit of a wanker and a power tripper. Bands sound better when the guitarist's sound complement one another (eg les paul/strat combination or marshall/fender combination) rather than compete with one another. Next rehearsal, just use the gear you like. You seem like the kind of player who knows when its too loud etc. Just do what you do best and keep a smile on your face. If he gets wound up about your choice of gear and it ends in another argument, be prepared to leave his band.
You have skills on the guitar, you have good ears too. You are worth more than you think.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

If you want to keep up with him you need a new speaker...plain and simple.

A Blues Jr is only 15 watts but that Celestion is making those 25 watts very loud in his case.

In addition to that you are saying that he runs his up and you do not want to run yours up...if you do not turn it up you will never have his volume.

So, go get a nice loud speaker, something in the new Eminence line comes to mind and then turn that puppy up!

YUP . . . i sugggest either this one : http://www.eminence.com/speakers/speaker-detail/?model=Wizard_16 . . . or this one : http://www.eminence.com/speakers/speaker-detail/?model=Swamp_Thang_16


OR . . . connect your amp to a 2x12 Over Size cab (standing vertical) with one each of these babies in it !

 

[jeremy]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

dont bother buying anything. try using your blues jr with the pup booster or an overdrive.

put the master full up and roll the volume and tones as high as you can and still get a sound you like. for a solo, boost the hell out of the front end with either the pup booster or the overdrive.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Dueling blues juniors w/ Duncan Pickup Booster HELP

dont bother buying anything. try using your blues jr with the pup booster or an overdrive.

put the master full up and roll the volume and tones as high as you can and still get a sound you like. for a solo, boost the hell out of the front end with either the pup booster or the overdrive.

And bless your guitar with a set of Black Outs