Where do y'all put your amps on stage?

Austin Harper · From: Georgia, USA

Title says it all. I have a Nashville 400 and I generally keep it a couple of arm lengths behind me, stacked on another amp. That's been working well but the last few show I played I had a lot of trouble hearing myself and now I'm reevaluating. What do y'all think the best positioning is?

Also, what settings and volume do you Nashville 400 players use? Thanks in advance for sharing Smile

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i put mine 2-3 ft behind/side tilted up a little bit pointing at my good ear.
volume around 10 oclock and master at around 2-3 oclock. if you can't hear it, someone's probably playing too loud. Shocked

Austin Harper · From: Georgia, USA

It is a very loud band Smile

. I normally end up with my pre at around 9-10 o'clock and my post at 12-1 o'clock. I don't have a lot of control in my volume pedal though, it's almost a glorified on/off switch. Maybe putting it beside me pointing at my ear will yield better results.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

a decent full-range smooth volume pedal might help.
set your volume for pretty strong at the halfway position.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Austin, turn your amp up. Post should be wide open. Then your volume pedal will have more room.
you. If have a full sound system, put the amp next to you and not pointing out to the booth.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Rich Upright · From: Florida, USA

The stages I play on are so small, and I use 2 amps since I run a stereo delay--PV Renown 1-15" or PV Blues Classic 1-15" behind me, and a small 1-12' Fender or Hartke about a foot away from the PV, with the dry signal going to the PV, & the delayed note going to the Fender. Very spacious, but if the Fender is too far away (more than a foot) you lose the spacious delay effect. Here's a pic; you can see the Hartke next to the PV, which is facing rearward.

_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag.

Dan Robinson · From: Colorado, USA

What Chris said. Tilt with axis to YOU. My LTD-400 raised off the floor and with some tilt seems to work. Experiment, but you've gotta hear YOU.

Ronnie Boettcher · From: Brunswick Ohio, USA

Everyone has to set the amp to their own satisfaction. I set mine on a chair, tilted up a little. And about 2 feet back off of my right ear. Even if I am patched into the main sound gear, you have to be able to hear what your playing. And yes, set your volume up high, at mid-pedal. Then let the sound engineer control what he wants for his output. Those guys do what they want anyways. But you have to hear your amp.
_________________
Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142

David Cubbedge · From: Toledo,Ohio, USA

When I use an amp, I'll put it on a stand an arm lengths reach away from my seat so I can tweak knobs without getting up.
_________________
Red Emmons D10 fatback #2246D with sweet Hugh Briley split cases, Black Emmons S10 #1466S, '73 Fender "Snakeskin" Twin Reverb, Peavey Nashville 400, Line 6 Pod XT, Fender 400, Fender Stringmaster Double-8, too many guitars, one bass!

Ron Sodos · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

For 3 1/2 years I played with a band that was LOUD in fact I bought a decibel meter and we were at 120 decibels on stage and 115+ at the back wall. I had to wear fancy ear plugs even just for sound check and rehearsel. I finally quit New Years Eve thank God. Anyway had to put my speakers in front of me facing up at me.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Roy Carroll · From: North of a Round Rock

This is interesting. Why is it that most amateurs put the amp on something to get ti off the floor, but if you look at (not all) most pros, they have their amp flat on the floor. The tones that they get such as (Mike Johnson, Tommy White, Paul Franklin, and many others) are killer. Pay attention to a lot of videos that are on youtube. Someone explain why. If there were advantages to the amp being up, the pros would be doing it one would think.
_________________
Just north of the Weird place, south of Georgetown

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

In my humble opinion, one should NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER aim a speaker directly at their ear. The center beam that radiates from a speaker is brutal, it is disproportionally trebly and powerful and isn't the "real" sound of the overall speaker. One shouldn't mic the speaker there either.

I say aim the speaker at your knees, or maybe at your chest or belly so your ears hear the WHOLE speaker off axis a bit - but NEVER directly at your ears. It's proven to be the fast track to bad sense of EQ/tone, bad perspective of loudness, hard to mix with the band, and mostly because of the guaranteed result of hearing loss, hyper-acusis, and tinnitus.

And remember that when you lift an amp or speaker cab off the floor, the entire low end bass response changes radically, generally resulting in less bass and less fullness. When a cab is on the floor, the floor itself becomes part of the speaker cabinet's physics.

Brad

Kevin Milner · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

I put my amp this tilt back stand to point it at my ears: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002PZ3BY/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M3T1_SC_dp_1

I play in very loud bands and use hearing protection (molded musician earplugs with changeable filters). I find that I need it pointed right at my ear to get enough high end response.

When I'm playing bar/club stages I usually put it somewhere behind and to the side of me. When I'm playing big concert stages I often put it in front of me next to the monitor.

I would guess that most "pros" don't tilt them or the like because they're playing with touring bands that have monitor mixes dialed in and are either using in ears or floor wedges. In less professional or quick change situations you need to fend for yourself more, thus the tilt (for me anyway).
_________________
GFI S10-P Ultra -> Milkman 40w Pedal Steel Mini or 300w Half & Half (or Sarno SGBB/Nashville 112 or '94 Twin Amp or Homebuilt 5e3)
Effects: Cali76-CD Compressor -> EP booster -> Sarno Earth Drive -> Earthquaker Devices Zap Machine -> Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter Phaser -> Caitlinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk III -> Malekko Envelope Filter -> Hilton VP -> Pedal Projects Klone -> Tech 21 Blonde -> Strymon Timeline -> TC Electronics Spark Mini Boost -> Strymon Lex -> Strymon Flint

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Another minor point is that you get fuller bass (based on my experience, anyway) when the amp is physically linked to the floor (depending somewhat on nature of floor), than when it hangs in the air.
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Tilting and on the floor is the best way to take advantage of the floor "coupling" and big full bass response while also being able to properly aim the speaker where you want it.

B

Roy Carroll · From: North of a Round Rock

I have to admit that for years I have had it on a stand just to the left and back (about 3 feet) of my left shoulder. I seem to get the tone I like in that configuration, and the group I am in mike everything, so the volume is pretty low on stage. The amp has plenty of bass if I want it. (NV400 with Fox kit) I have tried it on the floor and I can't seem to get the "muddy" out of it and in addition, I play to loud in relation to the band.

I have had the opportunity to see Mike, Tommy and Paul up close and they always have it on the floor. I am in agreement with Brad, hearing loss could be an issue with it pointed right at your ear. On problem when miking the amp, the sound Dude has control of your tone if you are not careful. You really have no idea of what it sounds like out front unless you record it, and not on an iPhone.

Just seeking opinions Very Happy

_________________
Just north of the Weird place, south of Georgetown

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Brad (or anyone)-
I agree on floor-resting tilt-back....but what's the best way to add "tilt" to an amp?

I once tried to put Fender tilt-back legs on one, and unless they are in EXACTLY the same place, it wobbles - hard to get right.

Maybe the spring-loaded case handle on the bottom front? flip it out and let the front of the amp rest on it? Not adjustable, but easy to do...

Or maybe some kind of single swivel leg that comes out from the back, near the top, of the amp to tilt it back on?
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i have a rubber wedge i keep in the back of the amp. it's about 5 inches square and maybe 2 inches tall on the fat end. don't know where it came from but it's perfect.

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

I can't stand the sound of an amp on the floor whether it's leaned back or not. Other folks sound good to me with it on floor. I've tried but they sound honky and muddy to me on the floor. I usually put mine in a chair behind me sorta on my right side with speaker aimed about chest high.
_________________
Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Austin Harper · From: Georgia, USA

That's interesting, when I'm playing guitar I can't stand for the amp to be off the floor, but with steel I prefer it off the floor (so far, I haven't done a lot of experimenting). I don't worry too much about the sound engineer having control, I'm lucky enough to work with a fella who I know makes it sound right out front Smile

Y'all have given me a lot to think about! I don't think I can run my amp much louder than I have it right now, my volume pedal seems to have all the'swell' in the first bit of movement. That is to say, it seems to reach full volume at a point shortly before halfway. I don't have a whole lot of experience with volume pedals, but I'll give more amp volume a try later and see if there's better pedal response. A 'real' volume pedal in on my list of things to acquire ASAP Smile

.

Thank y'all for all the input!

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

if your volume pedal has a potentiometer, it might just need one with a different taper to change the shape of the increase in volume.
that would be cheaper than a new pedal...if it is a normal decent pedal otherwise.

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

I'm at work so I can't post a photo of my rig, but I use one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Musicians-Gear-Deluxe-Stand-Black/dp/B0018TG8HQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1438910540&sr=1-1&keywords=AMP+STAND and I lean my NV112 against the bottom part and put my 6-string amp on the actual stand. Been working great for at least 15 years now and I get lots of good comments for the compactness of if. Of courses, this is for steel/6-string doublers.
_________________
Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff.

Forum Index > Electronics	Goto page 1, 2, 3 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic