Loud!!!!

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I've been playing in all kinds of venues since the mid fiftys, mostly full time until about eight years ago. Friday night I played in a place that had two bands, we played first set they played second, etc. When they came on the music was so loud that every time the drummer hit his kick I felt my sternum vibrate. They had a FOH man too, I couldn't believe the volume. They were really nice to me, one hundred dollars for two sets, but I'll never go back there. Singer said he would bring ear plugs for everyone, but I'm just not going. Anyone ever played in a place that loud?

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Howard

Willie Crisel · From: Charlotte, Tennessee, USA

i played with a band for 2 months or so,the drummer hit so hard that i had to play with ear plugs and push my Peavey LTD on 6 or 7, i wanted to play bad,but not that bad.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Country bands play louder than rock bands these days. It's just unbelievable!

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

It's been like that for sooo many years! No one seems to realize that when one person is too loud he/she needs to be tactfully told to turn down a bit, but; it seems it's always been in reverse! Everyone seems to think they must not be loud enough and they turn ‘up’, trying to get a balance! Loud music, even with a good balance; hardly ever sounds as pleasing as softer music, with a good balance! IMHO If you can't hear the person next to you when they speak, it's a nightmare and ears still ring long after leaving the place! But, I guess the longer the people consume their favorite beverage, the less they even care enough to complain! I worked for a well known Opry Artist years ago and my Amp. was distorting from the increased volume, but; he still insisted several times that I turn it ‘up’! But, all I could do was to pick harder, because; my amp. was on Full~Volume! Is that the main reason that 300-Watt Amplifiers were designed? And then you still have to use (2)-Amps. to be heard! WHAT?

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

Walter Stettner · From: Vienna, Austria

It is also a general problem with the sound level that people are used to today. Just think about it - you'll have a certain sound level everywhere, music is playing all the time, in supermarkets, malls, train stations, offices, there are hardly any "silent" places anymore. Peopel get into their cars, get home, or anyplace, they always have to have background music. They wear earplugs in planes, on trains, riding bykes, jogging etc. Nobody sems to be able to LISTEN to music anymore at a level that requires attention.

Maybe that's a part of the problem...

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Jim Walker · From: Headland, AL

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

I played at an opry that wasn't too awefully bad, but Saturday nite a week ago was the last straw. When I have to put my extension cab with a 15" K-130 about 18" behind my right elbow to try to hear my steel, and the bass player and drummer STILL drown me out, I take action. That's my last night there. It's the last night for half the audience, too.

[This message was edited by James Morehead on 20 February 2006 at 10:19 AM.]

Jesse Pearson · From: San Diego , CA

I think most amps have too much power and the companies are selling the sizzle instead of the steak most of the time. I use small low wattage amps for everything and use my 65 deluxe as the benchmark for volume. This only works when you’re the boss and it's your band. The bands that use lower volume and play with dynamics do much better in the long run when it comes to clubs imho. Almost had to knock a guitar player out one night for freaking out because we thought he was playing too loud, Prima donnas LOL!

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

"Dynamics?! I'm playing as loud as I can!"

That's what gets me... I'm not a fan of being too loud, but when players don't vary their dynamics - whatever the volume of the band is - that just drives me up a wall.
You end up just sitting there & you can't wait for the song to be over.
Kind of like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer so it'll feel good when you quit.

Jim West · Posted 20 Feb 2006 2:15 pm

My experience has been that the higher the volume the lower the musicianship. Just my observation.

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

How loud is loud?
Did you ever use a meter to measure it? I bought a cheap one but it only goes up to 120 dB. Chris Gaffney's band pinned that needle most of the time.

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

The music is supposed to be for the listeners, correct? I can't even go to a bar anymore, if I expect to have a conversation with someone. It's just not worth shouting over the music in order to talk to someone.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I think a banjo would have helped in this case, if it were applied behind the FOH guy's left ear with the proper velocity.

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Howard

Gavin Dunn · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

My Vibrolux doesn't sound good untill you turn it up to 3.6 or so.....thats not quiet, any lower than that and it sounds like poo.
So it goes.

Ron Sodos · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

There is a main stream club here in Albuquerque that all the bands play deafeningly loud. That is the way the owners want it and if you don't blow brains out the club owner won't hire the band. They think that is high energy country.

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

And how many have had the band leader always on you back for not playing simple country and you can't get it thru their thick skull that when you do try and put a simple pertty country fill behind the singer the drummer covers you up and sounds like he is building a barn and the bass player tries to help him. I am very happy to not be playing out any longer.Tracy

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

And don't you just hate it when the drummer or bass plaer will not let you get in a pertty fill behind the singer.You try to back off and play with taste and the drummer sounds like he is building a barn,or tearing one down,and the bass player tries to play lead with you?Tacy

Michael Garnett · From: Seattle, WA

I played a gig with a group and already had in-ear monitors because of the fact that the stage volume was easily 115dB not counting the mains. Something about a lead singer strumming rhythm on a Les Paul (in a country band?) through an Evil Twin set on 5-6 makes it hard to find a volume balance onstage.

This gig, I was really doing what I usually do, using my in-ears as "earplugs with a little steel in the mix". I knew the monitors were loud, but every time I pulled my hands off my steel's strings, my guitar would feed back through the wedge that was pointed at me and the bass player. Talk about ridiculously loud...

-MG

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

A few years ago we were playing a club in Page, Az. We were so loud I had cigarett filters [still smoked then] stuck in both ears! Couldn't take my hands off my steel with out it feeding back. Every time we "tried" to turn down the manager told us to turn up!! [she even called the agent and complained we were to layed back] We done a long, long week like that, were supposed to have been there two weeks, but by agreement of both parties we left after the 7th night!
I like to be heard, but that was ridiculous!!

Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

I played in Page,Az.many years ago at a supper club.If the band could be heard three tables away from the band stand we were too loud.Those were the days my friend,we thought they would ever end,etc.
I am telling my age,but back then the volume control was used to control your volume.Now days many take volume literally.
There is no such thing as an amp being too powerful.Only ones who do not know how to control the volume.Tracy

[This message was edited by Tracy Sheehan on 24 February 2006 at 12:44 PM.]

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

Tracy,
I don't know where abouts in Page you were playing, but I'll venture to say it wasn't the "Windy Mesa" I knew we were in trouble when we walked it to set up, the juke box was so loud it nearly blew me back out the door when I opened it, and this drunk was following me across the floor shouting in my ear wanting to know if we played any AC-DC, Arrowsmith, or Ernest Tubb? Long stretch, but I told him we'd play some ET for him! LOL..

Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

" and judge a bands talent by how loud they are."

I don't think that's true, and it's an unfair generalization. I know my son's band does play pretty loud - but there are some darned good judges of "music"...not "volume"...at the usual gig. We go to lots of them, and I've never heard a kid (from teens to twenties) say anything even remotely like "wow, what a great band - they were really loud".

Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

My first PA was a 20 watt Bogan,with two 10" speakers hung up on the front of the band stand,one mic.I had the only electric insturment in the band.We could HEAR the bartender mixing drinks.If the sax and trumpet got hot jammin,we would get a "turn down" sign from the owner.What in the world ever happened to our sanity? Oh yeah I remember now.Leo.. then rock and roll.Then Jim Marshall..And the beat goes on. But the strange thing is,I like to play loud..Not deafening,just about 2 DB"s below.Maybe thats why my hearing is all messed up now..Naw couldn't be.PJ

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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body,but rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up,totally worn out,and loudly proclaiming:"WOW,what a ride!"

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