Bedroom sound vs Live sound

[abbath78]

Ok so I'm sure there's a ton of posts about this but here's mine
I have the constant problem that I can dial in my amps in my practice room to sound absolutely godly. But as soon as I get my rig cranked in a loud band situation I'm never satisfied. I always find my tone kind of thin and weedly and I spend the entire band practice trying to dial it in.
I have very decent gear (Friedman JJ100 through a Mesa Traditional 4x12 with various higher end guitars all equipped with boutique pickups).
Is this a common thing? Anyone feel the same but kind of figured it out? Any advice for dialing in loud, live tone?
By the way I feel this way with EVERY amp I've owned and I'm kind of tired of flipping amps at this point lol.
Cheers

 

[abbath78]

I should also mention that it's a feel thing too. Nice and fluid at bedroom levels but I'm fighting for every note when it's cranked.

 

[stratjacket]

Lot of variables there, but generally that great tone playing alone usually sounds great because it has more bass and balls. When playing with the band, roll back the bass and up the mids, let the bass player fill in that bottom and it should thicken up and have a balsy full sound. Stand where you can hear the whole band or decent mix.

 

[abbath78]

Lot of variables there, but generally that great tone playing alone usually sounds great because it has more bass and balls. When playing with the band, roll back the bass and up the mids, let the bass player fill in that bottom and it should thicken up and have a balsy full sound. Stand where you can hear the whole band or decent mix.

Yes I guess that fighting with your bass player for frequencies is a losing battle What about presence? I feel like having it higher for playing rhythm is desirable but then with leads too much presence makes you lose that fluid feel.

 

[jsp]

Lot of variables there, but generally that great tone playing alone usually sounds great because it has more bass and balls. When playing with the band, roll back the bass and up the mids, let the bass player fill in that bottom and it should thicken up and have a balsy full sound. Stand where you can hear the whole band or decent mix.

Yes I guess that fighting with your bass player for frequencies is a losing battle What about presence? I feel like having it higher for playing rhythm is desirable but then with leads too much presence makes you lose that fluid feel.

Try using the neck pickup for leads.

 

[UltraGary]

Playing at massive volumes takes practice, like everything else. Suddenly every little scrape is magnified and the guitar feels very different (to me anyways).
Also, dialing in your tone to a band mix is a completely different ballgame than what sounds good at home, which I see already mentioned here. Even though different mics record very different, I recommend recording rehearsals as often as possible, at least for a while. Voice recorder, GoPro, whatever... they'll all give you different perspectives of where you're sitting in the mix, which will at least help get your ears (& brain) more tuned in to the whole thing.
I recently went through a phase where I was always using whatever amp was available at the place we were rehearsing, which was wayyyy easier than my usual 'rule' of lugging my stuff all the time (we don't have a lock-out). After a couple of months, I noticed I'd lost the skill of mastering my amp settings in different room situations.

 

[mchn13]

This is my small take on this.. dial in the amp at band volumes and then live with it at low volumes. Or keep a record of each settings. It’s not going to be the same imo. I hate a lot of bass at volume, but sounds great dicking off in the office at home, etc.....

 

[SpiderWars]

Maybe less Presence and less Resonance/Depth if you have that control. Seems I like those two turned down as I turn the volume up.

 

[Racerxrated]

Maybe less Presence and less Resonance/Depth if you have that control. Seems I like those two turned down as I turn the volume up.

This. Absolutely.
Every time I go from a low volume EQ setting, and have the opportunity to shake the walls at 3-4 which is LOUD with my Wizard MC I have to reduce the Bass and Presence/Treble or it will rip my face off and break my legs.
Lol

 

[reverymike]

Turn the gain and bass down, and the mids up.

 

[psychodave]

One of the big factors between playing low and high volumes are the speakers. They sound very different when being pushed. I also find that at crazy loud volumes my ears can’t tell the difference between speaker tone. Meaning I can’t really tell between a Vintage 30 or Lead 80 when cranked. I’m sure I’m not the only one...

 

[JerEvil]

This is my small take on this.. dial in the amp at band volumes and then live with it at low volumes. Or keep a record of each settings. It’s not going to be the same imo. I hate a lot of bass at volume, but sounds great dicking off in the office at home, etc.....

This right here

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I always have to turn down the Presence and Treble at live band/louder volumes. Sometimes Gain as well, and I use a boost if I want more gain vs. having the preamp gain maxed.

Speakers can play a big role here. Broken in speakers are best for live band/louder situations. New speakers, especially those with 'sizzle/grit' can make a loud, gained out amp sound yucky loud, but it all depends on the EQ, room, speakers, amp, etc.

 

[abbath78]

This is my small take on this.. dial in the amp at band volumes and then live with it at low volumes. Or keep a record of each settings. It’s not going to be the same imo. I hate a lot of bass at volume, but sounds great dicking off in the office at home, etc.....

This right here

Yes that definitely makes sense. I should keep track of my band volume settings when I'm happy with how it's dialed in. I think ear fatigue plays a part as well. After a couple hours of loud practice it seems way harder to find a tone that I'm happy with. If I could only get our bass player to turn down....

 

[japetus]

The massive bedroom tone you get at home with the huge bass response almost always usually sounds like total crap with a band and recorded. If you have 2 guitarists trying for that, it makes it even worse. Try to find some ISO recordings of your favorite bands guitar tracks. It is almost always WAY less gain than you would have expected, and almost always quadruple tracked to get that tone.

 

[CrazyNutz]

1). Forget all the settings you have while jamming by yourself. They will not work in a band mix.
2). Put tone controls at noon. Adjust while playing with your band.
3). Use your ears, not your eyes. Don't worry about what the controls look like.
4). Mids are your friend.
5). Try not to overuse the Gain
6). If you're are still struggling, find a different spot to stand, or move your whole rig to a different spot.

One thing I never understood is why bands point their amps at each other while practicing. If you guy's do this, stop!
You are just blasting the other guys away. We always practice like we're playing a show. If the Drummer is having a problem hearing the parts, get him out front a little bit.

 

[LP Freak]

I don’t have a bedroom tone so I rarely change my tone from home to stage. From gigging for so many years I know the tone I’m after so if I need to cut some bass or highs because of the room, I do so. So my advice is to get used to using the same tone at home and live.

 

[lespaul6]

good advice above... remember that at low volume you are just playing through the preamp with gain and compression= will be a lot easier to play. As you turn up the volume you round off the preamp frequencies and notes are more spaced out and clear.. but a little harder to play if you are not used to it.

 

[BigBellyRocker]

All knobs should be set to this. Problem solved.

 

[Beandust]

Dig this post. Something that I have often wanted definitive understanding of. All things mentioned are very spot on with the band/more volume and cut and how ones tone is heard outside of the bedroom. Less compressed and more power amp , and the reality of the louder volume is more to adjust to period, then add in all the extra frequencies from drums, bass,2nd guitar..etc and your not going to hear the amp the same. How would it be possible without isolation and that's not a live band sound or stage sound , headphones on stage like PG does on occasion? Possibly. To me the cure as one rigtalker posted was to record. Great advice yet. Take the tone you play with in the band and same volume put a cell phone in the room someplace and play/listen. Should be good. A good way to cop the feel is to have the band volume and possibly get far away from the amp and youl find all the things you like about how the amp feels are stil the exact same for the most part. It's almost like having to prove your not playing/hearing any different than what you like so much. All rooms definitely change up frequency somewhat. Glass and concrete are not good for dynamics.. that kind of thing.. all have to be considered.