FOH Mix & Stage Volume: Amp/Cab Placement or Reactives?

[Junk Yard Dog]

So I wrestle a bit with the smaller clubs we play with my amp volume (50 watt amps usually). I put my amp in the corner and have it face diagonally toward the drummer and part of the crowd. Rest of the band uses IEMs. I usually get some guitar in the monitor in front of me and since I'm wireless, I always listen to the FOH sound during sound check. We close mic my amp. I usually always get great feedback on my tone and the band and sound guy are happy.

Lately, I been turning the amp down, and I'm getting more of my amp in the FOH mix, which sounds great. BUT, I gotta get the master lower than I prefer. Regardless, the FOH and stage volume must come first, right?

However, I thought of having my 2x12 face backward or some other way, so I can turn up a bit and not fuck up the mojo of stage and FOH. I play Friedmands which have really good MV's.

Just curious of anyone else has a similar approach. Before you chime in...

No, i'm not investing in IEMs right now.
No, I don't want to use a modeler or Helix and IEMS, etc. or go that route at this time.

I've found me and the band and the crowd make it work great by just turning down and me getting more guitar in the monitor, but I'm open to other options.

I heard recently a lot of guys are using their amps and using Torpedo studios and the like. I'm not real on the up and up on how that setup works: I'm pretty old school, but am willing to learn new ways.

Looking forward to hearing what other gigging guys do that aren't the modeler and IEM route (though I realize those make the most sense).

Cheers.

 

[some dude]

So... everything was good with great feedback from the crowd and soundmen...

...then you turned down your volume and now you’re unhappy...

...if you weren’t being told to turn down, why not turn back up?

IMO, too many people want to treat FOH like it’s a stereo system. Get a good stage mix, then have FOH reinforce your stage sound. IMO, in a small club this sounds more organic than having everything coming through the PA.

 

[BeZo]

I drag an Ampeg 810 to shows simply for my monitor. If it fills the room, it won't need to go in the PA. That's okay. The FOH is there to balance the sound out. If it's not needed in the mains, that's okay. Just get your mix right first.

That said, we just went to IEMs. We're fighting the opposite battle right now. Gig volume for a good sound up front bleeds too much in the ears. It's the same thing though. You need to do what you need on stage for you first and foremost, and let the engineer worry about FOH. IEMs are the greatest thing in the world and totally worth it, but the old school approach has always worked too. Your rigs are your monitors too, and not just for the crowd.

I've seen big bands do this, and we have done this also, and that is put the cabs sideways facing across stage. We would always put a cab facing the drummer before IEMs. Use your rigs as side fills, and fucking crank it. You get the tone, you can hear yourselves, you don't mess with FOH as much, and everybody wins.