Stage Volume

[spanny]

I've found that sound guys can very drastically to how much stage volume they want (how loud the guitar amp is). Obviously as a guitar player using tube amps, the louder the better for me, but I also understand having to deal with bleed through the vocal mics. For whatever reason, recently I have had a few sound guys had me turn down the volume to basically 0 where I can't hear it, there is no feel and we all know the rule of thumb about tube amps volume/tone.

Any advice you guys have on what to do to compensate for that? AKA finding a nice balance to keep you happy and the sound guy?

 

[maddnotez]

I've encountered this issue many times. I used to play in a couple of metal bands and have played alot of different clubs. Take my advice with a grain of salt.

1) The sound guy is your friend (and can easily make you sound like utter shit if you piss him off, don't piss him off)

2) Approaching the sound guy first worked best for me. Be friendly and explain your issue up front. Chances are this isn't his first rodeo and may have some suggestions for you

3) As odd as it seems (this worked well in smaller clubs) turn the cab around to face away from the crowd.

4) I guess you could get the plexi wall but that just looks gay, don't do that.

5) When all else fails, fuck that bitch ass sound man. Crank your shit to the max and bang your fucking head.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

Face the cab towards the wall, baffle it or use an attenuator...mic the cab. Talk to the guy. I think I'd have a difficult time today if I gigged as I'm from an era of club playing where volume wasn't an issue. Today's clubs want crowd "mingle" volume levels and not real stage performance levels

 

[Riggins1966]

I always fluff the sound guy at just about every gig. I compliment them during and after, and always try to have something good to say to them.

Almost every sound guy I encounter is also a player, usually a frustrated musician, and they're kinda sensitive. A little buttering up goes a long way to volume forgiveness. and sometimes gets you some extra consideration from them.

 

[NoodlerKS]

Side wash the amp and ask for more through you monitor.

It says a lot about people's ego when they are more concerned about their amp sounding great rather than the band sounding good. Not everyone digs guitar like the guitar player and wants to hear a cranked marshall with hardly any vocals. Then they wonder why no other bars/clubs won't hire them.....but that's ok.... they're a purist and we "just don't get it man."

With that being said I've always had the same gripe with drummers and their cymbals or backup singers who want a mic but only sing two lines the whole set.

 

[spanny]

Yeah, we always try to stay on the good side of the sound guys, who are usually pretty good to work with too. And every sound guy has their way of mixing. I guess I'm just used to always having loud stage volumes and recently they have gotten very quiet. Maybe I'm old and stuck in my ways too haha

 

[maddnotez]

Yeah, we always try to stay on the good side of the sound guys, who are usually pretty good to work with too. And every sound guy has their way of mixing. I guess I'm just used to always having loud stage volumes and recently they have gotten very quiet. Maybe I'm old and stuck in my ways too haha

Well yes it is all about how the mix sounds and we don't get to hear it how the crowd does unless you have a wireless and get to sound check early but you still need to be able to hear yourself and definitely need to get the tubes cooking.

The attenuator mentioned above is another good recommendation. I have never used one myself but they can't suck that much tone I wouldn't think.

 

[prsplayer86]

Find someone who can run a board and eq loud bands. Pay him and keep him busy. (If feasible). Makes life so much easier and will only make your band sound better.

 

[Riggins1966]

Yeah, we always try to stay on the good side of the sound guys, who are usually pretty good to work with too. And every sound guy has their way of mixing.I guess I'm just used to always having loud stage volumes and recently they have gotten very quiet. Maybe I'm old and stuck in my ways too haha

that's the reason my other guitarist and myself have switched to small combo's for 90% of our gigs now. He uses a classic 30 and I'm using a JCA 2212C. they compliment each other well and there's only so much volume to be had (actually the C30 gets louder than the JCA). We just angle 'em to our ears and we're happy. Now, if we could just get our caveman of a drummer to lighten up a bit...

 

[gtrwun]

We used to call it a "air turn down" . You walk back to your amp, act like your turning the volume down, then you strum a few chords and say, hows that? 90% of the time they say "thats fine". Try it.

 

[spanny]

We used to call it a "air turn down" . You walk back to your amp, act like your turning the volume down, then you strum a few chords and say, hows that? 90% of the time they say "thats fine". Try it.

Hah, I did that once when playing a bar gig. The place was a huge stickler for noise, though no complaints from customers or fans haha.

 

[firegate]

We used to call it a "air turn down" . You walk back to your amp, act like your turning the volume down, then you strum a few chords and say, hows that? 90% of the time they say "thats fine". Try it.

Other trick I used to use when I thought the sound guy would complain was to start off with the amp cranked louder than I really wanted, so when they asked me to turn down, I could comply and still be around where I wanted to be.

 

[LP Freak]

Has anyone tried those clear acrylic panels in front of your cabinet? I'm considering one.

 

[LanierP]

Tried the backwards cab bit, per the sound guys recommendation and I hated it. If your a player that uses a lot of controlled feedback in your technique, the reversed facing cab kills 90% of that. It may make things sound better out in the crowd but it will definitely affect your sound and feel on stage and that can transfer into affecting the way you play(in a bad way).
Another thing is when I see pro acts performing live, rarely do I see anyone doing the backwards cabs bit.

 

[spanny]

Ironically we played a gig over the weekend that had a very low stage volume, but a rarity that we had good monitor mixes, so it didn't bother me. The sound guy mentioned the band he plays in, they use an Axe FX and an in ear rig, put it all in 1 case and call it a day, an idea we have been toying with for a bit.

 

[CP5150]

I angle my cab slightly away from the band and ask some one I trust to stand out front so I can adjust my stage volume. Then that's that. Sound guy can suck it. I'm paying him. And no, I don't care that your not putting me through the shitty monitors. I'd rather hear my amp. My issue usually isn't volume. Although drummers complain I play too loud. It's bass from my 5150. Which I refuse to completely eliminate. And I know all about frequencies and bass players and all that. If I can't hear myself and it doesn't sound good I'm not going to be at my best playing wise. Venue size is really the only thing that makes me turn down. And if it's a house guy and not someone I'm paying there's probably no way we're going to get along. House guys are usually the bitchiest divas of the sound guy world. They think it's their club. Yeah they probably know what sounds best for the room. But like I said, I gottsta feel it!

 

[guitarmike]

Has anyone tried those clear acrylic panels in front of your cabinet? I'm considering one.

I had one and the results were not much different than turning the cab around. If stage volume is an issue I'd use those angled guitar cabs we posted about a year or two ago.

 

[LP Freak]

Has anyone tried those clear acrylic panels in front of your cabinet? I'm considering one.

I had one and the results were not much different than turning the cab around. If stage volume is an issue I'd use those angled guitar cabs we posted about a year or two ago.

I've got a 2x12 wedge and that eliminated the problem... But nothing sounds like a 4x12.

 

[Racerxrated]

I always side wash, at a slight angle towards the drummer.. And he's a loud one. I usually can get my 50w Jubilee up to 5 on the master, with the channel volume maxed through a 4x12. We have a regular sound guy though, and I'm pretty sure he takes me out of the mix late as I tend to turn up.. But loud drummers require more volume on stage..

 

[BrentSSL]

Being on both sides of this myself all I can say is use a,wireless during sound check walk out front make sure it sounds good then during the show if possible do a crowd walk to make sure your sound is where it should be or have a trusted roadie or tech who knows your sound listening to make sure everything's on the up and up