Musicians check in here. If you play, tell us about it!

[Skold]

I use 15 watt tube amps for practice, my gig amp is a 200w blackstar. The gigs I do tend to be in places that like loud music hahaha, Dave you are well ahead of me. I don't use I pods for anything.
I used to play in a band with my brother at a church an wow what good acoustics!

 

[DaveP]

I use 15 watt tube amps for practice, my gig amp is a 200w blackstar. The gigs I do tend to be in places that like loud music hahaha, Dave you are well ahead of me. I don't use I pods for anything.
I used to play in a band with my brother at a church an wow what good acoustics!

We've been using a dual monitor and front of house PA system for quite a while. The two systems are independent, but dual fed through mixers. The sound guy sits in an elevated booth in the back corner, but he needs to be center in the back to hear properly. He has to get up and walk around to get a good feel for mix and volume. After a while, you develop a feel for how it all sounds from both locations and we save the profiles for different services.

We recently had a sound engineer come in and run a computer analysis on the sanctuary. Before that it was like playing in a fishbowl. You could clap your hands and hear multiple reverberations. Now, it's almost completely dead, but with a very slight but normal small room echo, which is a good thing.

They installed foam and cloth wall panels built on nice looking frames all around the room where the computer depicted them. The panels are attractive and very effective.

The bands I played in all my life I used 4 x 12 cabinets and 200W heads in the backline. At one time I owned a Gibson 280W RMS 8 x 12 amp that was overkill unles you were playing huge rooms. David Cassidy's lead guitar player rented it from me once to play the Macon Coliseum. He had good things to say about it. I played that one on 1 and 1/2 on my gigs. I don't know how high he had to crank it. That was back before sophisticated front of house sound systems became popular.

I later bought a Peavey Musician 200W 4 x 12 for gigs and a Peavey Classic 50W 2 x 12 for home and practice. Now, all I own is the Peavey Vypyr Tube 60 and a Roland Cube 60. Those are all I need for home and/or playing out. Either one will gig just fine in the venue we play. Being mic'ed I could get away with a 15W combo amp.

 

[Skold]

Sure does sound like overkill! I never go above 200 watts, I'm not playing wembley but he'll I wish I was! An that's cool, I'm after doing sound engineering as a job!
You sound like you've got your sound nailed down though nice one

 

[markcfh]

I picked up some erinie ball paradigm strings for my LP. I've always just used the normal slinkys, these paradigms are really nice. Might be a full time switch. Unlike their cobalts, ew.

 

[James Hart]

They make a 15w model of the Paycheck, but $1700 for a 15w head is nutty IMO.

Well that is hand made with top shelf parts vs. mass produced overseas Just the parts are at least half of that price... the rest is all payment for time and knowledge Bruce Egnater's handmade stuff is even pricier than Jule's stuff.

Jule knows his stuff too, and is a great guy. Are you friends with him on facebook? He's been getting pretty outspoken politically lately... he is generally point on for my views.

Are you on talkbass?

I own www.mythicamps.com and will one day start prototyping my designs. Not to get too deep into the details but I've got a decade+ of studying tube design and a wacky idea for a universal preamp. Conceptually, I've had it looked over by a couple techs/builders that think it will work nicely... it remains to be seen. In a nutshell, not totally unlike... a Vox AC30 like (EF86 tube) and an Ampeg Fliptop like (6SL7 like Jule uses) channel with matching Hiwatt like tone stacks that are blended not switched into either a 50, 100, or 150 watt power section (KT66, KT88, or KT120 tube pair) that uses Power scaling that allows the power amp 'sweet spot' to be reached then the volume NOT the saturation to be dialed back to match the volume needed.

It took a while to get used to wearing earbuds for monitors, but it seems normal once you get used to it.

That is the way to go! Less sonic clutter coming from the stage makes for a nicer mix in the house.

The gigs I do tend to be in places that like loud music.

I'm after doing sound engineering as a job!

as a sound engineer you will learn that any crowd less than 1500 deep, that 200 watt head for guitar is just too much sound pressure for the stage... unless you are playing totally mid scooped, baritone / drop tuning, but that is an entirely different headache to make sound good in the crowd


Off topic for the thread and section... but as of 5pm Friday 5/5/17 I quit vaping. It has been almost 7 years now and since last fall I've been thinking I might be ready to be done done. more than 20 years as a smoker, vaping finally has done it.

 

[Skold]

Well that is hand made with top shelf parts vs. mass produced overseas Just the parts are at least half of that price... the rest is all payment for time and knowledge Bruce Egnater's handmade stuff is even pricier than Jule's stuff.

Jule knows his stuff too, and is a great guy. Are you friends with him on facebook? He's been getting pretty outspoken politically lately... he is generally point on for my views.

Are you on talkbass?

I own www.mythicamps.com and will one day start prototyping my designs. Not to get too deep into the details but I've got a decade+ of studying tube design and a wacky idea for a universal preamp. Conceptually, I've had it looked over by a couple techs/builders that think it will work nicely... it remains to be seen. In a nutshell, not totally unlike... a Vox AC30 like (EF86 tube) and an Ampeg Fliptop like (6SL7 like Jule uses) channel with matching Hiwatt like tone stacks that are blended not switched into either a 50, 100, or 150 watt power section (KT66, KT88, or KT120 tube pair) that uses Power scaling that allows the power amp 'sweet spot' to be reached then the volume NOT the saturation to be dialed back to match the volume needed.



That is the way to go! Less sonic clutter coming from the stage makes for a nicer mix in the house.






as a sound engineer you will learn that any crowd less than 1500 deep, that 200 watt head for guitar is just too much sound pressure for the stage... unless you are playing totally mid scooped, baritone / drop tuning, but that is an entirely different headache to make sound good in the crowd


Off topic for the thread and section... but as of 5pm Friday 5/5/17 I quit vaping. It has been almost 7 years now and since last fall I've been thinking I might be ready to be done done. more than 20 years as a smoker, vaping finally has done it.

Congratulations I'm still smoking atm, started again in august. I'd vaped for 4 years before that

 

[BreSha6869]

Well that is hand made with top shelf parts vs. mass produced overseas Just the parts are at least half of that price... the rest is all payment for time and knowledge Bruce Egnater's handmade stuff is even pricier than Jule's stuff.

Jule knows his stuff too, and is a great guy. Are you friends with him on facebook? He's been getting pretty outspoken politically lately... he is generally point on for my views.

Are you on talkbass?

I own www.mythicamps.com and will one day start prototyping my designs. Not to get too deep into the details but I've got a decade+ of studying tube design and a wacky idea for a universal preamp. Conceptually, I've had it looked over by a couple techs/builders that think it will work nicely... it remains to be seen. In a nutshell, not totally unlike... a Vox AC30 like (EF86 tube) and an Ampeg Fliptop like (6SL7 like Jule uses) channel with matching Hiwatt like tone stacks that are blended not switched into either a 50, 100, or 150 watt power section (KT66, KT88, or KT120 tube pair) that uses Power scaling that allows the power amp 'sweet spot' to be reached then the volume NOT the saturation to be dialed back to match the volume needed.



That is the way to go! Less sonic clutter coming from the stage makes for a nicer mix in the house.






as a sound engineer you will learn that any crowd less than 1500 deep, that 200 watt head for guitar is just too much sound pressure for the stage... unless you are playing totally mid scooped, baritone / drop tuning, but that is an entirely different headache to make sound good in the crowd


Off topic for the thread and section... but as of 5pm Friday 5/5/17 I quit vaping. It has been almost 7 years now and since last fall I've been thinking I might be ready to be done done. more than 20 years as a smoker, vaping finally has done it.

Cool.

Yup, I have been on TB for 10 years.

I know Jule pretty well and was one of his first customers.

Congrats on quitting vaping. Much better than smoking, but still not exactly good for you!

 

[DaveP]

I picked up some erinie ball paradigm strings for my LP. I've always just used the normal slinkys, these paradigms are really nice. Might be a full time switch. Unlike their cobalts, ew.

I've used Ernie Ball Slinky 10's for decades now. I once used D'Addario and loved the bright tone, but they died in two weeks. I can keep a set of EB Slinky in use for a month or two before they start to die.

 

[Skold]

I use Ernie ball slinky 10s too!

 

[markcfh]

I've used Ernie Ball Slinky 10's for decades now. I once used D'Addario and loved the bright tone, but they died in two weeks. I can keep a set of EB Slinky in use for a month or two before they start to die.

Agreed. The slinkys are just good. Try the paradigms. They surprised me. I use the 'not even slinky' on my metal guitar too.

I always use Martin silk and steel on my acoustic, I used elixirs coated strings. Hated the lifeless sound.

 

[DaveP]

Agreed. The slinkys are just good. Try the paradigms. They surprised me. I use the 'not even slinky' on my metal guitar too.

I always use Martin silk and steel on my acoustic, I used elixirs coated strings. Hated the lifeless sound.

Martin acoustic strings have been my favorite for a while. I recently bought a 3 pack of D'Addario 12's and they were way too bright and lacked in the mid range. I'll probably go back to Martin next purchase.

 

[James Hart]

I've been using the Martin strings for a while too... I need to find new electric strings now. I have my last set of Dean Markley LTHB installed. I've used them since the 80s until discontinued, then again when reissued until they killed them off again. I used some SIT strings in the void between that weren't bad... but with all the Slinky love here, I'll have to give the 'skinny top heavy bottom' set a try.

 

[James Hart]

Yup, I have been on TB for 10 years.

so you probably joined when I was still a moderator... great site. I'm not very active the last 5-8 years, but still lurk at least a few times a week.

Congrats on quitting vaping. Much better than smoking, but still not exactly good for you!

Thanks I hadn't planned on quitting, but it was time. Few hours shy of a week now, I catch myself reaching for it out of habit but not out of need. As soon as I'm aware that I'm looking for it (seconds) the urge is gone.

 

[BreSha6869]

so you probably joined when I was still a moderator... great site. I'm not very active the last 5-8 years, but still lurk at least a few times a week

I definitely remember. I was very active on TB until a couple of years ago (Baird6869). I also still check in a few times a week as I am pretty friendly with the Jule, Bergantino, Fodera, FBass and Valenti owners and forum regulars. Still email and talk on the phone (and meet the odd time) with more than a few of them.

I am at the point that I have owned almost every bass known to man (yup, even a Benavente!) and the same with amps/cabs. I am now extremely happy with what I have (the brands mentioned above) and see no need to try to chase a better sound than what I have. My coverband does 3-4 gigs a month as well, and that is more fun for me than pondering the million dollar TB question.... "What is the best bass for metal?"

 

[Oomee]

Awaiting 40 tac switches to bring my T2 back to life again.
Been over 20 years since I played, went to see a band last night and they invited me to jam with them next week.
Had forgot how guitarist love creating ear shattering levels, invested in some earplugs!

 

[DaveP]

I took the '56 Epi Goldtop out and played it this weekend. I re-discovered the fact the I don't like single coils nearly as much as I do humbuckers. They sound great in clean mode, but they are kind of raspy in a bad way under distortion. I much prefer the smoother sound of humbuckers in dirty mode.

I'm more of a Warren Haynes type when it comes to EQ and effects and I like a little breakup in my sound. There's two electric acoustics on stage along with an electric piano and a synth. There's room for a slightly dirty guitar to round out the mix!

I think I'll look around for a sale on a pair of mini humbuckers for the '56 Epi Goldtop to remedy that. I love the look and feel of the Goldtop, so it will be worth the price to make it sound right.

 

[Skold]

I took the '56 Epi Goldtop out and played it this weekend. I re-discovered the fact the I don't like single coils nearly as much as I do humbuckers. They sound great in clean mode, but they are kind of raspy in a bad way under distortion. I much prefer the smoother sound of humbuckers in dirty mode.

I'm more of a Warren Haynes type when it comes to EQ and effects and I like a little breakup in my sound. There's two electric acoustics on stage along with an electric piano and a synth. There's room for a slightly dirty guitar to round out the mix!

I think I'll look around for a sale on a pair of mini humbuckers for the '56 Epi Goldtop to remedy that. I love the look and feel of the Goldtop, so it will be worth the price to make it sound right.

I use distortion on the amp, a big .... fuzz pedal and a boss distortion pedal. It gives a really dirty sound, but I'm more in to the style of grunge to be honest. It's been my style since pretty much in high school!
Think your going for a different sound to me haha.

 

[DaveP]

I use distortion on the amp, a big .... fuzz pedal and a boss distortion pedal. It gives a really dirty sound, but I'm more in to the style of grunge to be honest. It's been my style since pretty much in high school!
Think your going for a different sound to me haha.

I am. Think Duane Allman and Warren Haynes. Humbuckers just have the sound that inspires me in a solo. The single coils made me think about the sound instead of the musical content! It was distracting.

For a couple of decades or more my main instrument was my Fender 25th anniversary Strat with stock single coils and the overdrive from a Peavy Musician 4x12. When I bought my first Les Paul with humbuckers that changed, although I still love the Strat for all the tones it can produce.

 

[Skold]

I went on my mates limited edition Les Paul an I've wanted one ever since, it was just a great all rounder guitar an I'm gonna start saving the pennies for one and a new amp

 

[markcfh]

I was using a wampler plexidrive on my lp, with a vox ac15 that I modded. Amp is gone, it was a nice setup though.