amp on the floor? .. or on a stand?

[bvdd]

I always had my amp on the floor like most people, with the speaker

basically facing the back of my legs. Then in '75 I did a show where the stage was 4' high. I was using a very long guitar cord and during one song

I got down on the floor to do a quick sound check. I was shocked to hear

how drastically different my amp sounded .. in my case it was AWFUL.

Ever since then, I use a stand or chair and face my amp toward the back of my head as I find this the ONLY way to really hear what the amp's

doing. I'm very surprised though, that most players I see still just use the floor and I wonder if there's a part of this issue I'm not aware of.

 

How can you get the sound you want with the amp on the floor, without it

sounding completely different to the audience?

[Tedster]

I think you're absolutely right. You don't hear the highs as much when the amp's on the floor (I use combos, too)...half stacks are a different animal. So, in effect, if the amp's on the floor and it sounds too muddy, it's probably about right for the audience. I try to put my amp up a bit, too, for that reason and because I'm a knob fiddler...

 

Half stacks seem to project out away from the cab. Stand right in front of one, and you'll get a manageable volume. Step out about 20 feet in front of it, and it's a hell of a lot louder.

 

It's a problem, too, because how you hear yourself affects how well you play.

 

Great if you can afford a sound tech...

[KHAN]

My live rig is all rack stuff and a 4-10 cab. I set the cab on the floor and tilt it back so the sound is focused at ear level. That way I can hear the high end clearly, and I also think I get better lows because it's on the floor.

 

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KHAN (Always hopeful, yet discontent)

 

www.floydtribute.hpwebhost.com

[stanner]

i remember the day (60s/70s)when clapton got heat for having his back to the audience during his solos and he always said "he wanted to hear what he was playin"(duh)

i always put my one 15" speaker on a milk crate. the difference between that and on the floor is amazing as far as cleaning up the frequencies.

[strat0124]

I use stands at bigger clubs or outdoors, but in the small clubs I put em on the floor and if possible, behind a PA stack so I can crank the hell out of it without it killing the mix. I use a Blues Jr and a Pro Jr and it's been sometimes overkill on the stands, so we started putting em on the floor and behind the stack....power tube nirvana.

[Steve LeBlanc]

I always put my Twin on a crate or lean it back.

[Lee Flier]

Hmm, well if you put the amp on the chair then YOU will hear it the way you want it but the audience still will not be hearing the same thing you are. I would rather the audience get the "sweet spot" of my amp so I put it on the floor. In any case I don't WANT my amp blaring in my ear. When I play I need to hear the other players as loudly as myself and if I can't, I don't play as well.

 

I have also owned my particular rigs long enough to know intimately what they sound like. If I put the settings on XYZ I know it's going to sound a certain way so I don't worry about it anymore.

 

--Lee

[ricknbokker]

I've been known to 'wander around' a bit when I play.

 

Everyone thinks I'm just being a little gregarious or something, but in reality, I'm listening to the room, my amp, your amp...all of it.

 

It's the reason I went wireless in the first place.

 

Steve

[D. Gauss]

floor

 

-d. gauss

[lrbreez]

I like the Qwik-lok stand. It gives me the best of both worlds-the amps stays on the floor, but it tilts back. The only thing I don't like is I can't use one with a Line6 Asys 212, they are too wide.

Buddy

[Matt.Hepworth]

I tend to use the floor. The "brighter" sound when it's on a stand is pretty much the fact that you're in the direct path instead of hearing it off axis. I tune my amp in by putting myself at ear-level with it while it's on the floor, so, like Lee, I know how my amp will sound, more or less, to the audience.

Matt

[greed2000]

I set my half stack on milk crates. It's actually a 2x12 combo and a 2x12 bottom. Because the bottom is closed, I get a lot of bass out of it. If it sits on the floor, it's too much. By raising it up, I get better bottom end and the top speakers are closer to ear level.

 

I would actually like to tip it back just a hair, but haven't come up with a good way to do it yet.

[Skip_dup1]

I have a foam pad that I use at home in N.Y. when I want to hear the Crate twin but not the neighbors. Think I used it live only once-it feels a little unstable but it`s a good compromise-not way up there like a crate or chair but off the floor so it`s just sound I`m hearing.

[Sir Bob]

I had heard that keeping the amp on the ground increased bottom end.

 

I play a 4 x 10 Bassman so I thought keeping it on the ground was essential especially playing a Tele. Anyone tilt such an amp up to their ears?

[Scott from MA]

Depends on the rig...

 

When I use just one LabSeries, it is on the floor (on casters). When I use both (larger shows), they are stacked, so one ends up being at ear-level. Usually I'll put the one with the Eminence speakers on the floor, and the one with the Jensens on top. (When I use just one, it's the one with the Jensens.)

 

I bought a Trademark 60 this week to use for practices and small club shows. I played Thursday night with it on the floor, and decided that I'm going to need a stand for it. I'm so used to the taller amps... all night long I felt like I was playing to my ankles! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[surfjunkie]

another problem with putting your amp on the floor is volume. if it's pointing at your legs and the stage mix sounds good to you, you're too loud.

 

just ask your soundman.

[Sir Bob]

Thanks. I get complaints, I think they are complaints, that I am too loud. I am playing a 40 watt reissue Bassman which after several mods, was tested by a tech to be about 32 watts. It is a little top heavy so I am concerned about tilting it up. Any suggestions to keep it from falling? Should I put it on a chair?

 

I am going to switch to a 5U4 to get a brown tone a lower volume.

[lrbreez]

Try a Marshall Power Brake. It's the only attenuator I've used that doesn't change the sound.

Buddy

[coyote]

This is why a stack is soooo useful. The tone which comes from a 4x12 sitting on a wood stage is wonderful, but you also need a speaker up by your ear to get an accurate gauge of volume.

 

The other half of this, of course, is that certain tonal things just don't happen below a certain volume (I've also played drums, keys, bass etc. and fully understand a geetarist's need for volume). And if using feedback is part of your act, you just gotta have it loud!

 

Originally posted by wager47:

another problem with putting your amp on the floor is volume. if it's pointing at your legs and the stage mix sounds good to you, you're too loud.

just ask your soundman.

[strat0124]

Originally posted by wager47:

another problem with putting your amp on the floor is volume. if it's pointing at your legs and the stage mix sounds good to you, you're too loud.

 

just ask your soundman.

 

Actually, putting the amp on the floor makes it easier to crank it without being overly loud on stage (combo). Plus I try to place it behind the PA if possible. Also depends on the stage, is it carpeted, hardwood??? On stands at the same volume setting it will absolutely kill you, and drive your singer completely hoarse trying to sing above you. I only put em on stands at bigger shows or outdoors. But I guess if you're trying to get a good power tube tone with a larger wattage amp, you're gonna kill anyway, at least without attenuation.

[Calfee Jones]

I also use the Quik Lok stand and point the amp at me. It's a Fender Deluxe 112. I mic the amp and let the PA control the room volume and mix, and I use the sound onstage primarily for a stage monitor, making sure that the rest of the band can hear it also. This approach works good for all but the smallest rooms.

 

There is a difference in the sound with the amp off the floor or the amp on the floor. I prefer to get the amp off the floor.

[fantasticsound]

[*]Putting an amp on an edge, a stand, chair, or casters isolates the cabinet from the stage. This will cause an inherent loss of low end, just as it will with studio monitors or any other speakers. Since you don't know how the stage-coupling will affect your sound from room to room, using some kind of stand will provide less timbre change from gig to gig.

.

[*]If your amp is on the ground, face front, and it sounds good at your ears, then you're BLASTING the front row with high end. The only way this won't happen is if you put your head DIRECTLY in front of the cabinet when you're tweaking it.

.

[*]Point the amp at your own head or across the stage to limit the effect it has on house sound. If your band members don't like it, YOU'RE PLAYING TOO LOUD. DO YOU THINK THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO HEAR THIS IF YOUR OWN BAND CAN'T STAND IT?

.

[*]If you're pumping out tons of highs to compensate for your ears being off axis to the speakers, the sound man has to compensate by cutting all kinds of shit around 1-5kHz. Not what I'd call good technique, but you force them to do it. Wouldn't you rather give the sound guy your best tone in the mic, before he has a chance to screw it up, or leave it alone?

.

[*]While the Quik Lok stand is interesting, as stated earlier, it doens't work with a lot of amps, particularly open back cabs. The Ultimate Support Genesis amp stand will work with anything under 75lbs., has 3 angles of kickback, and folds up as well as a tripod mic stand. It's inexpensive, too. It has a stalk for the back support with mic threads. Add a boom or gooseneck, and no need for a separate mic stand. Very Cool.

 

On the Wilkinsons tour, The 3 singers are on ears, the keyboard player, bass player, and drummer have wired ears/headphones, and the lead player and steel use wedges. Pretty quiet stage, despite the heavy hitting drummer. The guitarist points his Labtech, in the caster tray for his road case, BACK at him. On a recent gig, the stage was so small (for a nat'l known act), we aimed one side of the Lab at a wall just offstage, to limit the stage volume while allowing him to get his tone at the necessary volume. Be creative with your amp placement. The audience and house sound will appreciate it. As well as yours and your bandmembers! Most of you don't have to deal with being a sideman, but if you treat your gig with some discipline and restraint, every show will sound better and the band and fans will be happier as a result.

 

One of the resident live sound mixers & guitar player, giving my 2 cents based on previous experience. Your mileage will vary.

 

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Neil

 

Reality: A few moments of lucidity surrounded by insanity.

[fantasticsound]

Originally posted by wager47:

another problem with putting your amp on the floor is volume. if it's pointing at your legs and the stage mix sounds good to you, you're too loud.

 

just ask your soundman.

 

Forgot to thank you, Wager, for pointing this out. It is almost universally true, in my experience. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

 

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Neil

 

Reality: A few moments of lucidity surrounded by insanity.

[surfjunkie]

it's a simple concept that a soundman pointed out to me.

 

actually, he pointed out to the guitar player, who completely ignored him.

[fantasticsound]

Originally posted by wager47:

it's a simple concept that a soundman pointed out to me.

 

actually, he pointed out to the guitar player, who completely ignored him.

 

Typical! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/rolleyes.gifhttp://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gifhttp://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif

 

 

 

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Neil

 

Reality: A few moments of lucidity surrounded by insanity.