karlfer Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Anybody use foam underneath an amp head? Like many I normally use trusty Halford's car dash non slip matting to keep a micro amp in place. I've noticed that my LM 800 seems to bounce a bit more than most (whadya mean turn it down ) Anyway, I got to thinking, long term, that amount of vibration can't do it much good. So, I'm thinking of getting some 1/8 inch foam and cutting it down to just more than the area covered by the feet of the head. Daft? Worrying about nowt? Thoughts folks? Cheers, Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Not daft the shaking won't exactly "help" the amp and it could walk its way off of the cab. Besides, hearing that rattle behind you all the time would drive you mad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 I'd use something more than 1/8 inch thick. I imagine you have these on your side of the pond: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trial-Camping-Pad-Blue/16783660 Ask any Boy Scout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 14, 2016 Author Share Posted December 14, 2016 Cheers Rich. I'd taken it to my little warehouse to wind it up a bit. It's rather loud pushed (more than I would ever need at a gig) . Genius again Bill thank you. Lots of other uses for the bits left over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 20 years ago I was playing loudly through a Mesa Boogie 400+. That's something like 16 valves bouncing around on top of my 115 and 210 cabs. With the cost of a re-valve running into hundreds of pounds, I decided to try to protect the valves by putting the amp on 2 3" high strips of foam. I'm still doing it. Whether I'm actually protecting the amps or not I can't say for sure, but thinking about this logically, less vibration has got to be a good thing, even for my D class amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Thanks Chris. It's a big relief to know I'm not quite as daft as I thought . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillento Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Did something similar when I was still playing my Sadowsky SA200 all tube amp....Auralex Gramma pad. Nowadays my Mesa Walkakout is fine weight wise on top of my cabs..... With my MarkBass Nano backup head I am using MoPads by Auralex: http://www.auralex.com/product/mopad-mopad-xl/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basszilla Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Yes I use a very thick slice of foam under my Matamp gt200. All valve so I use that and then power it via a power conditioner. The vibrations hammer the power valves over time so it's best practice for me 👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 Homebase have some cool foam mats, designed to protect your knees while working kneeling on the floor. They're about 3cm thick and come in various sizes. Cheap too. Those would work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 [quote name='Basszilla' timestamp='1481799755' post='3195205'] Yes I use a very thick slice of foam under my Matamp gt200. All valve so I use that and then power it via a power conditioner. The vibrations hammer the power valves over time so it's best practice for me 👌 [/quote]why do you need a power conditioner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Tub Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 I bought a yoga mat from Amazon - cost about seven quid at the time. Sliced about a foot off the end and that covers the top of my cab providing a cushion of sorts for the amp. I use the rest of the mat to cover my dining table when I'm working on a bass. Makes an excellent protective surface, and little screws etc don't bounce away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 I've used a piece of foam ever since my old TE 350 was nearly walked off a 2x15 cab by the vibrations (I turned round to see it teetering, fortunately and repositioned it before it actually fell off). Now I use a lightweight head on an Epifani cab (which, being lightweight poplar ply, vibrates quite a bit), I always make sure I take my foam. You can get a suitable offcut from one of those foam cut to size shops which will do the trick. Go for something reasonably dense so the head doesn't squash it too much. I like Bill's idea of using a piece of camping mat, although some are a bit thin. I reckon an inch or so is a good minimum thickness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted December 24, 2016 Share Posted December 24, 2016 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1481735579' post='3194712'] Anybody use foam underneath an amp head? Like many I normally use trusty Halford's car dash non slip matting to keep a micro amp in place. I've noticed that my LM 800 seems to bounce a bit more than most (whadya mean turn it down ) Anyway, I got to thinking, long term, that amount of vibration can't do it much good. So, I'm thinking of getting some 1/8 inch foam and cutting it down to just more than the area covered by the feet of the head. Daft? Worrying about nowt? Thoughts folks? Cheers, Karl. [/quote]If your amp is bouncing that much, is it possible you need to replace the cabinet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1481735579' post='3194712'] Anybody use foam underneath an amp head? Like many I normally use trusty Halford's car dash non slip matting to keep a micro amp in place. I've noticed that my LM 800 seems to bounce a bit more than most (whadya mean turn it down ) Anyway, I got to thinking, long term, that amount of vibration can't do it much good. So, I'm thinking of getting some 1/8 inch foam and cutting it down to just more than the area covered by the feet of the head. Daft? Worrying about nowt? Thoughts folks? Cheers, Karl. [/quote] I've had a few amps which have rattled etc loudly enough to be very audible even at higher volumes. Sometimes its the feet but often its internally in the amp. So I now make a point of putting something under the amp. I don't care what anyone says but it will also help protect some elements of the amps circuitry (amp depending). Its amazing how much resonance etc a cab is making. Its bound to over time have the possibility of weakening solder and larger capacitors on older amps have been know to break lose from the leads at the boards and internally. Especially when adding a heat cycle to all that too. Obviously some amp designs are more "solid" than others in this regard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 26, 2016 Author Share Posted December 26, 2016 So a few folk do think like me. That's comforting . The only cab I would replace the Schroeder 212 (+titanium bullet horn) with is a Barefaced SuperTwelve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Hi Karl, I've not experience the "walking bass head" problem with my gear since I ditched my orange terrorbass 1000 and matamp 610, which occasionally would get bored with my crap playing and try to leave the room in disgust. It mostly only did it if the floor was a little uneven though. I was going to just use an occy strap ( it sure if that's what they call them here, but it's a bungy coats with a hook at either end), and just go from one handle on the cab up and over the head and onto the other handle and just let the rubber feet on the amp do the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 [quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1482798441' post='3202828'] Hi Karl, I've not experience the "walking bass head" problem with my gear since I ditched my orange terrorbass 1000 and matamp 610, which occasionally would get bored with my crap playing and try to leave the room in disgust. It mostly only did it if the floor was a little uneven though. I was going to just use an occy strap ( it sure if that's what they call them here, but it's a bungy coats with a hook at either end), and just go from one handle on the cab up and over the head and onto the other handle and just let the rubber feet on the amp do the rest. [/quote] Wonder if it's because I have to do a lot of walking bass lines now Damo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Hahaha, even you amp is getting bored lol. Start tapping or I'm outta here!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zummerbass Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 I've only had this problem with my wireless receiver taking a walk. Think i'll just take a brick with me. Which is the old hi-fi trick for damping resonance. I have thought this could be part of the problem of lightweight amps. With no good old fashioned lump of an amp bearing down on the cab(s) there is increased possibility of vibration. Not very scientific I know and i'm digressing a bit but just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Tub Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Used to have a MarkBass CMD103 combo. Damn thing did the twist if it was placed on anything other than carpet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I've found the MB carry case Velcro sticks nicely to my MB cabs stopping any walkabout. The padding in the case probably softens some vibration also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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