Roland Rock Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 After a bit of forced spousal persuasion, my amp and cab are now tucked away out of sight in their respective cover/case, only to come out for gigs. The problem, then, is practicing. I've managed for ages unplugged, but decided to try and use some of the other devices lying around the house. First I tried the [url="http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=SOUNDSTICKS3AM"]Harmon Kardon Soundsticks[/url] but the buzz was bad, and the tone a bit boomy. The real surprise came when I tried playing through the [url="http://www.pure.com/products/product.asp?Product=VL-61212&Category="]Pure Oasis[/url] digital radio. Quiet, but loud enough to play at home, and a lovely, full, true representation of my bass' tone. And a bonus is that I can take it anywhere. Maybe I'll take up busking again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 You can get headphone amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Phil Jones bass buddy? Also doubles up as a preamp, which may come in handy. There's one FS on the forum [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=138995&hl=bass+buddy"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;hl=bass+buddy[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I use a Korg ToneWorks and it gives great tone etc. It's great for quiet practice and you can put your MP3 through it to jam along to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I use a meridian 80w guitar amp. Its still bloody loud though but I can get rid of most of the low end to avoid the neighbours having kittens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShergoldSnickers Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 When I lived with my parents, we used to have one of those old Philips reel to reel tape recorders with the green 'Magic Eye' recording level light. It was all valve driven and dated from the sixties. There was a DIN socket on the side for plugging in an extra microphone so I wired up a cable with a DIN plug, switched it on and.... out flowed a fantastic angry overdriven sound. I could really use that sound in pedal form. That was my first practice amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I've used the aux in on my ipod dock & also a set of satellite & sub PC speakers (sometimes via the mac, sometimes direct). Both work reasonably well at low volumes & fine if you're just practising playing & not doing much with fx. I do have a wee Vox Venue 30 bass combo handy(which is heavier than my MB combo!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escholl Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 [quote name='ShergoldSnickers' post='1260701' date='Jun 8 2011, 08:25 AM']When I lived with my parents, we used to have one of those old Philips reel to reel tape recorders with the green 'Magic Eye' recording level light. It was all valve driven and dated from the sixties. There was a DIN socket on the side for plugging in an extra microphone so I wired up a cable with a DIN plug, switched it on and.... out flowed a fantastic angry overdriven sound. I could really use that sound in pedal form. That was my first practice amp.[/quote] I'm no expert on this era, but I believe many of those devices used EF86 or similar pentode valves for the pre-amp stage. You can still find EF86's, maybe try making a pedal out of it (or having one made)? Not sure it's been done yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShergoldSnickers Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 [quote name='escholl' post='1260723' date='Jun 8 2011, 08:42 AM']I'm no expert on this era, but I believe many of those devices used EF86 or similar pentode valves for the pre-amp stage. You can still find EF86's, maybe try making a pedal out of it (or having one made)? Not sure it's been done yet.[/quote] Interesting..... thanks for that escholl. I'll sometimes use the hi-fi for practising - the speakers are an elderly pair of Epos ES14s, are built like battleships and will go reasonably loud without stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) Bass pod pro > Housemates fancy denon 2.1 system For a while, it wasn't too bad to be fair, when you started to crank it, then it hated you. Getting my amp down there this year though, thank god. Edited June 8, 2011 by Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 How loud do you need to get when practicing at home? For me, as long as I can hear it, that's loud enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosebass Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) I use a Stealth Plug USB interface into my laptop on which I run Reaper with various amp modelling software. Using the headphone out on the Stealth Plug I use my Sony hi-fi amp ( a Legato Linear model with just a volume control) and from this to my 80's Castle floor-standers. Virtually zero latency and a superb smooth sound at either practice levels or shake the walls down. I don't bother with bass amps or combos. Even when I played live years ago we honed our sound through a quality PA and used little in the way of backline gear. Edited June 8, 2011 by Prosebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Having prevaricated for a while, I finally plumped for a second TC RH450 along with a Genz Benz STL-10T cab. Way too much money, but teeny tiny, sounds fab, and can easily be slung around to rehearsals and small gigs, where the big brother version isn't required. Spend well, spend once, never regret... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 [quote name='Roland Rock' post='1260969' date='Jun 8 2011, 11:28 AM']How loud do you need to get when practicing at home? For me, as long as I can hear it, that's loud enough.[/quote] At uni - Housemates in - reasonable / housemates out - loud At home - Quiet as possible due to elderly neighbours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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