Loud amps at home

[SteveXFR]

Is there anything i can put between my amp and cab to cut volume so I can run the amp load enough to sound good without deafening the neighbours? 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

If you were a guitar player I'd say a power soak, but you're not. You shouldn't have to run the amp loud to sound good. Now if your preferred tone comes from pushing the speakers hard you can't do that at low volume.

[Cuzzie]

Two Notes do a load box which is very good - there may be other manufacturers.

[Cuzzie]

I take it you are using a tube amp BTW

[SteveXFR]

1 minute ago, Cuzzie said:

I take it you are using a tube amp BTW

Tube preamp, solid state power amp

[Cuzzie]

Hmmmmm - you shouldn’t need a load box like a guitarist to get break up then - if you like the pre amp being pushed you can dime the gain, but have your master very low, or a boost leading into the preamp and keep the vol low

[BassmanPaul]

Run the pre-amp as you normally do but use the power Amp faders to lower volume to an acceptable level.

[pete.young]

1 hour ago, SteveXFR said:

Is there anything i can put between my amp and cab to cut volume so I can run the amp load enough to sound good without deafening the neighbours? 

In-ear monitors and a bass board.

[Downunderwonder]

1 hour ago, BassmanPaul said:

Run the pre-amp as you normally do but use the power Amp faders to lower volume to an acceptable level.

That'll work so long as

1 the aforementioned cone breakup isn't required.

2 the amp isn't one of the new breed with classD power stage tuned in breakup. Some cabs can be rewired to 16ohm to help out there but I wouldn't bet on it solving the neighbour problem because those amps are all 600 to 1000w afaik.

 

[SteveXFR]

10 hours ago, Cuzzie said:

Hmmmmm - you shouldn’t need a load box like a guitarist to get break up then - if you like the pre amp being pushed you can dime the gain, but have your master very low, or a boost leading into the preamp and keep the vol low

The theory should work but the volume doesn't quite fade out at minimum, it gets to a point then cuts out completely and that point is pretty loud with the gain cranked. 

[fretmeister]

Stick an EQ pedal in the FX loop and use that to further bring the volume down while the master vol on the amp is still functional and not just cutting off.

[Cuzzie]

3 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

The theory should work but the volume doesn't quite fade out at minimum, it gets to a point then cuts out completely and that point is pretty loud with the gain cranked. 

I get you - what amp is it?

People who have it or have used it may be able to help

[Downunderwonder]

41 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Stick an EQ pedal in the FX loop and use that to further bring the volume down while the master vol on the amp is still functional and not just cutting off.

Good idea so long as the level in the loop is manageable by the pedal. 

[Phil Starr]

I'm guessing the answer is no. Not because you couldn't reduce the acoustic power because you can do that bit easily. You could theoretically put a great big resistor between the amp ans speakers and heat your room with it or you can turn the master volume down with the same effect. The thing is it would be quieter. I suspect what you are actually missing is the volume itself. Loudness itself is exciting, something you can feel especially for bassists. It leads to psychological changes including an adrenaline rush. We've known for years that people almost always prefer loud music to quiet in listening tests. Hi Fi sales staff have long sold their preferred system by just playing it louder in the listening rooms. The other thing that is missing is changing the sound levels also changes the 'tone controls' in our brain. Loud volumes emphasise bass in particular but change the sound balance across the whole spectrum.

This shows the sensitivity of our hearing from the threshold of hearing at the bottom to 100dB, roughly the level on stage for a rock band. The steep rise in the bass frequencies at low sound levels shows just how much bass boost you'd need at lower sound levels to match the much flatter curve at band levels. Looking at these curves you can see that to get the same sound balance at low levels you need to boost the bass a lot and boost the treble a little and maybe increase the mid range suckout at around 3kHz if you have  a parametric mid.

Just turn down, eq until you get close to something you like and accept it won't be perfect. If you have a high pass filter use it as the subsonics are what really annoy the neighbours and if it still isn't loud enough for you use headphones. Meanwhile console yourself with the thought that your hearing is getting a chance to recover with a year off gig levels of sound. Roll on the return to live music.

[Dan Dare]

The problem with loud bass sounds is often structure borne rather than air borne noise/vibration. It travels through floors, joists, etc into the walls and annoys those living adjacent and there isn't a lot you can do about it. Maybe move into a detached property?

Edited March 8, 2021 by Dan Dare

[BassAdder60]

I find it more annoying that items in the house vibrate when you turn up too loud 

I think you have little choice playing loud at home or wear headphones if it has that as an option 

[chris_b]

I know I sound good on a gig (I've been told!) so when playing at home the sound isn't important. I'm working on ideas, technique, strength, muscle memory and songs. You don't need a "sound" for that.

My 2p.

[Thunderpaws]

Buy another head that sounds decent at low volumes. My Streamliner sounds great at low volumes with the gain high and volume low in the preamp and the master volume set low. 

[garyt]

Get a decent practice amp.  Move to a detached house.  Practice in your shed.  

[Thunderpaws]

Buy a decent preamp and run it in to monitor speakers is another option. 

[SteveXFR]

23 hours ago, garyt said:

Get a decent practice amp.  Move to a detached house.  Practice in your shed.  

Im rebuilding my garage and intend to sound proof it. Trying to use as much reclaimed material as possible though and getting held up with the windows. It'll be good when finished 

My neighbours are part deaf but even with the super thick 1920's walls it still rattles their light fittings. They'll never complain but I don't like to push it. 

[Steve Browning]

I can amplify at home but actually usually practise acoustically. Sometimes I'll rest the head against the wall if |I'm feeling indulgent!! 🙂

[adamg67]

There are plenty of good load boxes about, they’re not that cheap though. I’ve got the 8ohm Palmer Power Pad, as one if my few gripes about my Multiamp is it doesn’t turn down low enough, but they’re often used for valve amps for recording or just home use. Some have a DI out which can be handy for recording.

Just google “speaker attenuator load box”

[Beedster]

Compression might help your neighbours, an all tube low wattage head likewise (Ampeg PF-20 for example), and as above a high pass filter, especially if you’ve a harmonic rich tone to start with 

[EBS_freak]

And here was me going to recommend a mile long speaker cable to the cab that has been positioned away from the neighbours...