Poll: How do you position your amp on stage?

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Ok folks, there's a few related threads but I haven't seen a survey on the forum.

I usually setup a NV1000 on top of its road case on my right.

What's your preference?

Clete

Pit Lenz · From: Cologne, Germany

In my opinion there is no one-fits-all-solution for that.
If the stage and venue are large and everything is miked, I keep the amp close to me wedged like a pesonal monitor and try to keep it low: just as loud as I need it to feel good.

In a small club, we only amplify the voices and acoustic instruments.
Then, of course, I use the amp on a case or crate directed to the audience.

If the stage sound mingles with the PA too much (like in small venues), it´s better to have only one source of sound per instrument.
That means, If the steel´s sound is heard from your amp as much as from the PA, the sound will get muddier because it´s coming from two different speakers with different distances to the listener at the same time.

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Pit,
I agree that placement is dictated by acoustics and ergonomics and varies from venue to venue. This quote from the related thread :

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

Haven't traveled with an amp for 6 years, Pod kidney bean, Awsome tones, Soundmen love it, singers love it, and monitor system loves it. Oh no... No volume wars! Very Happy

But.... Man, i miss an amp sizzling back at me.
_________________
A.K.A Chappy.

Tommy Bannister · From: Hampshire, UK

CLETE PITS QUOTe
try to keep it low: just as loud as I need it to feel good. TIS SO TRUE
I HAVE MY AMP LIKE HIS AND PLAY FOR A MIX ON STAGE
AS EVERY MUSO SHOULD DO IF THEIR WORTHY OF BEING A PERFORMING MUSO YOU MUST KNOW IF YOUR PLAYING TOOOO LOUD OR NOT!!! TO ENJOY THE MUSIC I PLAY FOR MYSELF THEN THE CROWD MEAN OR NOT
TOMMY UK
_________________
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David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

If the amp is to be mic'd, I set it on an amp stand facing me for use as a monitor. This not only enables me to keep my stage volume at a minimum, but prevents the amp from bleeding through the vocal mics. Otherwise, the amp is set on the floor, tilted slightly using an "Amp Wedge", and positioned facing forward at a 45 degree angle to my seating position.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

We rarely mic our amps. I think my amps sound much better on the floor. When the amp is on a stand, the singers complain that it is too loud, because it's up closer to their ears I guess. The stand ends up being just one more thing to schlepp to and from my truck.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I have my Nashville 112 up on either a stand or sitting on the road case. Having it setting up behind me helps to keep from playing too loud. If it's on the floor the sound goes "under" you and you don't have a real clue on what the volume is out in the audience.

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

I don't really care if the amp is flat on the floor or on the floor with about 2" block (bar holder) under the front for slight upward tilt but I don't want it pointed directly at me. I want the treble to go beside me so I get a better knowledge of what the audience is hearing. The highs come out in a narrower path while the lows disperse in all directions much quicker.
Jerry

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

What Jerry said, although I've noticed some speakers and amps are much more directional than others. Also, if I'm at at the far end of the stage, I like to have the amp on my "outside": allows me to hear myself and the band better than if everything is to one side of me.

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

Dan, at our Oprey show I am stage right on the end and my amp is behind me and to my right and facing across the stage pointed just slightly behind my right ear. It is tilted up slightly with a 2" block of wood. I want the rest of the guys to hear when I am playing and they don't play on top of me and I don't play on top of them. Team effort makes good music, no team effort produces noise.
Jerry

Tom Tobey · From: Florida, USA

The spkr has maximum loudness when it is closest to the floor. This is a simple acoustics phenomenon. This is a great topic. If you can't get the sound you are looking for, moving your amp height will is another thing one can try. The farther up it is the less bass response the room will have. If you want more bass response try putting it closer to the corner of a room. Also placing a rug under an amp will change the tone in the room. Every room is different and every speaker cabinet is different. The other thing to consider is who do you want to hear you. The drummer, singer, bass player etc. In a practice or jam session it is best to play in some sort of semi-circle so everyone can hear each other. Sometimes it is hard for the bass player to hear the guitarist because the drummer is too loud. So you can either turn everything to 11 or reposition the amps. Now the next poll should ask "when you set up for a gig do you go for great tone or great volume?"
I am guessing most will say volume because few musicians know what good tone is and fewer sound-board operators. Can I get an Amen?

Ford Cole · From: Texas

AMEN!!

Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

I set them on a stand close to me to where I can hear them.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

i've seen Jean Yves Lozach lay his amp on it's back, lettin' the volume shoot up to the ceiling
he told me he could crank it up that way

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

Dan Tyack · From: Olympia, WA USA

I like it on the floor, because there's more low end that way. If I liked a more twangy sound, I'd probably put it on a chair.

Roy Buchanan used to put his fender amp facing the wall at the back of the stage. Smile

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I use an amp primarily as a monitor (for me) and either to feed the frontals OR to fill the room.

If the amp isn't miced, I prefer a chair or amp stand with the amp behind me (but not STRAIGHT behind me -- off to one side or another slightly). I like it pointed RIGHT AT MY EAR and, preferably, 6' or more behind me. I want to hear ME.

or, if feeding the PA I like my amp beside me (on my right), so that the amp doesn't get picked up by the vocal mics. In that situation I carry a Radial JDI direct box to get a balanced signal to the PA.

That's what's always worked for me. I've tried it every which'a'way.
_________________
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