Anyone use headphones just prior to a gig?

Pete Nicholls · Post by **Pete Nicholls** » 4 Aug 2013 2:11 pm

I need some warm up time before getting stuff to the stage, and have bought a couple of gadgets to go between the guitar and some headphones, but neither one worked well. I have a headphone output on my amp, but it is low level and not ideal either.

What do you use?

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 4 Aug 2013 4:30 pm

I do occasionally for tune ups and warm up and if the band is loud sometimes I use them on a 50 50 split to hear my steel . A profex is good for this or a small amp off one of the outputs on your volume pedal

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 4 Aug 2013 4:43 pm

I no longer have the appropriate cable, but ISTR the 24 dB gain of a wide open Izzy Plus was sufficient to drive headphones.
No tone knobs or effects.

Frank Montmarquet · Post by **Frank Montmarquet** » 4 Aug 2013 6:24 pm

If you need more power try one of these,I have an E11, works great.

http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.a ... =105026001

Hans Penner · Post by **Hans Penner** » 9 Aug 2013 9:05 pm

Do you plug the amp cable into the E11 and also the headphones?

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 10 Aug 2013 2:32 pm

I use a small headphone amp to tune and warm up before the gig. It really isolates things such that I can hear the subtle variations and "beats" for tuning. As for warming up without a headphone amp, I've always thought that doing so prior to a gig, and where everyone hears you, is just a tad shy of showing off.

I use a small Electro- Harmonix headphone amp.

Pete Nicholls · Post by **Pete Nicholls** » 10 Aug 2013 9:05 pm

Thanks Eric, I've ordered one!

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 11 Aug 2013 4:57 am

Glad to hear my experience with a particular headphone amp will help you.

I think you'll find the EH headphone amp a good one. It's certainly not fancy with its single volume knob, but it is small, compact, inexpensive and super-easy to pack in any steel seat. It really takes up just a tiny bit of space.

In an amusing way, the biggest thing is the set of headphones one uses. I use a set of folding headphones but, being made of plastic, they broke last weekend. So, I'm going to a comfortable set of ear-buds. Then I can keep both the little headphone amp and the ear-buds in a small vinyl pouch tucked away together in my pak-a-seat.

Again, glad to have helped.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 11 Aug 2013 5:14 am

May I recommend the Throwbax from Ear Pollution?
This month on sale at Flying J/Pilot for 20 bucks.
They're cans but sound great.
If you don't like cans, Skull Candys are dynamite for 15.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 12 Aug 2013 12:57 pm

One of the nicest features on my Stereo Steel combo rack unit is having a headphone jack, and Aux In stereo inputs. It allows for silent tuning and warmup's before gigs, and silent practicing at home late at night, with way better fidelity than I've ever had with various gizmos, like my retired Ibanez Rock 'n Play cassette unit.

I have a stereo RCA cable from the SS to stereo mini plug that I plug into my iPod to listen to source material. At home I send the audio out from my MacBook laptop to the SS aux in, and usually play material through Amazing Slow Downer to slow down tricky parts to learn. Great workflow system!