Amp sound in front of ears vs. behind the ears

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

When I am sitting at my steel, i am hearing the sound from the back of my head. Bryan Adams played my guitar and with the same settings, it sounded a lot different (OK, a lot better). Trying to think why there was quite a difference, besides the obvious, that Bryan is a professional player and much better than I am, it occurred to me that when Bryan sat down at my steel, I was standing in front of him FACING my amp, but when I sat down, I was facing away from it. So, I turned my steel so that it was facing the amp to level the playing field. The difference was quite pronounced. I was hearing a much better sound, a lot closer to Bryans.

Guitar players face their amps to make adjustments, then turn their backs on the amp to play. So, do they hear a different sound because of this? Us steelers normally adjust our amps, then hear what we have done with the back of our ears. I usually turn my head sideways to try to hear the amp from that perspective to percieve what sound the audience will be hearing.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I have pix of Grady Martin and Billy Robinson in days of olde, with their amp on the floor about ten to twelve feet away from them.

Jerry Byrd nearly always played with his behind him; on the floor, more often than not.

Speed West used to play with his, in pix I've seen, directly in front of him.

I've always preferred mine to be up on a chair or on a milk crate and canted slightly toward my left ear about 10 degrees. I don't want the full impact going on my ear but I do have to hear the finished sound........

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

George,Good thread.I like to keep my amp on a chair or like Ray said a milk crate behind my head tilted up with an ashtray if possible.If I'm playing a concert with a loud band I have a Peavey Session 400 wedge which sits directly in front of me and makes it easy to hear tone,and pitch...heavy amp though.Ray I was wondering how loud Jerry Byrd played on stage?I went to see Johnny Gimble play with Reece Anderson in Austin one time and I couldn't believe the low volume they played at,Their sound was really beautiful.
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Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

I practice at home facing my amp, but on the gig it's either behind me, or on the side like a side-fill.
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Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Stu......I believe the real professionals use their amps at a normal volume and use the auditoriums' audio set-up to push it out into the crowd.

JERRY BYRD told me that he had to be really careful with his Volu-Tone, as if he wasn't careful and got carried away, he could and did BLOW out the speaker.

I NEVER USE MORE than what I need to hear it and let the audio people take care of the 'room', just like on radio or television.

That's my take..........

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Dave Boothroyd · From: Staffordshire Moorlands

Sounds are different when heard from the front or back.
That is what your ear flap (pinna) is for.
The little ridges in your ear act as an acoustic filter that give sounds heard from behind a recognisably different timbre.
That is the only way that you can use two ears to tell the difference between a sound from straight in front of you from one which is behind you.
As far as basic stereophony is concerned there should be no difference in the time of arrival of the sounds at your two ears, and the received volume is the same, but the pinna alters the sound and your brain sorts them out for you.
You can hear up or down the same way too.
Cheers
Dave

Gene H. Brown · From: Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada

I just had too, sorry!

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Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Tracy,Show,and Noise that's what I'm talkin' about.The one band that hires me for concerts is just that,Most of the songs do nothing for me and it's just a loud out of tune mess,but they’re nice people and thrilled to have me so I behave myself.I get to play at a low volume every Sun.at a Seafood restaurant where we play classic country,and western swing,I go home and my ears aren't ringing. Whoa!

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Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

Stuart Legg · Posted 18 Jun 2008 12:59 pm

I think you will find your amp sounds different if your wearing your cowboy hat or not and different if your wearing a straw verses a felt hat or big brim verses small brim. An amp always sounds better when there is a good looking women standing in front of you. I suspect it's the sound waves bouncing off those

Ray Leroux · From: Vulcan Alberta CANADA/Thousand Palms CA.

Good topic George
I worked 6 nighters for a number of years and had the pleasure of working with some of Canada's finest players. In most of these bands we set the amps up facing us. This made for some pretty tight playing as you could hear your picks and finger noise let alone tonal inflections. Since everyone was lined out why not let the board do the work. This made for very enjoyable music for the band.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Twayn,Having said all that about enjoying the low volume that I play my steel guitar on Sundays,When I play guitar in a blues band the sound man usually cries as soon as I show up because I'm the loudest thing he's ever heard in his life. Devil

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Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

While this has been one of my questions I haven't asked ; let me expound. I am happy with my sound at home (amp at my right pointing to my right ear). While playing my last job I asked my wife about my sound. I asked her if it sounded ok and if it was clear and not distorted. She said each note was crystal clear. Sometimes it sounds a little muddy when I'm playing along but it sounds good when I'm taking a ride. The other issue is; I'm being told by the band or the crowd that I need to turn it up. I guess It's lack of stage experience in knowing how loud to play. Sounds pretty loud to me. Any suggestions? Thanks, Greg
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Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Dunno where you are at, but there are a couple of things:

One is that if you don't have it through the PA, you're not gonna want to point it at your head.

In the "Old Days" I used to point the Session 500 nearly at the ceiling and floor it. It seemed to cover the room and not melt anyones' ears..

IF you are at a point where two amps is not a pain, take one and point it TOTALLY away from vocalists, yourself, and if possible aim it at the bulk of "the crowd". Even out in front of you if that's possible. If you have a friend you trust and can't reash it, then just have him turn it up til it's right.

All this "This Band, or This artist" stuff is useful, but mostly just BS.

It's YOU and YOUR band.

The main thing I've found is not blasting youself out. Second is not blasting out the vocalists, and THEN what "the Crowd" hears. Like I said, if you have a PA guy then HE needs to turn it up.

If not, consider a second amp, pointed at the crowd.

I just did a GREAT weekend where I did just that. Played thru my Classic 50 onstage and had my nice BLues Jr on a case pointed directly at The Crowd.

I heard a vid of it and it RIPPED. WITHOUT blasting anybody's ears out.

One time, we went to see Pete Burak, a local guy playing at a local place. HE had a music man amp out in front of the stage. He couldn't even hear it. Me and my buddy played with the knobs until we thought it sounded PERFECT.

The club owner said it was "too loud".. Oh well.

If you DO have a PA, think of your amp more as a stage monitor.

If you don't, get inventive.

Nearly EVERY bandstand situation and arrangement is different.

Smile

EJL

George Plemons · From: Corsicana, Texas, USA

I have played with my amp on the floor behind me about 10 feet for years and I do it for the reason I can get a better idea of my own volume compared to the rest of the band (stage volume I mean) and because I want to hear the tone as close to what I believe the people on the dance floor are hearing as I can. But hey, this is just me so take it for what it's worth.

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

I always put mine Like Ray and Stu,,but practising at a friends house s few days ago I had to put it in front of me facing me. I was really surprised how bad I had my tone set. It was very thick and thudy compared to how I thought it sounded when I was right up on it. Now I am trying to figure out how to solve this myself to make sure people are hearing the right tone..

pretty scary
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Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Just caught this as I'm doing other stuff but as a rule, the sound you hear is MUCH brighter than what finally gets out there. I think especially with aluminum domed speakers too.

I've always tried to make it much brighter than I like so it gets out at without being muddy. That's why either two amps are best for me, and if only one, I never aim it at my head.

Especially if it's not in the PA.

Just what I've found.

Smile

EJL

Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

I heard somewhere the Buddy Emmons had his amp in front of him. But tht was when he played bass for Roger Miller.

James Collett · From: San Dimas, CA

Don't get me started about Buddy and Roger Miller Devil

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