Is the "bedroom player" era robbing a generation of the joy of running a full stack?

[Iron1]

Running across a growing number of people who say they've never played through a full stack w/a 50 or 100-watt amp. For me at least, the experience was life changing. Reading the "get rid of your tube amp" thread got me wondering just how many are out there using either modelers or smaller amps and have never shaken their eyeballs with 100DB+ of raw sonic rock/metal power...

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

Running across a growing number of people who say they've never played through a full stack w/a 50 or 100-watt amp. For me at least, the experience was life changing. Reading the "get rid of your tube amp" thread got me wondering just how many are out there using either modelers or smaller amps and have never shaken their eyeballs with 100DB+ of raw sonic rock/metal power...

Yes they are being deprived from blasting their own ears out.

The pedals effects / profilers / modelers etc. are an imitation, trying to replicate the real sound.
But they don't sound like the real thing.
I have played big stacks, and I have the hearing damage to prove it.

 

[Iron1]

I have played big stacks, and I have the hearing damage to prove it.

I do too, but I don't think the risk of hearing damage is any less when you spend 8 hours a day with ear buds shoved in your ear canal blasting music straight at your ear drums. If anything, the ear buds might be more harmful.

 

[Inspector #20]

Running across a growing number of people who say they've never played through a full stack w/a 50 or 100-watt amp. For me at least, the experience was life changing. Reading the "get rid of your tube amp" thread got me wondering just how many are out there using either modelers or smaller amps and have never shaken their eyeballs with 100DB+ of raw sonic rock/metal power...

Definitely

 

[iblive]

Sorry boys. I’d be the contrarian. Been playing since 73. Never once thru a full stack. My little 20w Traynor has always moved enough air for what I do. Fits my playing style….. Oddly, while I like to listen to my Rock loud and heavy….. I tend to personally play more clean.

 

[Inspector #20]

Yes they are being deprived from blasting their own ears out.

The pedals effects / profilers / modelers etc. are an imitation, trying to replicate the real sound.
But they don't sound like the real thing.
I have played big stacks, and I have the hearing damage to prove it.

So do i....

 

[Iron1]

Sorry boys. I’d be the contrarian. Been playing since 73. Never once thru a full stack. My little 20w Traynor has always moved enough air for what I do. Fits my playing style….. Oddly, while I like to listen to my Rock loud and heavy….. I tend to personally play more clean.

You should try it sometime.

 

[Inspector #20]

Running across a growing number of people who say they've never played through a full stack w/a 50 or 100-watt amp. For me at least, the experience was life changing. Reading the "get rid of your tube amp" thread got me wondering just how many are out there using either modelers or smaller amps and have never shaken their eyeballs with 100DB+ of raw sonic rock/metal power...

For 15 years, my main rig was a Tim Caswell modded JCM800 2204 with a Marshall #1990 8x10" cabinet.

I sold it in 2015 as I became impractical to move around....

 

[smitty_p]

Reading the "get rid of your tube amp" thread got me wondering just how many are out there using either modelers or smaller amps and have never shaken their eyeballs with 100DB+ of raw sonic rock/metal power...

I’m one of those! Well, I’ve come close. I did experience @chilipeppermaniac ‘s 4-hole Marshall head through his 4x12 cabinet. It did sound very good, but the situation was such that we couldn’t really crank it. But, it was a great experience, for what it was.

Personally, and this is really gonna sound weird for a guitar player to say, but I don’t really enjoy getting blasted with sound. Loud is fine, but when I feel like my eardrums are rattling, I don’t like it. I am the only electric guitar player I know who has been asked to turn UP my volume!

With a few exceptions, I’ve always run to the PA, so I really care more about that. On occasion, I’ve walked into the audience area with a wireless during a sound check or rehearsal to hear what I sound like in the mix (sound guys HATE that!). But, “feeling it in my chest” has never been something I’ve really prioritized. I really care more about a good monitor mix and a good FOH sound.

 

[Sapient]

The first music store I used to go to always set them up in stack configuration. I played through them many times, but never cranked.

I went to a Marshall clinic back in the '80s hosted by the Armored Saint guy (I believe). At one point we got a demo of it on 10. He told everyone to cover their ears but the few that wanted to be cool while being dead center did not. I can only imagine the inner dialog in their heads when they got the dose of Marshall reality. "Man, I should have covered my ears. I can't now because it's too late and I'll look like a double puss."

I'd describe it as a deafening chime. It still hurt adjacent to it.

 

[Session 5]

No I haven't ,and don't care to. I have my 35RT Orange SS, that is my home amp, and has much more power than i really need. I have turned my Orange up to 8 in an auditorium, and to me was very very loud for my ears , just to try it out. I have a Fishman 60 watt SS with P.A. for doing small gigs, plus easy to move around.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

@smitty_p mentioned our relatively tame jam experience while Kathy worked upstairs and our 3 dogs did not get a jolt of Decibels.

Throughout my life, I have experienced numerous concerts and bar gigs while being an audience member. I must say, as I have aged, the bombast experience has diminished some, but I confess, I rather enjoyed my past exposures to loudness. As has been mentioned in other threads about our loudest, I can recall a few unexpected answers such as The B52's or something, but my loudest and most memorable exposures to the power of amps through stacks of speakers has to go to The WHO on back to back nights at the Capitol Center Landover MD. which left my 18 year old ears muddled for 3 days afterwards. Hard to explain how I experienced trying to learn when I could barely hear my Freshman year college professor/instructors in my first weeks of beginning college in 1982.

Next to The WHO was a triple bill of Motorhead, Dio and Iron Maiden in the 9th row at Merriweather Post Pavillion.

 

[Far Rider]

Did someone say something?

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I have a few times in the past. Halfstack. It was glorious!!
That said, I do not like the feeling of eardrum pain either so while the pant flapping was cool, I stood beside it to reduce the ear trauma. Using ear protection would be a must these days. That said, if the ear protection is killing some of the tones you hear, it seems half pointless?
I know there are people who crank em up and play in the other room. While the wall shaking is fun, you wouldn't hear what it really sounds like in the slightest and that seems pointless to me.
I play at whatever level is apporpraite for the venue and and the type of gig. I have had amps in the outdoor shows up enough to be in glee standing in front and not having my ears hurt and it is enough for me.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

We have a show coming up in April that is in a hall, it is a Lobster Fest thing with us playing after. I suspect this small town hasn't had an event like this for a year at least and I suspect, as is usual, that people will want to visit with each other further back from the dance floor area and many times we have been asked to turn down at soundcheck.
They are paying us and if that is what they want, we do it. And we do not play loud by most guitarist's definition. BUt as long as I enjoy standing in front of my amp and having enough balls to it, I am fine.

 

[Iron1]

@smitty_p mentioned our relatively tame jam experience while Kathy worked upstairs and our 3 dogs did not get a jolt of Decibels.

Throughout my life, I have experienced numerous concerts and bar gigs while being an audience member. I must say, as I have aged, the bombast experience has diminished some, but I confess, I rather enjoyed my past exposures to loudness. As has been mentioned in other threads about our loudest, I can recall a few unexpected answers such as The B52's or something, but my loudest and most memorable exposures to the power of amps through stacks of speakers has to go to The WHO on back to back nights at the Capitol Center Landover MD. which left my 18 year old ears muddled for 3 days afterwards. Hard to explain how I experienced trying to learn when I could barely hear my Freshman year college professor/instructors in my first weeks of beginning college in 1982.

Next to The WHO was a triple bill of Motorhead, Dio and Iron Maiden in the 9th row at Merriweather Post Pavillion.

Cool! My first exposure to loud rock and roll was the Moody Blues at Merriweather Post. Then saw Dio on the Last in Line tour at whatever Baltimore arena was doing shows back then. After that it was multiple Capital Center shows (Metallica twice, Megadeth, Ozzy, etc...) but then mainly clubs and 1000-ish seat venues. Probably the two loudest were Slayer at the Warner Theater in DC in the mid 80s and, oddly enough the Newsboys at Dodge Theater in Phoenix around 2005.

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

So do i....

What, blast your own ears out?
or low loudness not as good as the real thing?
or both?

I like to hear the power amp tubes screaming and begging pleading for holy mercy. It warms my heart.
It's like grabbing the steering wheel on a rocket ship.

 

[jtcnj]

I cant take really loud, if its too loud then I guess I am too old. So be it.
When it starts shaking my ears / brain, ie. I can feel those reverberations I know I am in ear damage territory.
Not for me, I just dont enjoy it either.

That said, getting an amp, or my mostly smaller tube amps up to the sweet spot, things just come more "alive" that is just not the same at lower volumes.
Even clean.

That is true for me even when I am mostly not really happy with my OD tones, the liveliness is still very positive / pleasant, but not when it gets just TOO loud.
So I dont think it is the volume itself, it may be the sweet spot on larger amps just happens to be at jet engine volumes.

 

[Beagle]

I had a Marshall full stack and 100 watt head in the living room for almost the entire summer in 1999 when my mate was moving house.

I can honestly say I that I would never again

a) Let one through the door

b) Leave my 12 year old guitar mad kid and the nutter who's amp it was in the house with the bloody thing.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

We have a show coming up in April that is in a hall, it is a Lobster Fest thing with us playing after. I suspect this small town hasn't had an event like this for a year at least and I suspect, as is usual, that people will want to visit with each other further back from the dance floor area and many times we have been asked to turn down at soundcheck.
They are paying us and if that is what they want, we do it. And we do not play loud by most guitarist's definition. BUt as long as I enjoy standing in front of my amp and having enough balls to it, I am fine.