Author Topic: Guitar gig questions... (Read 1139 times)

lasersailor184 · « **on:** February 25, 2008, 09:40:37 PM »

So, I'm a relative new guy to this guitar thing only having about a years experience. However I've been heading out to a couple Open Mic nights. My gear isn't amazing at all.

Most importantly I only have a 40w small amp. This is just enough for most of the small rooms I play.

The problem is that I'll be playing in a rather large auditorium tomorrow. I have no idea if my amp will be enough by itself.

My question pertains to ways to deal with what I have and a professional PA system to make sure its enough. Now, in a situation like this, should I try to take a plug from the headphone jack on my amp and run it into the PA system?

I've seen guys place a microphone in front of the amp itself, but I'm not too certain about why they do this. I think this is for some sort of feedback effect, but I honestly don't know. What's the purpose of this?

vorticon · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:46:33 PM »

your 40 watt (solid state or tube?) should be plenty if its going through a PA system.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:47:55 PM »

So that would work?

Speed55 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:50:10 PM »

To make it simple, it's to get a more natural sound of what your guitar amp is putting out, as opposed to a processed sound from the headphone jack.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:52:15 PM »

Ok, so someone will bring their own amp to a gig, and then place the PA system microphone in front of the amp, thus playing the actual amp sound over the PA system?

Flit · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:57:59 PM »

FiLtH · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:06:10 PM »

What kind of music do you play?

Masherbrum · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:17:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Ok, so someone will bring their own amp to a gig, and then place the PA system microphone in front of the amp, thus playing the actual amp sound over the PA system?

Yes. You'll now notice this more at concerts, or from live footage.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:23:43 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FiLtH
What kind of music do you play?

Mostly punk covers of classic songs as well as straight covers of other songs.

Currently I have under my belt "Country Roads", "Over the Rainbow," "Everlong," and "Baker Street" to a point where I can play and sing at the same time. I'm pretty new to singing and even I can hear how rough it is. But I have numerous other songs that I can play and am starting to learn how to sing at the same time.

Golfer · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:57:01 PM »

Back to the first response...

Solid state or tube?

Electric or acoustic?

What equipment and electronics are you using?

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2008, 11:09:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Golfer
Back to the first response...

Solid state or tube?

Electric or acoustic?

What equipment and electronics are you using?

I'm pretty sure it's a solid state amp, a Frontman 15r (probably a basic beginner's amp). I have an electric guitar, a Fender Squire. I'll be using a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal.

FiLtH · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2008, 11:37:01 PM »

Me and a few buds have been playing together for a few months and have a few songs down pretty good. We picked songs people know/something we can play. Lot of ACDC, CCR, couple of Priest, and Aerosmith.

At home I tend to play alot of Anthrax. I use a Line6 Spider3 amp. I love it. I can sing to the CCR stuff, but anything else I cant really. Truth be told my voice would be better singing hymns than rock

KONG1 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2008, 11:46:42 PM »

Point the mic at the center of the cone 8" to 10" away. In the studio we sometimes go off-angle and even capture the cabinet with a second mic behind or to the side.

On the classic guitar amp the cabinet and speakers color your tone, try to sing through one and you'll see what I mean. Some of todays amps with digital emulation electronics try to have a "transparent" speaker because they will not only emulate different heads they will also emulate various cabinet configurations. A line out can actually make more sense in this case.

Thruster · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2008, 04:06:03 AM »

Mic the amp.

Frontman's don't have direct outs and you don't want to tap the headphone out (it defeats the speaker out). I'm also pretty sure this is a 15 watt amp so you will need all the help the P.A. can give you.

Couple of ideas.....

- Mic the speaker. Mic screen to speaker screen, no separation. If any, no more than one inch.
- No reverb.
- Sound check if there's time. These amps get real trebbly and depending on the P.A., it could require a few tone adjustments from what you
are used to. Plus you will probably have it dialed to "10". That also changes the tone characteristics. Try to run through a song to see where
you need to tweak.
- If you use full on distortion, dial it back a bit. The amp will cut thru better.
- Try to get as much of your guitar back through the monitor as the stage volume permits. Anybody on the other side of the drum kit will
probably have a hard time hearing you. Not many rhythm sections time to the guitar but less seasoned guys do. It helps if they can hear
you.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2008, 06:13:12 AM »

Frontman and a Fender Squire?

You're braver than I thought.