My favorite is when it’s a local/college-age band and parents are around. Or spouses of older band members. “No, I can’t get her vocal any louder because she’s whispering six inches from the microphone and Jimi Hendrix up there is blasting his amp at 11.”
There’s a reason the lead singer’s girlfriend is the butt of so many jokes. And I have 100% had to use the Baffle of Shame for guitarists who won’t turn down. It’s just a doghouse made out of pink foam board and tape, that you can throw over the top of problem amps. Add a corner notch for cables to run in/out, and dust it in some black paint.
If it’s a tube amp, I can at least understand it; Tubes distort at higher volumes, and the distortion is part of the tone. And if you try to argue with a guitarist about their tone, you’ll lose every time. The nice once will smile and nod, then not make any changes when you ask them to turn down. The rude ones will make direct eye contact as they turn it up more.
But if it’s a solid state amp, putting a 2x4 block under it (or putting it on a spare guitar stand) to tip it towards their head usually works. The guitarist is used to having all of the sound blow right past their knees, so actually aiming it at their head makes a world of difference.
I normally just ask them nicely to turn down, if they can do so without sacrificing tone, and otherwise encourage them to point their amp towards the curtains.
I’ve definitely seen some folks prop their amps to angle them toward their heads from time to time — I’ll start working that suggestion in for sure, since every little bit of db decrease will help in that small room.
I also want to get a set of ClearSonics or similar for cymbal wash. May not be able to use them all the time (stage real estate is at a premium), but they would be nice to have.
There’s a reason the lead singer’s girlfriend is the butt of so many jokes. And I have 100% had to use the Baffle of Shame for guitarists who won’t turn down. It’s just a doghouse made out of pink foam board and tape, that you can throw over the top of problem amps. Add a corner notch for cables to run in/out, and dust it in some black paint.
If it’s a tube amp, I can at least understand it; Tubes distort at higher volumes, and the distortion is part of the tone. And if you try to argue with a guitarist about their tone, you’ll lose every time. The nice once will smile and nod, then not make any changes when you ask them to turn down. The rude ones will make direct eye contact as they turn it up more.
But if it’s a solid state amp, putting a 2x4 block under it (or putting it on a spare guitar stand) to tip it towards their head usually works. The guitarist is used to having all of the sound blow right past their knees, so actually aiming it at their head makes a world of difference.
Good idea on just homebrewing a baffle!
I normally just ask them nicely to turn down, if they can do so without sacrificing tone, and otherwise encourage them to point their amp towards the curtains.
I’ve definitely seen some folks prop their amps to angle them toward their heads from time to time — I’ll start working that suggestion in for sure, since every little bit of db decrease will help in that small room.
I also want to get a set of ClearSonics or similar for cymbal wash. May not be able to use them all the time (stage real estate is at a premium), but they would be nice to have.