Practicing/playing at home: headphone and very small (desktop) amp users

shake_n_stomp

Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 615
Vancouver BC
Canada

Posted on Nov 23 2015 07:57 PM

I know many among us can practice at home at full volume or otherwise use a tube amp even at attenuated levels.

But this thread is more for us mere mortals that have smaller homes and/or families & neighbours that force the use of headphone/desktop amps when practicing and those that simply choose to use headphone/desktop amp solutions. If you are in this group, what do you play through?
A lot of these kinds of solutions seem to be geared towards overly-saturated tones and seem to be weak with beefy clean tones for surf.

I have used various versions of the Line 6 POD but when ear fatigue was taking its toll, I started using the Tech 21 'Blonde' SansAmp Character pedal along with an FRV-1 into my soundcard that I just plugged in headphones.
Now I see that the company behind the Torpedo load box/amp DI+Impulse Response solution (the French company 'Two Notes Engineering') is soon releasing their series of tube preamps called Le Clean/Le Crunch/Le Lead/Le Bass.
They have headphone jacks and effects loops and lots of tweakability with the 2 channels. Le Clean is based on Fender-ish amps throughout the ages so this one automatically gets put on my wish list. The soundclips that are available thus far are not totally convincing that it is a slamdunk so I remain cautiously optimistic that some really in-depth reviews will be done when it hits the market so I can see if it is worth the expense.

—

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

Last edited: Nov 23, 2015 20:02:03

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Nov 23 2015 09:43 PM

I use amp simulation in Logic Pro, I play straight into studio monitors. I don't mess with headphones. But I can get the volume low enough where it, theoretically, shouldn't bother somebody in another room, and definitely not in another part of the house.

The great thing about simulation is you can allow the signal to 'breath' but have the output volume really low.

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on Nov 23 2015 09:56 PM

I don't really practice with headphones but I work on a lot of demos with them, quietly, and for this I use Garageband on my iPad.
My band mate and I have gotten some very good sounds this way.
There are even more options in something like Logic Pro as Jake suggested.
Amplitube is another you might want to look at if you don't mind the computer thing.
While something like a Pod can be useful most of these software applications have surpassed the Pod for sound quality and feeling.

Cheers,
Jeff

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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SanchoPansen

Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
Germany

Posted on Nov 24 2015 01:20 AM

I use a Crate Powerblock for home practice/recording and as backup amp. Really good amp, has a speaker out, direct out (XLR), effects loop and headphones out.
You can grab those Powerblocks for ~150$ - so grab 'em while they are out there. IIRC they went out of production in 2009. It also has a CD in, so you can play along to your favorite tunes. And you really get a useable amp for live gigs.
Throw in a Surfy Bear FET Reverb and you are in surf heaven at home (and live).
Here's a sample I recorded with the powerblock at home:
The adventures of Robinson Crusoe
Hope that helps.

—

The Hicadoolas

Last edited: Nov 24, 2015 01:28:57

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Wombat

Joined: Oct 13, 2011
Posts: 251
Byron Bay, Australia

Posted on Nov 24 2015 03:22 AM

I was living in an apartment, main amps(Bandmaster, Deluxe, Princton) all in storage, I tried them all, small valve and transistor Vox, Marshall, Roland, Bugara, Peavey and finally I found a great sounding amp for low volume, Fender Mustang Mini for me, its the very best (lots of presets online too)

—

'Surf Music Lasts Forever'

Last edited: Nov 24, 2015 03:22:40

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Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2259
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Nov 24 2015 03:30 AM

I use ipad with garageband, jamup and some other soft with headphones
As for me a perfect tool for practice, demo records, putting down ideas and basic arrangements etc)

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

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el_camello

Joined: Jul 04, 2010
Posts: 369
Ottawa
Canada

Posted on Nov 24 2015 08:24 AM

I plug into a reverb tank then into my computer. I run Amplitube 3 (pretty much just the showman model with cab... so about 15$? Can't go wrong) plus a few free soundgoodifying plugins. Sounds and feels fantastic. Plus, assuming you are running amplitube in a DAW, you can record on the fly and play along to backing tracks. I can send you my amplitube preset if you want to try it.

The amplitube reverb tank is ok but kind of harsh sounding.

I was using a Torpedo loadbox with an amp and while that sounded amazing the Torpedo decided to stop working. Going back to amplitube I realized that the difference is negligible.

—

-Pierre
The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf)
The Obsidians debut EP

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Nov 24 2015 09:24 AM

Presently using:

Reaper software DAW
Zoom R8 USB interface or standalone recorder
Quilter Mach 2 amp direct out XLR to Zoom R8

It's the best little setup I have used, the Quilter brings warmth and tone at low volume.

My ears suffer greatly with overuse of headphones causing dizziness and other symptoms for a month after. I bought some cheap "open" headphones which help, I need to try some Roland open cans designed for musicians and prolonged usage.

I have a JBL Bluetooth speaker on order to get me by. This is just for rough monitoring the Zoom quietly and a little sub-bass for picking out kick drum and bass lines.

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