What Do You Do When You Realize Your Amp is Too LOUD?

[Hey_you]

I am very lucky. I rent a place over a business in an industrial zone. No one lives near as far as I know. I love music loud. After business hours, and weekends I play to my hearts delight! I'm a night person, so 3am 4am, what ever, I can play with a window open. No problems.

 

[Hey_you]

PS: I've also had to wear hearing protect at times. I keep them with arms reach. Look atop the Reeves head. Not there as a prop!
"if ya can feel it, ya ain't hearing it"

 

[Thorne]

If it’s too loud you’re too old

 

[jrblue]

I have no idea why some players use outboard devices, from attenuators to other pedals, tube swaps, etc. to arrive at what is a crap signal path -- one that no one would design from the ground up -- that is overcomplicated and includes elements that work against the choice of a tube amp to begin with. Just about no pro, ever, chooses this option. I would suggest the obvious. A good small amp with a smaller speaker works great. A good 8 in. speaker, driven appropriately, and in a small room will deliver a great sound, including tight and solid low end. No, it can't shake your walls with bass, but we're not looking to shake anything. We're looking to speak to the ears with beautiful tone and we're looking to appeal to the player with tube responsiveness. My silver-faced Champ (with switchable blackface mod) delivers great sound and response. My 1950's Silvertone 1391 is a truly low wattage amp (supposedly 5W, but nowhere near the Champ) that uses 1 preamp tube (6AU6) and a common 6V6 power tube that together are quiet at idle, remarkably clean at low volume, and with nice overdrive grit if you want, though I use a Mythical Overdrive for that. To my own surprise, I run the Silvertone most of the time, and I'm sure it's because it is a small unit with modest power that fits the occasion better than all my many other small (or bigger) amps. I can either fight my fancy-pants big amps to make them behave like a different kind of amp than they are, or go with the Silvertone. (Note: though my Silvertone was dead stock, I swapped in a modern speaker, made a proper baffle to replace the soft old masonite piece, and serviced and retubed the amp.

 

[SavBalac]

I have a Pro Junior IV but I only use it at rehearsal and gigs because it's too loud (even on 2-3) in a small room at home (9' x 8').

For home use I use a Strymon Iridium into a good pair of headphones (Sennheiser HD560S) and a mixer to play tracks.

It took a little while getting used to headphones, but now it's ok.

I'd get one of those, or similar, like a UA Dream or Woodrow 55 (if you like the tweed tone). Plus you can use it live (if the PA's good).

 

[jumpnblues]

Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb with it's superb attenuator...problem solved.

 

[GearGeek01]

I have played Mesa/Boogie amps for something like 30 years. My previous amp was a 22 watt, 1 x 10", 37 lb Mesa Subway Rocket Reverb... sitting at an angle on the floor it's simply loud as Hell... my philosophy has been (drummers with 60 cymbals and 3 sticks duct taped together in each hand not withstanding) if it needs to be louder than THIS, then it needs a mic and the venue should be large enough for a very big front of house P.A.

I use any and all amps as a clean foundation, then get my dirt, fuzz, OD, distortion, etc out of pedals.

It's also a light enough amp to not give you the typical Mesa Mark II-B white knuckle blues (my amp before the Subway).. the Mark II-B I had had an Electro-Voice EVM 12" speaker, and just the speaker was 22lbs...

My current Boogie is an Express 5:25 1 x 12" combo (in vanilla taurus w/ a wicker grill). It has a nice step-down feature where there is a mini switch on the front to choose of which watt do you want. I suppose this feature built in the the amp gives you a similar thing as using an attenuator after the amp and before the speakers... (stock photo)

Maybe a Boogie is out of your price range... but as far as stuff goes, I'm sure there is probably a cheaper brand that clones the Boogie idea(s)...

This amp is a pre-Gibson Boogie... I can't say hoiw the new Gibson-owned Boogies will faire

Boogie just came out with their newest Mark amp... the Mark VII combo, head, and rack mount head... but all are over an ouchy $2,000... (typical over-blown Gibson prices now)... but Boogies have never been cheap... best to fins one used, as they are pretty much bullet proof... (says the 30+ year Boogie lover)... now on my 4th ever Boogie and never one problem with any model... even using the Mark II-B as a gigging amp in and out and in and out 6 nights a week... never failed... not even a hiccup

-- can't say that about Marshall... IMHO, they blow up too easy
-- can't say that about PolyTone amps... big smoking blow up later
-- can't say that about Evans Custom Amplifiers... blew up, sent back twice, never did fix it right, into the dumpster she goes...
-- can't say that about Peavey... 1979-80 Classic 2 x 12" combo... blew up FOUR times (tube socket, then speaker, then the other tune socket, then the other speaker)... and never even had it out of my bedroom... that's MY Peavey experience

Bullet-proof Boogies for me... under $1,000 for most combos if bought used... or find a store that will stretch you a layaway on a used Boogie...

 

[BluesMann]

Buy a smaller amp?

 

[gmann]

I tell everybody else to Turn Up.
YEP!!!

What String Tree said!

 

[CV Jee Beez]

if they're too loud, sell "em or trade for something you can use.

Given what you think of as too loud, you may want to try a Tone King Gremlin.

Best of luck.

 

[Lowspeid]

if they're too loud, sell "em or trade for something you can use.

Given what you think of as too loud, you may want to try a Tone King Gremlin.

Best of luck.

I’ve played a gremlin. Wasn’t really my thing. I’d like to try an Imperial though. If I read things correctly (BIG if), they have a BF channel and a Tweed channel. Plus they have a tone king attenuator built-in to the amp.

 

[Lowspeid]

I have played Mesa/Boogie amps for something like 30 years. My previous amp was a 22 watt, 1 x 10", 37 lb Mesa Subway Rocket Reverb... sitting at an angle on the floor it's simply loud as Hell... my philosophy has been (drummers with 60 cymbals and 3 sticks duct taped together in each hand not withstanding) if it needs to be louder than THIS, then it needs a mic and the venue should be large enough for a very big front of house P.A.

I use any and all amps as a clean foundation, then get my dirt, fuzz, OD, distortion, etc out of pedals.

It's also a light enough amp to not give you the typical Mesa Mark II-B white knuckle blues (my amp before the Subway).. the Mark II-B I had had an Electro-Voice EVM 12" speaker, and just the speaker was 22lbs...

My current Boogie is an Express 5:25 1 x 12" combo (in vanilla taurus w/ a wicker grill). It has a nice step-down feature where there is a mini switch on the front to choose of which watt do you want. I suppose this feature built in the the amp gives you a similar thing as using an attenuator after the amp and before the speakers... (stock photo)

View attachment 1099361
View attachment 1099365
View attachment 1099368

Maybe a Boogie is out of your price range... but as far as stuff goes, I'm sure there is probably a cheaper brand that clones the Boogie idea(s)...

This amp is a pre-Gibson Boogie... I can't say hoiw the new Gibson-owned Boogies will faire

Boogie just came out with their newest Mark amp... the Mark VII combo, head, and rack mount head... but all are over an ouchy $2,000... (typical over-blown Gibson prices now)... but Boogies have never been cheap... best to fins one used, as they are pretty much bullet proof... (says the 30+ year Boogie lover)... now on my 4th ever Boogie and never one problem with any model... even using the Mark II-B as a gigging amp in and out and in and out 6 nights a week... never failed... not even a hiccup

-- can't say that about Marshall... IMHO, they blow up too easy
-- can't say that about PolyTone amps... big smoking blow up later
-- can't say that about Evans Custom Amplifiers... blew up, sent back twice, never did fix it right, into the dumpster she goes...
-- can't say that about Peavey... 1979-80 Classic 2 x 12" combo... blew up FOUR times (tube socket, then speaker, then the other tune socket, then the other speaker)... and never even had it out of my bedroom... that's MY Peavey experience

Bullet-proof Boogies for me... under $1,000 for most combos if bought used... or find a store that will stretch you a layaway on a used Boogie...

I’ve owned several Boogies over the years, including a 5:50 Express. There is a “nasal” quality to every Boogie I’ve ever played that I can’t dial out, and like a lot of people I can get great tones out of them. I just can’t get ones I want. I think it’s where boogies typically emphasize the mids (lower = “smooth”) vs Marshall mids (higher = “crunchy”).

 

[Dismalhead]

I should have realized I was too loud back in my 30s when I was playing clubs and there would be a beam of empty seats in front of my amp in otherwise packed places.

In the end It was actually the weight that hit me - about 10 years ago my back started having issues when I was hauling my 80 lb amps and cabinets. I downgraded from my Marshall 2x12" to an AC15 and now I've got a few nice low-watt combos. Completed turning down just a few years ago when I moved to a mobile home park. Now I play at a volume where you could come in and talk to me without raising voices.

 

[gabasa]

The original poster obviously likes the tone of a guitar into a nice non-master volume tube amp.

I'd sell the 20112 and use the funds to build something smaller, like a tweed Champ or Princeton with a Souround OT. With a Weber 10A100T, it'll break up at lower volumes than the SFPR and sound way sweeter than most of the other options. The Jensen P10R-FEN is warmer than the Weber, and 92.5 dB sensitivity, but I prefer the sound of the Weber. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JBurton]

Just get the Princeton Reverb and be done with it.

 

[Lowspeid]

The original poster obviously likes the tone of a guitar into a nice non-master volume tube amp.

I'd sell the 20112 and use the funds to build something smaller, like a tweed Champ or Princeton with a Souround OT. With a Weber 10A100T, it'll break up at lower volumes than the SFPR and sound way sweeter than most of the other options. The Jensen P10R-FEN is warmer than the Weber, and 92.5 dB sensitivity, but I prefer the sound of the Weber. Just my 2 cents.

I’m planning on building a 5F2-a in the near future. Saving my pennies as we speak.

 

[Lowspeid]

Just get the Princeton Reverb and be done with it.

I already own a 1975 SFPR. It’s my favorite amp, and I’ll never get rid of it. But the Marshall and tweed “sounds” are distinct and glorious. The both do something that the PR will never be able able to do, namely the crunchy, touch sensitive, overdriven rock tones.

The PR is amazing when turned up. It’s warm overdrive and splashy spring reverb are beautiful. It takes pedals really well, and is how I get my driven tones from it because it’s insanely loud when turned up past 4 even with the really inefficient Jensen C10R (92.3 spl) in it.

 

[Kasperovich]

What did YOU do when you realized your amp was too loud for your needs/space/situation?

Seriously? Because both my SV20h and my Victoria 20112 are KILLING my ears. I LOVE the sound of these two amps when they are doing their thing, but I can’t stand to be in the same room with them at those volumes. Along with damaging my hearing anymore than I already have, I also don’t want to piss off my family or neighbors (I live in a duplex with great neighbors). I’ve tried attenuators (Ox Box, Marshall Powerbrake, JHS little black box, buffered volume pedal) and they sound worse than playing the amps at low volume. Not only that, but when I play at church (they only place I “play out”) it’s all digital and direct, and I don’t see the digital modeling trend going back to amps-on stage in churches for the foreseeable future.

So, do I sell them and use some of the funds to build the 5F2a I’m wanting to build? Do I play them at low volume knowing full well that the tone I crave is in there, but unobtainable? Do I keep them around because they are awesome amps even if they’re too loud and won’t be used to their potential?

As an aside I have a ‘75 SFPR that is the amp I play most. I love it. I can control the volume, it sounds awesome with either my Tele and LP, and takes any of my pedals extremely well, so I do have a great amp that gets played a lot.

 

[Kasperovich]

Attenuator - lots to choose from. BTW - your photo show a Silver Face Princeton - is that too loud?

 

[Tony65x55]

37 lbs SR…

Yessir. And it sounds GREAT!