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Dear everybody,
this may be somewhat odd, but I need your advice on this one. I (more or less) recently moved to a place that does (due to the neighbours being a little less tolerant) not allow me to practice the guitar amplified anymore. I do play an archtop guitar with a very nice acoustic sound, so that is not the problem. However, it would actually be very nice to practice with an amplified sound, as I fear that otherwise I will get far to used to the (just) acoustic sound of the jazz guitar and somewhat lose the ability to handle an amplifier properly. You get my point?
That being said, here is my current options and what I need to do. I would be glad to receive some tips on this one.
First of all, I need a great clean sound from my jazzbox plus the ability to add some effects (e.g. a bit of Delay + Reverb plus maybe some chorus or slight distortion here and there). Right now, I have two very nice tube amplifiers (Fender Twin + Boogie Mark V) that I love. As you can imagine, they are rather loud.
So, I either want to (1) use a power soak for the tube amps in order to in principal add a headphone out to them, or (2) find a software solution to help me with getting a good and satisfying sound through my headphones.
My computer setup is a Macbook Pro with Logic 9 (I also have Guitar Rig 5 on that one, but I just can't seem to get a decent clean sound out of that one...). I have the Apogee Jam as an interface + an Edirol UA-25.
What are your experiences with either of the above mentioned options? Option 2 would also grant a lot more portability for me to practice while away from home. But which Amp Modelling plugin would you recommend for getting a sound close to the clean channels of my amps? Or am I just not smart enough to handle Guitar Rig 5? (That may well be the case, actually :-D).
Anyhow, I'd be glad to get some tips from all the other guys here, who live in a house with kind of impatient neighbors.
Take care,
Sebastian
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09-27-2012 05:30 AM
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Most amplifiers have a headphone jack, you could simply plug in your headphones and play. You can also get an adaption like a line UX1 which will play your guitar through the computer with a plethora of effects and sounds.
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I practice silently by plugging my guitar into my iPhone using an iRig and headphones. I have the free AmpliTube software (Fender edition) which does a very convincing Fender Deluxe Reverb and Twin Reverb simulation. Together with iReal (kind of like Band In A Box for iPhone and iPad) I can jam along with 1200 jazz standards sitting next to my wife on the couch while she watches her favourite soap....
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I don't have any solution recommendations but just wanted to say I have a similar problem, and the danger you talk about is real. I practice with my archtop unplugged, then when I plug it in it's like learning how to play a different instrument. I think it's important to practice a lot with the set up you'll perform with. Also, dialing in tone...
I suppose some sort of headphone setup is better than nothing but it's still not going to match how you're going to perform.
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I don't know. I can practice amplified pretty much any time I want to, but I've already got my electric tone dialed in and I actually prefer practicing acoustically with my laminated set-in pickup archtop. Then when I gig with it (restaurant duo gig twice a month), I'm inspired by how great it sounds amplified.
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I'd look at a modelling amp like a Roland Cube or a Fender Mustang. They sound good at all volumes, including with headphones, have nice clean tones, built in effects, and if you're so inclined, you can play out with them though you do have two great tube amps for that as well.
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This thing is over 25 years. I bought it new . . . still use it . . and you can still find them on ebay pretty cheap now. The clean channel works just fine with an arch top and can really help to simulate playing through an amp. (I'm definitely a dinosaur!!)
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Id say use either headphones a computer program,maybe a line 6 pod,or soundproof the place
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Hello everybody,
wow, there's been a lot of replies. Thank you, guys!!
Took me a while to reply, but I spent the day researching.
You are absolutely rigt, thats exactly what I fear. I mean, of course
Originally Posted by JakeAcci
practicing acoustically has its own challengea that are well worth taking care of,
but Id like to be able to do both and keep the apartment. :-)
Tom, thats kind of what I have been doing, too. I just fear that I am somewhat neglecting my skills in dialling in tones. Also, I seem to feel less comfortable playing amplifies lately...
Tried the power soak thing today. In my opinion, it takes away too much from
the original amps sound. Add this to te decrease in tube life expectation cause by it... Thus I am down do a small practice amp or a plugin solution. I have downloaded Demo versions of Guiar Rig 5 and Amplitube 3 and will compare the relevant simulations and the feel tomorrow.
Patrick, I could not see the picture. What is thos thing you recommended?
Anyhow, if the plugins don't cut it, I will look into practice amps!
Good night everyone,
Sebastian
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I really like the free version of AmpliTube for the Mac.
For silent practice with the archtop my settings are:
- American Tube Clean1 Pre model
- American TUbe Clean2 EQ model, bass and middle to 10, treble and presence to 3
- Spring reverb set to 2
- 50WEL34 Amp model
- 4x10 Open Vintage Cabinet model
- Mid Studio room
I use it with an Apogee One and Fostex T50RP headphones. The latency is not an issue.
I love my tube amp and tube electronics in general but, to my discomfort, the tone I get in the headphones with AmpliTube is probably better.
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I use over ear headphones with my Roland Cube40xl. It's terrific. If I didn't want the amp, I'd get one of those Line 6 desktop pods.
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I used to have a headphone amp the size of a brick that gave me the quietness you're looking for. I was also able to plug a CD in so I could play along with the music if I wanted to. I believe the thing was made by DS&R company or something like that. I don't know if they're still around.
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Very interesting discussion for me.
I have a very disgusting neighbours (just one of the families). They complaint even when I play with my acoustic guitar; They even complaint about my children when they cried; it was really a problem for me.
The first solution I took was to call the police and explain to them the situation. They agree in front of my neighbour that an acoustic guitar was not a problem from 7000 h to 2300 h.
At night I use a Yamaha silent guitar, this guitar is being a dream for me; really a good guitar which I can play when I want.
I know this is not a solution for you, I am reading the answers because I want to play the electric guitar I hope will come this christmas.
A bad neighbour is the most disgusting thing in the world.
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sorry not to have read the whole thread but I have many many amps that sit unused since I got my pocket pod. I line in from my laptop and can mix the two together.
The secret with all these things (I have an iphone 4s with jamup/gb/amplitube etc (btw I prefer jamup but for the money garageband is amazing).. I digress.. the secret is a good pair of headphones, best you can afford.
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Like several of you, I run my headphones from the record jack of my Roland 80XL.
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Free amplitube is brilliant, I downloaded it yesterday and am really enjoying how it sounds. The American tube clean through the 1x15 bass cab sounds really good. Originally Posted by rgiaccio
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Hello everybody,
After some fiddling around, I found the right thing for me. Thank you guys for all the recommendations.
I am using Guitar Rig 5 now, but without any amp simulation. i just use Control Room as a speaker simulation and add some Delay and Reverb to it - voila!
I am so happy to have finally found something that works for me!
Enjoy the weekend and once more, thx a lot for all the constructive feedback!
Sebastian
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I use a Roland TriCapture. It is made for guitars and has a very clean sound through the headphones. It allows you to add pretty much any source for backing tracks and it has a standard and USB outputs for recording. It is not very expensive and I find if very handy.
All you need to do to go from being amped to using the TriCapture is plug the cord that goes to your amp into the TriCapture.
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