Amp against wall

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 19 Apr 2004 12:51 pm

Hi Folks!

In rehearsal my Nash 400 has to sit on top of an organ right up against a wall (to maximize space). In this situation I only need to turn up to about half the level that I would use at a gig and I seem to have the same perceived volume. Tone is lousy, though. Could these characteristics be caused by the fact that the amp is right up against a wall?

On the flip side, the other day I played an outdoor gig with no wall behind me. I had to really crank the level, but I was digging the tone.

This being a solid state amp, I wouldn't expect it to need to be cranked to reach its "sweet spot" --or even to really have a sweet spot.

Also, it was really cold & dry out that day (45F). My fingers didn't work, but the amp sounded great! Has anyone ever noticed improved tone in cold air??? Or conversely, lousier tone in really hot, muggy weather?

--Baffled in L.A.[This message was edited by Greg Vincent on 19 April 2004 at 01:52 PM.]

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 19 Apr 2004 5:13 pm

Yes, yes, and yes

An open back speaker cabinet spews as much out the back as out the front. I like to get at least 3 feet from any wall whenever possible and sometimes, as you point out, that isn't possible. In any case an open back cabinet sounds better to my ears without its back against the wall.

I didn't realize you LA guys had either 45 degree days or muggy conditions. We have plenty of the former in Michigan, but I've never really noticed my rig sounding better with the dew condensing on my strings.

And

not all solid state amps are created equal.

-- Bob Crooks

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 19 April 2004 at 06:16 PM.]

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 20 Apr 2004 5:56 am

Do you normally play with the amp off the ground? Night and day if you don't.

bob

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 20 Apr 2004 6:47 am

Thanks for the replies.

Larry the 45 degree weather totally took me by surprise! Indeed we Angelenos are not typically prepared for that --not in April, anyway!

Yeah Bob I try whenever possible to put the amp on a stand to get it pointed towards me. How does getting it off the ground change the sound, though? -GV

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 20 Apr 2004 2:41 pm

You lose a lot of bass when it's off the ground. For me, I could never the stand the speaker anywhere near ear level.. too bright.

bob

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 20 Apr 2004 5:45 pm

Back when I was running through two amps, I would place my Evans on a stand and leave the Peavey Nashville 400 on the floor. Big sound.

Years ago, we had to play on a very shallow stage. The front of my guitar was right at the edge of the stage and my amp was right behind me. Directly behind the amp was a wall with a very dense curtain hanging from it. Everybody's amps sounded terrible that night. There was just no room to move the amps away from the curtain.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Murnel Babineaux · Post by **Murnel Babineaux** » 20 Apr 2004 9:11 pm

Normal placement of an amp is 3 feet from the back wall, 4 feet from the side wall.

Murnel