TBird
64 posts
Aug 07, 2014
7:34 AM
|
I just recently played at a blues jam for the first time. (It was REALLY great, but that’s a story for another day!) I played thought the house gear that was provided which was one of those non-exciting, new production Green Bullets through a Silvertone 1483 (I think). I went into it with no expectations and just planned on getting a nice tight cup on whatever was handed to me and focusing on generating the best tone I could. It worked well. I was happy with the tone, but whoever set up the amp had it totally screaming. It was to the point that I don’t think I ever rolled on the mic volume more then a quarter of the way, and that was plenty loud enough to be heard over the band. Any more would have been ridiculous and probably would have meant for big time feedback.
As a guy who doesn’t have much experience playing amplified, my question is of course: Is this normal? I would think that not being able to use your mic at full volume would be somehow robbing your rig of tone potential, but you guys tell me…
Thanks!
T.Bird
|
Barley Nectar
473 posts
Aug 07, 2014
7:56 AM
|
All you had to do was turn the amp volume down. I typically set my amp volume so that I can run the mic vol. at 50-75%. Some folks say that a VC (volume control) on a mic will depreciate tone. I don't find this to be true. Congratulations on your first jam. Jams will make you a better player. Great place to interact and a lot of good bands come out of jam sessions...BN
|
Kingley
3669 posts
Aug 07, 2014
8:10 AM
|
Good question T-Bird.
There are a few schools of thought on this subject. None of them are right and none are wrong. It's all really a question of personal preference.
Some people prefer to have their amp cranked up and use a volume control to take it to the point of just below feedback and then play with their mic volume set there. Which means that usually they aren't able to crank their mics volume open all the way.
Some prefer to turn the mic up full and then set their amp to just below the point of feedback. That way they feel that they have more useable range of the volume pot sweep. Which means they can turn it down to comp and then boost it for solos, in a similar fashion that most guitarists do.
Some players prefer not to use a volume control at all and simply set their amp just below the feedback point and then use breath control to play softer or louder as needed.
As to whether or not using a volume pot that is not open is robbing a person of some tonal options is again a subjective matter.
From a personal point of view I prefer if I'm using a volume control to have it fully open all the time and use it more as an on/off switch. I generally use my breath control to control the volume and may occasionally turn the volume pot down a touch if I feel it's needed in a song at any point.
|
Barley Nectar
474 posts
Aug 07, 2014
8:42 AM
|
Nice job Kingley...BN
|
rogonzab
577 posts
Aug 07, 2014
2:30 PM
|
I think that a VC is something that you want in a mic.
Is very usefull.
My old mic died, so now I am using an Akai Dm13, no VC on that one. When I use it and I start geting some feedback I need tu unplug it from my pedals to stop it, and if you are not fast it can be a loud feedback!
Whit a VC you dont have that problem, just turn down the mic and walk to your amp/PA to adjust the knobs.
Maybe at home is not esscential, but live is a must have.
|
TBird
66 posts
Aug 07, 2014
4:04 PM
|
Thanks guys! Very helpful. I don't currently own an "electric rig" but these are all good things to keep tucked in the back of my head.
T.Bird
|
chromaticblues
1591 posts
Aug 08, 2014
4:18 AM
|
TBird
You should print Kingley's answer out!
There are many school's of thought.
Kingley's answer is the ideal situation to be playing in!
@ rogonzab
If you have to unplug your mic to stop the feedback maybe use a pedal with a foot switch as your first pedal.
I use a DM13 as my main mic and I NEVER have feedback issues. I'm not trying to be rude, but if you have feedback issues with that mic your doing something wrong!
|
harpoon_man
64 posts
Aug 08, 2014
5:30 AM
|
When I first started playing, I used volume controls on my mics, but then when I started gigging, I noticed that I ran my volume control at either 0% or 100% and just used less air when I wanted quieter volume - I was just using the volume control as an on/off switch. So about 10 years ago, I changed all my mics to on/off switch only to keep it simple and prevent the potential for tone suck. Have been satisfied with the on/off setup.
|
TetonJohn
203 posts
Aug 08, 2014
8:19 AM
|
Just so you know some more options, if all you need is a handy on/off (vs. volume control), there are 1/4" cables that have a little on/off built in (I have a planet waves cable that has that feature). There are also "screw on" devices (if that's the kind of mike and cable you use) a couple of inches long with a little on/off button -- can't recall where I scored a couple of those online, but Gruenling appears to have some for sale.
|
Thievin' Heathen
356 posts
Aug 08, 2014
6:30 PM
|
I use mic cables with on/off switches on them to arrest feedback. I have a mic with a volume pot on it, but I seem to tend to use it as an on/off. If I turn my amp up beyond the feedback threshold, I lack the finesse to stop increasing the mic volume past a "certain" point.
I think we just develop the technique we are most comfortable with.
|
TBird
67 posts
Aug 10, 2014
3:12 PM
|
Sorry for reviving this thread, but let me ask one more question in order to prove my ignorance of electronic amplification:
Barley Nectar mentioned that I could have simply turned down the volume on the amp in order to gain the full range of the VC on the mic, but I would assume turning the amp volume down would have taken it out of that sweet spot were it really sings. Would the increased output that I would then have been able to send from the mic by having the VC at 100% then bring the amp back into that sweet spot, or is that not how it works? If I had a mic with a VC and a tube amp of my own I’d test this out myself and learn by doing, but alas… I do not.
Lot’s of great schools of thought here. Thanks again everyone. I think Thievin' nailed it: “...we just develop the technique we are most comfortable with."
|
Barley Nectar
479 posts
Aug 10, 2014
11:03 PM
|
Would the increased output that I would then have been able to send from the mic by having the VC at 100% then bring the amp back into that sweet spot, or is that not how it works?
Yep, you got it...BN
|
