Loud amps at home...what are you using to tame them?

Jonathanthomas83

I'd like to record with mine. I've used IRs and load boxes but am interested in what everyone is using to tame their amps for home use and mainly to record them.

Edit: I have not got the luxury of using a speaker cabinet at home and can't play at loud volumes.

Cheers

Caffeine_Vampire

Nothing. I have a soundproofed garage that offers just enough attenuation to not annoy the neighbours. 

Jonathanthomas83

Very helpful. Thank you.

Caffeine_Vampire

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Very helpful. Thank you.

Ok, apologies, it wasn’t very helpful. Any good attenuator will help if you insist on using your live rig. I used to use a Marshall Powerbrake but with the quality of modelling these days I’d just buy a small modelling amp and keep everyone happy. 

Jonathanthomas83

You're right, quality of modelling these days is great. I'm fighting my Kemper at the moment though and am exploring ways to get a real amp to sound as good as the Kemper does on my favourite settings. You know what it's like, tone chasing, it's the bitch that never gives in.

Caffeine_Vampire

Jonathanthomas83 said:

You're right, quality of modelling these days is great. I'm fighting my Kemper at the moment though and am exploring ways to get a real amp to sound as good as the Kemper does on my favourite settings. You know what it's like, tone chasing, it's the bitch that never gives in.

Yeah, I know it well. I used to use an old 5 watt Fender Champ, cranked to the max to get recordable dirt but even that was too much for the neighbours. Interestingly, I’ve recently heard of people applying for an allotment from their local council and utilising the space in inventive ways...

jwlademann

I use a rusty old marshall powerbrake set to mute and a cab emulator that takes speaker level output (BluBox).  Then I either run to headphones or out to a powered speaker.  This way I can crank my JCM 800 50 watter without knocking down walls.  Not really the same but passable.

Jalapeno

Nothing use Modellers and headphones

JD50

Master volume

Jonathanthomas83

JD50 said:

Master volume

To record?

ecc83

". Interestingly, I’ve recently heard of people applying for an allotment from their local council and utilising the space in inventive ways... " OoooOOoo! That's clever! With solar panels pretty cheap these days and a couple of batteries from a scarp yard and an inverter you could go there at night when the green finger brigade has gone home!  Mind you! Some of the diehards growing prize veg believe you have to plant at midnight under a full moon.  Give 'em a bit of a shock as you launch into "Satisfaction" at 12.02!

Dave.

Danny1969

Before I had a real studio I converted my garage into a single room studio and recorded a lot of bands in there. Although it was soundproof so the neighbours weren't a problem I still had the problem of being in close vicinity of guitarist who liked playing very loud to get their sound. So I got a large dog crate, intended for very big dogs like Alsatians and such put their combos in there or my 2 x 12" cab along with a 57 mic .... then I covered it in pieces of heavy carpet to kill the volume. It worked very well indeed and after recording I could collapse the dog cage and roll up the carpet. I recorded an AC30 on full belt for one session but was able to talk over it .... carpet is very effective at killing volume down to 100hz or so 

Caffeine_Vampire

ecc83 said:

". Interestingly, I’ve recently heard of people applying for an allotment from their local council and utilising the space in inventive ways... " OoooOOoo! That's clever! With solar panels pretty cheap these days and a couple of batteries from a scarp yard and an inverter you could go there at night when the green finger brigade has gone home!  Mind you! Some of the diehards growing prize veg believe you have to plant at midnight under a full moon.  Give 'em a bit of a shock as you launch into "Satisfaction" at 12.02!

Dave.

I do keep meaning to venture out and check it out but I’m just not ready to hit the allotment at midnight. 

sgosden

Danny1969 said:

Before I had a real studio I converted my garage into a single room studio and recorded a lot of bands in there. Although it was soundproof so the neighbours weren't a problem I still had the problem of being in close vicinity of guitarist who liked playing very loud to get their sound. So I got a large dog crate, intended for very big dogs like Alsatians and such put their combos in there or my 2 x 12" cab along with a 57 mic .... then I covered it in pieces of heavy carpet to kill the volume. It worked very well indeed and after recording I could collapse the dog cage and roll up the carpet. I recorded an AC30 on full belt for one session but was able to talk over it .... carpet is very effective at killing volume down to 100hz or so 

I have such a crate for my big gold retriever. I can only shudder at what level of smell and hair would get shaken out of the crate with a cab going at full pelt :')

Wazmeister

The best Ive used, by far mate, is the Fryette Power Station. Brilliant.

Exorcist

Valve amp to - Jettenuator, from Line out into PC - add IR of choice in the DAW, sounds fantastic to me. As long as the Jettenuator is on 2 (I think) you don't need a speaker plugged in. YMMV

pintspiller

I just use Behringer GDI

bazxkr

I run an Engl E650 100w head into a 2x12 Pro with V30's via a Jet City Jettenuator. Surprisingly sweet at very low volumes

dangriffiths

UAD Ox

JMP220478

Theres plenty of devices out there to give you what you want 

the Boss Waza Tube Amp expander looks on paper - the dogs but best part of £1200
The Two Notes stuff
The UAD OX
Suhr reactive loads - I think v2 maybe a NAMM reveal as per the WAZA 

What amp are you trying to tame  - my MK5 25 - as a speaker smulation and a DI out which a more than acceptable for home recording ..

Have you considered an isolation cab ?   clearly would limit your IR but eq / mic or mics  placement might be your answer ? 

no idea of quality - https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Jet-City-JetStream-ii-Unloaded-Isolation-Cab/2DXN at £200

A few prominent Youtubers use isolation setups - Pete Thorn built his own in a former studio setup and he does get some decent tones ...

ToneControl

When I lived in a house with thin walls, I had this built by a professional

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/387817/#Comment_387817

http://s809.photobucket.com/user/toneuk/slideshow/Oak ISO cab


you can buy small isoboxes, but they aren't as good as something like this

Now I live in a house with thicker walls, and added secondary glazing to my guitar room, about £340 per window