Bandmate complaining about amp changes!

[Lespaulsignature 74]

I've been playing in this band for a little over a year now and I haven't had a problem with any of my bandmates. Recently the drummer started complaining to me whenever I bring a different amp/head to rehearsal. I have 8 amplifiers and I like to change up once in a while at rehearsals and gigs. I mainly use a Suhr Badger 30 through a Germino 4x12 cab. Whenever I bring/use one of my other heads he complains that I am not a team player because I am changing the sound/dynamics of the band. The other heads I am using are all quality amps......Germino Classic 45, Fuchs ODS100, THD Flexi 50 and various Blackface Fender Combos. He claims that when I use one of these other heads it throws everyone off and negatively effects the bands chemistery. Of course I disagree, I think that changing up amps keeps it fresh and exciting for me and it inspires me to play better! If I play better...the band sounds better...!!!

What do you think about this situation? Am I being selfish and not a team player for wanting to use different amplifiers? Please...... chime in!

[SgtThump]

I think your drummer is a fruitcake to suggest such ridiculous things. He should focus on keeping time and doing all that other stuff drummers can't seem to do right, instead of thinking about your guitar amp.

[zadiqof]

You may be exploring your own sound which is A. Okay...
However, you are throwing other people off.. They expect a certain frequency from your side of the room, which you continually present as a new tone that they have to get used to. You may see it as an experiment, they see it as a new sound in the room.

If the band is worth it, find a tone that's consistent and stick with it. Otherwise you're just going to keep your band members guessing where you'll be next, which is hard on them.

[dk123123dk]

Well he has a point. Bands spend a lot of time developing a sound and working with that. I mean a lot of players like to change it up from time to time, but for the most part you see a lot of pro's sticking with what works the best for that sound.

Recording studio, switch it up as much as you want/need. But live I think you should try to develop a sound and stick with that. Unless you are trying to be all over the map tonewise on purpose. That could be your thing too I guess.

Good luck. Just my 2 cents.

dk

[Two-Octave]

Is telling the drummer to shut the **** up an option?

[shane88]

ur both wrong :munch + u have too many amps

if the drummer is concerned about changing the sound of the band then u should listen and use the 1 amp the band likes (or is used to)

[harmonicator]

Your drummer should feel lucky that he even gets to play with a guitarist who has good taste in gear and is discerning regarding tone. I think you should start "examining" his playing, dynamics, time, etc. To me this sounds like he has a bone to pick with you, and is disguising it by bitching about your amps.

You ARE being a team player because you care about your band's guitar sound, and you are allowed to use (and change) whatever tools you want.

You have my vote 100% to keep indulging in amps.

[GA20T]

Tell your drummer that you prefer "such and such" brand drums to his kit. Also, tell him that a black kit would better suit the image the band is trying to achieve more than whatever color his rig happens to be. Then suggest he play with brushes more often, and that KISS/Aerosmith/AC~DC suck. See how that floats his boat.

[Casey]

Your band members actually notice when you bring in something different?????
I could switch my rig everyday and my band would never even notice...lol....it's true.

[Two-Octave]

Your band members actually notice when you bring in something different?????
I could switch my rig everyday and my band would never even notice...lol....it's true.

Are we in the same band? If we are,y'know it might be cool if we actually talked to each other. I'm just saying.

[jwalk24]

tell him to only use 1 cymbal 1 tom, kick and snare. then f*** u.

[Higher Landrons]

I say bring all of your amps next rehearsal. That'll learn him.

[Jay944]

My Bandmates are in the same way. This year I did buy and sale a lot of guitars, stompboxes, and I change my amp rig... They can't understand that I need to find a sound that suit me. I found my perfect rig since 4 month. And they have not already found a place to rehearse since I decide not to help them in the process (I'm busy with one other band).

The solution is very simple, find another band with people you enjoy to play with and who understand you.

[guitarnoize]

I agree with him, stick with one amp and give the rest to me. :drool

It took my bass player 4 rehearsals to notice I'd changed amps!

[rob2001]

He might have a point, but players should be able to adapt pretty quickly to a different sound at practice...or anywhere for that matter. It can sound wildly different with the same gear!

The other reason I can see him having a point is if you are fiddling with your amp all night.

[m1911]

I'm surprised your drummer is dialed into the tone changes/differences as you describe.
Did you ever think something else is at play here?
That you irritate him on some level and possibly he is somehow jeolous of something about you....
Possibilities may include....You get more notoriety in the band or he may know you spend thousands of dollars on all of these Heads and that bothers him so he's stickin' it to ya.

My feelings about Amplifiers though....
Be honest with yourself and run the one that sounds best to YOUR ears....and forget the rest.

Plug the Classic-45 into that 4x12 and never think about any of this again.

[mbargav]

I think he has a legitimate point that's worth listening to. The amp/guitar you play is definitely going to change the way you play and the attitude with with you approach a song. I know for a fact that I'll play the exact same song differently on my Les Paul and on my Ric 360. Ditto for amps. Maybe this is what he's getting at. For example, my AC30 turned up has a big, crunchy, open sound whereas my Orange at a similar volume sounds much more cutting and focussed. Obviously a drummer, bassist, etc. are going to play differently because of where I am in the mix.

I definitely get that it's annoying not to be able to use whatever gear you want, but if somebody says you are hurting band dynamics/chemistry, I think it's always better to hear the person out than go on the defensive. And it's only partially true that you playing better makes the band play better. If you playing better by bring a different head to each rehearsal means the drummer is getting thrown off his game, the band will sound worse not better.

[Dave Shoop]

I think the only issue would be if you spend practice time "dialing in" your sound with each amp and not focusing on the band or songs. Or maybe wasted time getting there late and hooking up pedals to each head and getting them set for each different head.

[Fuchsaudio]

Tell him drummers are a dime a dozen, great amps aren't, then tell him to pound sand, shut the f*ck up, and stick to trying to play the drums. When was the last time you told him you liked the sticks he used last night more ?

:band

[KCWM]

I have to wonder how many people that are more or less posting "eff the drummer" are actually in bands or have had a meaningful contribution in a band situation. Maybe that works, but, unless there's some sort of long standing friendship or something like that, introducing that kind of hostility isn't going to add to the situation...it's just going to make it worse.

[Madison]

I think he has a legitimate point that's worth listening to.

Pretty lame statement from your drummer, IMO. I've taken more amps to rehearsals and gigs than you can imagine, and would be pissed if the drummer tried to influence me as to what gear to use. As far as that goes, I don't want anyone in the band telling me gear to use...I'm capable of handling that chore.

[mbargav]

I have to wonder how many people that are more or less posting "eff the drummer" are actually in bands or have had a meaningful contribution in a band situation. Maybe that works, but, unless there's some sort of long standing friendship or something like that, introducing that kind of hostility isn't going to add to the situation...it's just going to make it worse.

+ 10

Also: Drummers are a dime a dozen?!??! Seriously, wherever y'all are that good drummers are a dime a dozen, please let me know, and I'll be there. Now gear obsessed guitarists who think too little of the rest of the band, that's dime a dozen. When the drummer isn't gelling with the guitarist, the audience will most certainly hear it. The number of people in a bar/club who'll have a preference between one good amp and another are far, far less.

[Fuchsaudio]

The only time anyone ever directed my gear choice was a guy who said "I play Strats and Teles, and it would be cool if you could stick to Les Pauls and the like, so we have some tonal contrast". Good enough. The drummer should mind his own business, unless you are too loud or other people in the band complain. In that case, perhaps you have a problem you may not realize.

[sberryreal]

Good drummers (with decent gear) are hard to come by...make sure you keep your disagreement friendly!

I've come around to recording every practice and then distributing the tracks afterward via email. That helps cut down on the bull shit and finger pointing (my own included).

[Luke]

Sounds like sticking with the one amp will make for a more harmonious (pun intended) relationship.

[stump]

My last band actually enjoyed when I brought different rigs as they said it gave us a different vibe and were inspired to play a little differently. Even our female singer was into it, she called it the Wheel of Tone but preferred my Marshall style amps. In the spirit of being a "team player" maybe ask the drummer and the others which amp they prefer. Some people don't like change and really do get thrown off by anything different. If the drummer is just being a jerk then it may be time to resolve his issue with you, find a new drummer or find a new band if you're really into playing your amps in rotation. Personally I don't care what anyone plays as long as it sounds good.

[soulohio]

drummer has a point.

[cooljuk]

When either myself or our other guitarist do something as small as use a different overdrive pedal for a given song, or change from say open tone bridge pickup to a toned down neck pickup, both our drummer and singer think we're playing a new song and are totally lost. They have "no idea why we aren't playing the same song we practiced last night." It's a little annoying because we're pretty early on in working as a group together and us six stringers are still exploring what tones sound good on our various songs, yet at the same time I'm impressed that the other band members are so influenced by our tonal choices.

[MudPies]

You have a point. So does your drummer. Maybe you might want to talk it out and come to a compromise.

Also, I know most is jokes but I gotta wonder how many guitarists really do disrespect drummers just for being drummers. Most guitarists can't handle 4 limbs doing independant things while keeping the constant beat in your head.

(havin a day)

[Marc Roy]

Your band members actually notice when you bring in something different?????
I could switch my rig everyday and my band would never even notice...lol....it's true.

No kidding. I'd tell the drummer to do his own damn job and let me do mine in peace. Doest the amp sound good? Does the tone work in the context of the band? Well, if so, that's all that matters.

[JoeP]

Tell him that you'll use one amp, and one amp only, if he'll play with a click.... Every song.

How does a drummer know what anything "REALLY" sounds like out front, sitting behind a drum kit?

He's a nut job.. Do your thing, and if it takes moving on, then move on...

[TommyMambo]

Work it out with him.

[Doug H]

Tell the drummer to stfu and keep time. I used to bring different amps to rehearsal all the time and no one complained. In fact they loved it. Tell him if something that insignificant throws him off, maybe you need to start looking for a new drummer.

"Team player"?!? What is he, a P.E. teacher?

[snoggin]

I just dont notice that much of a difference in my sound from amp to amp .. Its subtle for the most part.

My tone is in my hands:hide:hide

Seriously tho I sound a lot the same. except maybe for volume

[jharpersj]

I have a different head all the time, for gigs rehearsals, if my drummer told me this I would first tell him to **** off then ask him why he doesn't have a full set of Sonor or DW drums since thats what I like.

[devinb]

Work it out with him.

Best piece of advice in the thread.

If the drummer has a musical issue, and you're making music together, it deserves being addressed.

If the issue is something else, as some have suggested, you may as well find out what it is now rather than allowing some sort of contempt or whatnot to build up...

Sometimes I find it impossible to believe people act in real life how they encourage each other to act on this forum. On the other hand, I read the newspaper...

[travisvwright]

This needs to be reposted as a poll. Here's the thing we all know that drummers cannot tell the difference in tone from a different amp. The reason he is saying something is because everyone else in the band is complaining about it behind your back and he's the only person in the band that cares enough to try and fix it. Thank your drummer for brining it up and switch it up a lot less often.

Any talented musician will adjust their playing and settings to the other players. I often have to deal with missing pieces, second guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, bassist, piano either being there not being there. I could like the vast group of ego strokers set my gear the way I like it, to make me sound good. Instead I re-work anything I need to support the music. Even if that means setting my stuff to NOT cut through the mix when I'm in a supporting role.

Grow up learn some professional curtesy. BTW I'm assuming you aren't a bunch of 16 year olds in a basement. If you are then like others have said have fun and tell anyone else to stay out of it.

[FenderBigot]

What do you call a guy that hangs out with musicians??? A DRUMMER! LMAO... just kidding.

Seriously... he sounds like a drummer who "dabbles" in being a guitarist too. I think maybe he's showing you that he's paying attention, which isn't too often that a drummer notices the equipment a guitarist is using. If it was done properly and it was put to you as constructive criticism, then I applaud the skin banger. BUT, if he was a dickhead about it, then let him know you think he should stick to the drums!

[andrekp]

Best piece of advice in the thread.

If the drummer has a musical issue, and you're making music together, it deserves being addressed.

If the issue is something else, as some have suggested, you may as well find out what it is now rather than allowing some sort of contempt or whatnot to build up...

Sometimes I find it impossible to believe people act in real life how they encourage each other to act on this forum. On the other hand, I read the newspaper...

+1

Maybe the drummer does not view the band as some sort of evolving experiment in tone. If you do, and this is a problem for you, you need to work it out together.

If you are an original band working on original material and defing your own sound in the studio, that's one thing. But if you are a gigging bar band, you should be consistant from time to time.

[mbargav]

This needs to be reposted as a poll. Here's the thing we all know that drummers cannot tell the difference in tone from a different amp. The reason he is saying something is because everyone else in the band is complaining about it behind your back and he's the only person in the band that cares enough to try and fix it. Thank your drummer for brining it up and switch it up a lot less often.

Any talented musician will adjust their playing and settings to the other players. I often have to deal with missing pieces, second guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, bassist, piano either being there not being there. I could like the vast group of ego strokers set my gear the way I like it, to make me sound good. Instead I re-work anything I need to support the music. Even if that means setting my stuff to NOT cut through the mix when I'm in a supporting role.

Grow up learn some professional curtesy. BTW I'm assuming you aren't a bunch of 16 year olds in a basement. If you are then like others have said have fun and tell anyone else to stay out of it.

This is excellent advice. Please don't listen to the posters suggesting you just tell the drummer to piss off.

[JoeP]

Best piece of advice in the thread.

If the drummer has a musical issue, and you're making music together, it deserves being addressed.

If the issue is something else, as some have suggested, you may as well find out what it is now rather than allowing some sort of contempt or whatnot to build up...

Sometimes I find it impossible to believe people act in real life how they encourage each other to act on this forum. On the other hand, I read the newspaper...

Sometimes, alot of times, it's more of a ''being in control'' issue, not a musical issue. Yeah, stay there and play music with someone who feels like they have to tell you what to do and play.

That really creates creativity in a musical situation.

[guitarua]

Are you really trying to find a sound that works, or are you "mixing it up" because you have more gear than you have gigs/need for? If the former is the case, then you should let your band know you are truly trying to find the sound in the mix that works for you and them (if that's true).

We are guitarists here and let's be honest, if you are on this site you might be more into your sound than the sound of a group :) . If the drummer ACTUALLY noticed a change in sound, or is repeating the complaints of your other bandmates, then kudos to him. He is doing you a favor, buy him a :beer

Learning how and where to fit in might be the most important thing a musician can pay attention to in a band situation. Although having a personal sound and feeling good about your tone will most definitely effect your playing, not paying attention to what the band or song needs is detrimental to the entire situation. Just work it out with him and when you find a sound that works, go with it!!!

[billm408]

Sounds like more than an amp issue. I agree that you should just have a conversation with and and work it out. in my band, me and the other guitarist alternate amps in regularly and no one seems to even notice.

FWIW... I do it just to mix things up and keep it fresh for me. And the amps all fit well with the music we're playing.

[Marc Roy]

God forbid your main amp for this gig is in the shop and you need another one from your collection. What's the drummer going to say then?

[willhutch]

it looks pretty evenly split between "he's got a point" and "STFU". Do you value the guy's opinion? Do you respect his musicianship to the point where you think he has good judgment about such matters? If he is noting this, seems like a he may be a perceptive fellow.

I think you should take his suggestion under advisement. Sure, it's not his job to tel you what gear to use. But he may be making a valid observation about the net effect of your gear swapping.

If you disregard his ideas, which you have the right to do in a democratic band, be sure to acknowledge his suggestion as a constructive criticism. It sucks to be in a band where people censor themselves for fear of offending others.

[Madison]

Sometimes, alot of times, it's more of a ''being in control'' issue, not a musical issue.

That's my take as well. If you're going from a Deluxe Reverb on one practice to a Marshall Super Lead on the next, I'd have an easier time taking his word. The rigs you're showing up with shouldn't raise anything unusual...in the mix I'd be surprised if anyone in the band can tell one from the other. The drummer is agitated because you own all this nice equipment, and this is his attempt of gaining some power over you.

[DrSax]

your drummer has no idea what your amps sound like. He's got a bug up his tookus.

[Guitar55]

My bandmates bust me becasue over the last few years I have used the following: Mesa Lonestar Classic, Rivera Rake Reverb, Fender Deluxe Reverb, Fender Pro Reverb, Fender Blue Deluxe, Dr Z Maz 38 Sr. The problem is that I always sound like me!

[MudPies]

So we've learned that drummers are only to be seen and not heard and the only reason they would ever have to talk about the general guitar tone is out of jealousy.

Har har.

[mbargav]

So we've learned that drummers are only to be seen and not heard and the only reason they would ever have to talk about the general guitar tone is out of jealousy.

Har har.

Yep; and this is exactly why the average Craigslist musicians section has about 50 ads for "lead guitarist with godlike chops and pro gear looking for a band" for every 1 "drummer with full kit and practice space looking for a band" ad.

[bonertone]

Maybe his bandanas are too tight?

seriously though.. it can be distracting if things change too much sonically but so can unresolved bad feelings.

As stated earlier if the band is worth it comprimise but if it's not worth it make yourself happy and use the gear that inspires you to be a better player.

[RMcFarland]

There could be legitimate volume and frequency issues happening, and therefore he might have a point. As gearpager's we do tend to the ocd side of gear swaps. Does the drummer bring a different snare to every rehearsal? Does the singer bring different mics? What about the bass player? Are they switching it up? You might be fitting nicely in the groove with one rig and not the others. Unless there is something personal going on between you, he is probably just trying to let you know that you and the band sound better with that particular head.

[Bluzeboy]

Is the drummer good? Does he count to 4 on a regular basis and not play in hat sizes?
Are you messing about with the tone/vol of the "new" amp for a good bit of the practice?

If the answers to these are "yes" then listen to the man and stop it.
I take different things to rehearsal now and then and it does change up the sound and also the focus. My AC30 is a MUCH different beast than my Classic 45 or my Fenders. I can see his point very clearly.

[buddaman71]

Tell him to STFU and stop rushing when he comes out of his fills!

[Plague Dog]

The dude is a drummer.... nuff said.

[cbguy]

Does he wonder who's playing when you change your shirt?

~you DO change your shirt, don't you??~ :D

[Brooks]

besides my #1 guitar (hamer duotone, the only constant for the last 5 years),
i buy & sell guitars and amps, one or 2 a year.
everytime i bring in a new amp or guitar to rehearsal,
the guys start making bets on how long i'll keep it.
funny thing is its all relative; to them i'm a gear whore,
but compared to 75% of TGP, i don't own hardly any gear
(2 or 3 electrics, 2 amps, 2 cabs,
w/ a fairly strict "one in, one out" policy).

[Jon C]

I think your drummer is a fruitcake to suggest such ridiculous things. He should focus on keeping time and doing all that other stuff drummers can't seem to do right, instead of thinking about your guitar amp.

exactly ... what a control freak dork, what's his issue, is his timing thrown off by changes in your tonal palette? :cool::huh

my last bandmates enjoyed the rotating assortment of guits & amps I'd bring to gigs, none of it was inappropriate to the task or venue.

[Lightningrt]

In my experience drummers don't give a rats ass about guitar tone - and don't get jealous about gear. I've never met a drummer who would ever get through as much equipment as a guitarist does - in fact, I am seen as somewhat of a fool for spending so much on gear by our drummer. I have to agree really.

So it may be a feel thing.

I'd say if he's noticed a change it means he feels he's having to adjust how he plays the song. Now that may be down to lack of ability/musicality and there is no real perceivable difference to anyone but him. It may be that there is a real difference and he feels he can't put what he wants into it because it is changing from week to week.

Either way isn't the whole band responsible for discussing the feel and sound of the songs? In our band I gratefully accept suggestions from the rhythm section on mood and feel - it's so easy sometimes to blast away with a fuzz pedal when it's not required, or overplay. Those are the two sins we guitarists are most guilty of -overplaying and playing to loud/intensely.

[Marc Roy]

I think your drummer is a fruitcake to suggest such ridiculous things. He should focus on keeping time and doing all that other stuff drummers can't seem to do right, instead of thinking about your guitar amp.

:agree

[mikefair]

I don't even get this. The drummer is telling you to play through the same amp. Right? This is rehearsal, where you should be experimenting and evaluating. Right? Something else is obviously at work here. Does he just hate you for reasons real or imagined?

[FeloniousBishop]

Sometimes the way we perceive our own sound is different than the way others perceive it.

Take gain for instance - often a player will think he sounds better with more gain, or find it easier to play with more gain. Whereas to everyone else he will sound worse.

I think it's worth asking all the other band members which amp you sound best with, and then consider continuing to use that amp.

[Plague Dog]

^^^ I bought a JTM45, I thought it sounded horendous, but after a set people were coming to me telling me how great I sounded.

I decided the worse I sound to me, the better I sound to everyone else.

[Marc Roy]

This thread is hilarious. A drummer, of all people, is complaining about an amp (and from what I've read, a good quality amp as well).

Face it, the tone can't be all that much different. Are the songs worse off because the OP changed amps from time to time? As long as you can play and sound good doing it, it shouldn't matter what you're using.

[8mileshigh]

I used to plug into anything that I could borrow or just use the school bass amp as a last resort. Nobody ever complained....

[squeally dan]

You may be exploring your own sound which is A. Okay...
However, you are throwing other people off.. They expect a certain frequency from your side of the room, which you continually present as a new tone that they have to get used to. You may see it as an experiment, they see it as a new sound in the room.

If the band is worth it, find a tone that's consistent and stick with it. Otherwise you're just going to keep your band members guessing where you'll be next, which is hard on them.


Huh? I have played in the ame band for sevreal years and have changed amps multiple times. First off, the guys I play with don't even notice if I have a different amp most of the time. When they do notice, they have always comented that I sound basically the same no matter what equipment I use. I think thats true for all of us.

Secondly, I don't beleive for a second that your drummer can tell a sonic difference in your different amps.

I suspect that your drummer is either a total a-hole, or you have done something else to piss him off that probably has nothing to do with your amp. Maybe you aren'tbeing a team player in the band, but that has nothing to do with your amp.

[harmonicator]

That's my take as well. If you're going from a Deluxe Reverb on one practice to a Marshall Super Lead on the next, I'd have an easier time taking his word. The rigs you're showing up with shouldn't raise anything unusual...in the mix I'd be surprised if anyone in the band can tell one from the other. The drummer is agitated because you own all this nice equipment, and this is his attempt of gaining some power over you.

exactly

[Marc Roy]

I remember playing with a drummer who did nothig but criticize (which was weird because he certainly wasn't as good as HE thought he was). Complained about everything: song suggestions, guitar tones, volume level (he played with ear plugs while our amps were on 2 at the loudest), name it - he was even harassing me to perform a song on accoustic, all the while me repeatdly telling him I didn't own one... I was glad as hell when they decided to replace me. The guy's a total dick, and by speaking to other locals around here, I was right in my assumptions.

Is it the drummer's band? Is he the leader and does he call all the shots?

Point is that everyone should focus on their thing in particular. It's certain constructive to offer suggestions and to have a certain style in mind, but when one of your musicians can't play comfortably, it won't help the music very much IMO.

[KCWM]

:messedup x10 at some of the responses in here.

[zadiqof]

Huh? I have played in the ame band for sevreal years and have changed amps multiple times. First off, the guys I play with don't even notice if I have a different amp most of the time. When they do notice, they have always comented that I sound basically the same no matter what equipment I use. I think thats true for all of us.

Secondly, I don't beleive for a second that your drummer can tell a sonic difference in your different amps.

I suspect that your drummer is either a total a-hole, or you have done something else to piss him off that probably has nothing to do with your amp. Maybe you aren'tbeing a team player in the band, but that has nothing to do with your amp.
Do you play in an all originals band, or a cover band?

[stevieboy]

We don't know the guy or the band. On one hand, maybe he's just a pain in the ass.

On the other hand, maybe you're lucky you have a drummer that is actually listening to the rest of the band.

[Doug H]

There could be legitimate volume and frequency issues happening, and therefore he might have a point.

True, but if it's an issue of him hearing you, you resolve that by turning up/down, pointing the cabinet this or that way, etc. The treble is killing my ears, can you aim the speaker over there or turn down the treble? Etc, etc...

There are all kinds of ways of dealing with mix issues, and as a band you should, in order that everyone can hear everything they need to clearly and so forth. But that doesn't extend into the drummer complaining about what amp you bring, or that you brought a different one this week than last, etc. IMO he shouldn't worry his pretty little head about that...

I think there's more going on here than just the amp issue. Sounds like some sort of power struggle.

[johnmfer]

Would you complain if the drummer had 8 different kits and brought a different kit to practice every time? What if he switched each time from a vintage jazz kit, to some ultra modern DW, to some electronic V-drums thing, to some Bonham-style vista-lite, to a cocktail kit? Or even made changes less drastic? Those are all going to drastically affect the overall tone of the band. You're going to find one of his kits you like as a guitarist, that you think makes the band sound best. If the drummer's messing around with equipment too much, you're going to say something right? I notice a significant difference when a drummer changes out a single cymbal.

Who are you people to think the drummer doesn't have the same kind of ears for guitar sounds?

I read somewhere that Adam Jones of Tool wanted to play a Mesa Boogie on their latest tour, but the band felt a Diezel sounded better in the mix. So guess what? He plays the Diezel.

Personally, I play whatever guitar/amp sounds best with the band, and I ask my bandmates their opinions about how things sound. They do the same. When you get on stage, you aren't performing solo, you're performing as a team. Sports teams that win championships, are they populated with individuals who maintain the "I'm the star, you do your job and I'll do mine" mentality, or do are they populated with team players?

If your band doesn't have this kind of communication going on, I can only imagine how miserable some members must be.

[Marc Roy]

I think there's more going on here than just the amp issue. Sounds like some sort of power struggle.

That's what I'm thinking too. I've played in my share of bands where there's always this one know-it-all who thinks his opinion matters most.

[gixxerrock]

When a start with a band, I will try out all kinds of guitar/pedal/amp combinations and figure out what works best in that context. After the band sound jells, and arrangements tighten up, I like to stick to a smaller known toolset.

I will still bring out a different guitar or amp to rehearsal, depending on my mood, but it totally changes the band sound and how I play. Singers can definitely tell the difference between a strat and tele. There are certain sonic things they expect for cues to mood and timing that throw them off when different.

I think the drummer could have a valid point. What if he showed up with a full electronic kit complete with 80s analog drum sounds? I would argue that might change your band sound in a way the drummer doesn't have a right to without discussing it with the band first.

[Eskimo_Joe]

You may be exploring your own sound which is A. Okay...
However, you are throwing other people off.. They expect a certain frequency from your side of the room, which you continually present as a new tone that they have to get used to. You may see it as an experiment, they see it as a new sound in the room.

If the band is worth it, find a tone that's consistent and stick with it. Otherwise you're just going to keep your band members guessing where you'll be next, which is hard on them.


I agree! It would be like your singer trying out different voices / singing styles. Dial it in brother!

[squeally dan]

Do you play in an all originals band, or a cover band?

I play in a cover band but I'm not sure how that makes your amp sound different.

[harmonicator]

Would you complain if the drummer had 8 different kits and brought a different kit to practice every time? What if he switched each time from a vintage jazz kit, to some ultra modern DW, to some electronic V-drums thing, to some Bonham-style vista-lite, to a cocktail kit? Or even made changes less drastic? Those are all going to drastically affect the overall tone of the band. You're going to find one of his kits you like as a guitarist, that you think makes the band sound best. If the drummer's messing around with equipment too much, you're going to say something right? I notice a significant difference when a drummer changes out a single cymbal.


Yeah, but your analogy doesn't wash. The amps he listed as bringing are all withing the same ballpark. Not like he brought an old tweed one day and a Bogner the next. Even if he did, guitarists use a broader spectrum of sounds within the same band (often times) more than drummers. Sometimes more than one type of amp may be required.

[johnmfer]

Yeah, but your analogy doesn't wash. The amps he listed as bringing are all withing the same ballpark. Not like he brought an old tweed one day and a Bogner the next. Even if he did, guitarists use a broader spectrum of sounds within the same band (often times) more than drummers. Sometimes more than one type of amp may be required.
Right, it's an example of extremes. the familiarity on this forum is more with guitar gear than drum gear and if I used a more subtle example, 1) as a guitarist I wouldn't know technically what I was talking about in terms of differences between kits and 2) I would expect most other guitarists wouldn't either. :cool:

EDIT: that said, my ears could tell the difference even if I don't know the technical differences. If a drummer played 8 different kits with the band and changed them out regularly, I would have an issue with that. I would have a favorite kit and would make my opinion known. the bass player would do the same. We all do that for each other.

[Twangmaster]

never trust anyone who spends thousands of dollars on equipment, only to beat the hell out of it at every possible moment!

... and remind the drummer that he can be replaced with a machine!

[MudPies]

And the guitarist can be replaced with a keyboardist.

[74vibrolux]

Tell him to suck it. Seriously. You bought them, you have the right to play them. Now if they're drastically changing your sound as in one practice you're sparkling clean and the next you're high-gain shred ... sure, he has a point. But I seriously doubt that's the case.

The most important questions though ... are you a paid professional in a touring band? Do you have a label and bandmates with their well-being riding on your sound? Or are you, like the majority of us, a hobbyist who really enjoys gear and plays for the love of playing? Unless you're a professional, who cares. Seriously. And if the guys in your band aren't skilled enough to adapt to a minute change like swapping a Deluxe for a Bassman or what have you, maybe you need a different band.

My two cents ... of course, they're only worth a penny.

[Marc Roy]

Tell him to suck it. Seriously. You bought them, you have the right to play them. Now if they're drastically changing your sound as in one practice you're sparkling clean and the next you're high-gain shred ... sure, he has a point. But I seriously doubt that's the case.

The most important questions though ... are you a paid professional in a touring band? Do you have a label and bandmates with their well-being riding on your sound? Or are you, like the majority of us, a hobbyist who really enjoys gear and plays for the love of playing? Unless you're a professional, who cares. Seriously. And if the guys in your band aren't skilled enough to adapt to a minute change like swapping a Deluxe for a Bassman or what have you, maybe you need a different band.

My two cents ... of course, they're only worth a penny.


I agree with this. I seriously doubt the sound is drastically that different. If it were a pro band who has hired you as a gun, well that can be different. A buddy of mine was hired a while back, and they wouldn't allow him to use his Bogner Ecstasy and matching cab, suggesting instead a portable rack setup. But that's different. He was being paid a salary.

If it's a bar band or something like that, well screw it. As long as it doesn't interrupt the songs and it sounds good, then what's the problem?:jo

[Terry Hayes]

Right, it's an example of extremes. the familiarity on this forum is more with guitar gear than drum gear and if I used a more subtle example, 1) as a guitarist I wouldn't know technically what I was talking about in terms of differences between kits and 2) I would expect most other guitarists wouldn't either. :cool:

EDIT: that said, my ears could tell the difference even if I don't know the technical differences. If a drummer played 8 different kits with the band and changed them out regularly, I would have an issue with that. I would have a favorite kit and would make my opinion known. the bass player would do the same. We all do that for each other.

This is ridiculous. The guitar player, by going from clean to distorted tones even with the same amp is already spanning a wide range of tones!

I play with a band that is a rotating cast of characters. Some drummers that get called for the gig use vintage kits and others use modern kits. In all instances, the band leader calls the same tunes (the set list isnt' changed depending on which drummer is playing and what kit he has brought) and music is made. No one gets hung up on which drummers kit seems to work best for the gig because they all work for the gig. Assuming the kit (and, in this case amp) is appropriate to cover the songs in question, there is no problem.

Nor does the sound of the different kits on different gigs cause any problems with anyone else playing their parts.

Your analogy of the drummer using kits ranging from electronic to cocktail is likely too wide since there is bound to be one of those kits that will not work for the music being played. Whereas (as others have pointed out) the range of amps being discussed was not that broad and were in the same tonal family.

[Terry Hayes]

Originally Posted by zadiqof http://img.thegearpage.net/board/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=7015862#post7015862)
You may be exploring your own sound which is A. Okay...
However, you are throwing other people off.. They expect a certain frequency from your side of the room, which you continually present as a new tone that they have to get used to. You may see it as an experiment, they see it as a new sound in the room.

If the band is worth it, find a tone that's consistent and stick with it. Otherwise you're just going to keep your band members guessing where you'll be next, which is hard on them.

I agree! It would be like your singer trying out different voices / singing styles. Dial it in brother!

Yes, but this is the Gear Page where we all sound the same regardless of what we play through, right?

So, which is it? Tone is in the hands and therefore the "frequency from your side of the room" will stay constant? Or, is that a guitar player changing his amp is the direct equivalent of a singer "trying out different voices"?

[Bluzeboy]

the range of amps being discussed was not that broad and were in the same tonal family.

I have to disagree.. the OP states that he goes from a Germino Classic 45 to Shur.. to a Fuchs od100.. Those are close but.. then he says "various Fender Blackface combos".. WAAY different.. If I could get any Blackface to sound like my Classic 45 I would be a happy camper and sell the rest of my stuff.

[Lespaulsignature 74]

WOW, I guess I hit a nerve here, I do appreciate the many, varied responses! Valid points were brought up here that I will take into consideration. Just to answer and clear up some of your questions, I want to say that:

1) we are friends and I have been playing on and off in bands with him for over 10 years. He is a very good drummer, I don't believe that he is a control freak.
2) we are a cover band that plays Classic.... Blues based rock. We are a trio (bass, guitar,drums) with a lead singer.
3) I have been playing guitar for the better part of 40 years (I'm 53)
4) I am probably guilty of trying to dial in my tone during rehearsl when I change heads. I do not play too loud, volume is not the issue.
5) I want to keep this as friendly as possible and resolve this issue so we can continue as a band.
6) I will ask my other band mates if this is also an issue with them.

Thank you for all your responses! Peace

[Dog Boy]

I've been playing in this band for a little over a year now and I haven't had a problem with any of my bandmates. Recently the drummer started complaining to me whenever I bring a different amp/head to rehearsal. I have 8 amplifiers and I like to change up once in a while at rehearsals and gigs. I mainly use a Suhr Badger 30 through a Germino 4x12 cab. Whenever I bring/use one of my other heads he complains that I am not a team player because I am changing the sound/dynamics of the band. The other heads I am using are all quality amps......Germino Classic 45, Fuchs ODS100, THD Flexi 50 and various Blackface Fender Combos. He claims that when I use one of these other heads it throws everyone off and negatively effects the bands chemistery. Of course I disagree, I think that changing up amps keeps it fresh and exciting for me and it inspires me to play better! If I play better...the band sounds better...!!!

What do you think about this situation? Am I being selfish and not a team player for wanting to use different amplifiers? Please...... chime in!

If you want the band to be more than the sum of its parts I would find a niche and stick with it.

If you are just jammin the tunes then whatever.

[strat a various]

He's a control freak. Ignore him til the gigs start paying a lot, and if he doesn't give up the stupid attitude, replace him. I've never told a drummer what to do. If they bring drums too big for the venue more than once, I get a smarter drummer. Oxymoron ... smarter drummer.
But it's true, what an idiot. You use any rig you want, tell him to mind his own business.

[Terry Hayes]

I have to disagree.. the OP states that he goes from a Germino Classic 45 to Shur.. to a Fuchs od100.. Those are close but.. then he says "various Fender Blackface combos".. WAAY different.. If I could get any Blackface to sound like my Classic 45 I would be a happy camper and sell the rest of my stuff.

Oops, I guess I didn't read as carefully as I thought. Still, the clean channel of my Budda, to a another musician, isn't probably that much different from my Victoria Regal.

And, some classic rock tunes were recorded on a Deluxe or Princeton....

And again, "WAAY different" to us, may not be "WAAY different" to another member of the band. Lastly, one would have to assume that he was using pedals with the Blackface in order to achieve the heavier tones which further narrows the gap between the various amps.

[burningyen]

If even the drummer notices, then you might be doing something wrong.

:rimshot

[Bluzeboy]

And again, "WAAY different" to us, may not be "WAAY different" to another member of the band. Lastly, one would have to assume that he was using pedals with the Blackface in order to achieve the heavier tones which further narrows the gap between the various amps.

Terry.. I would agree 100% with that statement but, even a drummer can tell the difference in 1 or 2 x 12 combo and a 4x12 stack. :-)

The OP stated Volume is not the issue so I'm assuming (yeah I know bad idea) that it has to be the switch between 4x12 and a combo and a Whatever .vs. a Blackface.. You have to play 'em clean at some point and they just sound different.

Just my 1/2 cent worth.

[changeling]

at least you're in good company.
ed van halen tried to break in his es335 with his band,and was outvoted.

joe perry was recently pissed off at brad whitford for constant guitar changes before every song.

and finally, back when i was just learning my whammy pedal,i came back off break and the drummer had hidden it..heh.
no one is exempt.
r

[Marc Roy]

at least you're in good company.
ed van halen tried to break in his es335 with his band,and was outvoted.

joe perry was recently pissed off at brad whitford for constant guitar changes before every song.

and finally, back when i was just learning my whammy pedal,i came back off break and the drummer had hidden it..heh.
no one is exempt.
r

Hehehe... I'll never forget my buddy's band, their guitarist was using a Boss Metal Zone. They were fed up of it and went as far as trying to bust the damn thing. Sadly, it never broke.:bounce

[Strat]

I agree with your drummer.

I've been playing in this band for a little over a year now and I haven't had a problem with any of my bandmates. Recently the drummer started complaining to me whenever I bring a different amp/head to rehearsal. I have 8 amplifiers and I like to change up once in a while at rehearsals and gigs. I mainly use a Suhr Badger 30 through a Germino 4x12 cab. Whenever I bring/use one of my other heads he complains that I am not a team player because I am changing the sound/dynamics of the band. The other heads I am using are all quality amps......Germino Classic 45, Fuchs ODS100, THD Flexi 50 and various Blackface Fender Combos. He claims that when I use one of these other heads it throws everyone off and negatively effects the bands chemistery. Of course I disagree, I think that changing up amps keeps it fresh and exciting for me and it inspires me to play better! If I play better...the band sounds better...!!!

What do you think about this situation? Am I being selfish and not a team player for wanting to use different amplifiers? Please...... chime in!

[devinb]

Sometimes, alot of times, it's more of a ''being in control'' issue, not a musical issue. Yeah, stay there and play music with someone who feels like they have to tell you what to do and play.

That really creates creativity in a musical situation.

If you re-read my post that you quoted, you'll see I suggested addressing the issue if it's musical or not...

If you want to play in a band, you make the band work, you resolve issues that there is room for compromise on, and you move on...TGP as a whole seems to have an awfully short fuse in my opinion when it comes to what they'll tolerate in a band situation, and honestly, it causes me to question how many of the people giving the advice have had a successful band, and by successful, I don't mean record deal, I mean one that managed to function like a group of people who wanted to make music.

[teleharmonium]

Who are you people to think the drummer doesn't have the same kind of ears for guitar sounds?

It's not necessarily about whether they have the potential to notice different guitar sounds; the point is, if we're talking about rock music, while a drummer is actually playing he mostly hears himself. They're acoustically loud instruments and rock drummers tend to hit hard. If you see the cymbals moving about on their stands, most rock drummers would be hard pressed to tell you anything about what a guitarist is doing at that particular moment, other than "playing" vs "not playing".

If his comments were based on hearing back a recording, or the music has a lot of dynamics, or the monitoring is exceptionally good, the comment would make more sense. Or, if the sound got worse due to one particular piece of equipment, maybe this was a tactful way to express that opinion.

I often change up both my guitars and my amps. I've never heard a complaint about it. But then I play differently at every show too, and it's original material with improvisation, so it's not like there's some specific goal of something I should be trying to sound like.

Certainly big differences in sound could legitimately be distracting to a bandmate. However, you usually have to use a really different rig in order to get a big difference in the way you sound.

[markw1980]

I have been in several bands with drummers that I would listen to if they said something like this to me. However, most of the drummers that I have played with would not have the first clue about different guitars and amps, etc.

[recordmusic]

My attitude is to always get feedback from the band on my tone choice for a song. Rarely do I get negative feedback. Occasionaly I get a nugget of good info such as heavier would be better on this song . . . Makes me better

[johnmfer]

This is ridiculous. The guitar player, by going from clean to distorted tones even with the same amp is already spanning a wide range of tones!

Exactly, and the songs are written to incorporate those changes in tones. If I go and throw some new piece of equipment into a song, it changes the whole dynamic and in some cases, the songs don't sound the same at all, or at least parts of a song.

[sonic1974]

WOW, I guess I hit a nerve here, I do appreciate the many, varied responses! Valid points were brought up here that I will take into consideration. Just to answer and clear up some of your questions, I want to say that:

1) we are friends and I have been playing on and off in bands with him for over 10 years. He is a very good drummer, I don't believe that he is a control freak.
2) we are a cover band that plays Classic.... Blues based rock. We are a trio (bass, guitar,drums) with a lead singer.
3) I have been playing guitar for the better part of 40 years (I'm 53)
4) I am probably guilty of trying to dial in my tone during rehearsl when I change heads. I do not play too loud, volume is not the issue.
5) I want to keep this as friendly as possible and resolve this issue so we can continue as a band.
6) I will ask my other band mates if this is also an issue with them.

Thank you for all your responses! Peace


4) I am probably guilty of trying to dial in my tone during rehearsl when I change heads. I do not play too loud, volume is not the issue.

It sounds like the time that you spend experimenting with the settings on the amp are disrupting the flow of the rehearsal.

I know it's fun to try out different sounds, but from the perspective of the other guys in the band, they probably want to get up and running and playing the songs.

[Terry Hayes]

Terry.. I would agree 100% with that statement but, even a drummer can tell the difference in 1 or 2 x 12 combo and a 4x12 stack. :-)

The OP stated Volume is not the issue so I'm assuming (yeah I know bad idea) that it has to be the switch between 4x12 and a combo and a Whatever .vs. a Blackface.. You have to play 'em clean at some point and they just sound different.

Just my 1/2 cent worth.

But, according to the OP, the drummer even complains when the guitar player simply changes out heads - all of which are used with a 4x12!

[Terry Hayes]

Exactly, and the songs are written to incorporate those changes in tones. If I go and throw some new piece of equipment into a song, it changes the whole dynamic and in some cases, the songs don't sound the same at all, or at least parts of a song.


Not if the new piece of equipment was still capable of providing a PROPER sound. Of course, if the song calls for distortion, you shoudl be able to provide that.

So, if a tune calls for a heavy tone if the guitar player changes from a Diezel one week to a Bogner the next week, the drummer is all mixed up and somehow can't play the tune?

[Echoes]

I've been playing in this band for a little over a year now and I haven't had a problem with any of my bandmates. Recently the drummer started complaining to me whenever I bring a different amp/head to rehearsal. I have 8 amplifiers and I like to change up once in a while at rehearsals and gigs. I mainly use a Suhr Badger 30 through a Germino 4x12 cab. Whenever I bring/use one of my other heads he complains that I am not a team player because I am changing the sound/dynamics of the band. The other heads I am using are all quality amps......Germino Classic 45, Fuchs ODS100, THD Flexi 50 and various Blackface Fender Combos. He claims that when I use one of these other heads it throws everyone off and negatively effects the bands chemistery. Of course I disagree, I think that changing up amps keeps it fresh and exciting for me and it inspires me to play better! If I play better...the band sounds better...!!!

What do you think about this situation? Am I being selfish and not a team player for wanting to use different amplifiers? Please...... chime in!

you play your instrument and I'll play mine....

next time he says something kick in your wah pedal and leave it in the treble position for a few songs...then ask him if he likes the tone :dunno

[Lucidology]

Don't know ... drummer might be right. ...
It's not about .. You Play your instrument & I play mine ..
it's about the overall ensemble sound.. bottom line!

Sounds like the amps you're bringing are pretty much in contrast with each other..
Especially watts wise ... so there might be evident tone changes or contrasts every time
& I'm sure this can be annoying ..
Annoying especially if you're always changing your fundmental tone ...
Because it's not just about guitar sounds, but the overall mix intended ...

As a guitarist,
I do know that our indulgence in tone exploring can get to the other guys in the band
if we don't bring a solid package to the table each time ...
Thus we can come off as pretty self-indulgent ...

If this drummer is a good musician .. they you can be sure he's got a point.
& that he's got good ears ..

Time & time again, I'll be the first to point out that good musicians are savvy
to guitar sounds & playing much more then we guitarists might like to accept ...

[Terry Hayes]

What kills me about this is that, if the guy started a thread asking what amp he should use for this band, he would get 1,000 different replies. He would be told "tone is in the hands", or "its only rock and roll" - it doesn't matter what amp you play.

Now all of a sudden, the guy changes up amps and the whole band falls apart and can't function due to the radical paradigm shift?????

I agree, if the OP is "wasting" time by fooling around with a new amp each week that would be irritating. Or, if there was a major change in volume, that would be a problem too.

[Marc Roy]

So, if a tune calls for a heavy tone if the guitar player changes from a Diezel one week to a Bogner the next week, the drummer is all mixed up and somehow can't play the tune?

Well, you know how drummers can be.:p

[Echoes]

Don't know ... drummer might be right. ...
It's not about .. You Play your instrument & I play mine .. it's about the overall ensemble sound.. bottom line!.

but who appointed HIM as the grand master of all that is tone related? :dunno

[Terry Hayes]

Exactly, and the songs are written to incorporate those changes in tones. If I go and throw some new piece of equipment into a song, it changes the whole dynamic and in some cases, the songs don't sound the same at all, or at least parts of a song.

It's only rock and roll...

[MudPies]

but who appointed HIM as the grand master of all that is tone related? :dunno

The same person who appointed you.

:)

:mob

:munch

[Jaekkid]

He's a drummer what more is there to say?

[Marc Roy]

He's a drummer what more is there to say?

+1 on this.

[travisvwright]

There are a lot of people in this thread that I would never want to be in a band with.

[strat a various]

There are a lot of people in this thread that I would never want to be in a band with.

I wouldn't want to be working with that drummer if I had to tell him to mind his own instrument more than once.
Hell, he may be interrupting your ability to find a "Holy Grail" tone. You know, plenty of folks marry a control freak, much less play in a band with one. You're the guitar player, you're the expert, it's your job to decide what sound you want. Unless he's the leader and paying your wage, tell him to blow.

[MudPies]

I've met very few guitarists who are experts. Just sayin.

[doctorx]

I'm gonna go with the stfu crowd.

The day I let a drummer tell me what rig to play is the day I'll shove a rusty nail in my eye.

If he doesn't like it then find another band. It sounds like you have great gear and are probably a great player.

[Mark Robinson]

We don't know the guy or the band. On one hand, maybe he's just a pain in the ass.

On the other hand, maybe you're lucky you have a drummer that is actually listening to the rest of the band.

This is how I see it as well.

[Lucidology]

but who appointed HIM as the grand master of all that is tone related? :dunno

Agree totally about that ... but what I seem to read into it,
is that overall mix is his concern .. but maybe I'm wrong & he is just a 'control freak'..

But there's not doubt we guitarists can get lost in our individual tone searching
much to the detriment of the band as a whole ..

I'll be the first to raise my hand up to admit being guilty to this fact..
So self-indulged about my own sound that I had to called out on it by someone in the band ...

[strat a various]

I've met very few guitarists who are experts. Just sayin.
Really, you have to get out more.

[strat a various]

Agree totally about that ... but what I seem to read into it,
is that overall mix is his concern .. but maybe I'm wrong & he is just a 'control freak'..

But there's not doubt we guitarists can get lost in our individual tone search much to the detriment of the band as a whole ..

I'll be the first to raise my hand up to admit being guilty to this fact..
So self-indulged about my own sound that I had to called out on it by someone in the band ....

This isn't the last band you'll ever be in. Your tone, if and when you find it, is yours. You take it with you wherever you play. The next ten drummers you work with will hear the tone you are now establishing. Getting a great sound that will be your trademark henceforth is more important than bending over to some control minded drummer.

[Wagster]

I've never had a drummer say that to me. I'll add one thing to the drummer's defense. If you usually use a openback cab and switch to a closedback he may not hear you as well in the back. This could be a issue.

I agree with the other posters that different amps don't sit in the mix the same. AC30's have more mids less bottom, Fender- more bottom less mids ect. You should be able to cover common ground with each amp. I'm curious as to what amp your band likes the best?

[lhallam]

The solution is to join 8 different bands and use one amp with each.

[Madison]

... I think that changing up amps keeps it fresh and exciting for me and it inspires me to play better! If I play better...the band sounds better...!!!


This is 100% true. Variety keeps the spark alive in some of us. The fact you both are good friends and have played together off and on for 10 years will help when you tactfully tell him to stfu.

If I had to look forward to playing the same exact rig (because Mr Drummer told me so) at every rehearsal and gig, I'd sooner take up another hobby.

[donnie55]

If you are in a blues band lets say , and you been getting a great blues tone and then one day you come to practice with a new rig. And your tone has changed to that of lets say Munky Shaffer from Korn. Then yea I can see his point. If your tone is fairly consistent , I mean still a good blues tone. Then I would tell him to go pound sand up his butt!!!!!

[johnmfer]

A couple years ago I went to see my father in law play a gig. He's an excellent drummer (and a damn fine guitarist to boot). The guitarist in his band at the time played an 80s pointy guitar through a Fender red-knob M-80 half stack. Sure could move his fingers fast, but his tone was the WORST I have ever heard. Imagine cranking up the distortion all the way, then cutting all frequencies below 1K, leaving nothing but a thin, harsh, unpleasant sound - that was this guy. I asked my father in law about it and he just shook his head and said he was only playing with the guy because he was "available". The drummer was correct about the guitar player's tone in this case, and had any one of you seen it you would have agreed with the drummer.

Also, I'm 100% sure any one of you, if given the opportunity to be in a band with Neil Pert or John Bonham or Danny Carey or Buddy Rich or Keith Moon or whoever your favorite drummer is, would play whatever amp the drummer thought sounded best.

[RMcFarland]

True, but if it's an issue of him hearing you, you resolve that by turning up/down, pointing the cabinet this or that way, etc. The treble is killing my ears, can you aim the speaker over there or turn down the treble? Etc, etc...

There are all kinds of ways of dealing with mix issues, and as a band you should, in order that everyone can hear everything they need to clearly and so forth. But that doesn't extend into the drummer complaining about what amp you bring, or that you brought a different one this week than last, etc. IMO he shouldn't worry his pretty little head about that...

I think there's more going on here than just the amp issue. Sounds like some sort of power struggle.

I agree with you for the most part Doug, but if this is a legitimate "sound" complaint and not a personal beef between the two, then maybe he feels that the OP is spending too much time switching gear while the rest of the band has a sound dialed in. Some people spend way too much time twiddling knobs and wasting everyone else's time at rehearsal. In NYC we pay up to $60.00 an hour for a good space. If the other guitar player in any project I am involved with brings a different head every couple of rehearsals, wasting time and money angling the cab this way and that, he would be looking for another gig.

[jgyn]

My old band didn't like it when I used a Vox AC30 CC head instead of my Marshall JTM45. After that one of them would remind me to 'bring the Marshall' before every rehearsal and show.

[strat a various]

A couple years ago I went to see my father in law play a gig. He's an excellent drummer (and a damn fine guitarist to boot). The guitarist in his band at the time played an 80s pointy guitar through a Fender red-knob M-80 half stack. Sure could move his fingers fast, but his tone was the WORST I have ever heard. Imagine cranking up the distortion all the way, then cutting all frequencies below 1K, leaving nothing but a thin, harsh, unpleasant sound - that was this guy. I asked my father in law about it and he just shook his head and said he was only playing with the guy because he was "available". The drummer was correct about the guitar player's tone in this case, and had any one of you seen it you would have agreed with the drummer.

Also, I'm 100% sure any one of you, if given the opportunity to be in a band with Neil Pert or John Bonham or Danny Carey or Buddy Rich or Keith Moon or whoever your favorite drummer is, would play whatever amp the drummer thought sounded best.

If the drummer was the leader and paying me, I'd do whatever the job requires, if they were just the drummer, I'd ignore them and do what I wanted.

[Marc Roy]

Also, I'm 100% sure any one of you, if given the opportunity to be in a band with Neil Pert or John Bonham or Danny Carey or Buddy Rich or Keith Moon or whoever your favorite drummer is, would play whatever amp the drummer thought sounded best.

What does this have to do with it? Is the OP playing with a drummer of their caliber who are leading the band?

[parkhead]

I think the OP should ask the drummer to clarify his position.

Perhaps the OP sounds much better with one amp he brings
Perhaps the volume is going up and down with the changes
Perhaps the drummer has some important insight into the sound of the band

I have played with guys who didn't service their gear or fix broken stuff
I have played with guys who change their rig every two weeks
I have stopped playing with guys who are too loud and don't listen

neither situation is healthy if there is no progress

[soulohio]

a band i was vox the main guitar player put aside his Peavey VTM and plugged in one of thoe horrid solid stae Marshalls... we were an ambient, fuzz groove thang and it threw my vocal timing and dynamics off so much. i requested that he use his main amp.. i imagine that the drummer feels his percussion suffers the same way... the guy actually listens to the guitar player. why, i wouldn't fathom a guess..

[bigcatJC]

The attitudes of some folks amaze me. If there's been previous conflict with the OP and the drummer, maybe this is just the latest conflict bubbling up to the surface. If not, the drummer may have a legit point. Let's try flipping the situation.

Imagine you're playing in a classic rock type band, and the drummer has been playing on a pretty good Pearl kit the entire time. At the next rehearsal, he shows up with an electric Simmons kit from the 80's that sounds like it belongs in a techno band. Odds are, it would affect the sound of the band and how everyone plays. Would you, as a guitar player, not at least ask "Hey, what happened to your Pearls?" And how would you feel if he said "Screw you, you guitar players can't tell the tone of one drum kit from the other. I'll play what I please. Now strum those chords and STFU!"

That sounds exactly like what a lot of folks are recommending. If you're interested in being a band, at least listen to the drummer and talk it out. Maybe he'll understand or maybe you can compromise and switch amps less often. Maybe he can convince you about what he means. If you want to be in a band, you often have to work these things out. If you want to tell off your bandmates and take the attitude that they're only around to bow to you...good luck.

[Billion81]

ur both wrong :munch + u have too many amps

if the drummer is concerned about changing the sound of the band then u should listen and use the 1 amp the band likes (or is used to)

Huh??? Why do you get to decide how many amps someone should have??:horse

[Wagster]

The attitudes of some folks amaze me. If there's been previous conflict with the OP and the drummer, maybe this is just the latest conflict bubbling up to the surface. If not, the drummer may have a legit point. Let's try flipping the situation.

Imagine you're playing in a classic rock type band, and the drummer has been playing on a pretty good Pearl kit the entire time. At the next rehearsal, he shows up with an electric Simmons kit from the 80's that sounds like it belongs in a techno band. Odds are, it would affect the sound of the band and how everyone plays. Would you, as a guitar player, not at least ask "Hey, what happened to your Pearls?" And how would you feel if he said "Screw you, you guitar players can't tell the tone of one drum kit from the other. I'll play what I please. Now strum those chords and STFU!"

That sounds exactly like what a lot of folks are recommending. If you're interested in being a band, at least listen to the drummer and talk it out. Maybe he'll understand or maybe you can compromise and switch amps less often. Maybe he can convince you about what he means. If you want to be in a band, you often have to work these things out. If you want to tell off your bandmates and take the attitude that they're only around to bow to you...good luck.The OP has really nice amps. Not sure your comparison works.

[dk123123dk]

If you can't get a good tone dialed in in less than 2 minutes, he may have a point.

Why not just humor him and keep things consistent?

To those of you who are having a hard time getting "inspired" to play without using a multitude different rigs need to reexamine what gets you inspired to play in a band.

Some of you guys are acting like the drummer is DEMANDING the guy stick with one amp... Sounds like he was trying to give some advice to his band mate. Also some folks act as if the drummer can't hear or something. Some drummers are hard to work with, but not all of them. I think its short sighted to pigeon hole groups of people.

Amps are meant to amplify you. And yes they can be extensions of the music, but they are just amps. Get inspired to play because it moves people. Even crappy Mustang Sally makes people happy!

Make some music and make people happy! Sometimes all it takes is an acoustic guitar and your voice and a few clapping hands and stomping feet!

dk

[Lucidology]

Some of those amps mentioned by the OP have some extreme wattage/tube/speaker. etc. differences ...
Thus they must have a pretty different sound, tone and/or feel to each of them ...
The variations could drive band member's crazy with the sound of inconsistency ...

Don't know ... suppen ain't being said....suppen ain't right...
we sure as hell are only getting one viewpoint ...

[shane88]

this is why everyone else in the band hates the prima donna guitarist :p

[rob2001]

WOW, I guess I hit a nerve here, I do appreciate the many, varied responses! Valid points were brought up here that I will take into consideration. Just to answer and clear up some of your questions, I want to say that:

1) we are friends and I have been playing on and off in bands with him for over 10 years. He is a very good drummer, I don't believe that he is a control freak.
2) we are a cover band that plays Classic.... Blues based rock. We are a trio (bass, guitar,drums) with a lead singer.
3) I have been playing guitar for the better part of 40 years (I'm 53)
4) I am probably guilty of trying to dial in my tone during rehearsl when I change heads. I do not play too loud, volume is not the issue.
5) I want to keep this as friendly as possible and resolve this issue so we can continue as a band.
6) I will ask my other band mates if this is also an issue with them.

Thank you for all your responses! Peace

I think #4 was his issue. It was his way of saying "quit fiddling with amps and lets jam". Maybe he feels that dailing in amp tone is drawing your attention from the more important task.....playing. And it probably is.

And being a trio, amps will change the dynamic. I know for me, different tones bring different play from me. In a trio, these differences are very apparent. I'm thinkin if he is a good drummer as you say he is, and he actually cares about group dynamics and has an ear to hear the differences, I would NOT let his comments fester into something ugly. As mentioned many times in this thread, good drummers are hard to come by.

I'd much rather deal with a few issues like his comments than deal with a basher that would drown out your amps anyhow!

If you guys are even remotely tight as freinds....I don't see why you shouldn't be able to openly discuss it and resolve the problem.

I'm always he diplomat type in my band so i'd simply say...."I was thinking about what you said about changing amps...can we talk about that?"

[andybaylor]

He's right. Get a consistant sound, and stay with it.

[mrmuzikhead]

" A great band is a model of social co operation" Bill Bruford.
If it were me and it's bugging him, I would compromise and change amps less. No big deal. How would you feel if a drummer was changing his kit every rehearsal? I think that would anoy me as well. Work it out.

[TommyMambo]

" A great band is a model of social co operation" Bill Bruford.
If it were me and it's bugging him, I would compromise and change amps less. No big deal. How would you feel if a drummer was changing his kit every rehearsal? I think that would anoy me as well. Work it out.

That's what I was trying to say in less sophisticated terms!

[Lightningrt]

I think #4 was his issue. It was his way of saying "quit fiddling with amps and lets jam". Maybe he feels that dailing in amp tone is drawing your attention from the more important task.....playing. And it probably is.

And being a trio, amps will change the dynamic. I know for me, different tones bring different play from me. In a trio, these differences are very apparent. I'm thinkin if he is a good drummer as you say he is, and he actually cares about group dynamics and has an ear to hear the differences, I would NOT let his comments fester into something ugly. As mentioned many times in this thread, good drummers are hard to come by.

I'd much rather deal with a few issues like his comments than deal with a basher that would drown out your amps anyhow!

If you guys are even remotely tight as freinds....I don't see why you shouldn't be able to openly discuss it and resolve the problem.

I'm always he diplomat type in my band so i'd simply say...."I was thinking about what you said about changing amps...can we talk about that?"

You said it - it's that trio thing - the guitar is the lead instrument and may dictate the sound, plus time wasting due to fiddling is a no-no.

Great thread!

[Mark Robinson]

On the subject of dialing in a sound at rehearsal, or at a soundcheck; many, many players do this, and for each one doing it, there are 2-10 bandmembers, at least thinking, if not outright saying; WTF Dude, STOP the noodling and time wasting.

At a gig, anything more than a few seconds of sound for testing purposes, is indulgent and potentially annoying IMHO. At a rehearsal, you might double that to about 8 seconds.

As long as I'm bitching here, I'm also disappointed when a player jams along to the background music while dialing in his crap before a set. Who here hasn't had a band member or been the band member, who sets up his own little nightmare, has blinders on, never acknowledges that P.A. and monitors might need some attention, and then proceeds to play huge streams of rubble, including "previews" of all the material in the next set, while the other worker bees are taking care of all the dull details, like getting things miked, doing monitor checks, humping the mains up on to stands etc. all that "Star" stuff.

[frankiestarr]

i would just be polite, and smile...and say this is what I feel like playing today. let's spend our time more wisely, and get these tunes together. What a idiot though....

[JDW3]

I've been playing in this band for a little over a year now and I haven't had a problem with any of my bandmates. Recently the drummer started complaining to me whenever I bring a different amp/head to rehearsal. I have 8 amplifiers and I like to change up once in a while at rehearsals and gigs. I mainly use a Suhr Badger 30 through a Germino 4x12 cab. Whenever I bring/use one of my other heads he complains that I am not a team player because I am changing the sound/dynamics of the band. The other heads I am using are all quality amps......Germino Classic 45, Fuchs ODS100, THD Flexi 50 and various Blackface Fender Combos. He claims that when I use one of these other heads it throws everyone off and negatively effects the bands chemistery. Of course I disagree, I think that changing up amps keeps it fresh and exciting for me and it inspires me to play better! If I play better...the band sounds better...!!!

What do you think about this situation? Am I being selfish and not a team player for wanting to use different amplifiers? Please...... chime in!




If you're a Led Zep style band let's say, why would you bring a Fender Twin? It's that simple.

I have 10 amps and know damn well only 2 are gonna work with a given band. That's why I play in 3 bands! So I can use my amps correctly!

You need a looper so you can use all the amps in the band, as you need them. Heavy amps for heavy rock, etc..

Don't bring a knife to a gunfight.

[recordmusic]

+1 on the wanking on the guitar before a set. Playing "famous licks" to impress is the first sign of a rookie.

[strat a various]

Exactly where do you guys play; where are your gigs? Rock clubs? Are you four-walling and selling your own tickets? Do you go out on the road?

[Tone_Terrific]

Get a wah-wah, a couple more guitars, change them 'as required' to get the right sound.....this should resolve the problem one way or the other!:munch

[LARRY GERSHON]

Drum machine

[stratotastic]

I'm with the drummer, and I'm a guitarist. I see nothing wrong with using specific amps for specific songs and keeping it consistent, but for Song X to be played with any of 8 different amps over the course of however many rehearsals is retarded. Playing by yourself in your basement, fine. Exposing your bandmates to it is self-indulgent and rude.

[Derek Q]

IMHO, no one who falls on the tone is in the gear side of the fence, should recommend the drummer STFU in this case. He may well have a point.

And ditto on the ratio of drummer wanted vs. guitarist wanted ads. This thread kinda shows why.

[sodapopinski]

this thread blew up fast :) do i sense some hostility?