Question for Folks Who Play Guitar Through Monitors

[fretworn]

“Don’t stand in the beam, bro…”

lol

 

[dk_ace]

I only do this when they are already set up at a gig, and in that case it’s always in front of me pointed up.

The reasoning for this is to keep the monitor sound on stage and out of FOH as much as possible. I’ve never asked to turn one around and place it behind me, but they would definitely not be happy about it if I did.

I’ve actually run amps that way too though (in front of me pointed up) when I needed an amp for the gig but was required to keep stage volume low and out of the FOH. It’s been years since I did this, but it can work.

I’ve never taken a monitor to a gig myself that I recall, on the rare occasion I need my own monitoring I’ll take an amp.

D

 

[DieSchmalle]

@jay mitchell
What's your take on acoustic coupling to the floor for CLR's on stage (for personal and/or band monitoring)?
Is it needed for enough bass? Are stands the better option to side fill the stage?

 

[ejecta]

It's interesting that, so far, nobody has reported using a monitor (no silly acronyms, please) in the same way they would typically be expected to use a guitar amp/cab.

I’ve used my amp with the cab tilted up at me at the side of me facing across stage. I do the same with my wedge.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

That's option 2 in the poll. Nobody has chosen option 1, however.

I've yet to choose because I want to choose more than one.

Which raises another question: how many guitar players who use amps put their amp on a tilt-back stand?

I do, typically. I did just get a head and 2x12 cab and have been playing that in a more traditional "at the knees" position but only at home so far.

At the moment the 2x12 is on a tilt back stand and the amp head is off to the side resting on top of another combo amp. If I ever take it out I'll most likely have it blasting the knees because I wouldn't know what else to do.

/derail

 

[jay mitchell]

I’ve never taken a monitor to a gig myself that I recall, on the rare occasion I need my own monitoring I’ll take an amp.

Where do you place/aim your amp?

 

[dk_ace]

Where do you place/aim your amp?

If it’s a loud stage and bleed to FOH isn’t a concern, behind me and loud. Very, very rare I play a gig that way these days regardless of how big it is.

If it needs to be quiet or not bleed to FOH much, in front of me and aimed up.

Occasionally, having a monitor or amp aimed up at me can be hard to control with certain guitars/pickups. My Gretsch Jet in particular can get away from me if I’m not careful.

The overwhelming majority of gigs for me these days are with IEMs. Been that way for the last 7-8 years I think now.

D

 

[ragingplatypi]

It's interesting that, so far, nobody has reported using a monitor (no silly acronyms, please) in the same way they would typically be expected to use a guitar amp/cab.

If I had my druthers my guitar amp would be between me and the audience facing me. But for some reason they want to hear what I’m playing.

 

[laxu]

I used the Atomic FR 1x12 (1x12 speaker + tweeter + 50W "neutral" tube amp) for a long time and had it usually setup to the front side of the stage if it was an option or if it had to amplify for the audience as well, then behind me. If in the back, usually elevated on a stand of some sort.

I prefer even guitar cabs on stands or tilted towards me. Less "blasting the audience with treble" and more "I can hear it clearly." I'm not looking for thump or big bass.

 

[Baba]

I don’t own my own wedge, I use the venue’s monitoring, so I don’t really have a choice, (they are always in front of me), BUT, honestly, most of my sound (for me), is through my IEMs.

I don’t need a wedge, but half the band doesn’t use IEMs, so my wedge helps them with guitar intros and such.

I had started tilting my amp up, and putting it in front of me, before I stopped using the amp.

 

[EOengineer]

I played a sold out gig in a 250 person venue last night with me going direct to FOH via my Helix and the other guitarist taking a Tonex direct. We had a long soundcheck with a very cool sound guy who really worked with us to get the guitars cranking through the floor wedges. For whatever reason I have a hard time feeling inspired by a modeler through wedges until it gets some real volume happening, then things seem to liven up.

I still prefer playing through and interacting with physical guitar cabs, but I also LOVE showing up with a guitar and backpack. The consistency in the source is also nice.

 

[jay mitchell]

This poll has already provided some information that will be extremely useful. I appreciate the votes and the discussion. Please continue.

 

[la szum]

So guitarists love a face full of guitar coming directly at them?? Shocking!

 

[jay mitchell]

So guitarists love a face full of guitar coming directly at them??

You didn't really conclude that, did you? If that were really the case, then amp-using players would have been putting their amps on the floor in front of them, aimed upwards, all along. While I worked with one guitarist who did that (at my request) ca. 1982-83 and saw two or three others set up that way, I'd say it's anything but common. IME, guitar players who worked on large stages necessarily adapted to hearing themselves primarily through wedges. Some, but not all, of them came to prefer that setup. FYI, the most compelling reasons for the practice are based on what the audience, not the player, hears (and doesn't hear).

My interest in the subject is a bit, shall we say, more technical than that.

 

[fretworn]

 

[jay mitchell]

????

 

[Alex Kenivel]

The late singer of our funk band propped his amp up in front of him like a monitor at one place we played. Circumstances made it a good choice due to the small footprint of the odd shaped stage and the poor house monitoring albeit excellent FoH sound. If his amp weren't mic'ed he wouldn't have been able to get away with it.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Lets see when i used to go direct, first Atomic wedges behind me.
Then Atomic cabs behind me like a guitar cab.
Then IEM and real guitar cab angled in front if me.

Then back to guitar cabs period.

 

[jay mitchell]

Then back to guitar cabs period.

Behind you, right?

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Behind you, right?

Yup