Do you use your best amps to practice

[G the wildman]

Hi Guys,

Even when I am practicing the most mundane repetitive drills, I still like to use my best amps. I like to hear everything sound nice.

I tend to use my practice amp as an easy grab and go option sometimes when I am short for time and need to get somewhere. Otherwise, it is the flavour of the month. How about you?

G

 

[chocol8]

I taught myself to not worry about tone and focus on playing while practicing. It made a big difference in my playing actually improving.

If no one is home, I will play my big amps and love it, sometimes it is productive practice, often times just playing for smiles. If I need to play quietly, I often use a cheap modeler into headphones, and also love it, but tend to focus on actual practice more.

 

[mirrorman]

Most of my practice or learning a new song is done on a Roland Eband. The amps come out for jamming, whether that be with other players or just to songs I already know.

 

[mark123]

I try to practice with less compression and gain so I guess I don't need my best tone.

 

[Matthews Guitars]

Yes, I use my best amps. Fortunately all my amps are pretty good.

 

[TXOldRedRocker]

I use my best amps to practice.

 

[jmp45]

Yes while in the bunker, Super Lead.. Late night living room, 15w Vox VT15.

 

[Tiboy]

Yes, but I practice clean even when learning dirty or higher gain songs. I don’t want distortion covering up sloppiness during the learning phase.

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Yes, but I practice clean even when learning dirty or higher gain songs. I don’t want distortion covering up sloppiness during the learning phase.

Curious, did you happen to read that in the Steve Vai magazine interview in the late 80's, where he specifically recommended playing clean and working on your speed/accuracy, and where he also recommended checking your recordings in mono rather than just stereo to get a more accurate perspective on the frequency shelving and separation of the instruments?

Because that's where I heard it from. Maybe you didn't read it there, but heard it repeated from someone else later on.
.

 

[Mitchell Pearrow]

Yes I play an practice with my amps .
If I need to clean up to nail something down, I use the volume knob on the guitar.

Mitch

 

[AtomicRob]

I try to rotate through the herd so that amps don't sit too long without being played.

But I'm also pretty lazy about it so in reality I don't switch them around as much as I should. I have some amps that are probably unused for at least a couple years now which is not ideal...

 

[Trelwheen]

I play an acoustic a lot when I'm practicing. So no amp. Helps build strength and agility. When you switch over to electric after you've been playing acoustic a lot it makes you feel like Superman

When I practice electric I play unplugged sometimes too. Other times I'll crank something up and shake the timbers

Almost all my amps are my best amps, the exceptions being a couple of grab n go combos. Different amps for different kinds of music, different moods, different feel....

 

[Tiboy]

Curious, did you happen to read that in the Steve Vai magazine interview in the late 80's, where he specifically recommended playing clean and working on your speed/accuracy, and where he also recommended checking your recordings in mono rather than just stereo to get a more accurate perspective on the frequency shelving and separation of the instruments?

Because that's where I heard it from. Maybe you didn't read it there, but heard it repeated from someone else later on.
.

No I definitely did not read that specific article. I don’t remember ever reading any article on that point. I’m not saying I never read such an article, but if I did I can’t remember. I did have a friend years ago who told me he learned new material on an acoustic whenever possible so that when he switched to electric it was easier.

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Yes I play an practice with my amps .
If I need to clean up to nail something down, I use the volume knob on the guitar.

Mitch

YOU USE YOUR GUITAR'S VOLUME KNOB??? WHAT'S THAT LIKE???!!!

... Lost form of art, if anyone axes me.

 

[Mitchell Pearrow]

YOU USE YOUR GUITAR'S VOLUME KNOB??? WHAT'S THAT LIKE???!!!

... Lost form of art, if anyone axes me.

Come now Vin you know how they work… lol

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Yes, but I practice clean even when learning dirty or higher gain songs. I don’t want distortion covering up sloppiness during the learning phase.

If I'm actually practicing at home, which is rare sadly, I either go unplugged or headphones. The boss is mostly home, just makes sense. Also I agree on playing less sloppily when you can really hear mistakes.
If rehearsing with band, I used to use a smaller rehearsal amp, and still do, but often take a "better" amp. That is what they are for!! Why save em just for gigs??

 

[jcm800gridlock]

Yes, most of the time.

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Come now Vin you know how they work… lol

I do Mitch, I really really do. I was teasin', 'cause lots of players don't use their guitar's controls. Changed my life when I bought my R9 and R8 in 2013 - it became a revelation to me just how dynamic a good set of pots can be. After watching Jimmy Page do it on the big screen for so many years, I finally figured it out.

 

[Vinsanitizer]

(This is in response to jcm800gridlock's signature, which is not quotable):

That's cool, lemme give it a try. It's been a while.

Wait. ...

Ok:

Maps:
JCM 800 SC20H
DSL100HR
DSL20HR
DSL20CR
DSL5CR
Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25
Peavey Classic 20H
Monoprice 15
Orange Micro Dark (2), & 1x6 cab
NU-X Mighty Air
Marlboro cigarette box 9v battery map

I could swear I have other maps, but if I do, I haven't seen them in a long time.

Boxen:
Marshall 1960A
Orange PPC112 (V30)

Violins:
2013 Gibson R9
2011 Gibson R8
2010 Gibson Traditional (born on my birthdate 9/23 according to the serial number)
2016 Gibson 50's Tribute
2020 Fender American Pro II Strat, "COVID Lockdown", I call's it.
2019 Ibanez something or other
1992 MIJ Fender '72 Strat Reissue
1989 Washburn J-10 (ES-175 copy, 1 yr. LTD, Cherry Flame, priceless)

Miscellabeous:
2010 MIJ Fender Geddy Lee bass
2010 Eastman M515 vintage sunburst mandolin
Yamaha FG something or other - the new model with the abalone around the sound hole.
1998 McNally Strumstick
A 1950's kazoo
A pitch pipe

OMG THAT'S A LOT OF GEAR (for me)! 😱

And I have all of these things, despite the fact that I hate music with a vengeance unsurpassed in modern history.
.

 

[XTRXTR]

In stages.
Practice on acoustic for general idea stuff or going over a song I haven't played in a while.
Then I move to my electric on clean until I have everything tight. Then I'll do a real or dress rehearsal type practice at stage volume and dial in my spots for rhythm, fills, and lead using my guitar volume knob. But it always seems like on stage I need a little more until I'm fully into a few songs of the set.

All my amps are good but I have to adjust to the venue, if that makes sense. Sometimes you just gotta go with whats there and bleed a new finger tip 🙂