Amplifier Position as Related To Tone

[Blue Gilbo]

Hello Boogie Babes and Dudes

Had a bit of a revelation last night while playing my Boogie Mk 1 Reissue combo. Let me explain.

As a guy that's been playing a very long time, usually through combo's, I've always put my amp on a stool, chair, or used a metal amp stand. I always thought the tone was pretty good but last night I bought a product called Ampwedge (www.ampwedge.com...no, I don't work for the company). For the first time ever I put my Boogie on the floor using the Ampwedge to tilt it back a few degrees and the tone was much richer and fuller. Now, I'm not saying that the Ampwedge did all of that but I firmly believe that moving it to the floor had alot to do with it.

I'm sure that this is a no-brainer for a lot of you but for me it was a real lesson on how your amp position/location can affect you tone. If any of you have any comments or would like to relate any stories concerning this then I'd like to read them.

Thanks

 

[Rayder]

maybe the speaker was facing you more? if the sound is going straight at your face it will sound better

 

[stokes]

I have always felt that a cab will sound better firmly planted on the ground.One time I did some work on an old Ampeg Reverborocket,that someone had put wheels on,we took the wheels off and put some rubber feet back on it and the difference was amazing,I always wondered if it made a difference or if it was just in my head and this example proved it to me.

 

[t0aj15]

That phenomena is called 'bass coupling', and the concept has been used for many years. Fender has been putting tilt back legs on their combo's since the 50's or 60's, My self I heard a VERY noticeable difference when I took my combo off the ampstand, sat it on the floor, and leaned it against the A frame base of the ampstand. Not only did the sound improve because the speaker was angled up, but the bass was dramatically improved when sitting on the floor. So I removed the extension arms from the ampstand and just use the base now.

 

[cvansickle]

The Auralex GRAMMA is great for isolating your cabs and it lets you hear the sound that is really coming from your speaker, without the added floor resonance.

 

[t0aj15]

The Auralex GRAMMA is great for isolating your cabs and it lets you hear the sound that is really coming from your speaker, without the added floor resonance.

This device defeats the purpose of bass coupling which is good for situations where speaker cabs produce to much bass, but in situations such as open back combo's where low end is lacking that isolator is useless. My large heavy PA speakers put out a tremendous amount of bass and sometimes need to be uncoupled from the floor, but instead of using foam glued to plywood I bought some furniture dollies. They accomplish the same task, cost less, and are useful for other things such as moving the cabs.

 

[Blue Gilbo]

Very interesting comments from everyone, thanks.

 

[Platypus]

My favorite tones have always come from combo amps on the floor slightly tilted back either on legs or against a wall... there's something about the bass response as well as speaker position pointing up towards you that just does it for me. To each their own!