Tip o' the week - The Loud Jam Blues - Part I

I often hear from players that say they can't hear themselves at jams and want to talk to me about about a bigger amp. Jams that are too loud are a problem, and bringing in a bigger amp just in case it gets loud is really a pain! However, this is a people/politics problem, not a gear problem. If it's blues, it's blues. If it's blues-rock (or just flat out rock), then you need either careful miking into the sound system or a BIG amp. The best solution is to find a groovier bunch of people who like to play at lower volume!

Adding a "speaker-driven line out" to one of your favorite small amps can help. This allows you to plug quickly and easily in to the sound system.

Skip Simmons