Where do you put your amp when you perform?

**Woody Sound** · 11-10-2014, 11:12 PM

Directly behind?
Behind to your left?
Behind to your right?
On your right?
On your left?
In front of you?
Other?

If you play an archtop, is feedback a factor in your placement?

**Larry M** · 11-10-2014, 11:17 PM

Behind to my right. No feedback problems at usually low to moderate volumes.

**docbop** · 11-10-2014, 11:20 PM

For whatever reason I prefer behind me to the left.
If feedback then behind me to the right to get as much of my body between amp and guitar.
If amp is sounding bassy the get it off the floor on a chair or whatever.
Also like the amp two or three feet behind me.
From play bass so long I like to be on hi-hat side of the drummer.

**feral guitar** · 11-10-2014, 11:20 PM

I'm right-handed so behind to my left to put my body in between the amp and the guitar to reduce feedback.
Also I have an open back amp so it can't be to close to a wall.
Sometimes I put it up on something if the bass response is to much but
I can't put it too high cause then it's right in my ear.
I don't like having it directly behind as it is difficult to hear clearly.

**feral guitar** · 11-10-2014, 11:21 PM

wow didn't see your post but so similar doc!

**Tom Karol** · 11-10-2014, 11:25 PM

Hmm, interesting question!
Behind to my left sitting with my archtop - yes, to minimize feedback.
But, behind to my right standing with my solidbody. Feedback isn't an issue, and the cord comes out of the right side of the guitar.
I haven't actually played my semihollow live yet, so I don't know. Might depend on whether I'm sitting or standing.

(Add: I posted before I saw Doc's and Matt's posts.)

**Greentone** · 11-11-2014, 12:24 AM

Tweed amps go in front. I put mine in front and to the right. Easy to read and you get stage sound off the back. My partner also plays tweeds. Same setup.

if I use a Polytone it goes back and right.

**docbop** · 11-11-2014, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Tweed amps go in front. I put mine in front and to the right. Easy to read and you get stage sound off the back. My partner also plays tweeds. Same setup.

if I use a Polytone it goes back and right.

Doesn't that make it hard to judge FOH volume?

**Cunamara** · 11-11-2014, 01:58 AM

Wherever there's room. With drums, bass and two horn players, combined with the typically tiny stages we play on, the amp just goes where it fits and I hope for the best. Behind and to my left when I can.

**Keira Witherkay** · 11-11-2014, 02:06 AM

basically the same as Tom Karol i play seated mostly (95%) and if it's a guitar like archtop that can feed back ...amp next to my chair (not behind) to left and if solid body i prefer the cable to run down to amp so on right....

**jorgemg1984** · 11-11-2014, 07:40 AM

As far away as possible, I hate the on axis sound of amps.

**acoustictones** · 11-11-2014, 08:41 AM

Smaller shows - All Stage volume: Behind me, tilted up towards me and sitting next to the drums. I'm very groove oriented, and so the drummer and I enjoy locking in much like most think of the bass and drums locking into each other.

Larger Show - House sound system and tech: Amp tilted up towards me, and in front facing me. I then send a line out to the house when possible and mic it. I don't like things facing out on larger shows that we have a good sound man. I don't like them to feel like they are competing with our stage volume. He has his sound and we have ours. From my experience less stage volume is always better for most house sound techs.

Side note: I've always really been into LISTENING to what everyone is doing, and so I'm pretty guilty of always turning down so that I can really hear everyone, and some times that can drive the people I play with nuts because they are always on my case to turn up

But I also love being the guy that everyone wants more of rather than the guy that we all know continues to say "Can I get more of me up here?"

**jorgemg1984** · 11-11-2014, 09:04 AM

Oh yeah I forgot about that, always tilted too.

**Greentone** · 11-11-2014, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by docbop

Doesn't that make it hard to judge FOH volume?

Actually it doesn't.

**hans halmackenreuter** · 11-11-2014, 09:32 AM

sometimes it's impossible to be satisfied with the position of your amp, since the stage, or the area which is claimed to be a stage is so small and inconvenient, that you don't really have a choice where to put your amp.

**Woody Sound** · 11-11-2014, 12:33 PM

OP here, forgot to include my own

If I'm sitting in a big band, I like it behind to my left, tilted up a bit. Since my body/head is turned slightly to the left already, I hear better. (I'm in the camp of always worried about being too loud.) But with a carved archtop I have feedback problems (at least for solo volume), and I'm starting to wonder if behind to the right will be better for feedback - but then, will I hear it well enough to get a feel for the balance without being too loud?

For most other pop/rock things, I usually stand, then it's right behind me tilted up a bit or on a stand. No dilemmas there.

**monkmiles** · 11-11-2014, 02:03 PM

I found quite a difference in bass response whether I have my amp on or off the ground. I prefer the bass response it gets when being on the ground. Though I prefer the spread it gets when off the ground. I've found a good compromise by tilting it on the ground (using the Standback amp "stand"). I usually have it behind me and on my left.

**Gabe** · 11-11-2014, 03:33 PM

I always put my amp up on a chair, other than that i'm not too fussy whether or not it's to my left or right. I do prefer it being to my left if I'm playing an archtop though to avoid feedback.

**stringsalive** · 11-11-2014, 11:06 PM

Depends on the gig... I do mostly restaurant gigs either with one horn or vocalist or solo.... In this setting, feedback has never been an issue, but I always put it behind me to the side (usually left, but not always) and on a chair/stand. Then I can hear my volume in relation to my duo partner. I also do a lot of pit orchestra gigs....then it's a matter of space and getting the sound out to the audience, so it's usually pointed away from me and I have little sense of my volume, but I can rely on the pit director here....also, it's usually a plethora of instruments (depending: archtop, solid body, mandolin, banjo, acoustic, maybe a semi- for the dual function of jazz and rock tunes.)

**J. Murrieta** · 11-11-2014, 11:49 PM

I have not played with a mic on my amp in one hundred years /gigs or so. I like to have my amp elevated behind me to the left. That's the sweet spot for my head . I own an 18 watt Vox Bruno and a 20 watt Ampeg.

**entresz** · 11-12-2014, 12:24 AM

I find my amp sounds best tilted up at me, but on the ground. Off the ground the bass response is different and I don't like the sound quite as much. I sometimes do have to have the amp off the ground because some rooms are just so boomy, particularly with my archtops.

I use a Quilter Aviator Twin Ten or a 1976 Peavey Session 400 for most of my gigs, I think I"ll get around to adding Fender style tilt legs to both of them at some stage.

**henryrobinett** · 11-12-2014, 02:47 AM

I place it directly in back but I use two 12" cabs. One on each side behind me in the floor pointing up. Unfortunately these speakers are very directional or the volume hits my knees first before it gets to my ears. So the volume us actually a lot hotter than I think it is. I have solve this problem. But it just sounds great where it is.

you get used to what you're used to and it's hard changing habits where we're talking about the voodoo of the comfort zone for playing music.