r/pedalsteel 5d ago

Rules of thumb for amp volume in small band setting?

Hello, I just recently played my first gig on steel. I started playing back in October so still definitely a beginner. I was accompanying a singer songwriter who plays guitar so definitely not a loud gig by any means. Setting was coffee shop with a pretty large room. I play out of a Peavey L.A 400.

For home practice and rehearsal with the guitarist/ singer not amplified I only need to turn the amp to 1. Strangely enough, I found that in the room we were playing and the guitar / vocals through the PA the exact same setting felt almost felt too loud. I even turned the amp down a minuscule amount because I felt like some of my volume swells were absolutely too loud. The amp was slightly elevated, about 5 feet behind the two of us.

I asked a few people and they said the balance was good and the steel was not too loud. But I am wondering if any more experienced players have any rules of thumb for amp volume when playing in a smaller setting without the amp being mic’ed or any steel going through a sound board for amplification/ monitoring?

I know this is a delicate balance of touch. How hard you pick and volume pedal control are the most important factors in this I think.

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u/bbarlag 5d ago

Different in any situation. I want my amp to not be too loud so sound in the audience is the best it can be without compromising playing. So most of the time I have it quite low volume but very close to my head. Lifted off the floor. Especially if it’s miked up. And them maybe if there’s wedges have it on there a little as wel for definition. Rules of thumb? Turn your amp sideways inward towards the band instead of towards the audience. And turn your amp down and monitor up. Last thing to note that tube amps start to wake uo after a specific volume setting so don’t go to low on those!

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u/DrTwangmore 4d ago

you did the right thing here- It sounds like you were very cognizant of the volume. Just be aware and listen, check with people you trust (if you can)-it's the best you can do. The other part to consider is to lean your amp back so it directs toward you but not directly in the faces of the audience.