you and your bass player set the volume so that the two of you can communicate with eachother.

After that the rest come up to fill in the mix.

Instead of your guitar players amp by your head, put the bass amp there so you can hear it and have your bass player move so you can watch him/her in case the sound gets lost.

great suggestions here but the fact remains you are accoustic they are electric they must set their volume to yours if it means turn them up to 6 then so be it or 4 or whatever ,you can not play drums at their volume of 1 or 2 with any feeling UNLESS you are playing brushes for weddings! tell them to get their stuff together and help balance the sound..... I know I am a very heavy hitter but that is the kind of music I play....

Great advice by everyone.

He's my .2 cents (with repeats):[LIST]

[*]Move the guitar amp away from your kit. Can you place it a little behind and at a angle from your kit?

[*]Get the bass amp close to you and near your bass drum on the opposite side of the guitar amp. Having you two in sync is key and should be top priority.

[*]Get a small 10" - 12" monitor and place it close or just off to the side of you. Guitar Center always has them in their Used section.

[*]Get a couple $50 instrument mics and put them in front of the guitar/bass amps. You could also put two mics in an X/Y pattern on a boom stand just over your drums. If you mic the bass amp and it's placed close to your bass drum, it should capture some of your bass drums sound too.

[/LIST]

Not sure about the availability of funds, but about $100 from each member would really give you some flexibility with the mix and volume control. Also keep an eye open for Guitar Center 20% off coupons too.

Not sure how many inputs your PA has, but this type of setup would require about 5 to 6. Doing this might even give you more control with the feedback issues.

Hope this helps, good luck and keep us posted.

- Tim

Just speaking about rehearsals where you may not have montiors etc, I can tell you a LOT of this has to do not with the volume of the amps but where they are pointing. I'll explain (note: I have been playign guitar for 20+ years, toured, the whole nine yards).

Hypothetical: A singer/guitarist sets his combo amp (not a 4x12, stack setup) to 5 so he can hear himself at practice. IF, he had an amp stand and pointed the amp at himself, he could probably have it on 2 or 3. It is amazing how directional guitar amps are.

So, consider talking about amp stands and simply rearranging the practice room to try pointing the amps in different directions.

Stands like this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/on-stage-stands-rs7000-tiltback-amp-stand

Also, someone earlier mentioned guitarists struggling with feedback if they have to go louder etc. Reducing that or playing "cleanly" at loud volumes are skills that can be learned. Also, there are plenty of guitar effects looking pedals that are tuners where when you hit the switch they kill all sound to your amp. An easy way to quietly tune between songs, or cut off a potential feedback situation.

PS - Also played bass for ten years, ask him to crank the midrange at practice if don't have monitors. Will help tremendously. He may not like the sound, but sell him on it by saying its just for practice... my two cents. :)

Guitar amp is up about 20" off the floor and aimed at the guitarist, right next to me, aimed forward. The bass amp is to my right about 24", aimed forward to the bassist. The powered monitor/amp we are using is below the guitar speaker aimed at my feet, the other monitor is up front aimed at the vox face. Raising the amp helped a lot, but my general idea was if we turned it all up a little, I could get a little more comfortable. The main issue with that is the vocalist hearing himself. We don't mic any amps or the drums for practice because the area is so cramped...and the main issue they have with turning up is getting the PA up to volume without massive amounts of feedback...or so I think thats the main issue.

I don't think he is really trying to hear only his vox, and I will not disagree with him needing more training. I believe he does need to hear himself well in the mix and he has had a difficult time with that thus far. He has a few lessons on DVD that helped a lot and he is continuing to work on tone and control. Really he has done a lot in the few months he has worked on it. Much respect goes to him for taking the bull by the horns on that one. He lives in the middle of nowhere so getting vocal lessons person to person somewhat locally is a joke...and forget internet connection. He would be more likely to get lessons on how to shear sheep.

We really do need a seasoned sound guy to come out, go over our setup, and at least point us in the right direction. I think that was one of the best ideas both on here and amongst the band yet. Perhaps some re-arrangment of our gear would help too with the feedback/lack of volume issue. We have also discussed moving practice to my basement where there is nothing and we could basically build a room tailored to our needs, but that involves money and time (neither of which I have).

I should note, we have had these same issues every time we have used our PA on gigs. I can push full to the mains with no issue. Add a monitor and we get problems.

I really appreciate all the feedback on here. At least I know I am not totally nuts!

For practice, use Hot Rods (or whatever they're called), as previously mentioned. You can still get your beat on with those and they won't offend the ear. They're also a great way to work out your chops. However, you'll still have to mind your feet.

My two sheckles.

B

Learn/practice playing as close to the head as you can. The sticks should never raise more than six inches off the head.

Easier said than done. Takes practice, but it will lower your playing volume considerably. Practicing playing 'ghost notes' they will help you on your way.

John

Try telling that to the "drummer at the wrong gig". :)

-Tim

A different approach: tell guys to turn the volume down and keep your volume to it. Or play your songs more loosen, relaxed, even different.

The cloth you use to dry the dishes (we call them T-Cloths) are good laid over each of your drums. Or cut out O-rings from old heads for each of your drums. Plus of course the Hot Rodz idea. And for your Cymbals, mount each one on a bottom Hi-Hat felt, you know the big ones that are 2 inches or there abouts. Doesn't kill the sound at all but brings it all back a little.

Thats my 2 Slotties.