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Post subject: Mustang I question
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:31 pm
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How come the amp sounds cleaner when I'm sitting down and the sound's muddier when I'm standing up?


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I question
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:54 pm
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Ritsuwaifu wrote:
How come the amp sounds cleaner when I'm sitting down and the sound's muddier when I'm standing up?


Should have bought the Mustang III. It has the sitting/standing compensation switch. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I question
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:00 pm
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So you're saying the Mustang I is only good when you're sitting? :(


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I question
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:32 am
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Sounds like this is to do with directionality of sound at different frequencies - it's nothing to do with sitting or standing, but where you are in relation to "directly in front of" the amp's speaker.

Low frequencies are less directional - they sound the same whether you're in front of, or to the side, or above (as in standing up) the amp.

High frequencies are more directional - you hear them more when you're right in front of a speaker, less so when you're to one side or above (standing up) the amp and its speaker.

In very simple (imprecise, non-technical) terms: imagine a cylindrical (or very gradually-widening cone) 'beam' of sound emanating directly forwards from the speaker. If you're in the beam, you hear the full range, and it sounds cleaner. If you're outside the beam, you hear less high frequencies, so it will sound muddier.

All speakers do this to some extent; guitar amps that (usually) have a single wide-range speaker are more susceptible to it than hi-fi speakers with separate woofers/tweeters, and particularly with tweeters designed to 'throw' the sound over a wider angle.

This is a much-discussed topic in guitar/amp forums on the net. Many experts, and not-so-experts, have proposed modifications to amp grilles, etc, to reduce the 'beaminess' of the sound - with much ensuing debate about the usefulness and efficacy of these mods! If you're gigging, it's important to be aware of: do you adjust the eq to sound good to you, on stage, usually to one side of the speaker, or do you adjust it to sound good to the audience in front of the speaker?

If just playing for yourself, it's useful to be aware of why it's happening (so you know it's nothing your doing, nor a fault with your equipment) then simply adjust the eq to suit your preferred playing position. You could also tilt the amp backwards (eg there are dedicated amp stands that will do this) so that the 'beam' is angled upwards more towards your ears.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I question
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:54 am
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Ritsuwaifu wrote:
So you're saying the Mustang I is only good when you're sitting? :(

No sorry, Ritsuwaifu, I was just kidding. I thought you were having some fun with us.

The Mustang I is an wonderful amp. Standing or sitting :) I have two of them. And, Scott-UK's explanation is an excellent one.

If you want to know more about the characteristics of sound, particularly as it applies to amps, instruments and the placement of microphones (and after all, a microphone is just a substitute for the human ear) I would recommend reading a long running thread by recording legend Harvey Gerst. The thread ran for 10 years, during which Harvey, and many others, answered questions and shared a wealth of knowledge with the online community.

Most of the thread has been edited and put into a .doc file that can be downloaded at http://www.hr-faq.org/HarveyThread.doc

Check "Lesson 11". This particular issue of placing mics in or off the directional flow of the sound is covered really well. It's a gem if you are thinking of doing any recording.

Hope you enjoy it.

Doc


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