Jamming/practice space dilemma.

[Jwar]

Ok guys. Here's the situation. My wife has been made crippled by a foot surgery she had recently. So she's home all the time, which leaves me no room to practice with my bass. She claims that it doesn't bother her, but always gripes when it's up too loud. So I have to keep it a very low volumes. Which fucking sucks. So I need suggestions. Should I insulate the ceiling (it's in my unfinished basement)? I just need to figure out a way to play at the volumes I want and not piss her off at the same time. I don't have very many options of jam spaces. All of my buddies have wives and kids too, so they probably wouldn't be cool with it either. I have a HUGE fucking basement too. It's about 1000 square feet, so plenty of jam space. Oh and there's a second problem. The concrete in my basement destroys my tone. It sucks that shit dry. Makes it sound dull and shitty. I put carpet under my cab/amp, but that only helped a little. I need your help brothers (sisters?) in fuzz. HELP me!

[hbombgraphics]

yeah I would inslulate for sound

I am actually planning on doing something similar
my basement has some moisture so I am going to put some pallets I got on cinderblocks and make a false floor
then I have some old cieling tiles I am going to use to deaden sound a bit

one thing you may want to check on is heating ducts if you have them
I found that they actually amplify sound pretty well and carry it though the house

[Jwar]

I definitely think the sound is traveling from the heating ducts as well. What are you planning to use for insulation. Is there a specific type for sound deadening or will any old insulation work? Also, are you planning on wrapping the ducts?

[hbombgraphics]

I am thinking of just using the cieling tiles I have a ton of them, so they should work
I also have some 2 inch foam board that is just sitting around

Any inslulation will work
as far as the ducts I may be bulling them out since I heat almost completely with wood and it is just part of the old heating system but if I didn't I would just cover the parts right over where I play

Also turn your amp toward the wall for a good temporary solution

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

ducts definitely bring the sound all over the house - try blocking them off when jamming - it may help more than you think.
amp towards wall is also a good temp solution. do the lows (physical vibrations) bother her or is it just the volume?

as for tone stuff, maybe set up in a corner area (TEH TOAN ZONE) where you can drape some blankets, etc on the walls and get a better sound. maybe even build a little portable half-wall which you could cover in carpet or something - sort of like a gobo at a recording studio.

also, perhaps a more financially sound option would be to get her some nice earplugs, let her know how important it is for you to play and for every time you jam you give her a back or foot rub or something? that way everyone wins!

[hbombgraphics]

ducts definitely bring the sound all over the house - try blocking them off when jamming - it may help more than you think.
amp towards wall is also a good temp solution. do the lows (physical vibrations) bother her or is it just the volume?

as for tone stuff, maybe set up in a corner area (TEH TOAN ZONE) where you can drape some blankets, etc on the walls and get a better sound. maybe even build a little portable half-wall which you could cover in carpet or something - sort of like a gobo at a recording studio.

also, perhaps a more financially sound option would be to get her some nice earplugs, let her know how important it is for you to play and for every time you jam you give her a back or foot rub or something? that way everyone wins!

Are you suggesting he communicates with his wife?

[MEC]

Why soundproof a whole basement when you can soundproof your wife?

Here's how:
1.Tell your wife you are working on soundproofing.
2. Place carpet that is supposed to be for soundproofing at bottom of stairs.
2. Ask her to come check out your progress.
3. When she gets to the top of the stairs give her a slight nudge towards the bottom of the stairs.
4. Roll up carpet and discard.
5. Play as loud as you want.
6. Give yourself a foot rub.

The End.

[hbombgraphics]

Why soundproof a whole basement when you can soundproof your wife?

Here's how:
1.Tell your wife you are working on soundproofing.
2. Place carpet that is supposed to be for soundproofing at bottom of stairs.
2. Ask her to come check out your progress.
3. When she gets to the top of the stairs give her a slight nudge towards the bottom of the stairs.
4. Roll up carpet and discard.
5. Play as loud as you want.
6. Give yourself a foot rub.

The End.

[skip]

KILL WIFE

[The4455]

You could get her earplugs, or a new hobby so she is out of teh house more so you can rock, but seriously, earplugs.

[Fuzzy Picklez]

You could get her earplugs, or a new hobby so she is out of teh house more so you can rock, but seriously, earplugs.

She had foot surgery you turd. Read the fucking thread.

I'm liking the sound proof ideas. You could maybe stick walls up somewhere and have a really cool jam space if you've got the cash and/or don't rent the house. You could have a cool room and maybe do more than jam solo down there too if it's so big.

[hbombgraphics]

yeah I would look for old pallets and carpets you can basically build the walls for free via craigslist,

[tuffteef]

get back to me when im done with my acoustic analysis section of my degree and i will analyze your basement

[hbombgraphics]

get back to me when im done with my acoustic analysis section of my degree and i will analyze your basement

I bet you say that to all the ladies.

[Jwar]

Ok the amp to the wall thing worked like a charm! The rattling disappeared almost all together. Now to add the blankets and the insulation! Love you guys!