How far does sound travel? Am i annoying my neighbour!!
Discussion
Firstly i really love really loud rock/metal, and also play guitar.
So i am not the quietist person to live next to! However i also wouldn't like to force someone else to put up with my music!
I live in a detached (from other houses) coach house (apartment on top of 4 garages).
However next door is only 2 meters away.
I recently bought a Marshall DSL15C guitar amp, and to get a nice sound it really needs to have the volume knob past 3.
Even though the Amp is only 15 watts its really f
king loud!!
My iPhone DB app shows it at around 88Db a metre away at volume 3 of 10.
So the question really is will my neighbour hear this inside their house?
They have made no comments, however they seem very nice, and may not mention it.
So anyone any experience with how far a guitar amp sound will penetrate?
Cheers
So i am not the quietist person to live next to! However i also wouldn't like to force someone else to put up with my music!
I live in a detached (from other houses) coach house (apartment on top of 4 garages).
However next door is only 2 meters away.
I recently bought a Marshall DSL15C guitar amp, and to get a nice sound it really needs to have the volume knob past 3.
Even though the Amp is only 15 watts its really f
king loud!!My iPhone DB app shows it at around 88Db a metre away at volume 3 of 10.
So the question really is will my neighbour hear this inside their house?
They have made no comments, however they seem very nice, and may not mention it.
So anyone any experience with how far a guitar amp sound will penetrate?
Cheers
Stick your music on and then go round to your neighbour's with some spurious excuse for a quick chat. You'll achieve two things. 1: You'll find out whether your music is audible from there or not. 2: If it is then you'll hear what they have to say about it (without them yet knowing that it's emanating from your house), as they'll most likely comment about it to you figuring that if they can hear it from theirs then you can probably hear it from yours too.
Agreed, you can't second guess sound travel, it's weird science, just ask the neighbour.
You can play on headphones and get equipment that overdrives realistically at low volume - loads of very good amp modelling boxes out there these days.
I know it's not quite the same as feeling the vibration in your intestines, but still very good.
You can play on headphones and get equipment that overdrives realistically at low volume - loads of very good amp modelling boxes out there these days.
I know it's not quite the same as feeling the vibration in your intestines, but still very good.
Ask them. My neighbour asked me because he also plays guitar with an amp.
I told him to play some music through the amp and pop round, I'll meet him on the drive of the house 3 doors up. He went a bit red when he realised it could be heard that far away.
He said "But I use the garage because that's as far away from everyone as I can get! I guess I better put in some sound insulation or buy some headphones. I wish you'd have mentioned something because now I feel really bad."
I said I didn't mind because he always stopped by 9pm and didn't do it for more than about an hour and only once a week or so.
In fairness I haven't heard him play it since so he's either too embarrassed (he is a bit rubbish) or he's taken measures.
I told him to play some music through the amp and pop round, I'll meet him on the drive of the house 3 doors up. He went a bit red when he realised it could be heard that far away.
He said "But I use the garage because that's as far away from everyone as I can get! I guess I better put in some sound insulation or buy some headphones. I wish you'd have mentioned something because now I feel really bad."
I said I didn't mind because he always stopped by 9pm and didn't do it for more than about an hour and only once a week or so.
In fairness I haven't heard him play it since so he's either too embarrassed (he is a bit rubbish) or he's taken measures.
Used to play the guitars and drums when I was younger and I remember walking around my neighbours while two friends were playing the bass and drums to see if they could hear and/or care. Only next door could hear any noise and they said it wasn't that bad, as long as it wasn't at silly hours then they could just turn the TV up a notch and drown us out.
I remember one day when we had our gigging kit round mine, so I asked the neighbours if they'd mind 5-10 minutes of very loud music at 3pm on a Saturday. They were fine with it and when we turned the cabs up to full volume we could hear and feel the music from the top of the road. A good 50 metres away!
I remember one day when we had our gigging kit round mine, so I asked the neighbours if they'd mind 5-10 minutes of very loud music at 3pm on a Saturday. They were fine with it and when we turned the cabs up to full volume we could hear and feel the music from the top of the road. A good 50 metres away!
It depends on so many things; I have a parrot that occasionally lets out a very loud high pitched screech. I can often hear her in the street from 12-15 doors up when I go out to walk the dog and that's with all doors and windows closed. My neighbour plays war type games on his Xbox in his front room seemingly 24/7 and always at volume 11... You can hear it clearly during the day as he always has the window open but at night with the window shut - not a peep, and I'd guess DB wise his TV and my parrot are on par with eachother.
You live next door to me, don't you!
My garage (+2 others) is under a coach house. My house is a sideway (bin width + a bit) away. The chap who lived there (moved on) played guitar.
The houses are modern so the sound insulation is very good. If he was playing with the windows closed it could be heard in the street but not indoors. If open then indoors too but very quietly. He only played for an hour or so and never early or late. I like music so if I was coming or going would sometimes stand and listen to see if I could recognize what he was playing. He swore quite creatively when he dropped a note
As others have said just ask, you never know your neighbor might play too - let's form a band! /Blues Brothers
My garage (+2 others) is under a coach house. My house is a sideway (bin width + a bit) away. The chap who lived there (moved on) played guitar.
The houses are modern so the sound insulation is very good. If he was playing with the windows closed it could be heard in the street but not indoors. If open then indoors too but very quietly. He only played for an hour or so and never early or late. I like music so if I was coming or going would sometimes stand and listen to see if I could recognize what he was playing. He swore quite creatively when he dropped a note
As others have said just ask, you never know your neighbor might play too - let's form a band! /Blues Brothers
Pistom said:
My neighbour plays his guitar and is in a detached 15m away.
We can hear it clearly and love it. We'll sometimes turn the TV off to listen.
He's no Jimmy Hendrix or Eric Clapton but it's music.
Don't assume you're annoying your neighbours. Some of us are a bit more tolerant.
Weirdo!We can hear it clearly and love it. We'll sometimes turn the TV off to listen.
He's no Jimmy Hendrix or Eric Clapton but it's music.
Don't assume you're annoying your neighbours. Some of us are a bit more tolerant.
You realise you're supposed to sit at home stewing about it but not say anything. And then after a couple of years finally snap and get your face in the local paper.
I have 2 weeks left in a flat, next door to a heavy metal listening, x-box war playing, surround sound enjoying neighbour.
That said, every night he knows to turn it off when it gets to 9pm (or turn it right down). The issue comes with the flat underneath him, as she works nights, so sleeps at odd hours.
Basically, speak to your neighbour, they might enjoy a bit of AC/DC, and as long as you don't turn it to up to 11 at 2 in the morning, all should be good with the world!
That said, every night he knows to turn it off when it gets to 9pm (or turn it right down). The issue comes with the flat underneath him, as she works nights, so sleeps at odd hours.
Basically, speak to your neighbour, they might enjoy a bit of AC/DC, and as long as you don't turn it to up to 11 at 2 in the morning, all should be good with the world!
I use a Powerbrake between the amp and speaker and play in the garage (20 foot'ish from the houses). Usually dont bother after about 8pm as neighbours have kids as do we, and it would piss me off if my neighbour was banging out their best Green Day cover when my kid's trying to sleep. Your amp has a pentode/triode switch that can knock the output down to half at max volume also.
ETA - if I do want to play loud for a few hours it's easier to book some time at the local rehearsal rooms where you can make as much noise as you want without fear of bothering anyone
ETA - if I do want to play loud for a few hours it's easier to book some time at the local rehearsal rooms where you can make as much noise as you want without fear of bothering anyone
Edited by andy-xr on Friday 11th August 11:41
As suggested, I would go an ask.... nothing more irritating than a neighbour making loads of noise on a peaceful summer's day.
I would ask what the best time is for you to be practising/playing your guitar and have they heard it yet?
Sound will definitely travel the distance you have said.
I would ask what the best time is for you to be practising/playing your guitar and have they heard it yet?
Sound will definitely travel the distance you have said.
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