Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Well I got my first non-compliance letter. Apparently my neighbors don't like music or I really suck. I have ten days to comply. It's not like were playing at midnight. It's more around 11 am to 2 or 4. Oh well, I guess it's time to move because I can't forsee a future without playing. BTW we have lived here 12 years. I thought about just going down to the courtyard and rattle everybody at once. But that seems a little antagonistic.

Sounds like a move is in order. Or a rented practice space.

Good luck!

In the mea time, get a smaller for practicing at home. Keep it off the floor and don't place it in a corner of the room.

rickenbrother wrote:In the mean time, get a smaller amp for practicing at home. Keep it off the floor and don't place it in a corner of the room.

I think that's what you meant, right?

Crank it up just to remind everyone how loud you "could" be.

Before considering anything big like moving, I would find out what the local law states, to the letter, go to Radio Shack, get one of those little decibel meters, and see if 1) you are actually in compliance or 2) it would be a reasonable enough adjustment to be in compliance. Sorry to hear you're having trouble.

Sometimes neighbors can be a real pain. One time my band was to play in my parents garage. The cops came and said to turn it down. We told them we had not even turned up yet. Stuff was still not even plugged in.

Just ask The Beatles. I suggest a rooftop free concert.

Bill

jdogric12aolcom wrote:Before considering anything big like moving, I would find out what the local law states, to the letter, go to Radio Shack, get one of those little decibel meters, and see if 1) you are actually in compliance or 2) it would be a reasonable enough adjustment to be in compliance. Sorry to hear you're having trouble.

Public complaints will generally be more powerful than the law. The cops aren't going to want to come out more than once.

Basjac, I'm not wanting to make you feel worse than you already do, but your situation makes me feel so lucky.

I've been practicing at home (at serious window-rattling volume) for 3 years, and never had a complaint. Why? 'Cos the house on one side of me is separated from ours by a wide alleyway (and anyway they're all at work during the day when I practice) and the house on the other side is occupied by a lovely, sweet old lady who is STONE DEAF!

Once, only once, somebody rang my doorbell while I was blasting away. "Oh lordy," I thought, "this is IT: they've finally had enough of me.." In trepidation I went to the door, a "Sorry" already hovering on my tongue.

I opened the door, and there stood this HUGE guy. Must have been about 7 feet tall. I drew breath to apologise, but before I could utter a word, he said "I'm a drummer. Been listening to what you're playing, and I like what I hear! I live just down the road there. Me and a bunch of friends jam together one or twice a week. If you fancy joining us, here's my number.."

See? Now you feel really bad, dontcha.

I could always make your nieghbors disapear without a trace, but that has a huge pricetag to boot !!!

My neighborhood is FULL of musicians - I think Boston law is 11:00 but no one in my neighborhood has ever complained in 11 years - I am respectful about volume/practice time after 9 PM but I unleash whatever I want during the day.

Before gigs, I always test my gear for a while at volume to make sure all is kosher.

My bands all have rehearsal spaces/studios.

Good luck!

My nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away!
Ah, I love the country!

Where I live (in Oregon) it doesn't matter what db lvl you are at, it only takes one complaint. Disturbing the peace statute. The secound one will get you a hefty ticket. The rehersal space rental biz is doing quite well. There are at least 5 different rental pratice spots. The last two bands I played in were lucky enough to have their own spaces that worked out, one was a sound resistant basement, the other was a converted garage, out by itself away from any other buildings. Neighbors can really be a pain in the ***.

LoL,

I ONCE had a neighbor complain while I was practicing Sound Chaser at like 2pm!

The dirty, rotten SO and SO said his walls were shaking. This was a house about 500 feet away from my home. I just told him, if he didn't stop Bitc*ing, I'd have the ENTIRE band over for practice.....EVERY NIGHT......'til the 11pm witching hour......and we'd work on SOUND CHASER every 10 minutes. AND, if that wasn't enough, I told him I'm in a PRAISE TEAM, and unless he wanted to hear JESUS, OH JESUS constantly BETWEEN those 10 minute Sound Chaser rounds.......

He never complained again.