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So i dunno what happened but at practice everyone sounded like shit
amps sounded thin and harsh and there was just no sustain
guitars and bass
tone just went to shit for everyone.

is it the heat?
amps? axes?

Could be the way everyone's amps/instruments were EQed
Instead of everyone playing within their own sonic niche, you're just shitting on each other

Maybe it's a nightmare, and you're still asleep. Or you're in hell and this forum is part of your eternal punishment. Or you just actually sounded like shit.

i usually just blame the drummer

It happens. I usually just wait.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2wrw7uO4QI[/youtube]

zRobertez wrote:It happens. I usually just wait.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2wrw7uO4QI[/youtube]

HA!

it was just weird, because all three of us agreed that everyone was sounding off....
hopefully everything settles back into place for next practice.

These things just happen sometimes, it totally sucks. I've had unpleasant gigs where I was fiddling with my gear all night and never happy with it. With any luck, next practice the bad mojo will be gone and everything will sound ok.

I get nights like that too. You settle on a sound and have your pedal board all set up just like it was the day before and then you hate it. Hopefully between next practice will be a nice break for you guys and the gear and hopefully it will sound right once again!

Old strings, hangovers, nagging distractions etc are common culprits of someone turning up the suck knob in a room.

But this also sounds like the utility company might be partially to blame...are you running the amps behind a voltage regulator?

One of the most underrated pieces of kit IMO. I bought a line conditioner with digital readout before getting a regulator. I was able to see the voltage dip and spike, going down as low as 99V and as high as 129V depending on time of day/month/year.
If you live in or on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area they should be considered mandatory, especially if you're running any tube gear, especially vintage, especially with tube rectifiers....and ESPECIALLY if you use any kind of step-up transformer to run foreign 220/240V gear here in the US.

Since I started using the regulator/conditioner combination, not only did the bottom end clear up and the noise floor drop in my already buzzy amp...but the settings stay consistent on my 'set and forget' pedals until I want to try something new. YMMV

What's a good line conditioner man?

I have
http://www.amazon.com/Furman-PL-PLUS-DM ... B001JJ8WQK

But I would also consider Tripplite's equivalent. Whichever one that you can get for a deal.

My practice space is in the city, but considering there's 100practice spaces in the building the power consumption fluctuates greatly with attendance.

what I can never manage to understand about the Furman Power Conditioners is how it can help you with voltage sag without a UPS (uninterruptible power supply).
or do you use it mainly to squash peaks and meter your voltage?

That Furman isn't a voltage regulator, just a line conditioner and surge protector with isolated outlet banks.
It greatly improves bass articulation around 60Hz and reduces overall noise in sensitive, high gain devices like pre-amps and mic pres.
Plus it tells you how much voltage you have passing through.

A voltage regulator in front of the line conditioner is what makes the most, consistent difference FME

Thanks rusty. Do you take it to gigs too? Do you have to have a rack? I'm so noob at this stuff.

... it's a phase problem. You use too many mixed drivers and too many amp heads. Most clubs mic your shit anyway.