1. Push the line/mic button on your mixer. A line level signal is MUCH louder than a mic signal – and could be peaking out the mixer channel. Some mixers have a -20dB pad button as well that’ll really crank that gain back down.

2. Guitar amps only have woofers, the big speakers that reproduce only lower frequences. They don’t have tweeters, but main PA systems do, which means if you send a signal directly to a PA that’s meant for a guitar cabinet you’ll get a really funky high end distortion out of the tweeters on your PA. However, most line outs on an amp or preamp will compensate for this, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll have these issues.

3. Make things easier on everyone and set up your amp backstage in a closed room or hall or something – crank the volume up to optimal tone, and mic it there. I prefer a miced tone any day over direct, there’s so much more presence and punch to the sound. Have your sound person send the miced amp signal to your monitor on the stage so you can hear what you’re doing – and that should solve everyone’s issues.

In response to Derek’s post about stage volume and not being “wusses,” Aerosmith, Pantera, and Led Zeppelin all played huge arenas that had massive sound systems pumping out volume levels way beyond the ability of most of our church service volume levels. Their sound guys were able to overcome the amp sound coming from the stage with the sheer power of the PA. Most of us don’t have that luxury, and honestly, if you value the hearing God gave your congregation, you’ll turn down a bit from rock concert levels to protect their ears as they come to worship week in week out. I’m not saying that the volume should be wimpy, but it shouldn’t cause hearing damage. Also, some auditoriums such as the one I’m used to playing in are designed to pump stage noise out into the room – if the stage is loud at all, the mix in the room gets muddy and no one can distinguish anything. Give your sound guy a break and crank your amp backstage. That and protect your ears – they’re the only ones you’ve got, for the rest of your life.

Douglas, I hope these suggestions help you – let me know if you have any more questions.

I boost 6k a little to add some presence to my sound – I found the sound guys like my sound a little better that way. Right around 100~120hz we’ve got major room mud, so I’ve got those almost cut altogether. Even with those frequencies cut, I have to watch my palm muting right around Bb. And everything lower than 80hz is rolled completely off . . .

I agree with everything you just wrote as far as amp recommendations

David Crowder’s guitar player Solley posted his setup and some thoughts on Mic-ing a cabinet here. Thought it would be an interesting read.