Neighbour's idiot hippie.

Seriously this makes me feel like shit everytime, but why would I have to endure listening to his music all day long? I know I can be very loud too (as I have a home studio in another room and I make, shall we say, less than neighbour-friendly music myself) but I try to be considerate by speaker placement and not insist on having shitloads on bass so that the walls are shaking. My bedroom's lately become almost unusable during daytime because of that guy.

I had really big problems with my previous apartment's neighbours. In the end I just had to move out because of their children (it was a nightmare scenario quite unlike I've never even heard of), so this is very minor compared to what it was like in the past. But still...

Any advice or experiences? Especially from those folks who tend to be loud themselves, just that the other one is louder.

novabrkr said:

Perhaps you need to rethink that strategy?

Seriously, however, I would just talk to the neighbor, if you haven't. My next door neighbor has a drum set that he thinks he can play. We had a chat. It's cool now.

Stax said:

?

No, I meant I am at least always trying take other people into account. I've placed the speakers so that they would cause the least harm to the person living next to that room, even if as a "furnishing choice" it's not the most convenient. I know that's not the case with most people.

This neighbour I am speaking of lives on the other side of the apartment.
[Edited 3/10/07 7:37am]

Stax said:

When my upstairs neighbors are being too loud, I knock on their door and tell them. In the 3 years I've lived here I've only had to do it 2-3 times, and only when it was late at night and I had to be up the next day. They always apoligized and fixed it.

When I first moved in and they had a different roommate, I actually really enjoyed their musical taste.

novabrkr said:

No, I understood that. But when your neighbor is being a dick about it, you need to fight fire with fire. Talk first. If you get no respect, crank that shit up. Buy a new amp, if you must.

CarrieMpls said:

I didn't want to talk to my neighbor because it made feel like an old man. "Turn that noise down!" He wore me out, tho. Dude has no rhythm.

Yeah. The talking thing might seem like the most "grown-up" option. But I just have really bad experiences of it from my previous address, as it didn't help at all and not even the manager could help (I wasn't the only one wanting them evicted). Not only did I have to confront them personally they always tried to make me seem like the bad guy not allowing their "normal family life" to go on.

I think this guy here will get the message at least for a while. I already did it last fall one night, and he was quiet for several months. But now it started again.

... drumset sounds pretty bad. People...
[Edited 3/10/07 7:49am]

Y don't u kick his ass?

Stax said:

Strange coincidence. This guy used to practise his acoustic guitar chops with the window open during night time, so I'd wake up because of it quite often. And I'd also hear him play on the terrace. Even after a year, he still couldn't manage to play a two-chord progression properly - the worst guitar player I've ever heard. It really wouldn't be a great loss to the world if he stopped altogether.

I guess it's a personality pattern with these people.

Short-term step: talk to the neighbor, and try to soundproof your place, as much as possible.

Long-term step: If possible, start planning for the sort of house you would like to buy.

Stax said:

My very first apartment was in an old, old building that had old radiator fixtures for heat and someone in the bulding liked to drum on them. We never figured out who it was, we'd just hear the clinking sound, always in a fun, perfect rhythm.

novabrkr said:

That sucks. I would respond in kind, just to spite them. I would place my subwoofer against the wall and play La Bamba on continuous loop at full volume. Then I would check into a hotel for a week, leaving my stereo on at home.

CarrieMpls said:

Did you ever communicate with the mystery drummer by tapping on your own radiator?

ThreadBare said:

Not possible. It has more to do with volume levels / speaker placement than anything. It's not always been like this even here, he's just playing music louder and starting it at 6:30 and other ridiculous times.

I really don't want to move out in a constant fashion.

Stax said:

No. But now I wish I had.

Man i feel u i have the same problem everyday my neighboor listens 2 music 2 loud and i'm not the only 1 sayin' that all the neighboorhood is talking about that!

CarrieMpls said:

- .... .- - / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / .... .- ...- . / -... . . -. / -.-. --- --- .-..

(spelling edit)
[Edited 3/10/07 8:02am]

Stax said:

ROFLMAO!

To be honest, a lot of my young male friends are exactly alike that. Whenever I go their places I can't believe they're being such assholes on their neighbours and feel a bit embarrassed to be there myself. The worst is though that even if their speakers would have ridiculous bass elements already they're usually "considering upgrading for a subwoofer" as well. I just can't believe my ears.

Music sounds fine on moderate levels, that's the bottom line. And I personally listen to the noisiest kind of music ever put to record, I should know.

i'm a little bitch about such things.

since i tend to get up for work around 5am during the week, if my neighbors were rockin' the stereo till all hours the night before, i have no problem giving them a little diamanda galas/laibach wake-up call party, all bright and early.

Anx said:

novabrkr said:

i agree. unless i have headphones on, i like being able to hear things above my music. conversations, the phone, my own thoughts, whatever. if i'm listening to music loud, it's either because i'm at a concert or because i want to hear all the detail on an album, in which case, yeah, i'll be wearing headphones.

novabrkr said:

very true, i have been there myself. Are u in the UK? if so cant u report them for noise pollution? New legislation came in a few years back didnt it that meant that nuisance neighbours sound equipment can be confiscated by the pigs if it exceeds certain Db? they send somebody around with some fancy equipment and they read their levels from inside your home. Go on.. be a devil.. get 'em fucked over.

The biggest problem with me reporting anyone, is that for short stints I have to make stupid amounts of noise myself as I make music on a regular basis. Sometimes I just have to push the levels up. And considering the style of music I am involved with, I also do some shouting from time to time. But I try to keep it as short as possible and relocate to quiet levels as soon as possible. I do that at the other end of the apartment though, and the neighbour in that direction is hardly ever home himself.

I'm sure the guy I've lost my temper with is a nice guy, he just has no concept on decibel levels. When the walls in your apartment are vibrating, that's a clear sign you're probably overdoing it.

And shut the windows when you are having sex, please.

novabrkr said:

I see what u mean. I'd bluff them and ask them if they reported u to the noise police? obviously they will say no. Elaborate that u didnt think it was them and go on to say that some of your gear has been taken off of u. Then grass them up. After the razzers come to take their beloved bass box, your neighbour will be around your place like a shot to let u know that your not the only one who somebody has it in for. Thus leaving u in the clear.

or.. just shoot them.
[Edited 3/10/07 9:53am]

You're a true professional.

Stax said:

call the cops. they love disturbing the peace kinda calls. that'll show the neighbour you're serious.

Ever get fist-banged up against the wall?

I did once.




After that,
I made the decision to never, ever again date anyone that I meet on the org.
Especially those whose screen-name initials are Z & elaira.