Safe to run vocals through a tube amp?

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Guitarer

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Hey guys...I'm jamming with a new band on Friday, and my PA is out of order.

I used to run vocals through an SS amp all the time...but is it safe to use a tube amp?

It's gonna be a lot of growling vocals too...dunno if that matters. I would assume no.

Thanks,
Holden
 
Guitarer said:
Hey guys...I'm jamming with a new band on Friday, and my PA is out of order.

I used to run vocals through an SS amp all the time...but is it safe to use a tube amp?

It's gonna be a lot of growling vocals too...dunno if that matters. I would assume no.

Thanks,
Holden
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When I was first starting in bands, the "PA" was the other channels of our guitar amps. It won't hurt anything, though you probably won't like the way it sounds all that much.
 
i've done this in an attempt to save money and it is possible, but it does sound like crap. I would save for the most powerful pa you can afford. 150 watts in each speaker would probably suffice for practicing situations and small gigs. i use the yamaha stage pas 300 for practicing and it works well enough. Something a bit more powerful would be more ideal, but i assume you just want something to work with.
 
Depends on the amp

If you can get enough juice and still get a clean signal, then you're good to go. If it's a small amp that's designed to distort at low volumes, then yes, you can do it, but it won't sound very good.

If you've got a Fender Twin on the other hand, you're more than fine.
 
greyharmonix said:
i've done this in an attempt to save money and it is possible, but it does sound like crap. I would save for the most powerful pa you can afford. 150 watts in each speaker would probably suffice for practicing situations and small gigs. i use the yamaha stage pas 300 for practicing and it works well enough. Something a bit more powerful would be more ideal, but i assume you just want something to work with.
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The Stagepas 300 is actually what I own, and last time I jammed with them it didn't cut it. It works for my own band, so I blame it on them playing too loud, but you know people and their half stacks...

My amp is a Peavey Classic 50...It gets quite loud before breaking up, especially since I've got both a master and a "normal"
 
Guitarer said:
My amp is a Peavey Classic 50...It gets quite loud before breaking up, especially since I've got both a master and a "normal"
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What has having two input channels and a master volume got to do with available volume before breakup?
 
ggunn said:
What has having two input channels and a master volume got to do with available volume before breakup?
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Cranking the normal will allow breakup with a lower master.

I can change my amount of headroom.
 
I used to practice with a band using my Fender Vibro Champ for vocals and it was sufficient. You just have to realize the situation and turn it down. Now if you guys are playing rock star and have to crank everything to practice/jam, then you'll need some serious power, but again, having tubes doesn't really matter.
 
Guitarer said:
Cranking the normal will allow breakup with a lower master.

I can change my amount of headroom.
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Well, OK, but having a master volume doesn't increase your amount of headroom. Having no master volume is the same as having one that is turned up all the way.
 
ggunn said:
Well, OK, but having a master volume doesn't increase your amount of headroom. Having no master volume is the same as having one that is turned up all the way.
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Exactly. And presuming with the limited tone control and open back' issues you can keep it from feeding back, for voice' 50 is a lot of watts. Roll the bass tone down a bit. You gona need a low to high-z adapter too.
 
mixsit said:
Exactly. And presuming with the limited tone control and open back' issues you can keep it from feeding back, for voice' 50 is a lot of watts. Roll the bass tone down a bit. You gona need a low to high-z adapter too.
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that's what i was told when i asked the same question.
The Hi-Z adapters aren't that cheap, well it was like $40 dollars at my local chain music store.
 
MatchBookNotes said:
that's what i was told when i asked the same question.
The Hi-Z adapters aren't that cheap, well it was like $40 dollars at my local chain music store.
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You can get them at Radio Shack for about $25, I believe.
 
lucky yanks you still have radioshack, circuit city bought out radio shack in canada and left us with 'the source' by circuit city with higher prices. phooey.
 
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