GONZO-X
Well-known member
my apologies if this crap has already been covered.
wattages in tube amps is always a hot topic.....
one man's pain.......
wattages in tube amps is always a hot topic.....
one man's pain.......
M
musicstew
New member
For recording 15W will work fine, as a matter of fact many world-class guitarist record with lower wattage amps but almost always ones with tube pre and main stages.
-Stew
-Stew
TragikRemix
I am NOT a Gear Whore. ;)
any place that you need to get real loud in should have a PA and you will just mic it anyway. Get the 15w. i have a 100w Marshall tube Rack and a digitech rack preamp and its so freakin heavy, plus the 4x12, its not even worth it.
im looking into buying a marshall 12" combo amp, 40w tube, and 90% lighter...
im looking into buying a marshall 12" combo amp, 40w tube, and 90% lighter...
S
smtcharlie
emotion over sonics
Wow - lots of responses. Everyone is talking about metal music here - this person is playing Bright Eyes / Deathcab style music primarily - much more mellow than metal.
I got one of those older Roland amps that were 8 x 6 inch speakers. I can't remember how many watts, I think 25. It was solid state.
It wasn't loud enough, and I play mellow stuff. And that band had one of the quietest drummers that I've ever met. And I play totally clean guitar, that Roland amp would distort at high volume - and not in a good way.
The problem with having a small amp and relying on mic'ing it up is that you are relying on monitoring quite a bit. It's my experience that monitoring at a small club stinks (the sound guy has ~10 minutes to learn the sound of your band...). If no one can hear your guitar, and you are anchoring the songs with the guitar part, that's a problem.
Maybe you could pick it up from a place that has a return policy? Try it with your band - if you've got some headroom with the band, you'd probably be cool...?
I got one of those older Roland amps that were 8 x 6 inch speakers. I can't remember how many watts, I think 25. It was solid state.
It wasn't loud enough, and I play mellow stuff. And that band had one of the quietest drummers that I've ever met. And I play totally clean guitar, that Roland amp would distort at high volume - and not in a good way.
The problem with having a small amp and relying on mic'ing it up is that you are relying on monitoring quite a bit. It's my experience that monitoring at a small club stinks (the sound guy has ~10 minutes to learn the sound of your band...). If no one can hear your guitar, and you are anchoring the songs with the guitar part, that's a problem.
Maybe you could pick it up from a place that has a return policy? Try it with your band - if you've got some headroom with the band, you'd probably be cool...?
G
guitarboi89
New member
wow
Thanks for all the replys im really impressed
Okay i have read all of your comments and now i am even more confused
Firstly i should have put my priorities straight:
1 - Recording
2- Bright eyes/ death cab style bands
3- Post Hardcore (read. emo) bands
I record my own music (more like bright eyes) but also record friends bands which are prodominantly emo. I am starting to gig this summer with my solo project but will sometimes be backed up by a band. The post hardcore bands are not really my priority.
All of the venues around here mic up the amps so thats not really a problem i was just wondering if i would be okay for practices (which seems to be oaky) My drummers not very loud so i think i should be okay. Im just going to find a place with a good return policy
Thanks for all the replys im really impressed
Okay i have read all of your comments and now i am even more confused
Firstly i should have put my priorities straight:
1 - Recording
2- Bright eyes/ death cab style bands
3- Post Hardcore (read. emo) bands
I record my own music (more like bright eyes) but also record friends bands which are prodominantly emo. I am starting to gig this summer with my solo project but will sometimes be backed up by a band. The post hardcore bands are not really my priority.
All of the venues around here mic up the amps so thats not really a problem i was just wondering if i would be okay for practices (which seems to be oaky) My drummers not very loud so i think i should be okay. Im just going to find a place with a good return policy
G
ggunn
Crystal Flavolian
guitarboi89 said:Thanks for all the replys im really impressed
Okay i have read all of your comments and now i am even more confused
That's because there is no simple and universally agreed upon answer to your question. You're just going to have to find what works for you. One tip: if you buy a used amp you'll be able to sell it for about what you paid for it if it turns out to be not what you want.
K
Keiffer
New member
I totally agree... but, if you're going to err, do it on the side with power to spare.ggunn said:
G
ggunn
Crystal Flavolian
Keiffer said:
Well, maybe, but power is not all there is to the equation. Give me a great sounding low power amp over a mediocre sounding powerhouse any time.
K
Keiffer
New member
I've seen this several times in this thread as though only low power amps can sound good. This is totally baffling. These aren't mutally exclusive and no one's recommending a shitty sounding power amp.ggunn said:
How's this, I'll take a great sounding 50W amp over a 15W mediocre amp any time. It's a totally false premise.
Outlaws
New member
Keiffer said:I've seen this several times in this thread as though only low power amps can sound good. This is totally baffling. These aren't mutally exclusive and no one's recommending a shitty sounding power amp.
How's this, I'll take a great sounding 50W amp over a 15W mediocre amp any time. It's a totally false premise.
But not if you can't crank the 50 watt amp up a decent amount because you still need to get the power tubes working, and anything less than half way up the dial isn't working IMO.
K
Keiffer
New member
this is easily fixed in several ways...
Mono-Stereo Cab... only use two speakers
or
Put a cover over two speakers or three
or
Power soak (albeit expensive)
there's always a way to play lower in volume, but if more power is needed, for whatever reason, which is very possible and you don't have it, your hosed. I've been there.
This is about being prepared to cover any situation you find yourself in. It's not always predictable. There's tons of ways to power down a larger rig on the spot without sacrificing tone too much, but there's no way to go up in power if needed but not available.
kp-
Mono-Stereo Cab... only use two speakers
or
Put a cover over two speakers or three
or
Power soak (albeit expensive)
there's always a way to play lower in volume, but if more power is needed, for whatever reason, which is very possible and you don't have it, your hosed. I've been there.
This is about being prepared to cover any situation you find yourself in. It's not always predictable. There's tons of ways to power down a larger rig on the spot without sacrificing tone too much, but there's no way to go up in power if needed but not available.
kp-
Outlaws
New member
Keiffer said:
Well as for using less speakers, why not just have less to start with and ass as needed? A 15 watt amp is much easier to carry around and then if/when you need volume add a 412. That will be a huge increase in volume.
A 15 watt amp with a 412 will general compete with a 50 watt amp with a 1 or 2 12 cab.
K
Keiffer
New member
you've totally missed my point of being prepared for any situation... oh well...Outlaws said:
as for a 15W watter keeping up with a 50W thru a 4x12... that's not my experience.
E
Ed Dixon
New member
Perhaps it’s time to summarize. By the posters own comments:
1. He likes the sound of the 15W amp
2. His #1 priority is recording
3. His drummer is not very loud
4. Where he plays they mic the amps to the PA
5. His only real concern is practice
Most who have experience with this amp seem to think it’s OK. Others suggested buying from a store with a good return policy, which the poster said he would do.
As far as “being prepared for any situation... “, there is no such thing in the music business. You can be prepared for a range of situations, but not all. The difference between 15W and 50W is about 5db, which does not cover than much of a range.
If one were really trying to be prepared for any situation, then they might have a second 150W amp on the trailer and a third 1500W rack setup.
Our approach is to carry flexible PA gear. A small inside job might use two mains for vocals and mostly stage volume for instruments. A larger job, both mains and subs, with all sound through the PA. For large outdoor gigs, 4 subs and 4 mains, bigger amps and all still through the PA. I normally just use my monitor setup for guitar, but also carry 2 4x12 size cabinets on the trailer for those rare occasions where more stage volume is really needed. They have not come off the trailer in some time.
Ed
1. He likes the sound of the 15W amp
2. His #1 priority is recording
3. His drummer is not very loud
4. Where he plays they mic the amps to the PA
5. His only real concern is practice
Most who have experience with this amp seem to think it’s OK. Others suggested buying from a store with a good return policy, which the poster said he would do.
As far as “being prepared for any situation... “, there is no such thing in the music business. You can be prepared for a range of situations, but not all. The difference between 15W and 50W is about 5db, which does not cover than much of a range.
If one were really trying to be prepared for any situation, then they might have a second 150W amp on the trailer and a third 1500W rack setup.
Our approach is to carry flexible PA gear. A small inside job might use two mains for vocals and mostly stage volume for instruments. A larger job, both mains and subs, with all sound through the PA. For large outdoor gigs, 4 subs and 4 mains, bigger amps and all still through the PA. I normally just use my monitor setup for guitar, but also carry 2 4x12 size cabinets on the trailer for those rare occasions where more stage volume is really needed. They have not come off the trailer in some time.
Ed
S
soundchaser59
Reluctant Commander
Besides, I can tell you from the behind-the-board persepctive that the best way to frustrate your sound man is to have your stage volume too loud....the sound gets messed up, everybody inthe crowd looks sideways at the sound man, the sound man gets mad cuz he is getting blamed for something he has no control over, and everybody loses.....
Good summary, Ed..... Thanks!
Good summary, Ed..... Thanks!
G
ggunn
Crystal Flavolian
Keiffer said:I've seen this several times in this thread as though only low power amps can sound good. This is totally baffling. These aren't mutally exclusive and no one's recommending a shitty sounding power amp.
How's this, I'll take a great sounding 50W amp over a 15W mediocre amp any time. It's a totally false premise.
There is no "any time"; everyone's requirements are different. I have a great sounding 50w amp AND a great sounding 22 watt amp. I use the 22 watter because it fills the bill for my needs. Yes, I could lug the 50 watt head and the 4X12 cab and my power soak, but why?
YMMV. More power is not always the right answer. Rolleyes right back atcha. ;^)
