60-65 watts loud enough for rehearsal??

[Inconnu]

I've heard of people using amps such as the Marshall MB60 and the Laney RBW 1000 and a Line 6 Studio 110 and they had enough power for a rock band rehearsal. Anybody here has successfull experience with such low powered amps?

[B-string]

All depends on how mature the people you play with are

[samtastic]

I have used a 60, 80, and a 400 watt amp for practice, just depends on how loud the group practices.

[Inconnu]

Originally Posted by B-string

All depends on how mature the people you play with are

Mature enough, but I mean, a bass drum remains a bass drum and we need to be able to compete...

[IPYF]

I've done it before. The primary problem is that in order to be audible over a rock drummer you're going to have to push a little amp to the full extent of its capabilities and that's really not ideal.

I had a Laney 65w that I used for a year or so and I ended up cooking the cone.

Since drummers don't have a volume knob they need to be your primary consideration.

[B-string]

I get what you are saying but you don't need to compete with the bass drum. You augment each other. It can be done with a 25 watt amp and 15" speaker (Ampeg B15 anyone?). Performing music is not a competition is a blending and each must do his/her part. If the drummer has a heavy foot it is his job to stuff a pillow in it

[IPYF]

There's also the argument that certain brands of rock and metal ought to be played loud. It's nigh on impossible to tell an intricate metal drummer to put a sock in it because the techniques dictate the volume.

[Downunderwonder]

I was using a 50W tube amp at rehearsals just fine but got a fright when I gigged it. I didn't realise how close I was to maxing out the clean at rehearsal.

You need to be playing with grown ups to rehearse rock with an overgrown practice amp.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by IPYF

There's also the argument that certain brands of rock and metal ought to be played loud. It's nigh on impossible to tell an intricate metal drummer to put a sock in it because the techniques dictate the volume.

Not argue but the greatest drummers of all time have had no trouble controlling the loudness of their set even during amazing solos.

Differences of a monkey with sticks and a drummer?

[greggster59]

Originally Posted by Inconnu

I've heard of people using amps such as the Marshall MB60 and the Laney RBW 1000 and a Line 6 Studio 110 and they had enough power for a rock band rehearsal. Anybody here has successfull experience with such low powered amps?

Not in our band.

[IPYF]

Originally Posted by B-string

Not argue but the greatest drummers of all time have had no trouble controlling the loudness of their set even during amazing solos.

Differences of a monkey with sticks and a drummer?

You know I've had my best 'soft drummer' experiences with blues guys. I played with this kid one time who was seriously phenomenal, and I mean kid too; he was 17. Like he had his blues technique down to the point where the whole band got by on combos and no plugs. That was amazing.

I've been playing in the metal scene for over a decade and I've never met a metal drummer who plays quiet. There are those who play quieter, but since triggers are an industry standard and blast and groove techniques require quite a bit of force to elicit the required sound it's really uncommon. Finding a competent metal drummer who can play quietly? They would have to be truly world class.

[john m]

I love my Line 6 110. I use it for rehearsals (and gigs)--
no drums only.

[Mushroo]

The cabinet is a bigger influence on the overall volume than the wattage of the amp. Large efficient cabinet + low wattage amp > tiny inefficient cabinet + high wattage amp.

Classic Ampeg SVT is "only" 300w, but paired with the matching 8x10" it will blow away a 300w 1x15" Behringer combo.

[JimmyM]

I not only use a 25w tube amp with a 115 and a 35w practice amp with a 110 at practices, I'll use them on gigs. With a drummer. And a 3-man horn section. We aren't metal but we're not quiet, either. My advice would be to try it but have a backup plan in case you're in one of those bands who has to practice as loud as they play out.

[Hawkbone]

My buddy's band rehearses all the time with a 50W Crate bass amp. Keeps up with drummer, two guitars and amplified vox. It never ceases to amaze me, but it works.

[Bassdirty]

It really depends on...
how loud you guys practice...
what kind of tone settings your after (if you scoop mids then probly wont cut it)
and dont forget..diffrent amp mfgtrs rate wattages differently.

MY OPINION and experience is..that it has been done with 65 watts..but you probably want more.

do you already have the amp? what is the amp we are talkin about? what type of music? how do you like your tone settings generally? how many guitarists..and what do they use?..and how is their tone ? heavy scooped metal?..blues?..jazz?...
you get the idea..LOTS of variables to be able to give you a rock solid answer.

T$

[bryan gibson]

My drummer's practice room has an old Peavey TNT, the 65w 1x15 version-not the big one. Anyhoo, while I definitely wouldn't gig with it, it does OK for practice as long as it is up on a chair. It doesn't "boom" by any means, but the other guys can hear me and I don't have to carry in the whole stack.

[recreate.me]

Well that depends on your band and jam space, I have been struggling hearing myself with a 200watt and a 2x12 sooooo.... It all depends.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Inconnu

Mature enough, but I mean, a bass drum remains a bass drum and we need to be able to compete...

Competition is no substitute for collaboration!

A good drummer is one with the ability to modulate and control his volume, even on bass drum, IME.

[IPYF]

I'm from a different camp. I don't believe that a rock drummer should have to play soft to be considered a good drummer. That doesn't sit well with me from a genre-analysis perspective.

There's nothing better than hearingt that kick drum knock something expensive and irreplaceable off a shelf in another room. That's rawk and roll.