How many watts do you run?

[scottfeldstein]

In my recent struggles with a guitar player with a 100w combo amp, I've been wondering how many watts other bass players use. I find that even with 500w, I can barely keep up with this volume hog.

I went to the Gallien-Krueger web site and they have ten bass amps, some heads some combos. And only two of them are in the 800-1000 range. The rest of them would be drowned out by this guy.

Let's put aside speaker configuration. At some point, more speakers isn't going to give you more decibels if you don't have the watts to drive them.

I'm going to try to include a poll. How many watts do you have in your rig?

[Electricblue]

What cabs are you running 500w through a 112 or 210 won't cut it at all.

However, 150w through a 410 might be able to.

What cabs?

[Bass_Pounder]

You can't just put aside speaker configuration.

A 1,000 watt amp driving a 1X15 cab will never keep up with a 100 watt amp driving an 8X10

In the quest for volume, speaker area trumps wattage every time.

[scottfeldstein]

I have the GK MB210 combo with 2x10... AND the 210MBE extension cab with another 2x10. For the record: Master at 3/4, Gain up to 1/2, EQ flat. I'm afraid to push it any further.

[WhoDidTheElf]

I run 300~ but I also have a whole assortment of cabs that I run it through.

300 through 2x10 and a 1x15 isn't nearly as loud as 300 through 8x10.

If you want volume add as many speakers as you can.

[jaywa]

150 through my amp

24,000 through the P.A.

[wshines1892]

Not to insult your rig or anything, but we have some of those amps at the music store I work at, and they just seem to be rather quiet amps for their wattage. I don't know if it's an issue of speaker sensitivity or what, but they just run on the quiet side in my experience.

[scottfeldstein]

When I suggested that I might get more Vs out of swapping the 2x10 extension cab for a 4x10 one, some said that it wouldn't help. Perhaps others disagree.

There is an 8x10 cab in the rehearsal space, but it's 4ohms and my amp wants 8 for an external cab. So I think that's out.

[Electricblue]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I have the GK MB210 combo with 2x10... AND the 210MBE extension cab with another 2x10. For the record: Master at 3/4, Gain up to 1/2, EQ flat. I'm afraid to push it any further.

Does it have a clip light? Trim the gain correctly to your bass.

Do you run it at ankle levels? Bring that thing up.

Are you afraid to tell your guitarist to turn down? Kick his stack over.

Take a tiny bit of bass from your eq too.

[JMac4strngr]

My 100 watt tube amp, with an 810 cab will keep up with a JCM 800 with 412 cab and a heavy handed drummer without a problem. I'd suggest, some EQ'ing on both You guys parts and possibly turning the guitar rig down a bit.

[bassbrad]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Let's put aside speaker configuration. At some point, more speakers isn't going to give you more decibels if you don't have the watts to drive them.

Let's not! Speakers move air not watts--
more speakers = more air in motion.
a 4x10 will never be louder than an 8x10 no matter how many watts you put into it b4 it blows.
You have to gauge your speakers against what else is going on, in my jazz group a 100 watt 1x15 is fine but it ain't gonna cut a rock gig.
For me to keep up on the rock gig with a Line 6 100 watt 2x12 and a Marshall 50 watt 4x12 I use a GK MB500 thru a 2x15 & 2x12.

[Rob Lewis]

Another puerile "how loud" thread. Tell him to turn the F down, and if he won't? Walk.

[MusicBear]

• For small gigs with well-behaved musicians: 100 watts.
  
• For larger gigs, with unreasonably loud guitar players: as high as 3200 watts (through 10 Electro-Voice cabinets). Controlled demolition... (Hearing protection was essential.)

That said --- The cabinets you use will make a substantial difference in your overall loudness. Check the "Sensitivity" rating of your cabinets if you can (Sound Pressure Level (SPL) measured 1 meter in front of the cabinet with 1 watt input). An increase of 6 db here will translate into a cabinet that is twice as loud. Higher sensitivity means more sound from every watt you put in.

[Hutzbordello]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I have the GK MB210 combo with 2x10... AND the 210MBE extension cab with another 2x10. For the record: Master at 3/4, Gain up to 1/2, EQ flat. I'm afraid to push it any further.

i run a gk mb210 and the 410mbe, i know what you mean about pushing it man. i think my settings are

gain: 2

boost : 3

master: 12

treb: 2

highs: 11

Lows : 2

bass : 7

even with the bass at its a bit much. with my fuzz factory everything has to be at 7 except the treble which goes to 11.

[pasta4lnch]

I regularly use either a 250 watt>2X6" or 500 watt>1X12" w/ a drummer and/or 500 watt >2X12" w/ an electric guitar player and never have gone north of 5 on the 500 watter. . . the 250w has gone up a few times, mostly in heavily carpeted rooms.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

In my recent struggles with a guitar player with a 100w combo amp

That's your problem, right there.

In this day and age, with any sort of P.A., 100 watts of onstage guitar amplification is insane. In my former band we had THREE electric guitarists and their amps combined didn't equal 100 watts.

In my current band, my guitarist runs a 50-watt half-stack and even that is way more rig than he needs... and we play some pretty big stages.

Guitards need to get into the 21st century and realize that less is more.

[Slackerprince]

How about mids?

S

[iamoldschool]

I run a separate pre/power, so my power amp is 1450 if run in bridged mode through a single 4X10. It could be ridiculously loud if I needed it to be. I know I'll never use all that power, but the headroom is great to have. Just never approaching that threshold is comforting.

[Colonel129]

Me: 300watts, all tube; or 500watts, SS/digital thru 8x10... WAY enough volume for ANY GIG!!!

Speakers move air... and can be powered by less than a single watt. You have to multiply your watts 10 fold to double your decibels (approximately) which at the end of the day will end up blowing crappy cabs before you'll ever get the desired volume... research cab/speaker combinations before assuming that a head trade out will give you what you want.

[scottfeldstein]

Originally Posted by jaywa

That's your problem, right there.

In this day and age, with any sort of P.A., 100 watts of onstage guitar amplification is insane.

Guitards need to get into the 21st century and realize that less is more.

That's my opinion of the entire matter. 500w through 4x10s should be adequate in many, many circumstances. For sure it should be when playing with one guitar and a drummer in a practice room.