How much power do I need?

[randombassist]

This probably has been asked many times before but here I am with the same question.

I am in a trio with a hard-hitting drummer and a guitarist who wants to deploy a Peavey 6505(120watts tube) on a 412 (maybe 212 in the future). How much power would I need to keep up with them and have some headroom? I recently purchased a 410 used, and now I found out its only 200watts, I feel like I'm screwed with only 200watts to work it, am I really screwed? Any amp recommendations?

[countrybass007]

Ashdown makes some pretty good low wattage amps that will work. If you use an amp,say the Orange Tiny Terror, you would have to be careful not to overdrive your cab. I prefer cabs that will take more wattage than my amp puts out, but I have successfully used cabs that were rated less wattage than my amp. If your sound is sounding distorted and muddy back off on your volume knob.

[randombassist]

Originally Posted by countrybass007

Ashdown makes some pretty good low wattage amps that will work. If you use an amp,say the Orange Tiny Terror, you would have to be careful not to overdrive your cab. I prefer cabs that will take more wattage than my amp puts out, but I have successfully used cabs that were rated less wattage than my amp. If your sound is sounding distorted and muddy back off on your volume knob.

I would just like to add I can't afford anything tube, its just too much, I'm looking for stuff somewhere in the solid state department. Not more then 500$. I don't know if 200 watts will be enough though.

[Bass_Pounder]

My rule of thumb is at least 4X - 5X the power your guitarist is using, going through AT LEAST the same amount of speaker area he is using.

[randombassist]

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

My rule of thumb is at least 4X - 5X the power your guitarist is using, going through AT LEAST the same amount of speaker area he is using.

Great so I'm screwed

[somegeezer]

500 watt amp through your 410 will do fine. I use about 300 max through a 410 against 2 150 watt 212s.

[randombassist]

500 watts through a 200watt cab? uhh, sounds like the ingredients for destruction.

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by randombassist

500 watts through a 200watt cab? uhh, sounds like the ingredients for destruction.

You won't use the full 500 watts. Some people like the headroom. 300 watts might suit you better.

[m.oreilly]

just what cab are you referring to?

[randombassist]

Originally Posted by m.oreilly

just what cab are you referring to?

I have a Trace Elliot 410 I picked up used recently, I've asked around forums and found out it only handles 200watts at 8ohms

[somegeezer]

At 8ohms? A 500 watt amp will generally give 500 at 4 ohms. That's about 250 at 8 ohms. Get a 500 watt head.

[randombassist]

Originally Posted by somegeezer

At 8ohms? A 500 watt amp will generally give 500 at 4 ohms. That's about 250 at 8 ohms. Get a 500 watt head.

Well from what I see double the ohms doesn't mean half the power, like the Hartke 3500 makes 350watts at 4 ohms and 250 at 8ohms. I see this for every bass/pa amp out there.

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by randombassist

Well from what I see double the ohms doesn't mean half the power, like the Hartke 3500 makes 350watts at 4 ohms and 250 at 8ohms. I see this for every bass/pa amp out there.

It's around about half the power. Slightly more usually. My amp is 700 watts at 4 ohms, but more like 400 at 8 ohms. Even then, you never use the full power unless you go mad by shoving your bass EQ and volume right up full. 500 watts head into 400 watts of cab is fine, as long as you're not going to go crazy. Same as 250 into 200.

[randombassist]

Originally Posted by somegeezer

It's around about half the power. Slightly more usually. My amp is 700 watts at 4 ohms, but more like 400 at 8 ohms. Even then, you never use the full power unless you go mad by shoving your bass EQ and volume right up full. 500 watts head into 400 watts of cab is fine, as long as you're not going to go crazy. Same as 250 into 200.

Thank you. I'm pretty much set on the Hartke them, and later I want to add a 8ohm cab (either 210 or 115) with my 410 so I have the full 350watts of the Hartke.

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by randombassist

Thank you. I'm pretty much set on the Hartke them, and later I want to add a 8ohm cab (either 210 or 115) with my 410 so I have the full 350watts of the Hartke.

Well I hope it serves you well. =]

[randombassist]

Originally Posted by somegeezer

Well I hope it serves you well. =]

It will knowing Hartke's reliability