How much power is enough...really?

MrHeadfirst · #1 05-21-2010, 08:17 PM

in doing all this exhaustive reading, i see all kinds of different rigs and setups. huge power guys, small rig guys...and so on. so being as i am saving up my little pennies to buy a new gig rig. i seem to keep coming back to the same basic dilemma...big fat pre/power set up, or RH450...(cause that amp wins a lot of areas for me)
pros and cons:
since i am admittedly a fan of having a big cab (2x15 or so) with me, i like the pre/power idea. with something like a cs1400 or a kilobass, i have a lot of bigger cab flexibility options. plus i can run and try out different pre amps. but...seems with that kind of rig, it all becomes modular, needing a seperate compressor in the rack, then of course you gotta have a furman in there for power and mabe even a rack tuner. now you got a big heavy rack to crate around.
as with these big cabs, they ask for a lot of power, all mesa's cabs (which i like) ask for 1000 watts or better. is that much power really necessary. ive been playing all this time with my trusty old T-max with no need for more volume, in fact, i have never even really given that amp a workout as the volume dial never gets past 1.
looking at the RH450, it has on board compression, tuner, and 3 presets...but, it puts out 450 watts, less than half of what my desired cabs ask for. i know there is no real risk in underpowering, but is there any real noticeable loss in sound quality? i will admit i am a bit ocd, and i tend to over do things. im sure it will always bug me knowing that i could be putting 500 more watts into my rig, and wondering what im missing out on.
what do you guys do/think?

Gar Bear · #2 05-21-2010, 08:37 PM

I always err on the side of MORE power. It sounds better, and if I need to scruff it up, I have pedals for that. I used to have too little power when I was young and broke, and that was very frustrating tone-wise. You can always adjust your volume to taste/need if you have headroom.

Cheers!

MrHeadfirst · #3 05-21-2010, 08:53 PM

im really in love with the features of the RH450, especially the presets. I am aggrevated i cant get that in a conventional higher power package. id really dig the ability to go from slap, to modernish tones, to old rock or grindy with a foot switch and a single amp...
really cool options there.

canadian*eh · #4 05-21-2010, 11:20 PM

Well For me I would go with more power. I am Running a GK 1001rb II Head which is 700 watts(A VERY LOUD 700 i might add)...and yeah it is probably more then i am ever going to need and yes some people think i am crazy... but like i always say it is always easier to turn It down then it is to turn up a 200 watt head that is maxed out!! But hey that is just me.... I love clean power and lots of 10 inch speakers... The more the better i think...lol

Best Of Luck Mate Cheers ~Elliot

Kindness · #5 05-21-2010, 11:42 PM

For practice at home?
30 watts - 1970 Ampeg B-15N
For playing against a drummer?
100 watts - 1977 Ampeg V-4B
For filling a club?
300 watts - 1979 Ampeg SVT

At least that's how I do it.

rbonner · #6 05-21-2010, 11:54 PM

I'd say an 810 and either a toob SVT or a 4PRO is enough. Smaller deal? turn the knob
down.

BOB

Growly Lytes · #7 05-21-2010, 11:56 PM

Hey you got me, I recently built 2-410 DIY cabs with Legend BP102 speakers. The BP102has a low sensitivity rating of 91db which means it needs a few watts to shine. I used a Fender BXR200 head at first & found after about 30mins the leads & inputs were getting super hot when i touched them. The speakers were drawing alot of power from the amp. You could have fried an egg on the chassis & the amp was clipping very easy, 200watts trying to power 2 x 800watt cabs.
I was just about to buy the `Bassman 300` to power them then i found an amp that puts out 900watts a side @ 8ohm `E Systems Pro - Power 3000`in bridged mode giving me 3400watts of mono power... thats right 3400watts rms !! Now the power side of things is just unbelievable only i cant really crank the amp up at home cause theres so much power, its great to have heaps of headroom. Good thing is its there if needed.
http://www.lightsounds.com.au/conten...ower3000_m.pdf

thudfromafar · #8 05-22-2010, 01:56 AM

42 watts

vin*tone · #9 05-22-2010, 02:08 AM

How loud do you play?

I run a 300w Mesa Walkabout through a pair of Aguilar DB112s and usually only need one cab - putting out roughly 165 watts. I love the tone. I realized today that I prefer it to my Ampeg B15N - even at low volumes.

vin*tone · #10 05-22-2010, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

Hey you got me, I recently built 2-410 DIY cabs with Legend BP102 speakers. The BP102has a low sensitivity rating of 91db which means it needs a few watts to shine. I used a Fender BXR200 head at first & found after about 30mins the leads & inputs were getting super hot when i touched them. The speakers were drawing alot of power from the amp. ...

Speakers don't pull power from an amp. The amp drives the speaker. The power rating of the speaker is what it will take before crapping itself- not what it draws from the amp.

Munjibunga · #11 05-22-2010, 02:31 AM

A kilowatt is usually enough.

PunkSweeper · #12 05-22-2010, 07:57 AM

1.21 Gigawatts.

SteveC · #13 05-22-2010, 08:05 AM

375 watts for me.

wetzelman1 · #14 05-22-2010, 08:07 AM

4000 watts or go play guitar!

in all seriousness, every amp is different. tube vs. ss. etc. my 2pro @300 watts might be(seem) louder than a 4 pro at 1200.(or whatever it claims) It's not really about how many watts you have, but how good the amp sounds. And it's pretty safe to say an amp at half volume will sound better than an amp at full.

lovefist · #15 05-22-2010, 08:11 AM

I've played about 35 gigs with my 1x15 and 500watt Carvin head (PB-500). The tone is fine, but the volume is usually from a PA.

I think that a lot people get into pissing contests over watts...when the venue has a decent PA see whose bringing what and ask if you can plug into someones SVT if your embarrassed about having a mere 2x10 or what ever.