I am going to challenge TB amp conventional wisdom...

[NortyFiner]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

It really all comes down to acoustics. Great bass rigs can be reduced to garbage in rooms with bad acoustics. Terrible rigs can sound wonderful in with great acoustics. It also comes down what tone the bass player is putting out with the band they are playing in. Putting out a tone that is very similar to what the rest sound like? You will blend in. Put out a tone DISTINCTLY different, you will cut through and be heard. It's all about frequency slotting.

All this talk about watts, tube, solid state, power sections, speakers and so on can easily be reduced to "mumbo jumbo" in a room with bad acoustics or a band with no sense of frequency slotting.

YES. It amazes me how many people just don't seem to get this concept.

[JehuJava]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Yeah, well, just because I have a 900-watt head doesn't mean I'm always going to be pushing it. But if the guitar player starts pushing his 100 watts, I might. And four-fold is low. Ten-fold is about right.

Yeah...I'd agree 10 fold is more accurate especially in a rock band. I used a Genz gbe1200 with Aggie gs412 to keep up with a Mesa dual rectifier with an Orange 4x12.

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

But as I stated earlier, not every guitarist is obnoxiously loud. Maybe I'm a bit biased, but I have a sinking suspcision that many of those guitar players had smilie-faced EQs in addition to obnoxious volume. In those situations, a bass player throwing more watts isn't going do much other than create more boom.

you're absolutely right, and I wouldn't be surprised if you were right about your suspicion either. That being said, I'd be lying if I told you it isn't nice to have that extra juice when you need it. I don't even have the extra juice at the moment, and I'm trying to find affordable solutions. With that being said, more power doesn't necessarily mean more volume, and more volume (like others including yourself have said) doesn't necessarily equate to being heard better, but at the moment I've got 2 guitarists that I can't keep up with, and I kindof need to find a solution that satisfies the audience's ears and my wallet.

[Means2nEnd]

Originally Posted by dspellman

I'm sorry, I mostly heard blah blah blah blah four times the power blah blah. Nothing is a universal law when there are black holes out there and the entire Kardashian family makes millions by being famous for Kim getting naked once in a while while exclaiming that she's "not that kind of girl."

Where was that fudge?

HA! I just fell out of my chair! Reminded me of my brother who always says "Dude I know you are talking but all I hear are banjos"


I think it's just generalized guidelines by people trying to help but man do what works.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

...Just because your guitar player has a 100 watt Marshall doesn't mean they're always going to be pushing 100 watts. Believe it or not, there are guitarists who don't blast their rigs at eardrum rupturing volumes.

Yes, they DO exist. And I love them; all five of them. Two of them can actually play....

Drummers?......eh.... Let me get back to you after another 25 years of gigs. If I live that long.

I have found that 300-500 watts into a 4x10 covers anything 99.5% of the time.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Means2nEnd

HA! I just fell out of my chair! Reminded me of my brother who always says "Dude I know you are talking but all I hear are banjos"

You may wish to refer him to the ADD thread....: D

[Means2nEnd]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

You may wish to refer him to the ADD thread....: D

My brother is brilliant he just means when some people are talking in a less than a completely thought out coherent manner or just to hear themselves talk it reminds him of say the movie Deliverance...

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Means2nEnd

My brother is brilliant...

I get ya. Was kidding.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

All this talk about watts, tube, solid state, power sections, speakers and so on can easily be reduced to "mumbo jumbo" in a room with bad acoustics or a band with no sense of frequency slotting.

Nah...just follow this philosophy and it's all good:

[BurningSkies]

[Premierbass]

Depends on the situation but...

• Tube watts certainly *seem* louder than SS watts
• I'd rather have more watts than I need, especially for 5-string (low b consumes a ton of power if you want it clean)
• You won't blow up your speakers if you listen carefully and don't push them.
• 30 watts, even 15 watts can be plenty loud for guitar. But not all guitarists play too loud even if they have more amp than they need.
• And...(flame suit on), I think mixing cabs can result in a great sound!

Dan

[Gearhead17]

""And...(flame suit on), I think mixing cabs can result in a great sound!""

With that wording, I agree!

[1bassplayin]

This thread is going downhill like an overloaded poultry truck.

[96tbird]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

""And...(flame suit on), I think mixing cabs can result in a great sound!""

With that wording, I agree!

Sure, the coveted fearFul cabs do it, all in one package.

Tubes sound louder because breakup is creamy latte', with a transistor setup of the same value, it's nails on a chalk board.

BTW, I think we don't need to quote the op if that's the post you are adressing. Clutter.

[BogeyBass]

Its like trying to get 10 pounds of krap, in a 5 pound bag.....

ummm what was the question again?

oh yah so if a guitar had 1 watt what would be the amount needed for bass?

and what if that Watt was overated and had .63 Watts instead?
but dont forget the tube simulation that makes it sound like a real 1watt.

[JimmyM]

Huh?

[Downunderwonder]

mmmmm, fudge

[Matthijs]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i set my volume according to the drummer, not the guitarist.

+1, maybe we can work out some formula involving weight of sticks and depht of snare, double it by the amount of bass drums and factor in extra excess free hanging metalware and any similarities in personality with Keith Moon. I could work out a questionaire for that last part.

[swspiers]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i set my volume according to the drummer, not the guitarist.

+1

Truth!

[Downunderwonder]

Drummer blames the guitard because he can't hear himself, but the guitard blames the drummer. So you're really setting your volume off the guitard, who then cranks it some more to be louder than everyone else put together at all times.

I played 1st gig with guitar player the other day. It's a duo. He hit the <100hz filter on his channel and took some bass out of the guitar, what a dude! Unbelievable difference in the mix. He's a soundman in his other job.