No idea?!

JAGGL3S · #1 08-23-2010, 11:21 PM

Just recently scored me a job

.
and know im in the market for a amp.
i need ALOT of power but dont want it to break my back lugging it to a gig. HELP?

im a noob so be nice.

bongomania · #2 08-23-2010, 11:45 PM

Well, in all truth -no meanness whatsoever- one of the best things you could do right now is go through a few pages of this forum, reading any thread that catches your eye, and taking notes about brands and models. Then once you have a handful of brands and such, search on those names. That will turn up even more threads that you'd benefit from reading.

That way you'll be able to narrow down the choices based on your budget and people's opinions, and you'll be able to ask more specific questions about amps.

jazzblade · #3 08-24-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Well, in all truth -no meanness whatsoever- one of the best things you could do right now is go through a few pages of this forum, reading any thread that catches your eye, and taking notes about brands and models. Then once you have a handful of brands and such, search on those names. That will turn up even more threads that you'd benefit from reading.

That way you'll be able to narrow down the choices based on your budget and people's opinions, and you'll be able to ask more specific questions about amps.

YEs check out the amp section. You will see mention of class D amps which are small and light, and then regular both SS (solid state) and tubes.

Try to figure out just how much power you need by noticing what size "room" people are playing their rigs into, Most importantly, read about speakers since that is really what weighs more than the amps.

I'm not sure if your just starting out WHY you need lots of power, That doesn't always equate to how loud a rig is. (doubling your amp power DOES NOT double your sound output).If you read the amp stickies about power you will see what i mean. take your time looking around and THEn ask your questions. They will be more meaningful for you.

Munjibunga · #4 08-24-2010, 12:17 AM

One thing for sure ... avoid Ampeg like the plague.

JAGGL3S · #5 08-24-2010, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzblade

YEs check out the amp section. You will see mention of class D amps which are small and light, and then regular both SS (solid state) and tubes.

Try to figure out just how much power you need by noticing what size "room" people are playing their rigs into, Most importantly, read about speakers since that is really what weighs more than the amps.

I'm not sure if your just starting out WHY you need lots of power, That doesn't always equate to how loud a rig is. (doubling your amp power DOES NOT double your sound output).If you read the amp stickies about power you will see what i mean. take your time looking around and THEn ask your questions. They will be more meaningful for you.

well i play in a band. i have a swr 15. but i dont get enough power out of it. and are gigs tend to vary on size. anywhere from 50 people to 300 or even a upcoming event with more than 1000 expected. i just want enough power to punch threw the rest of the band. we play christian acoustic stuff mostly.

JAGGL3S · #6 08-24-2010, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

One thing for sure ... avoid Ampeg like the plague.

and whys that? haha

somegeezer · #7 08-24-2010, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAGGL3S

and whys that? haha

Because you said you don't want to break your back lugging it about. =P

otis_thick · #8 08-24-2010, 12:48 AM

I recently got a 17lbs Carvin DCM2000L 2k watts @4 ohms bridged into 2 Avatar B410 neos....I have had to deal with some QC problems though YMMV I can say after getting the QC problems fixed (Cold joints that caused not output, Power plug vibrated out of socket during gig due to NO plug lock (HEY CArvin Its a 2000 watt amp...its going to make the surrounding area VIBRATE including the amp itself...snap in plug or plug locks please!, and finally the control plate up front also vibrated causing an racket) I don't play loud so much but I do need the low end power and clean head room so you can "FEEL" the notes...trust me...women love it! I was looking at the new ultra lite Peaveys but they don't bridge but they are really lite and really inexspensive if you get them without the DSP and only 7 lbs!

http://www.peavey.com/products/brows...ade%3B1600.cfm

sweetskillsrk · #9 08-24-2010, 06:56 AM

I got a 60 watt SWR LA12, and while I don't think it's enough power if you're gonna be doin a bunch of big shows, its gives more power than you would think. I know it gives me plenty power for playing in small venues or just jammin with friends. I would suggest SWR, good sound quality but won't break your back or your wallet. That's just my 2 cents but just go to the store and try a bunch of amps that won't break your back, not to mention its a good excuse to chill in the music store for hours, haha. Good luck.

JMac4strngr · #10 08-24-2010, 07:04 AM

Plug and play till You find something you like. Also keep in mind some room to grow, some of the worst mistakes I made early on with amps was buying what would just get me by.

MarTONEbass · #11 08-24-2010, 08:27 AM

Try everything you can get your hands on and do lots of reading of the posts of the great knowledgeable people here on this forum! Good luck!

Burlington · #12 08-24-2010, 08:28 AM

Genz Benz Shuttle!

Jim Carr · #13 08-24-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAGGL3S

...I'm in the market for a amp.
I need ALOT of power but dont want it to break my back lugging it to a gig...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAGGL3S

...I have a swr 15, but I dont get enough power out of it...gigs tend to vary on size, anywhere from 50 people to 300 or even a upcoming event with more than 1000 expected. I just want enough power to punch threw the rest of the band. We play christian acoustic stuff, mostly.

So let's see, you want more power than an SWR 15, and lighter than back-breaking, and your "christian acoustic stuff" band is so loud that you need lots of power to "punch threw."

Wow. It raises questions...
Which SWR 15 (LA, Black, WM, SOB)? Heavy for you is how heavy? 50 lbs, 75lbs, 100 lbs, 200 lbs? "Loud" is an acoustic praise band? You failed to indicate your budget for this amp.

My advice is that you get a used 410 (MarkBass Mesa, Eden, SWR, GB, Epifani, Berantino, Avatar) and a used hybrid amp head (SWR, Eden, GB, Mesa, GK, Markbass) with at least 500 watts into 4 ohms.

I would avoid the "bargin/economy" lines from SWR, Eden or GK. Craigslist and Talkbass classified are your friend.

Fill out your profile.

JAGGL3S · #14 08-24-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

So let's see, you want more power than an SWR 15, and lighter than back-breaking, and your "christian acoustic stuff" band is so loud that you need lots of power to "punch threw."

Wow. It raises questions...
Which SWR 15 (LA, Black, WM, SOB)? Heavy for you is how heavy? 50 lbs, 75lbs, 100 lbs, 200 lbs? "Loud" is an acoustic praise band? You failed to indicate your budget for this amp.

My advice is that you get a used 410 (MarkBass Mesa, Eden, SWR, GB, Epifani, Berantino, Avatar) and a used hybrid amp head (SWR, Eden, GB, Mesa, GK, Markbass) with at least 500 watts into 4 ohms.

I would avoid the "bargin/economy" lines from SWR, Eden or GK. Craigslist and Talkbass classified are your friend.

Fill out your profile.

i have a swr working mans 15. wit h360 watts adn 8 ohms.
its loud but doesnt punch threw. and yes our band is loud at some times. i want something that has that thick deep growl sound. and i dont wanna spend more than 1500 on her.

RickenBoogie · #15 08-24-2010, 05:27 PM

Loud volume has everything to do with speakers, and very little to do with power. You need to educate yourself, as others have already mentioned. Start reading the amps forum. Come back when you're done.

Kevindavid3 · #16 08-24-2010, 09:21 PM

One thing i find with new young buyers as that they all want power. lots of people want a 1000W+ rig. which is real pointless unless your playing a stadium. I have a Markbass CMD 102P 300W/500W combo. and that thing can play huge places. and if i need more power i can just stick a 210 under it.

otis_thick · #17 08-26-2010, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevindavid3

One thing i find with new young buyers as that they all want power. lots of people want a 1000W+ rig. which is real pointless unless your playing a stadium. I have a Markbass CMD 102P 300W/500W combo. and that thing can play huge places. and if i need more power i can just stick a 210 under it.

You need wattage for head room...its not a question of a 1000
+ watts constantly but being able to PUMP out thick clean low end without your speakers or amp cramping the extra watts and the matching power handling of the cabinets sound FULL and CLEAN and don't suffer the overheating and speaker clipping of lesser and I am talking about 100+ size audiences B4...if you have GOOD PA assist and monitors maybe you don't need 1000+ watts ...But I would recommend it!

iualum · #18 08-26-2010, 03:00 AM

...whatever you decide, BUY USED unless it's absolutely impossible, & even then try to figure out some way to BUY USED

...right here on Talkbass is the best place to start, although you can also try TheGearPage.net, Harmony-Central.com, BassGear.com, evilbay, & craigslist, among others...

Jim Carr · #19 08-26-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAGGL3S

i have a swr working mans 15. wit h360 watts adn 8 ohms...

I'm must respectfully disagree with your report on the WM15. I had one. Here are the basic specs from the swrsound.com web pages:

Power Output:
160 watts @ 8 ohms (internal cabinet)
200 watts @ 4 ohms (w/ 8 ohm extension cabinet)

Speaker complement:
(1) 15" Custom designed SWR driver
(1) LeSon TLX-1 tweeter

Dimensions: 20.75"W x 27.625"H x 16.25"D
Weight: 70 lbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAGGL3S

its loud but doesnt punch threw. and yes our band is loud at some times. i want something that has that thick deep growl sound. and i dont wanna spend more than 1500 on her.

Actually, I don't think it is very loud. I added a goliath Jr. III 210 to mine and it still was not enough. I replaced the WM15 with an SWR (chromeface) 350 head and SonofBertha 15. That was better, as the gIII jr. and sob worked together better than the WM15 and the gIII jr.

It wasn't until I got a 410 goliath II to combine with the sob that I really was happy. I was doing a lot of R&B, Motown, Blues, etc.

However, in the years that have followed, I have found that by getting a selection of modern cabs and lots of power, I can pretty much handle anything I need to.

I don't really understand the application you describe, but I think that if the WM15 is not enough, you need either a good 410, a pair of 210s, or a couple of 112 cabs. Combine good cabs with a 500 watt into 4 ohm head, and you're bangin'!

There are a lot of choices. Yes, by all means go used. TB classified is the best, IMHO.