Why so many watts?

root fifth · #1 10-09-2010, 12:34 PM

I am pretty new to all of this so i will ask why do bass players or bands in genarel run so many watts?I go to look at gitting a new amp and the guys at the store keep telling me if you want to gig you need at least 300 watts!I see so many guys on here talking about using 5 6 700 watts what for?I mean back in the day most bands used 100 watts at most and alot of guitar players played 50 watts so they could over drive them.I mean if you are really playing out wont you be using a PA?So your amp is for tone and stage sound right?Please help me understand is this just a big dic* contest or ?Also is this the reason it is almost unbearable to be in a smaller bar with a band!LOL

Dark Barn · #2 10-09-2010, 12:38 PM

pfff I use 1300 watts

Edit: my power amp intelligently included a master volume control which I can use to set the volume to where it's needed.

Burlington · #3 10-09-2010, 12:39 PM

More power = more headroom. That's at least my excuse for having a 900w head.

LiamPodmore · #4 10-09-2010, 12:39 PM

The main reason is probably because you get the occasional big gig that cannot offer adequate PA support, so you need the extra power there to drive your bass without the PA helping. Other people just like to have plenty of headroom for if they ever need it.

Liam

billiam5billion · #5 10-09-2010, 12:42 PM

I can gig regularly with my 100W combo, it's very rare that I play a venue without adequate PA support, but for the occasional outdoor gig or living room show, it's nice to have the 500W combo too.

Gav4003 · #6 10-09-2010, 12:42 PM

The more watts the more good tone at more volume before sound getting too pushed, I've only got a 350 watt head but never needed it past 2 so guess I'm lucky I don't need more

KJung · #7 10-09-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by root fifth

I am pretty new to all of this so i will ask why do bass players or bands in genarel run so many watts?I go to look at gitting a new amp and the guys at the store keep telling me if you want to gig you need at least 300 watts!I see so many guys on here talking about using 5 6 700 watts what for?I mean back in the day most bands used 100 watts at most and alot of guitar players played 50 watts so they could over drive them.I mean if you are really playing out wont you be using a PA?So your amp is for tone and stage sound right?Please help me understand is this just a big dic* contest or ?Also is this the reason it is almost unbearable to be in a smaller bar with a band!LOL

Zillions of posts on this, and one of the things that interests me a lot.

Talking about watts in a vacuum is like taking about horsepower without taking into account the weight of the vehicle.

It can take huge watts to drive a deeply voiced, low SPL cab to the same volume as low wattage with a more mid voiced, higher SPL cab. And, playing style and tone goals acts as an 'interaction effect' on the relationship between watts and cab voicing.

If you like a mid punchy, warm tone and play with 'polite technique (i.e., always fingerstyle with moderate touch), it is amazing how many gigs you can do with a couple typical 112's and a few hundred watts. Try rumbling the ash trays in the back of the room (or even on a large stage when you have PA support) when slapping with new stainless steel roundwounds.... a deeply voiced 410 cab could EASILY eat up 1000 watts.

Looking at a single variable (watts) without context (tone goal, cab SPL, playing style, volume needs) is a relatively ueless task.

root fifth · #8 10-09-2010, 12:46 PM

Wow 500w in a living room makes my head hurt even thinking about it!LOLHere is another ? for as mush as these big wattage setups cost as a band would it not be cheaper to invest in a PA system for outdoor gigs and house partys and what not?And a 900w head good god the amount of cabs you could run on somthing like that!

KJung · #9 10-09-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by root fifth

Wow 500w in a living room makes my head hurt even thinking about it!LOLHere is another ? for as mush as these big wattage setups cost as a band would it not be cheaper to invest in a PA system for outdoor gigs and house partys and what not?And a 900w head good god the amount of cabs you could run on somthing like that!

See the above post

root fifth · #10 10-09-2010, 12:50 PM

Good point kjung but i find watts to be not as important as ohms.I have seen a person take a "lesser rig" and with a understanding of watts,ohms,and wiring and knock the socks a rig up to twice as big.

Burlington · #11 10-09-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by root fifth

Wow 500w in a living room makes my head hurt even thinking about it!LOLHere is another ? for as mush as these big wattage setups cost as a band would it not be cheaper to invest in a PA system for outdoor gigs and house partys and what not?And a 900w head good god the amount of cabs you could run on somthing like that!

Every venue my band plays has PA support. We use a small PA for vocals/keys/triggers when practicing. I like the tone my head gives me, and I like to rattle the walls when I need to get everyone's attention

I run it through a SWR 6x10.

Burlington · #12 10-09-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by root fifth

Good point kjung but i find watts to be not as important as ohms.I have seen a person take a "lesser rig" and with a understanding of watts,ohms,and wiring and knock the socks a rig up to twice as big.

?

Rob Lewis · #13 10-09-2010, 12:53 PM

...and it's a big dic* competition.

KJung · #14 10-09-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by root fifth

Good point kjung but i find watts to be not as important as ohms.I have seen a person take a "lesser rig" and with a understanding of watts,ohms,and wiring and knock the socks a rig up to twice as big.

See post 7. Again, without taking context, playing style and cab size and SPL into account, the correlation between watts and volume is virtually zero.

It's not about impedance, but about frequency range, cabinet size, and cabinet SPL, combined with absolute power and also 'quality of power' (versus the 'marketing spec wattage' that is provided with amp heads).

billfitzmaurice · #15 10-09-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by root fifth

I mean if you are really playing out wont you be using a PA?So your amp is for tone and stage sound right?Please help me understand is this just a big dic* contest or ?Also is this the reason it is almost unbearable to be in a smaller bar with a band!LOL

Quite right on all counts.

Burlington · #16 10-09-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Lewis

...and it's a big dic* competition.

that's what guys that play through combos say

Deluge Of Sound · #17 10-09-2010, 12:56 PM

In a perfect world, I'd only need to jam with one watt.

Mike Watt.

KJung · #18 10-09-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Lewis

...and it's a big dic* competition.

That's, of course, another way to look at it. There are actually guys out there that are 'embarrassed' by taking a micro head to a gig, even though it sounds great. That's like being bummed out that your wife makes more money than you do

... get over it

BassmanPaul · #19 10-09-2010, 12:56 PM

Many bands do invest in a good PA. the problems come when the band breaks up or someone leaves. They want their share back out. My opinion has always been that as the bass player buys his bass and rig. guitar player his guitar and amplifier and the drummer his drums, the lead singer, if that is a frontman and not a player, should purchase his microphone and his amplifier, the PA. I find it somewhat strange how many frontmen don't own anything - not even a mic. As a vocalist as well as a player I purchased my own PA system. It's not suitable for a bass but will handle ten microphones with out a problem.

Orco87 · #20 10-09-2010, 01:00 PM

Why not? If you can afford it, go for it, if not, oh well, use what you got. It's sometimes better to simply have and not use then to not have and need.