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100 watts tube sufficient?

logdrum

logdrum

A person!
Jun 24, 2002
9,085
12,437
Walnut Creek CA/ABQ-SAF NM
#1
I submitted a thread about how I accidently found a reversed hybrid amp setup. Basically a tech 21 "British/Marshall" character pedal into a Peavey classic 50/50 stereo power amp bridge mono. But I finally got to test other solid state and tube preamps, Radial, PJ, preamp of my SWR 350, Alembic F2b, ARTs and Demeter H2. I am getting in a couple of days an older Demeter VTB201 (old as in the labels are handmade a label maker)

The cabs will be 2 EA Whizzy 12s. Of course I'll have a Carvin B1000 for backup.

For those that use an Ampeg V4B or a similar wattage tube amp, how are you getting along in your gigs?
Do you have to mic it or send the DI signal to FOH?
Stage volume for you and the band?
Do you use it for power tube distortion and the stage volume is miced or controlled by the sound guys?

I am more of a clean player. I also play the upright.

I had a jam in a July 4th party(big house lots of people) and the power amp held pretty well. I brought a JBL powered 10 just in case but did not have to use that. This time I just used an ART tube preamp (with a NOS RCA Grey Plate 12ax7 and used the preset bass EQ). I really dug the sound. Smoother than my Prodigy when set to flat. My bass is active (Pope pre) and I just used the bass EQ for additional EQ. Only needed a bass boost for same reggae lines. The power amp was set below 5. Controlled drummer and keys and guitar. No one asked me to play louder.

But this was a jam inside and not sure how it would work outside or in bar with a dance floor.

I am a sucker for tube amplification though. I originally got the 50/50 planning on bypassing the presence and resonance and use it for another home stereo.
 
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#6
Dave W said:
At gig volume? And it was clean enough?
Click to expand...

Jazz Gigs mostly.m I also had a GK MB combo at the time. Was able to play with a horn section.

Even though I had an Ampeg SVT (just sold it), I never had a need for the crunch tone, but I burp or growl it. That's what clean would mean to me, Like Chris Wood of Medeski, Martin and Wood.
 
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#12
logdrum said:
Well not hifi clean. I used a B15 flip top before in the 90's.
Click to expand...
I used a Sunn 2000s (120w) and a 2x15 JBL cab for years. No one ever complained they couldn't hear me or about not having a clean tone.

I recently picked up a Broughton always-on HPF that really cleans up the low end, protects speakers, add clarity by evening out string to string volume, and overall apparent volume.

It also works very well on my 15w tube 1x15 combo. I think it would really enhance your tone/volume and allow you to keep using your tube amp.

Another thing to look at is an external eq pedal. Check Reverb.com for bass eq, Lots of examples, up to 10 band that I could see. Great for eqing the venues from hell! Or even some eqs with a notch filter.

Moving more air is probably a good option as well. A 2x2x12 vertical stack would work, also allowing you to hear yourself much better on stage, lowering stage volume too.:)
 
Last edited:
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#13
Thanks @Stumbo. My SWR which has been my mainstay was repaired recently and now operating like it was new and the peavey + preamp tube setup keeps up. It is rated at 40 Hz on the low end so open B string may not be as good on the SWR but mid wise using the same pre it cuts better. Aslo the tube clips nicely when pushed at high volumes. I think I'll keep this setup
 
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#14
JGR said:
A 100 watt tube amp that has been fully optimized for clean headroom (many are not) with big cab, or at least a couple of high sensitivity cabs, can put out a surprising amount of volume.
Click to expand...

Currently I have 2 EA 1x12 Whizzy's 4 ohm's each and rated at 109db. Is that efficient enough. The Peavey can go down to 2 ohms. I also have a powered JBL Eon 1x10 just in case. Mesa amps and cabs will remain here in NM and this will be my SoCal Rig. I have a carvin B1000 for backup.
 
#15
logdrum said:
I submitted a thread about how I accidently found a reversed hybrid amp setup. Basically a tech 21 "British/Marshall" character pedal into a Peavey classic 50/50 stereo power amp bridge mono. But I finally got to test other solid state and tube preamps, Radial, PJ, preamp of my SWR 350, Alembic F2b, ARTs and Demeter H2. I am getting in a couple of days an older Demeter VTB201 (old as in the labels are handmade a label maker)

The cabs will be 2 EA Whizzy 12s. Of course I'll have a Carvin B1000 for backup.

For those that use an Ampeg V4B or a similar wattage tube amp, how are you getting along in your gigs?
Do you have to mic it or send the DI signal to FOH?
Stage volume for you and the band?
Do you use it for power tube distortion and the stage volume is miced or controlled by the sound guys?

I am more of a clean player. I also play the upright.

I had a jam in a July 4th party(big house lots of people) and the power amp held pretty well. I brought a JBL powered 10 just in case but did not have to use that. This time I just used an ART tube preamp (with a NOS RCA Grey Plate 12ax7 and used the preset bass EQ). I really dug the sound. Smoother than my Prodigy when set to flat. My bass is active (Pope pre) and I just used the bass EQ for additional EQ. Only needed a bass boost for same reggae lines. The power amp was set below 5. Controlled drummer and keys and guitar. No one asked me to play louder.

But this was a jam inside and not sure how it would work outside or in bar with a dance floor.

I am a sucker for tube amplification though. I originally got the 50/50 planning on bypassing the presence and resonance and use it for another home stereo.
Click to expand...

The EA Wizzy cabs are pretty efficient so a pair on a V4B should do pretty well unless you want big bottom. The 50/50 should be fairly similar in power to the V4B. Only you and your band can decide if these rigs meet your needs.

I generally use my bass amp as a personal monitor and run my bass through a DI before it goes to the amp. Normally my goal is to turn down and let the PA and subs carry the bass to the audience and other band members instead of trying to punch through with my amp. I like having the speakers elevated as close to ear level as I can get them. But if my rig is carrying the stage and house, the speakers are stacked vertically with the lowest cab on the floor for coupling.

For years, I played large and small venues with just a single Eden 210XLT stacked vertically on top of my 10-space rolling rack. I wedged a Countryman Type 85 under the front edge of the cabinet to tilt it back and aim it at my ears.
 

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