Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
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Are the big amps history?
- Thread starter jkalads
- Start date
\m/
Amps are like cars. In 1959, bigger was better. In 1974, it was all about fuel efficiency. Fact is, when you can get a very powerful amp with tons of tone for under $500 and under 20 lbs, why would you get an expensive monstrosity that takes a hand truck to move around.
And like the 1959 pink Cadillac convertible, big amps can be cool, but it is partly because of their rarity and value as an antique. Not as a "daily driver".
i.e. they are toast.
And like the 1959 pink Cadillac convertible, big amps can be cool, but it is partly because of their rarity and value as an antique. Not as a "daily driver".
i.e. they are toast.
They aren't as long as I'm not taking a dirt nap. I have 1000 watts and a 18" Celestion as part of my rig. Do I really need that? Not really, but it's sure a hell of a lot of fun! 
Marshall stacks? Bring it, I got you covered. 
Marshall stacks? Bring it, I got you covered. 
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,072
- 5
- 221,141
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
I bought a new Ram 1500 truck that has a smaller CID engine yet has FAR more power to the wheels and towing capabilities than my older Ram 2500HD.
It also gets about 1.5x the gas mileage, handles better, etc.
Why? Because the newer engine/control systems and drive line are much more efficient, extracting more mechanical energy from the fuel burned. The differences are significant.
The same can be said for many advances in the bass amp industry.
That said, I still have a '53 GMC 3/4 ton long bed, but it's not a daily driver.
It also gets about 1.5x the gas mileage, handles better, etc.
Why? Because the newer engine/control systems and drive line are much more efficient, extracting more mechanical energy from the fuel burned. The differences are significant.
The same can be said for many advances in the bass amp industry.
That said, I still have a '53 GMC 3/4 ton long bed, but it's not a daily driver.
What kind of gigs do you do? I admit I'm interested. Mine are mostly wedding/corporate/club. 13 piece band with horns and four singers with screaming wedges. It's earplug loud usually. I currently run a 410 with a 500 watt amp which is overkill but not by a whole lot sometimes.Yes, it did sound "different"... not as good.
The loudest I typically get with my 1012 cab is at soundcheck, just to scare the horses or address the occasional "Is that all you brought?".
Again, in the scenario where I have more volume on tap than I need, I'm getting excellent coverage on stage without the need for monitors, my lows are handled without drama, the focus is optimal...
what exactly would be the benefit of a second cab? Two trip load-in?
There may be one near you. That's the easiest way to understand what they do. I know that for some, the more I explain the more it sounds like I'm lying. Maybe I am.
BTW I know several people who replaced SVT cabs with a single Tank 1015 or 1215. They loved their SVT and apparently don't miss them.
"Because the newer engine/control systems and drive line are much more efficient, extracting more mechanical energy from the fuel burned"
while I totally agree with this statement, you have to look at how we got to this point......In the 60's and 70's no one cared about efficiency, except for heat issues. then we just added fans. As the decades passed, engineers were directed by management and government regulations to use less energy for a variety of issues, some political, which I will stay out of.....then about 20 years ago smaller and efficiency became a very important design spec. 2 years ago when I retired California was demanding level 6 efficiency in power supplies 80 to 90 percent eff. difficult at best. but to me non of this made the amps sound better or worse.....just a change in the market. I love my 60's monster amps and play them in my basement, but for the few gigs I play any simple amp, my 1 18 cab and my upright or pbass and I'm happy.
while I totally agree with this statement, you have to look at how we got to this point......In the 60's and 70's no one cared about efficiency, except for heat issues. then we just added fans. As the decades passed, engineers were directed by management and government regulations to use less energy for a variety of issues, some political, which I will stay out of.....then about 20 years ago smaller and efficiency became a very important design spec. 2 years ago when I retired California was demanding level 6 efficiency in power supplies 80 to 90 percent eff. difficult at best. but to me non of this made the amps sound better or worse.....just a change in the market. I love my 60's monster amps and play them in my basement, but for the few gigs I play any simple amp, my 1 18 cab and my upright or pbass and I'm happy.
The largest stage I've played with this cab was a 2,000 seater. I also do corporate gigs/big weddings, high end club work, indoors and outdoors, with and without PA support.
I've done a couple of outdoors 11-12 piece including horn section gigs in the last month. Easy. I play loud enough to carry the stage or room, whichever is required. I typically get light support when there's a PA. Sound engineers love my rig.
I'm running mine with a Quilter Bass Block 800. Can't really find fault with it either.
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Yeah, but you have to admit, once that old RAM 2500HD went into distortion mode it was heaven!
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,072
- 5
- 221,141
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
As pieces of the plastic interior pelt you in the head...Yeah, but you have to admit, once that old RAM 2500HD went into distortion mode it was heaven!
Too loud is subjective, one person's deafening is another person's just right, I like loud bands but if I feel pain, my ears tickle or my hearing gets dull temporarily it's too loud for me but that can easily be remedied usually by just turning your head a little (before it happens of course), moving a few feet, stuff like that, I've never worn earplugs and hear good especially considering that I've been playing for 50 years. I've almost always used SVT's and I have a theory that bad sound that's too loud causes hearing loss not just loudness. I've stood in front of non-master volume Marshalls, both 50 and 100 watt heads and in front of double SVT's and they all sounded great and never bothered me, now there were a few drummers that went right through me, that is when I move and quickly, my hearing is too important to me.
I saw Ten Years After at a place called The Boston Tea Party in 1969 and the band had piles of Marshalls, I wonder if those two were there? I posted this somewhere else but The Stooges also played through all TYA's stuff and 95% of the sound came off the stage for both bands and it was one of the best sounding concerts I've been to in my life. Lots of little red lights on at that cobncert, they probably had 3 or 4 each.
I had a Marshall Major years ago and sold it like an idiot, I've been looking for one lately but the prices are sky high for them, sometimes double that of a vintage SVT head. Are your heads 1967's or 1978's?
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
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- 40,474
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
What's a respectable EE like you doing collecting a piece of ME history? Shouldn't you have a Philco 53-960 radio or something similar that's not your daily driver?
What's a respectable EE like you doing collecting a piece of ME history? Shouldn't you have a Philco 53-960 radio or something similar that's not your daily driver?
I've got an RCA 816K, best sounding console I've ever heard.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,780
- 40,474
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
I still remember playing with my grandparent's Philco 38-4 when I spent the summers at their home in New York.
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To each his own!! AND I saw all the good bands!
The heaviest thing is the GK 1001RB/210 combo @ 80#. Does have wheels and a "suitcase" handle.
"Fly all you young punks
Stay young and stay high
just hand me my checkbook
and I'll crawl off to die...."
The heaviest thing is the GK 1001RB/210 combo @ 80#. Does have wheels and a "suitcase" handle.
"Fly all you young punks
Stay young and stay high
just hand me my checkbook
and I'll crawl off to die...."
To each his own!! AND I saw all the good bands!
The heaviest thing is the GK 1001RB/210 combo @ 80#. Does have wheels and a "suitcase" handle.
"Fly all you young punks
Stay young and stay high
just hand me my checkbook
and I'll crawl off to die...."
Tell me about that Fender Jazz/Precision, hows it sound? Did you put it together?
A few decades ago I hauled around a Sunn 2000S with two 2x15's. No one is your friend at load-in/load-out. It required me to own a gas hog van. My current rig consists of a 1x15 MB and a 2x10 MB cab driven by a Peavey IPR3000DSP that I feed from an EBS MicroBass II on my pedalboard. It's lighter by 2/3, fits in my Soob and it has all the balls of the old Sunn rig. I couldn't care less about "looking damn cool". My playing speaks for itself. Even if I had roadies humping my gear I'd still choose what I have now. Older=wiser.
My Bergie HS410- 86 lbs I think, but Wheels, bros, wheels!
My Quilter BB00- about 3 ounces w/ carrying case I think.
Anything else, my rider requires a Road Crew as below:
My Quilter BB00- about 3 ounces w/ carrying case I think.
Anything else, my rider requires a Road Crew as below:
