Do I really need a big honkin' amp to run a stack?

[LostInSauce]

I'm playing rock and metal and have two Hartke Hydrive 4x10 cabs getting fed by a Carvin BX1200. The Carvin is plenty powerfull but I have no backup. Can a GK MB500/Fusion 500, Carvin BX500, or any of the little Mark Bass and the like run a stack for a couple of day if necessary?

 

[JimmyM]

Let me tell you something, bro...there was a time when 300w was considered extremely high power, and amps and cabs would have warning labels on them about volume and your ears. And guess what? It still is darn loud.

 

[Dave W]

There is no reason why they wouldn't. Some (like me) prefer lower wattage amps due to the sound you can get from pushing them harder than an amp with a ton of wattage.

 

[Jim Campbell]

I'm playing rock and metal and have two Hartke Hydrive 4x10 cabs getting fed by a Carvin BX1200. The Carvin is plenty powerfull but I have no backup. Can a GK MB500/Fusion 500, Carvin BX500, or any of the little Mark Bass and the like run a stack for a couple of day if necessary?

i used to use traynor yba1's and 3's with an 810 or 2x15, vs 2 guitars and drums with no pa support.... 200 watt ss kustom/2x15 were common and no one ever was drowned out........but when you start moving out of a mid range type sound the lows take way more power and i think that's why a lot of guys experience problems....imho,all those earlier amps were voiced for a more mid type sound and needed less power to do it....

 

[the yeti]

Let me tell you something, bro...there was a time when 300w was considered extremely high power, and amps and cabs would have warning labels on them about volume and your ears. And guess what? It still is darn loud.

i catch myself all the time saying stuff like "only 300 watts" or whatever. and i laugh and say "wow, remember when 300 watts was a stadium rig or something?".

 

[BawanaRik]

Let me tell you something, bro...there was a time when 300w was considered extremely high power, and amps and cabs would have warning labels on them about volume and your ears. And guess what? It still is darn loud.

Not to be the mommie but there are already lot of deaf musicians walking around.

300 watts is a heck of lot of power. Just because it's the size of a sandwich doesn't mean it isn't loud.

 

[the yeti]

plus the 8-10s will have a lot to do with the total volume i think.

 

[morgansterne]

I used to have a an Ampeg b3 combo. Just for fun sometimes I would plug in the amp head to our PA speaker, a 2x15 EV eliminator. Sounded great and was plenty loud. The combo was only 150 watts!

 

[alexclaber]

The bigger the stack, the less power you need to run it. Counter-intuitive maybe, but absolutely true!

Same reason that the bigger the sail you have on your boat, the less wind you need to get moving.

 

[sharkbait130]

One of my current bands is two guitars and a pretty loud drummer all mic'd through 800 watt subs and 400 watt mains. My rig is 300 watts and an 8 10 and I usually don't go through the board and I have never had a problem being heard. My backup is 250 watts and I have used it a couple times when there were several bands playing and I didn't want to be jacking my tube head around in a hurry. Both have always been plenty loud.

 

[BassikLee]

Those amps you mention are hardly weak amps. The GK micro stuff is downright SCARY for the size. My experience with the BX500 has left me amazed with that little box, time and time again.

 

[eriky4003]

Assuming those cabinets are 8 ohms, the micro amps will push their full 500 watts into those cabinets. The heads you mention get a lot of love partially for their reliability and should get you through in a pinch.

 

[Downunderwonder]

The first 300w you throw at the stack gets most of the loudness out of it. There's a little bit of headroom above that if you double the power.

 

[Bmorefoozler]

The bigger the stack, the less power you need to run it. Counter-intuitive maybe, but absolutely true!

Same reason that the bigger the sail you have on your boat, the less wind you need to get moving.

That is a really good analogy!

 

[Linnin]

Let me tell you something, bro...there was a time when 300w was considered extremely high power, and amps and cabs would have warning labels on them about volume and your ears. And guess what? It still is darn loud.

Dis Be De Zombie Troof

 

[Jim C]

The bigger the stack, the less power you need to run it. Counter-intuitive maybe, but absolutely true!

Same reason that the bigger the sail you have on your boat, the less wind you need to get moving.

Well said with few words and a good example!
FWIW, I like to have 500 watts at 4ohms for a smaller gig with an inefficient cab.
OTOH, my 2x12 has covered 100 seat + rooms with headroom and no FoH support.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I'm playing rock and metal and have two Hartke Hydrive 4x10 cabs getting fed by a Carvin BX1200. The Carvin is plenty powerfull but I have no backup. Can a GK MB500/Fusion 500, Carvin BX500, or any of the little Mark Bass and the like run a stack for a couple of day if necessary?

Easy answer: if something goes south on you, call me and I'll lend you a power amp and pre if you need it.

Hey, you gotta pick it up...I'm no *%^$&# Domino's!

Riis

 

[MikeyThrottler]

With 8 tens I would think 500 watts would be MORE than sufficient. I frequently power my Ampeg fridge with 100 watts (granted it's a tube amp) and easily keep up with two half stack-wielding guitarists.

 

[joel406]

My Hartke is 350 watts. Running just 1 of my 410 cabs is very loud. I had no trouble keeping up with a loud drummer, 2 guitarist, 1 keyboard and 2 singers. Using both 410s just made for twice the punch. 500, 800, 1000 watt amps are cool. But unless you really are playing a stadium you'll never need it. Especially with 810s at your disposal.

 

[LostInSauce]

Cool. Thanks everyone. I think I'm so worried about pushing it too hard and burning up the poor little guy. I was considering getting an LH 500 or the equivalent for a back up; but, I'd really like something that's highly portable and light...maybe it can live in the empty slot in my SKB rack.