Do we really need super powerful amps anymore?

[Jeff Bonny]

With how light weight and powerful modern bass amps are is there any reason not to have enough amplifier to cover the most extreme situation you'll find yourself in? For me modular is the way to go. I've got an Aguilar TH350 I mostly use with one Bag End single 15 but can add another matching cab if I need louder. If I were playing louder music than I am I'd go with a TH500. Everyone's situation is different but I could do any gig I'd ever say yes to up to a sports arena with that amp into 2x15's. I could also use that head with a single 8" cab on a quiet restaurant gig. Powerful and modular, yes.

 

[JimmyM]

I use small rigs for most of my gigs because I'm old and lazy and don't feel like moving them and most of them have PA. But there is no question that my biggest rig sounds the best, even at a low volume. I'm just old and lazy.

 

[Odinbass]

An amp may save the day if you get stuck with lousy in house sound / soundman, at least as far as your bass goes.

 

[beaglesandbass]

I vote yes. Most places I will plug right into the PA, but I don't at some venues. So having 800 watts of power available to me is nice.

 

[DavC]

i want 'my sound' on stage and into the dance floor area ... that usually takes some decent power and some air movement ...

even when i ran sound for my bands from on stage ... the bass sound coming out of the PA was never quite the same sound as standing in front of my rig ...

relative to bar bands ... up to a couple thousand folks

 

[darwin-bass]

You only need to be as loud as the drums. Any louder and you just screw up the mix (stage and FOH) for everyone else. Pants flapping in the bass breeze may be fun but it doesn't always make for good music. If the drums being mic'ed and amplified through the PA then you have a PA that is good so run the bass through it and again, you need to be only loud enough to keep up with the drums on stage. FOH will carry the rest.

 

[Means2nEnd]

I hope so I have 3

 

[Zooberwerx]

My Epifani and Acme stacks are a bit power hungry even when dealing with nominal stage volumes. Watts are cheap nowadays. I also have the latitude to re-assign power amps & channels if necessary. The clean and accurate reproduction of lows requires some extra horsepower.

Riis

 

[Zooberwerx]

I think my dad was referring to big-name acts who pretty much always play in venues with a killer PA yet still use huge powerhouse amps. In terms of a smaller gig he would probably agree that a big amp helps massively.

There's a visual appeal to having an impressive-looking backline even if the volume is set at "1". Add effective lighting, big shiny drum kit, personal appearance, and my thunder-chicken Odyssey PA rig...it does have an impact. I even tilt my PA rack so the flashing LED's / bargraphs can be seen by the audience. Tie things together with a professional performance and you'll catch somebody's attention.

This really has nothing to do with power amp ratings but since we were on the subject....

Riis

 

[Ricky Daion]

I play in a lot of different venues and need flexibility in gear setup. We have our own PA if needed but more than half of our gigs will have some form of PA. Some good some bad. I'd rather know I can cover a gig with my gear and not worry about the venues gear and/or the sound techs capabilities. (unless of course I know for sure it's good).

We have our sound guy at this particular gig and he lines me in as well as mics the cab. He loves the tone from this set up. A big plus is my drummer loves big bass tone on stage. So there's that.

 

[HiEnd Basses]

I was having a chat with my dad about amps and buying them with finance and was giving him a quick lesson in how Ampeg pretty much invented the big, badass bass amp and how I wanted to get one (a classic series SVT-CL to be precise) ASICAFF (as soon as I can apply for finance.) However, he came out with this comment: 'if you are in a place with a decent PA, like most places these days, do you even need a really powerful amp other than for your tone? You could mic up any size amp, really, and it would still sound loud enough.' I am still debating this in my head two days on. What do you think? Vote in the poll!

You're dad knows his stuff! I have an Ampeg SVT 7PRO and an SVT 610 HLF. I also have a DI, an Ampeg SCR-DI. The tube preamp is significantly better than the preamp on DI. I used both when I gigged, and probably would always do that. I like that I just need a DI in most places, but my Bass Rig looks badass. I think you want both, and I think you might not be happy unless you get your coveted Ampeg SVT CL.

 

[pcake]

I was having a chat with my dad about amps and buying them with finance and was giving him a quick lesson in how Ampeg pretty much invented the big, badass bass amp and how I wanted to get one (a classic series SVT-CL to be precise) ASICAFF (as soon as I can apply for finance.) However, he came out with this comment: 'if you are in a place with a decent PA, like most places these days, do you even need a really powerful amp other than for your tone? You could mic up any size amp, really, and it would still sound loud enough.' I am still debating this in my head two days on. What do you think? Vote in the poll!

as others have said, having a loud rig is important if you play shows without PAs, which happens, or medium sized venues without PAs or with weak PAs. and sometimes i used to just prefer my own sound to the sound guy's.

You only need to be as loud as the drums. Any louder and you just screw up the mix (stage and FOH) for everyone else. Pants flapping in the bass breeze may be fun but it doesn't always make for good music. If the drums being mic'ed and amplified through the PA then you have a PA that is good so run the bass through it and again, you need to be only loud enough to keep up with the drums on stage. FOH will carry the rest.

basically true, but i've played punk and metal with a couple VERY loud drummers. without a loud rig, people would have seen me playing but wouldn't have heard a single note.

 

[HolmeBass]

I like a high-powered amp into a loud but relatively small speaker enclosure, a 2x12 or a modern tech 1x12/1x15 (fearful, fearless, barefaced, MAS, Hathor/Thunderchild, etc).

That way you can carry a room, or play nice with a good PA. Moving a fridge around does not seem worthwhile to me personally.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I was having a chat with my dad about amps and buying them with finance and was giving him a quick lesson in how Ampeg pretty much invented the big, badass bass amp and how I wanted to get one (a classic series SVT-CL to be precise) ASICAFF (as soon as I can apply for finance.) However, he came out with this comment: 'if you are in a place with a decent PA, like most places these days, do you even need a really powerful amp other than for your tone? You could mic up any size amp, really, and it would still sound loud enough.' I am still debating this in my head two days on. What do you think? Vote in the poll!

Your dad is right but you still gotta be prepared for when there isn't any FOH, so with that being said Yes you still need adequite power...

 

[overit]

Competing with a loud drummer and Dual Rectifier through a 4x12 my 800rb and Schroeder 1x12 has handled it, mostly through quality PA at gigs but also at rehearsal w/o PA where I need to wear earplugs I like my mid-ticulate cab.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Nope. Not at all, given that today one can get a highly affordable, highly portable, high quality 500 watt head (those old Sunns, Acoustics and Ampegs don't reach that figure). Small cabinets are better / louder / cleaner than ever - so I believe there is ZERO need for a "big rig" like there were in days past.

 

[eekamike]

I'm a small venue kind of guy, so I don't think I have the experience to say whether or not you need a giant stack. That said, a recurring theme in this thread is that a huge stack is awesome, even if you don't need it. I don't get that mindset... I'd rather my rig be as small and light as possible, so I can laugh at the drummer and guitarist schlepping all their gear while I carry my setup with ease in one trip. But I'm a small venue guy, so...

 

[pbassnut]

It really depends on what kind of band you're in, how loud the drummer is and how big the rooms are that you play. I personally like to set my volume to be equal with the acoustic sound of the drums and quieter than whatever vocal or instrument is being featured at any given time and an Ampeg SVT and one cabinet (or the equivalent) should always be able to cover it unless the music is being performed silly loud (in which case I don't want to be a part of it). I've started doing acoustic and coffee house level electric shows in recent years and have learned that you can actually have too much power. I always thought that you could just sandbag a powerful amp to play at a low volume but have learned that it just doesn't have the tone when you do that. I now have a Carvin 1x15 combo for acoustic gigs and an Ampeg Micro VR/Schroeder 15PL rig for small room electric gigs and it works very nicely.

 

[GMC]

Nope. Not at all, given that today one can get a highly affordable, highly portable, high quality 500 watt head (those old Sunns, Acoustics and Ampegs don't reach that figure). Small cabinets are better / louder / cleaner than ever - so I believe there is ZERO need for a "big rig" like there were in days past.

Very true and thankfully as I've got older, the gear has become a lot lighter, more portable and better in most regards. I think I was ahead of the curve with my home made 400w 18kg 1x12" cab back in 1998. BUT...sometimes the only answer is an 8x10 and a big ol' 1Kw head to drive it.

 

[delta7fred]

Like JimmyM I'm old and lazy (and some of my joints are shot) but unlike him I have to carry the room 99% of the time so I use a high power class D amp and a lightweight neo cab (and a sack truck). Getting old is no fun, enjoy being young while you can!

I would be happy with a Sansamp and IEMs but as we schlep our own PA (vocals only) that just ain't going to happen.