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How big an amp do you think you need?
- Thread starter Pbassred
- Start date
I think you haven't watched the video. The kind of music that I play requires 5-6 percussionists as a minimum and I've played with as much as 200 of them. Those rhythms cannot be played softly. Another video.
I don't think they're fitting that show in a club
We do play in large clubs, and it gets even worse.
I played mostly stadiums and large venues for 14 years and you need all the power you can have on those situations. 1000W in volume 3 sounds SOOOOO much better than 200W in volume 6.
I'm curious Alex how often do you play these sort of gigs? And what is that genre of music?
Since I moved to the US let's say twice a month. Back in Brazil it was 4 or 5 gigs per week. I got a little tired of touring and for personal (ex-wife) reasons I moved out of the country. Now that she's a little easier to deal with and just got married to a nice gentleman, I'm coming back at the end of the year for good and here we go again. 1000W minimum, 100.000 people crowds, 4 times a week gigs... Not a ton of money if you're just a hired sideman, but you can make a decent living.
Since I moved to the US let's say twice a month. Back in Brazil it was 4 or 5 gigs per week. I got a little tired of touring plus personal (ex-wife) reasons I moved out of country. Now that she's a little easier to deal with and just got married to a nice gentleman, I'm coming back at the end of the year for good and here we go again. 1000W minimum...
Twice a month in Boca or Brazil?
I don't think I could tolerate the volume. Long way from 200 percussionist but this seems much more manageable and pleasant to my ears.
Indeed, if someone can do it with some ear monitors or 30W, good for them. 800+ Watts and 1x15 plus 4x10 does the trick for me quite well.
I grew up in South Florida but haven't lived there in 11 years. Tell me where do they have these festivals? I mean when/when was the last one you played at?
EXACTLY! I played an SVT 3 at maxed out volume for 15 years and never really liked the sound of my rig or the lack of volume. Now, I'm more informed and realize what works for me. I'm also very anal about being prepared for any situation: backup amps, basses, the whole deal (at every gig).
You just can't explain the benefits of abundant power, 'til you've experienced it.
I think what is missing in this discussion is perspective. There indeed are many different types of gigs which require different equipment for the circumstances.
There just are too may scenarios that can take place that would require more or less power.
Yes you can play a 30 watt Bass amp in front of 100,000 people but you will for sure have some serious monitors going on. Wether in ear or right at you on the floor you will have to hear yourself or you can not play. The larger the stage and the more people there, the more SPL's it takes to achieve the same affect. If you think your gonna play in front of 100,000 people on a small amout of power you are smokin crack. There will be massive amounts of power pumped towards the audience.
Size of venue contributes to this as well as what equipment is available. I recently played a gig in a small club (200 people) with a 450 watt amp pushing a large 4x10 cab at 4 ohms and it barely would keep up. Of coarse it didnt help that I was playing with a bad arse drummer (Graduate from PIT), a hard hitting mofo he is.
The PA was limitted, we had two Guitars, Bass and Drums - Plus Vocals. The PA was small so only Vocals were pumped into the mains and monitors. We had two monitors (one of which the rythem Guitar player and I shared) and the Lead singer had one. The mains were rather small too. We had one of those PA heads and two spekaers on stands (no subs). Now bare in mind this was a loud arse Rock N Roll band and it was all my rig could do to keep up. Your 50 watt Bass Amp would not have cut it - or to put it into reality, you would not have been heard at all either by you or the crowd. It wasnt the fact I didnt know how to set my amp either, I've had it since 05 and I've been playing for 35 years.
Perception is reality until reality bites you in the arse.
There just are too may scenarios that can take place that would require more or less power.
Yes you can play a 30 watt Bass amp in front of 100,000 people but you will for sure have some serious monitors going on. Wether in ear or right at you on the floor you will have to hear yourself or you can not play. The larger the stage and the more people there, the more SPL's it takes to achieve the same affect. If you think your gonna play in front of 100,000 people on a small amout of power you are smokin crack. There will be massive amounts of power pumped towards the audience.
Size of venue contributes to this as well as what equipment is available. I recently played a gig in a small club (200 people) with a 450 watt amp pushing a large 4x10 cab at 4 ohms and it barely would keep up. Of coarse it didnt help that I was playing with a bad arse drummer (Graduate from PIT), a hard hitting mofo he is.
The PA was limitted, we had two Guitars, Bass and Drums - Plus Vocals. The PA was small so only Vocals were pumped into the mains and monitors. We had two monitors (one of which the rythem Guitar player and I shared) and the Lead singer had one. The mains were rather small too. We had one of those PA heads and two spekaers on stands (no subs). Now bare in mind this was a loud arse Rock N Roll band and it was all my rig could do to keep up. Your 50 watt Bass Amp would not have cut it - or to put it into reality, you would not have been heard at all either by you or the crowd. It wasnt the fact I didnt know how to set my amp either, I've had it since 05 and I've been playing for 35 years.
Perception is reality until reality bites you in the arse.
Last one was in Naples, 2 weeks ago, don't remember event's name. Usually to the Brazilian community (other folks just don't get it)
We also do a lot of stuff in Boston area (summer only, obviously).
I've heard a lot of them were fake amps."
I'm sure that's the way it ended up, but I do remember a Guitar Player interview when Phil was going thru and talking about his Alembic stereo basses. A XLR output so he could have a different amp setup for each pickup.
I'm sure that's the way it ended up, but I do remember a Guitar Player interview when Phil was going thru and talking about his Alembic stereo basses. A XLR output so he could have a different amp setup for each pickup.
I play with a Mesa Boogie 400+ into a pair of Bergantino NV610s.
Thats 500 tube watts into 2 ohms.
I've never turned my volume past 5 though and thats without PA support.
Thats 500 tube watts into 2 ohms.
I've never turned my volume past 5 though and thats without PA support.
500 watts into 2 ohms is not a whole lot of power. Most amps don't like and don't last long being driven at 2 ohms. Not sure about Boogie, Peavey likes to say they can handle it. But I've yet to meet a Peavey I really, really like. And most other amp makes don't recommend it.
500 @ 2 would be about 350 @ 4 and about 200 watts at 8 ohms. Which I guess is about standard wattage these days.
500 @ 2 would be about 350 @ 4 and about 200 watts at 8 ohms. Which I guess is about standard wattage these days.
