How big an amp do you think you need?

[pedro]

Red Planet;6206514]If you think your gonna play in front of 100,000 people on a small amout of power you are smokin crack.

Something tells me that 1000 watts is also going to need a lot of help. My point is how much do you need onstage?

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.

Two things

1. What is PIT?

2. How does hard hitting make any drummer a bad arse?

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.

Do you enjoy playing at that kind of volume?

P.S. How are these guys cutting it with 100-200 watt amps?

 

[bassman251]

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.

I think this is the key. I've heard too many bands play pretty small bars/clubs at way too high volumes due to just the gene of music they play or so they claim.

 

[pedro]

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).

Cool. My daughter is in Boston - where about do you play? What is the name of the band you play with?

 

[SERPENT865]

With all due respect and apologies to the OP, what the hell does NEED have to do with it?

Bluesy Soul

+10000

 

[Red Planet]

Something tells me that 1000 watts is also going to need a lot of help. My point is how much do you need onstage?

If 1,000 isnt enough at a huge gig then your gonna get more power from the PA but that will be pushing wattage as well. Does that mean 100 watt rig would be better in that situation? No.


Two things

1. What is PIT? Percussion Institute of Technology

2. How does hard hitting make any drummer a bad arse? This one is Bad to Da Bone and is Loud as F***!!!!!!!!!!




Do you enjoy playing at that kind of volume? Hell Yeah

P.S. How are these guys cutting it with 100-200 watt amps?

I'll have to watch thet first.


If your playing Powerful Bass lines be it Afro/Cuban, Latin, Rock, Death Metal IMO if you cant feel the thunder it isnt there. When I can hear/feel myself playing and everyone else I can then emerse myself into the music and flow with it. Wether it be Ice Skating across a Poly Rythem or making a ZZ Top Rockin Blues Run.

Now your quoting me and leaving out the part where I said you could play a gig with a 30 watt amp in front of 30 thousand people but there will be some power pushing that sound out and it will be way more than 3,000.

 

[JimmyM]

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.

Not with a tube amp. The wattage stays the same no matter what the impedance. BTW, I thought the 400+ only does 400w.

And seriously, please don't try to tell me that if Dennis Chambers played the intro to "Rock 'n' Roll" in his regular style that it would sound like Bonham playing it.

 

[Red Planet]

Not with a tube amp. The wattage stays the same no matter what the impedance. BTW, I thought the 400+ only does 400w.

And seriously, please don't try to tell me that if Dennis Chambers played the intro to "Rock 'n' Roll" in his regular style that it would sound like Bonham playing it.

I'm not sure what the 400 Plus puts out. We all know Tube watts comes out more Thunderous than SS watts. I can tell you that 400+ has some serious balls, way more than any all tube SVT I ever played. Though like I said, I used a a 2400 watt QSC Powqer Amp to run my Boogie 2x15 and the 400+ to run the 4x10 and man what a rig.

At the time I played a Michael Tobias Made Tobias 6 String that was such a pleasure to play. Why I sold that thing I'll never know. We were really struggling at the time and it paid some bills. Sold the Bass and amp. I do miss them though.

 

[pedro]

If 1,000 isnt enough at a huge gig then your gonna get more power from the PA but that will be pushing wattage as well. Does that mean 100 watt rig would be better in that situation? No.

What I'm saying is that at Festival like Woodstock or the ones Alex linked, 1000 watts is not going to cut it either. Both will need PA support so the bass player in the Santana clip I linked earlier was as likely to be able to hear himself with his 200 watt acoustic as Alex was with his 1000 watt rig. In that situation, I'd think you should take the rig that makes the sound you like.

1. What is PIT? Percusion Institute of Technology

Thanks.

2. How does hard hitting make any drummer a bad arse? This one is Bad to Da Bone and is Loud as F***!!!!!!!!!!

Not sure that answers my question but that's alright.

Do you enjoy playing at that kind of volume? Hell Yeah

I guess there is a visceral quality to it. Hope you protect your ears though.

If your playing Powerful Bass lines be it Afro/Cuban, Latin, Rock, Death Metal IMO if you cant feel the thunder it isnt there.

Tell it to Cachao brother.

When I can hear/feel myself playing and everyone else I can then emerse myself into the music and flow with it. Wether it be Ice Skating across a Poly Rythem or making a ZZ Top Rockin Blues Run.

But if everyone keeps their volume down than everybody can hear everybody without the excessive volume.

Now your quoting me and leaving out the part where I said you could play a gig with a 30 watt amp in front of 30 thousand people but there will be some power pushing that sound out and it will be way more than 3,000.

More than likely if you're playing a big gig your 1000 watt rig will also have help.

 

[Red Planet]

Times sure have changed.

In the late 70's / early 80's I played a Rickenbacker 4003 Stereo Bass into a DOD Stereo Chorous Pedal into an SVT Head / Ampeg 8x10 Cab on one side of the stage and a Fender Super Showman - Fender 2x15 JBL Cab on the other side.

Mind Blowing. The Guitar Player was using a Marshall stack.

 

[Red Planet]

Thanks.



Not sure that answers my question but that's alright.







But if everyone keeps their volume down than everybody can hear everybody without the excessive volume.

Glad to see there is only one perspective on this subject and you have it cornered.

Going to mow my grass now. Have a good day.


BTW there is no such thing as quiete Rock N Roll. If it aint loud it aint rock.

 

[pedro]

Glad to see there is only one perspective on this subject and you have it cornered.

Its clearly not the only perspective just my perspective.

BTW there is no such thing as quiete Rock N Roll. If it aint loud it aint rock.

Talk about cornering the only perspective. I reckon that glass house is workin out.

 

[Red Planet]

A Bass Player in a Mild Mannered Country Band won't be needing the 2,000 watt Mega Amp at the 100 seater club.

 

[Red Planet]

Glad to see there is only one perspective on this subject and you have it cornered.

Should I say it again.

 

[Red Planet]

Talk about cornering the only perspective. I reckon that glass house is workin out.

You are stating there is one way, I stated there are many.

Glass House?

 

[Metal Matt]

I think this is the key. I've heard too many bands play pretty small bars/clubs at way too high volumes due to just the gene of music they play or so they claim.

I'd agree with those bands. In my mind, if a band feels they need high volume, then they need it. End of story. And I believe that certain genres, hardcore, punk, doom, drone, metal, etc... do require the volume to be blasting. Otherwise, the experience just isn't the same. And as far as playing these genres, PA support or not, most of the time the latter, I'd still want full volume onstage. I need to feel the music along with hear it otherwise I just won't get into it as much. But this is just my point of view on the issue and certainly doesn't apply to every person, and every genre of music.


And BTW, I voted for 220, as it's closest to what I'm currently using... 200 watt Sunn Concert Bass into an Eden 4x10 and a Bag End 1x18 PA cab.

 

[pedro]

Lets say this.

Remove the PA/Monitors from the eqaution.

It is a well known fact that it takes a lot more than 100 watts for Bass Guitar to compete with a 100 wattt Marshall Stack. Hence the sole purpose of the SVT. That is just old common knowledge.

Yes times have changed. PA's are much better, Guitarists are using smaller Amps, Monitors are much better, which does allow for smaller Bass Rigs.

But go back to what I said "take the PA out of the subject" and play with a very Loud Loud Drummer (in a Rock Band), you can set your Bass down and not play I suppose or you can fire up all Eight Cylinders. There is no way around it.

That is why I originaly said it depends on the perspective from the situation at hand.

A Bass Player in a Mild Mannered Country Band won't be needing the 2,000 watt Mega Amp at the 100 seater club. Though the guy at the 10,000 seater playing Iron Maiden may need some arse.

It's all good.

No argument from me on this.

 

[pedro]

You are stating there is one way, I stated there are many.

Glass House?

I never made any such declarations. YOu said "BTW there is no such thing as quiete Rock N Roll. If it aint loud it aint rock. " That's a declaration that there is only one perspective.

 

[wallybill]

What I'm saying is that at Festival like Woodstock or the ones Alex linked, 1000 watts is not going to cut it either.

Agreed. Never had the honor of playing large gigs like that but I've played through some PA's that were really cranked and I had to get within about three feet from my rig to hear it. I could hear my bass through the PA very, very well. One place had 18's under the stage, so you could certainly feel it too. House PA, including side fills - club was known for loud rock music. I could've just plugged in direct.

 

[Red Planet]

A Bass Player in a Mild Mannered Country Band won't be needing the 2,000 watt Mega Amp at the 100 seater club.

And here is another perspective, what is your point?

I am saying there are many situations where different power levels are appropriate. You are saying there is no situation that requires 1,00 watts unless I am missunderstanding.

Either way regardless of the amount of power of the bass amp the power will be required for the size of the venue and there is nothing you can do to change that. I myself would rather feel what I am playing especially with a very loud drummer (that is where the fun begins).

Ear plugs have never entered into it for me and I have been doing this for 35 years. You have to know what your doing and if you dont you break out the earplugs.

 

[Red Planet]

I never made any such declarations. YOu said "BTW there is no such thing as quiete Rock N Roll. If it aint loud it aint rock. " That's a declaration that there is only one perspective. I play low volume Rock N Roll and we wear pink shirts.

I'm sorry that just dosnt sound right.