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How many watts do I need

Should I get a combo, or a smaller cab for practice?

  • Combo

    Votes: 34 45.3%

  • Smaller cab

    Votes: 41 54.7%
  • Total voters
    75
B

BassJunkie13

Feb 19, 2008
52
1
California
#1
Im looking to get a combo amp that can be heard over a very loud band. I have a ampeg stack but Its difficult to bring that thing to every band practice so I need something portable. What I was wondering is how many watts do I need with a decent amount of room to turn up? What would you suggest for my situation? I was thinking of getting a 1x15 cab instead of a combo. But then my head puts out twice as much watts as the cab I was looking at, so would that blow the speaker?. My head is an ampeg svt pro 3 , and I want to run it with this http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-B115-250w-1x15-Bass-Cabinet?sku=600776

Any help and advice would be very much apreciated.
 
#3
BassJunkie13 said:
Im looking to get a combo amp that can be heard over a very loud band. I have a ampeg stack but Its difficult to bring that thing to every band practice so I need something portable. What I was wondering is how many watts do I need with a decent amount of room to turn up? What would you suggest for my situation? I was thinking of getting a 1x15 cab instead of a combo. But then my head puts out twice as much watts as the cab I was looking at, so would that blow the speaker?. My head is an ampeg svt pro 3 , and I want to run it with this http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-B115-250w-1x15-Bass-Cabinet?sku=600776

Any help and advice would be very much apreciated.
Click to expand...

I'm not arguing for or against the cabinet but that cab would be fine with your head, because its an 8 ohm cab and the 3 pro is only 275w at 8 ohms.
 
#5
It's not all about watts anyway. There are some amps/cabs which have EQ voicing and efficiency that allow a great deal of "loudness" for a seemingly low amount of wattage. You can have a huge amount of wattage, and if the EQ and efficiency are all wrong then you'll get surprisingly little loudness.

In your position I would be asking "what is the most efficient, cutting-through-the-mix cab I can get under budget X, weight Y, and size Z". Then having bought that cab, you can use almost any amp under the sun and be happy with the results.

BTW I think the answer to that question is Schroeder, if it fits your budget.
 
#6
I'm having that exact problem right now. I have an Ampeg BA-115 and its not loud enough and its heavy. I have an Eden D410XLT and just sold my WT800 and my plan is to sell the D410XLT and the BA-115 and buy an Epifani 1x12 and a 1x10 and looking at a Stewart amp and a Phil Jones preamp that way I can use the 1x12 at smaller quieter gigs and then add the 1x10 for larger louder gigs. Also, this way I dont have to lug around a 67 pound combo amp and can spread the weight over a couple items.
 
#7
i have the acoustic b115 and it cuts through the mix with my hartke head better than my 4x10. its cheap, good, comes with wheel holes, apparently has a good warranty, and is sitting right behind me! i tried out a few other 1x15s in its class and the acoustic sounded the best to me.
 
#8
It is 100% OK to run a head with a cab rated at a lower wattage. Just don't try to put all of the available wattage into the cab. As a general sort of rule, cabs will start to sounds bad (distorting, farting, etc.) bbefore you get to the point where you are damaging them.

In a nutshell: use the cab you like and don't worry too much about the RMS rating -- just don't be a dope about it.
 
#11
If you're in a LOUD band than there are not that many options. I'm in a semi-acoustic setting and my AER 400 watt hardly keeps up with the drummer. So I bought the active sub of an additive 400 watts to be able to be more upfront if a song asks for it.

I guess the above-mentioned Bergantino IP (1000 watts) could be a good option in your situation.

To answer your question:
Have at least 800 watts of real power. E.g. the AI Focus plus Schroeder 1212L or two Epi 112's. Just to mention a few I happen to use regularly.
 
#12
I'm in a similar situation myself. I use a SVT 3 + 6x10 for gigs, and one of these for practice. I had the combo before the stack though, so if I were in your shoes I'd probably just get a smaller cab.

My band is loud too, but instead of turning my combo up, I just tell my band to turn down...

I hope they start listening someday. :scowl:
 

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