How much amp is “enough,” my reply

[DD Gunz]

I am really happy for you all who can get by with 100W, or 140W. You couldn't cover my gigs like that though. It's really not the venue, but rather the drummer and his acoustic volume, and how much he needs monitored back to him, that determine stage volume. Different drummers play at different volumes, surprisingly enough!

This is true for me as well. We play outside festivals and I am competing with a loud drummer and two 100 watt guitar heads with a minimum of 8 12 inch speakers. It takes much more than 100 Watts to be heard. I have tried the light weight route to no avail. There is no replacement for displacement.

 

[DD Gunz]

Gallien Krueger class AB/H amps (RB series) can pulse output at 10 times their rated output.

Sounds technical, but I can attest to their perceived volume.

 

[HolmeBass]

This is true for me as well. We play outside festivals and I am competing with a loud drummer and two 100 watt guitar heads with a minimum of 8 12 inch speakers. It takes much more than 100 Watts to be heard. I have tried the light weight route to no avail. There is no replacement for displacement.

Well I do have light weight class D amps. Genz Benz ShuttleMax 9.2 and Streamliner 900- 900 W @ 4 Ohms and 500 W @ 8 Ohms. My go-to cabinet right now is a fEARful 15/6, 54 lbs, that runs nominal 8 Ohm impedance. On some gigs I am using all 500 Watts, or close to it.

If I had to do battle with 100 W guitar heads and 412s I'd probably need more cabinet to get the job done. Fortunately it's mostly 30 to 50 watts and at most 212's. Also, it's usually the drummer that is setting the volume level. Some guys just pound the crap outta the skins, even with 7's, still gets real loud during the loud parts. I need the power to match those dynamics.

 

[rymiraflores]

Ampeg PF500 and Eden 4x10 4ohms good enough for me.

 

[codycon96]

My main issue is being FELT. The band I'm currently in, our live show is like a train wreck in motion, and I love knowing that people FEEL my notes.

 

[acubass]

I consider myself a weekend warrior. Steady band and fill in gigs . If my amp wasn't loud enough bc the drummer Plays super super loud, I am looking for a different band or not taking that fill in spot anymore.

IME those drummers for the most part lack both dynamics and a solid inner tempo. Verses get slow and the chorus speeds up. Or everything is just fast. With coverbands that becomes a series issue and makes the job harder and not fun. Original bands, it is what it is. I'm getting old... it is highly unprofessional and unfun for a drummer not to be able to play a "normal" volume in tempo. Sound guys hate it, my ears ring, and head hurts after Shows like that. Surely there are bangers with good timing, by haven't encountered theM yet.

 

[HolmeBass]

I consider myself a weekend warrior. Steady band and fill in gigs . If my amp wasn't loud enough bc the drummer Plays super super loud, I am looking for a different band or not taking that fill in spot anymore.

IME those drummers for the most part lack both dynamics and a solid inner tempo. Verses get slow and the chorus speeds up. Or everything is just fast. With coverbands that becomes a series issue and makes the job harder and not fun. Original bands, it is what it is. I'm getting old... it is highly unprofessional and unfun for a drummer not to be able to play a "normal" volume in tempo. Sound guys hate it, my ears ring, and head hurts after Shows like that. Surely there are bangers with good timing, by haven't encountered theM yet.

Some guys have great dynamics, timing, and play wonderfully. But when they get loud, they get LOUD. It's the other end of dynamics. If you only go soft to medium - I mean great, you're working with a James Taylor, or doing wineries or dinner sets, I get it. But with some of the bands I play in we'd be leaving a lot on the table without hitting some serious volume here and there. It can be dramatic and powerful.

 

[Razman]

I love posting this. My church's bass rig in our theater. No, it doesn't move around much.

 

[JimmyM]

I agree, and that is why I always use at least 25 watts.

Knowing the situation before you go into it always helps.

 

[chris_b]

I consider myself a weekend warrior. Steady band and fill in gigs . If my amp wasn't loud enough bc the drummer Plays super super loud, I am looking for a different band or not taking that fill in spot anymore.

+1

A band that has to play at a particular volume (usually too loud) "because that's how loud the drummer plays", should be looking for another drummer. A good drummer should be able to play loud and quiet, sometimes in the same number, and should always groove/swing/rock at the appropriate volume for the song/venue/band.

 

[rodl2005]

I had a DB750 thru my NV215 last week and it was superb! Not saying that I needed 750w... but gee it was great having it!

 

[DWBass]

A 500w amp should be a standard requirement for most gigs. I routinely gig a 200-250w amp and I'm plenty loud with volume to spare. If one needs more than 500w, you must be in a loud band. And don't give me that 'headroom ' crap. If you're playing in a situation where you need 'headroom', you're loud. How is it I can get by with 250w and not close to maxing my volume (typically 10-11 o'clock) and have a full deep sound in a 9 piece horn band yet some of y'all 'need' 800-1000w. Having said that, I do have a couple of 500w solutions in the arsenal.

Sorry for the mini rant. So yeah, 500w should be sufficient.

 

[sinlapse13]

Safe bet is double the guitar amps. They each have 100w heads, go for 400ish watts

 

[gregmon79]

I still envy that power amp!

Just thought you should know...

Oh trust, I still envy it too haha I hope I have that amp for the rest of my life. It's so good.

 

[bholder]

Nothing exceeds like excess.

 

[basscapes]

Oh trust, I still envy it too haha I hope I have that amp for the rest of my life. It's so good.

Was just over, checking out Electric Amplifier Innovations 'site.

Some mighty tasty stuff over yonder!

BTW, how much does that thing weigh; because the only real thing keeping me from dropping the wad on an SVT head is the 80+ lbs...

 

[gregmon79]

Was just over, checking out Electric Amplifier Innovations 'site.

Some mighty tasty stuff over yonder!

BTW, how much does that thing weigh; because the only real thing keeping me from dropping the wad on an SVT head is the 80+ lbs...

That's one of the many other things I love about it, it only weights like 45-55 lbs maybe. Never put it on a scale but I can easily handle it with one arm via the handle. I don't go swinging it around mind you. But its easily manageable for me. Nothin like some of those other fat a$$ tube heads.

 

[Callused Finger]

While my favorite sound was an SVT, the rig I used most was a little 400RB on top of an Ampeg 8x10.
In many ways it's about the cab that decides the amp.

 

[basscapes]

That's one of the many other things I love about it, it only weights like 45-55 lbs maybe. Never put it on a scale but I can easily handle it with one arm via the handle. I don't go swinging it around mind you. But its easily manageable for me. Nothin like some of those other fat a$$ tube heads.

A bruising (meaning TUBE, not SS or D) 180W and less than 60lbs?

Like I said at those guys over there scoring Blueline SVTs lately- I'm really beginning to hate you! LOL

 

[DD Gunz]

just about every drummer i have played with is a pounder who beats the living snot out of his drums...that's what they do!! so i go with dual svt 8x10's and dual gk 800rb's...compressed...seems to cover everything from the coffee shop gig to arenas to outdoor concerts!!

How do you like the two 800RB setup? I thought about doing this at one point. I love the tone of the 800RB for what I have been doing.