How much is enough?

[SMILEYSIXX]

So my current rig is pretty powerful. About 525watts to be exact.

So my question (more directed to the veterans who have been there and done that) is how much is too much? Will 525watts over power everything else in most settings or is it good enough?

Bonus question: I plan on using this rig extensively for drone and doom metal. Is this enough?

 

[sykes of christ]

NO!!!

 

[sykes of christ]

What are you running for a cab?

 

[elgecko]

As long as it has a volume knob, it won't over power everything else unless you want it to. Good enough.

 

[JimmyM]

maybe, maybe not. what kind of cab(s) are you using?

 

[dukeisdog]

If you're running a big cab, I could see it being enough. Running a 2X10, maybe not so much.

 

[SMILEYSIXX]

It's three combos. A 1x15, a 1x10, and a 1x12.

 

[sykes of christ]

Huh?

 

[SMILEYSIXX]

Huh?

Want me to describe it all to you?

Out of my effects I have two cables. One goes to a bassman 350, the 1x15 amp. The other cable goes to a Rumble 75 (1x10), then I use the line out on it to hook up to a yamaha G100 (1x12).

 

[5port]

The power company loves you.

 

[AwkwardLoudness]

Cab/speakers efficiency and number of speakers are more important than amps' wattage in obtaining loud volume. I think you need at least 6 x 15" high efficiency speakers (like 3 2x15 cabs) and 1200+ watts for proper doom. It's better to have too much power than not enough.

 

[Gearhead17]

Want me to describe it all to you?

Out of my effects I have two cables. One goes to a bassman 350, the 1x15 amp. The other cable goes to a Rumble 75 (1x10), then I use the line out on it to hook up to a yamaha G100 (1x12).

I highly suggest you sell all of the combo amps and get a used 410 and bass head at a minimum. Those particular combo amps are not good enough for a rock/metal band situation even when all of them are connected together. You might get decent volume, but you will not have headroom needed to create your tone.

 

[Hollywars]

It's three combos. A 1x15, a 1x10, and a 1x12.

PLEASE just get something like a GK 800rb with some random 410 cab

 

[Munjibunga]

Any way you look at it, 525 watts is on the cusp of adequate power. My recommended absolute minimum for gigging is 600 watts with at least a 410. That will barely be enough to keep up with a 50-watt guitar rig, let alone that with drums and/or another guitar.

There will be posts that follow trying to dispute the veracity of my assertion, but they will be wrong. If you believe them, you will end up the loser. (Real losers spell it "looser," I know.)

 

[Baron Von Vik]

I highly suggest you sell all of the combo amps and get a used 410 and bass head at a minimum. Those particular combo amps are not good enough for a rock/metal band situation even when all of them are connected together. You might get decent volume, but you will not have headroom needed to create your tone.

Agree. I like the combined wattage/stacked combo idea as kind of a level of showmanship, but for solid sound you need to step up to some better quality tools. Go play through some head/cab combinations and see what we mean.

(and if you do it at the local GC, take EVERYTHING the salesman tells you with a grain of salt. Meaning don't believe any of it.)

 

[Marty Forrer]

Back in the heyday of the Who, John Entwhistle ran a 1600 watt rig, and that was a pop/rock band. I suggest for doom metal you'll need about 100,000 watts and a portable nuclear power plant, which when it goes into meltdown will fullfill all your prophecies.

 

[JimmyM]

dude, 3 combos totalling 525w will be about as effective as a 410 with 500w. probably less effective since you'll be dealing with bigtime phasing issues trying to mix 3 different cabs with 3 different size speakers. i'd say keep your favorite combo, sell the others, and get a 500w amp and 410, or an 810 if you can find a deal on a used one.

 

[SJan3]

When I was younger a 50 watt Fender Bassman was the standard, then I got an Acoustic 360 and at 200 watts, it was a monster! Then later on, I got into GK heads and got an 800RB! Oh my, 300+100. Now I'm really rockin! Moving along, out comes EDEN and the WT550. O jeez....550 watts! BITCHIN!!! Wanted a micro so I got a LMIII
and still have 500 watts! Now there are 900 watt micros on the market!
So the Question really is, when is enough.........ENOUGH?

 

[JimmyM]

Any way you look at it, 525 watts is on the cusp of adequate power. My recommended absolute minimum for gigging is 600 watts with at least a 410. That will barely be enough to keep up with a 50-watt guitar rig, let alone that with drums and/or another guitar.

There will be posts that follow trying to dispute the veracity of my assertion, but they will be wrong. If you believe them, you will end up the loser. (Real losers spell it "looser," I know.)

600w makes such a huge difference over 525. btw, last year it was 750w as a minimum. what happened? did you buy a 600w amp that you like? oh yeah, that's right...you did.

 

[JimiLL]

Want me to describe it all to you?

Out of my effects I have two cables. One goes to a bassman 350, the 1x15 amp. The other cable goes to a Rumble 75 (1x10), then I use the line out on it to hook up to a yamaha G100 (1x12).

Jesus....