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How much power do we really need?

#21
I toured extensively with a GK400RB into two homemade EV 15s. From small clubs, to big ones, to outdoor festival type things. Never, ever had an issue (we were a sometimes quite loud rock band, deaf guitarists and what not). I sold that rig a long time ago when I moved to Brooklyn--thinking I wasn't likely to be in a band anymore. When I did get into a band situation and had to buy anew, I remember coming on here and seeing all the wattage-lust. I had to laugh. I wound up buying an iAMP350 and an Aggie GS112 and marveling at the volume. Fair disclosure, I've since added an Aggie S210. This set-up is louder than my old one. In a live situation, what my band struggled with, and what I think a lot of rock bands struggle with, was keeping stage volumes low (when there was a PA). Low stage volumes result in much much better venue sound in my opinion.
 
#22
Does having all those watts give you options? Yes.

Are they NEEDED? No.

For bassplayers on this site, yeah, big amps and more watts give you a sound you like and the power to compete with drummers and guitar players, and you can tweak your tone, etc.

Audiences can't tell the difference and don't care.
 
#23
OF course everything in this thread is so subjectice to your bands stage volume and venues...

My Theory on Bass power should at minimum =
Guitarist Wattage X2 X2

Because... we all know a hundred watt bass combo ain't cutting it next to a Fender Twin...
AND you will still need headroom when you are at "Stage volume"
I.e. with a sterotypical loud stage volume band 400 watts
might get you by (FOR STAGE SOUND)
but you're not going to push much sound into a bigger room if the PA isn't cutting it!

Also keep in mind for 3 decibels of volume increase you need
twice the power... (or more efficient speakers :)
so a 400watt amp isn't going to be much better than a 350w...


So as far as 8x10's nah who needs em :P
But I would take 800+ watts if I could. I would only use the first 350 of em,
but they would be the best sounding 350 watts!!

My fave bass player in town uses and A.M.P. 450 for his top cab (2 or 4 ten) and a Microtech 2400 (usually one side)
for two 15's on the bottom. Thats approx 1200 watts of power and his stage volume is
rarely more than mine with my weak old 400watt head!!!!

Last thought... 31 ish Hz for the fundamental of an open low b string.. if your cab can reproduce it..
is going to need a CRAPTON (official measurement)
more power than that open G string pop. so if you want consistent volume tone across the neck... power does play a role!

FWIW I have crap gear and gig 4+ nights a week in funk and classic rock. I don't always love my sound but I get by...
 
#25
If you are playing in a pop, or rock, or really, any other band other than a punk band in a VFW hall, a decent combo or small stack is fine. I played a show this weekend using my usual 4x10 and 200 watt tube amp (kind of a big setup, but not nearly as big as a 8x10!), while my guitarist uses a 16 watt class A amp. The band we played with (People in Planes) decided they needed 2, 200 watt 4x12 guitar amp and an 8x10, but they looked REDICULOUS! Its a largish club, about 250 people (used to be the House of Blues in Boston), and their stage volume was completely overbearing! The sound guy there is really good, so they sounded ok, but they had to lug all that equipment up a narrow flight of stairs, then cover the whole ****ing stage! (They also brought no less than 3 flying V guitars, 2 jazz basses, and 3 les pauls...)
 
#28
I guess I am a huge cheese-weenie as I only need 175 watts and a 10" combo.
Seriously, I have yet to play a gig where my Shuttle 3.0-10T hasn't been enough.
Yes, I always (except "background" jazz gigs) have PA support. It's still enough for a stage monitor.

I don't begrudge you guys that want/need to carry and have more power and cab, I just find that for the gigs I do at the venues I play on a regular basis that I simply don't need any more.
 
#29
Hey, whatever floats your boat.

I do JUST fine with my Ampeg B100R combo, or my B200R when needed, never have "wished" I had more, or struggled to be heard.

If folks want to haul an 8X10 cab to gigs, more power to them. I have gigged with bands where the bass player did that, and they were NOT heard better than me in the audience. In fact, those bassplayers commented on how much they liked MY tone, volume, and over all sound and vibe.

Do what you gotta do.
 
#30
Trace Elliot AH350SMX + 4x10+1x15 is what i almost always use. It is 350LOUD watts and has never been past 4 on the master in any club. Not so much about watts, more about efficient cabs and honest ratings by the manufacturer
 
#34
I used to make fun of the guys that had tons of cabs and amps that had wattage that can only be measured in scientific notation. However, I bit the bullet and bought an Ampeg 810E and 4 Pro years ago. Though I've gotten rid of that rig I haven't looked back. I own 610's and 810's from here on out. I don't mind moving them and I absolutely love the tone. As far as wattage goes, I'll take as many SS watts as you'll give me. Being that my amps are all tube, however, I'll take 300 to 400 of those watts. ;)
 
#37
The old TB watts myth IMO. although i have not been giging as long as some of the guys around here i have done my share and yet have seen a band that needs alot of power with PA support. The best two bassists i have seen live played thru small combos 200w and PA and they were massive and great tone. More watts equals better tone...i disagree. I ran a lowly BL210 combo thru a sunn 4x10 cab in heavy loud rock bands and blew the doors off the place and soundmen screamed i was too loud all at 4:00 on the dial and alot of headroom to spare at barely 300 watts.

I now run much less for good sound and volume isnt a big deal. As i said before some guys like this to whats lacking between their legs and try to make up for the lack of a package by having a huge rig on stage...its the oooooh look at my huge rig...ya whatever...good luck carrying it. :rolleyes:
 
#38
This is my fiirst post, but it is a subject close to my heart. In my experience, when trying to gig every weekend and shlep (great word) all the gear around in a small SUV, it seems more practical to use a medium-sized combo amp. I swiched to a Fender Bassman 250 to save my back and it really fills a room. For a four piece band w/a loud drummer, it fits perfectly. All our vox and keys go thru the PA, and the guitar is mic'ed to help spread the sound around. I have found this is the perfect size for a small to medium sized bar - right up to the line where they don't come tell us to turn it down every 5 minutes. Anything bigger, and I'm usually thru the PA anyway making my amp a monitor. So who needs an 8X10 monitor?
 
#39
Hmm...I thought we already solved this question...Didn't we???

:hmm:

I guess for me, my answer is, "Apparently I don't need as many as I thought I did." I used to play through a 700 watt Peavey Firebass but I recently picked up an old 100 watt Ampeg V4 and it's been more than enough for everything we do. (trio--guitar, bass and drums and we tend to play fairly loud) Maybe it has something to do with tube vs SS watts. I don't know. All I care about is that it works for me.
 

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