Solid state amps seem to only get louder up to a certain point on the master volume. After that, they start clipping with no discernible increase in volume. I'd recommend turning up your midrange.
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max volume
- Thread starter reggie hall
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I went to school with a Max Volume. Nice guy, never used his inside voice.
Thank you I'll be here all week.
Thank you I'll be here all week.
knob indications aren't just a matter of power and speaker efficiency - my Carvin PB100 is actually gain limited. If I ever were able to get all of its 80w into 8 ohms I could annoy the neighbors, but all it can really do is "cranked hifi levels". Wouldn't cut it with a drummer.
When doing gigs with just my Eden Metro, unfortunately I maxed it out many times. The final clip/over light was blinking on and off constantly, push the master volume much past that and it would go into protect mode, shutting down. I had the gain/pre set "properly" for a pretty hot signal with a bit of harmonics. I could have gone up a bit more on the gain/pre I suppose, but the tone was already a bit furry at that point, not completely clean.
Now I run Genz Benz 900 W amps and don't usually max them out, although I think I have come close using an 8 ohm cabinet, so I was only gettting 500 watts, and it was a fearful so only one woofer and one mid driver. Still the amp wasn't flashing any warning lights, it just got to the point where raising the master didn't seem to add any more volume, but it did make it a bit more overdriven.
Now I run Genz Benz 900 W amps and don't usually max them out, although I think I have come close using an 8 ohm cabinet, so I was only gettting 500 watts, and it was a fearful so only one woofer and one mid driver. Still the amp wasn't flashing any warning lights, it just got to the point where raising the master didn't seem to add any more volume, but it did make it a bit more overdriven.
I've dimed my Crate 160w combo. It has a pretty aggressive clip circuit, so it only goes so loud. Although the knicknacks take a beating when they rattle right off the shelves. ;-)
My old ST-220, yeah. That would put out about 140 watts into an 8-ohm Goliath cab, which is what I had. Still kept up with a slamming loud drummer, no problem, but was running about 90-95%. I refuse to clip a power section, that's a good way to torch your speakers.
I have never ridden my old lead sled or my Markbass heads anywhere close to clipping, there's simply no need to get that loud - especially the old lead sled rig (BMAX into QSC900, bridged)! Point of fact, with my 15 cabs, I can get the Markbass heads - either one - loud enough so stuff starts falling off the shelves in my music room without getting close to peak.
I have never ridden my old lead sled or my Markbass heads anywhere close to clipping, there's simply no need to get that loud - especially the old lead sled rig (BMAX into QSC900, bridged)! Point of fact, with my 15 cabs, I can get the Markbass heads - either one - loud enough so stuff starts falling off the shelves in my music room without getting close to peak.
Even though I don't max any if mine out, there is a certain element to a completely saturated (or clipped) signal that's hard to reproduce otherwise. Depends on the amp and the band context of course.
I have run my Eden head pretty wide open with a short lived project now that I think about it. You lose the punch of certain notes. That situation was kinda Jesus Lizard or Metz inspired, and the rawness of bass tone I got with the amp at its limits was apropos at the time, however unpleasantly loud. The amp was in stereo mode, a nEARful 15/6/1 "clean" and a 112 with effects on the other side.
In general, I still believe ideal tone isn't from solid state full sail power because of potential speaker damage.
I have run my Eden head pretty wide open with a short lived project now that I think about it. You lose the punch of certain notes. That situation was kinda Jesus Lizard or Metz inspired, and the rawness of bass tone I got with the amp at its limits was apropos at the time, however unpleasantly loud. The amp was in stereo mode, a nEARful 15/6/1 "clean" and a 112 with effects on the other side.
In general, I still believe ideal tone isn't from solid state full sail power because of potential speaker damage.
Most amps deliver most of their power even before you halfway turn up the volume. It's a marketing thing. It impresses potential buyers if only a small turn on the volume knob seems to make the earth shake and in your phantasy you might think you have endless power if you buy that thing, but you have not.
Good to impress potential buyers, but otherwise rather impractical.
I really like the Markbass amps, but if you sometimes really need a low volume, it is hard to dial that in.
Good to impress potential buyers, but otherwise rather impractical.
I really like the Markbass amps, but if you sometimes really need a low volume, it is hard to dial that in.
Yeah. My amp sounds amazing all the way up, but sadly, that's too loud for all but outdoor performances with a doom metal band.
When I audition amps, I crank them.
With my Hartke LH500, I found the sweet spot to be about 6, but I could never get away with playing that loud live. I'm usually in the 4 range.
With my Ampeg PF500, the gain is at about 7 and the volume is at about 7 for the sweet spot with my cabs, but again, it's too much volume live, so the master gets rolled back to 5.
With my Hartke LH500, I found the sweet spot to be about 6, but I could never get away with playing that loud live. I'm usually in the 4 range.
With my Ampeg PF500, the gain is at about 7 and the volume is at about 7 for the sweet spot with my cabs, but again, it's too much volume live, so the master gets rolled back to 5.
