Minimum Wattage to Play a Gig?

[dreamadream99]

General thinking is that anything 100 watts or less isn't enough. Most people look in the 300-500 watt range for band playing. Many consider 800 or more to be excessive.

I think it depends on whether you have PA support or not. Is your amp just a stage monitor for you? Or is it called upon to supply bass to the entire audience? If it's just a stage monitor, I'd guess 300-500 would be plenty. If your amp has to carry FOH duty, then it depends on the size of the venue. Personally, I don't want my equipment to be relied upon to provide for a stadium audience. That means I have to have a few thousand watts at my disposal, and that kind of volume would deafen me and all my band mates.

Of course, the current trend is to go ampless with in-ear monitors, and let the mains carry the bass and band.

 

[ceesaar00]

Speaker area is your friend.
1x12 131 in2
2x10 157 in2
1x15 176 in2
2x12 226 in2
1x18 254 in2
4x10 314 in2
2x15 353 in2
8x8 402 in2
4x12 452 in2
6x10 471 in2
2x18 509 in2
8x10 628 in2
I think the minimum with a loud drumer is 300w through a 1x15. IME.
If I were you I´d look for a 2x12 or 4x10. And at least 300W @8 ohms
You can try to save a little more and get yourself an used Gallien Krueger MB212, 500W, if you want a combo.

 

[lz4005]

Ah yes, the mythical "good monitors"
As a fellow New Jerseyan, it seems like "good [house] monitors" are as rare as hen's teeth in these parts....

I doubt there are good house monitors anywhere. At least not that you should depend on to be operated well.
Direct only with no amp is only if you're carrying your own monitors and sound person.
But it is absolutely possible if you do that.

 

[chris_b]

What would you say would be the minimum wattage required to play in a small venue?

I didn't think in terms of the size of a gig when I bought my gear. What I bought was designed to be modular and handle every gig I could be expected to do. Call me up and I can always say, "Yes, I'll be there."

I don't often get FOH but what ever happens my rules of engagement still apply. I have 2 112 cabs and a 500 watt amp. These cabs are very loud so small gigs get 1 cab and bigger gigs get 2 cabs. I use the volume controls on the amp.

 

[wmhill]

the smallest amp (head) I have successfully gigged with is the TC BH250. Plenty of horsepower with a 8ohm 2x12 cab. Usually I'd recommend a 300 watt minimum.

 

[Slevage]

I'm playing out side tomorrow and think I'll just use my Invalid Link Removed like I did last time. The BL loved it. I just drop a Shure 57 over it and run through the house. So there is more than one way to be heard! I also have a Hartke HD150 and a GK 400RB with a 6 x 10 cab. But many folks here speak very highly of Fender Rumbles. Take a look...YMMV

All good advice except for the SM57. Not the best bass mic, especially side loaded.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I forgot to mention that I will most likely be running through the PA system. Would 100 be enough through a PA?

The 100 (the power from the amp) does not go through the PA.
It goes to your speaker(s) to act as an on stage monitor so you hear yourself.

The PA either gets a direct line out from your amp, usually on an XLR connector at mic or line level, or you mic the cab and feed that mic signal to the P.A.

 

[4dog]

Fender rumble 350 through a 4x10 has worked for me for quite awhile...huge outdoor gigs to little roadhouses.

 

[4dog]

Oh..and a sansamp rbi preamp

 

[Drgonzonm]

-1. How big is your car/truck?
0. supply your own gear
1. How much wattage is your guitar player using. Match or double his wattage.
2. Mic the Fender 15. supply the mic and cable.
3. Stuff the bass drum with pillows. Stuff the drummer in pillow covers? Only if you're a cover band. ha ha!!
4. Buy a DI, and hook the Fender 15 microphone cable into the DI. see #2.
5. show up with a piccolo bass, and show house sound guy he's crazy.
6. play through a 25 watt to 100 watt max subwoofer using only the lower three strings on a five string.
7. dress like a motorcycle outlaw, mohawk and black bass, and sunglasses, then play normal.
8. use the Fender 15 as a monitor, then use the head phone plug you will be the only one that hears everything. you won't care how loud the guitar player is, or how loud the drummer is. (Don't forget mirrored sunglasses).

 

[dan1952]

Lee Sklar was touring Europe recently with a tiny Peavey (I think) practice amp. If you're running through the FOH, you don't need much. My Ampeg B50R (50 watts, 1x12) is enough for 99% of what I do, inside, outside, rock, gospel, country, blues). No reason to hurt myself carrying gear...

 

[The Terror]

The the style of music you are playing makes a huge difference...small rooms and acoustic guitars playing jazz or "singer-songwriter" stuff? A 100 watt 115 combo can be too much...

Heavy metal in a medium sized club? 800 watts and a 410 may not be enough...

"Horses for Courses" as they say... (whoever "they " are...)

I remain,
Your Obedient Servant,

The Terror.

 

[BassUrges]

I have less experience than anyone here.

But my 100w 115 combo never goes above 2 for monitoring when standing next to a drummer. FOH gets the XLR out and does whatever with it. I've rehearsed with two guitarists, drums, and vocals with a Rumble 30 (on 8, but I had no problems, even playing fretless). So for pure monitoring I don't think you need too much power. It's different if you're not in the PA.

Sunday I'm plugging my DB in at rehersal--that's going to be an interesting situation, monitor-wise.

 

[HauntedDave]

100 watts on the guitar side will blow people away, but 100 watts in bass amplification won't ruffle feathers. My recommendation is to start with something you can expand on. 500W head and a 2x10, and you can always add another 2x10 and get everything your head has to give. That'll cover small and large gigs

 

[hsech]

I think 300 to 500 watts with a good cabinet is adequate. A micro bass head in that output range and a good NEO cabinet makes a pretty loud and light rig.

 

[DWBass]

I gigged in NYC with a Peavey TNT130 for about 10 years. 130w. Was plenty loud. Recently I have gigged a GK MB200 and a Markbass Blackline 250. Was plenty loud.

 

[mikewalker]

...
It goes to your speaker(s) to act as an on stage monitor so you hear yourself....

ALSO, so the drummer, guitarist, etc can hear you! ( if they are not listening, you better find another band, pronto)

Typical rule of thumb for me is 200WattsRMS solid state, or 100 watts TUBE, seems usually enough for stage monitoring with a reasonable volume of stage mix where WE CAN ALL HEAR EACH OTHER OK

 

[brianrost]

It's the speaker size that makes modern low wattage amps too quiet for gigs.

A 15 watt amp today will have an 8" speaker. I gigged for years with a Traynor BassMate combo that was only 15-20 watts but had a 15" speaker and sounded good (though not clean) with the volume, bass and treble knobs all at 3:00. All through the 1960s and into the 1970s people gigged with 30 watt Ampeg B15 1-15" combos and 50 watt Fender Bassman amps with 2-12" cabs (later 2-15"). I still see people using those amps in clubs. You won't get clean headroom and you won't be able to play at the deafening levels some people consider normal stage volumes.

If you want clean, get at least 200 watts and a good cabinet. I've gigged for years with 200 watts into a 1-12" cab and it's plenty loud. A bigger cab (1-15, 2-10, 4-10, etc.) would be even better if you need to roar.

 

[JimiLL]

Minimum? 1 watt

 

[Engle]

I use an Ampeg PF-50T with 2 x 210AV cabs all the time and I don't even have it cranked. But those are "magic tube watts" and out of your budget. Get a used GK or Peavey 200 watts min.