For a large stage /room or outdoors I use my GK 700RB into a GK CX410 4ohm cab. That's 480w. Plenty for those gigs. Everything else I use my GK MB115 combo-200w. Last few years has been mostly amp-less, but I do miss the thump.
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Need amp help. How many watts do you guys gig with?
- Thread starter squeally dan
- Start date
Sorry to be "that guy". But this is a pretty bad comparison. Those Watts are being used to make light, not sound. And more Watts do, in fact, mean more light.
I haven't gigged with less than 500w and a 112 in the last 20 years. That includes 5 quiet years in a duo with an acoustic guitarist. You have a volume control and it works both ways.
My aim is to own the least amount of gear, so I swap between 2 amps and 3 112 cabs. I used to use 1, 2 or 3 112's, but now I have more powerful cabs I only use 2.
My #1 rig is a 700w amp with 2 x 112's (600w each), but for the loud bands I'll swap out a 112 for the louder, bigger sounding 112 (800w). For the quiet gigs I'll use 500w and a single 112.
Aim to pick the amp and cab combinations that sound right at most volumes and in most situations and which can be augmented when required.
My aim is to own the least amount of gear, so I swap between 2 amps and 3 112 cabs. I used to use 1, 2 or 3 112's, but now I have more powerful cabs I only use 2.
My #1 rig is a 700w amp with 2 x 112's (600w each), but for the loud bands I'll swap out a 112 for the louder, bigger sounding 112 (800w). For the quiet gigs I'll use 500w and a single 112.
Aim to pick the amp and cab combinations that sound right at most volumes and in most situations and which can be augmented when required.
My amp is Aguilar tone hammer 500 - 500W 8 ohm. For standart gigs i use 2 x Hartke hydrive hd112 cabs, each 300W. So maximum i can use is 2x250W=500W, but i need to use rare whole amp power.
We're a trio playing classic rock, 90s rock. Bars/indoor small venues I use an 800W GK into a 12" full range cab. Outdoors a GK 800W 212 combo. Is the 800W "overkill" for indoors? IMO no; I'd rather have the extra watts and an amp that's not straining itself vs finding out if 300W is enough for a gig.
I like 410 or 212s. Good speaker coverage to hear and feel myself. I'm not a fan of 210. YMMV.
500 watts has always been plenty for me. Loud enough for other musicians to hear/feel the bass. Leaves plenty of headroom, which is desirable. PA picks up the slack from there.
I should also say that I gigged for a decade with one channel of an SM400S (250 watts) into a Henry 8x8, on all sizes of stages, and rarely wished for more rig -- but it was all that I knew (and there was no TB to educate me).
Today, however, I am *sure* that I would want more power, and more clarity, on a loud stage.
For funsies, here's an old pic of it from the back of my '89 Grand Voyager.
Today, however, I am *sure* that I would want more power, and more clarity, on a loud stage.
For funsies, here's an old pic of it from the back of my '89 Grand Voyager.
I am a big fan of the Fender Rumble series. I have a Rumble 40 in my my music room and started giging the 500. After 2 years I went to the Rumble 100 as we always have PA support. I switch to the 100 mostly because it's lighter and it is plenty loud on stage..
I set it up on my roller rodie behind me and it's at ear level. It works very well for me..
Good luck
Duke
I set it up on my roller rodie behind me and it's at ear level. It works very well for me..
Good luck
Duke
I think 500? I’m using a 212 combo amp and it’s plenty loud for the stage. Also sending a feed to FOH so it’s really just for the stage mix.
Eden Highwayman 500 watts bridged into an Eden 410XLT (David era-this rig usually stays home due to cab weight)
Markbass Jeff Berlin Combo with 1-15, 500 watts & NY 151 extension cab.(small & light enough for easy transport & most applications)
Fender Rumble 100-100 watts/1-12 for low volume small ensemble or practice
Markbass Jeff Berlin Combo with 1-15, 500 watts & NY 151 extension cab.(small & light enough for easy transport & most applications)
Fender Rumble 100-100 watts/1-12 for low volume small ensemble or practice
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Currently using a BBE B-Max T preamp, into a Crown XLS1000 power amp (bridged 1100Watts at 4 ohms). Drives (2) Avatar 2x10 cabs (8 ohms each) (stacked vertically). Use these in a 9-piece horn band and also a 5-piece band. Overkill? Probably, but I love CLEAN headroom, and this rig has it for DAYS !
With PA support, I've found that zero watts works just fine. There's usually a few milliwatts driving my ears, and 10 to 20 Kilowatts in the PA.
I don't gig with watts. I gig with dB. And, I've had successful gigs with 50, 80, 110, 200, 300, 350, 400, 500, 550, and any other higher number of watts. All of those gigs were wit the same acts, venues, etc.
I quit worrying watts long ago. As I realized I never reached the potential of any amp I used. My master volume has never been run at full. For any gig. I have fun calculating a percentage of an amp's potential used for similar gigs in similar venues. My current rig is 350 watts at 8ohms. My master volume sits around 10 o'clock for my loudest, heaviest acts. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of potential. And while I know this isn't a perfect calculation in a single situation, comparative data piles up as I've used this rig on hundreds of dates; home practice, rehearsals, recording dates, and live shows.
I use the sensitivity measurements of my speaker cabs to calculate volume, not watts. It isn't the number of watts I carry. It's the number of dB PER watt that I look at. My cabs' sensitivity is about 103dB with one watt. Again, looking at a single figure, maybe my 103 could be seen as inaccurate. But in comparative data, my cabinet is louder with less master volume than other cabs with lower sensitivity ratings, so I use the comparative data in my calculations. My calculations aren't necessarily meant to be "science" or perfectly accurate. They are simply personal fun. However, I always end up wit the same conclusions. My rig is loud enuff for my needs and gigs. And in the end, that's all that matters to me. If I like the sound of a rig, it's tone and response to my playing, I will find a way to use it live. Despite numbers.
I quit worrying watts long ago. As I realized I never reached the potential of any amp I used. My master volume has never been run at full. For any gig. I have fun calculating a percentage of an amp's potential used for similar gigs in similar venues. My current rig is 350 watts at 8ohms. My master volume sits around 10 o'clock for my loudest, heaviest acts. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of potential. And while I know this isn't a perfect calculation in a single situation, comparative data piles up as I've used this rig on hundreds of dates; home practice, rehearsals, recording dates, and live shows.
I use the sensitivity measurements of my speaker cabs to calculate volume, not watts. It isn't the number of watts I carry. It's the number of dB PER watt that I look at. My cabs' sensitivity is about 103dB with one watt. Again, looking at a single figure, maybe my 103 could be seen as inaccurate. But in comparative data, my cabinet is louder with less master volume than other cabs with lower sensitivity ratings, so I use the comparative data in my calculations. My calculations aren't necessarily meant to be "science" or perfectly accurate. They are simply personal fun. However, I always end up wit the same conclusions. My rig is loud enuff for my needs and gigs. And in the end, that's all that matters to me. If I like the sound of a rig, it's tone and response to my playing, I will find a way to use it live. Despite numbers.
Last two gigs were bars with vox and kick in the PA only:
Ampeg V-4B -> SWR Triad. 100W, volume at 10:00
SWR SM400S -> Epifani T-212, left amp 250 watts, volume at 9:00. Barely breathing and plenty!
Ampeg V-4B -> SWR Triad. 100W, volume at 10:00
SWR SM400S -> Epifani T-212, left amp 250 watts, volume at 9:00. Barely breathing and plenty!
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