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Need amp help. How many watts do you guys gig with?

#81
I own two 800 watts amps ( Genzler & GK) and a 350 watts (Genzler). Four different cabinets; Genzler 410, 12 & 10 and a Greenboy 15. All are just sitting around waiting for an opportunity to be used!
My main rig for weekly gigs and rehearsals these past 17 months has been a 4-pedal board with DI and using IEMs.
If the FOH can handle the bottom for the room, use it and spend the extra coins on a great pair of custom IEMs.
 
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#82
squeally dan said:
Currently using a TC Electronics BG250 combo. Playing mostly weddings and similar gigs. 99% of the time I’m running through a pa. I’ve used this amp on larger gigs and outdoor and it worked ok with help from monitors. It was cranked a few times.

so now looking to get something with a bit more than the 250 watts I’m currently using. Leaning towards a class D head with a 2x10 or 4x10 cab. Do I need 800 watts or will 500 be enough of a step up?
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I believe pretty much any amp rated at least 500w at 4ohm (assuming it's the standard Class D fare) will suit pretty much any small/medium sized gig needs, especially with PA support. I used a Fender Rumble 500 head + 410 for a while; it's a setup that works, but I think a lot of people are a bit tired of the "Rumble" sound. If you can get an 800w amp for a decent price, I would consider it over a 500w, but I don't think it'd be super necessary for your use case.

Currently I use an SWR Super Redhead combo, which is 350w@4ohm (the internal speaker is 4ohm) and 450w@2ohm. But it's also only a 2x10 combo, so it could be louder. For a big show I will stack it onto the aforementioned 410.
 
#83
I realized that I really didn't answer the op's question. Generally, with one band, I use 800 (D-800+) with either one or two cabs, but very likely not pushing 300 watts or so. Sounds great. With a different band, the last gig I used a Rumble100. Sounded great. Good p.a. support with each.

It's your preference - whatever you need onstage. Need to hear your onstage rig better? Elevate it. There is no correct answer to your question.
 
#87
squeally dan said:
Currently using a TC Electronics BG250 combo. Playing mostly weddings and similar gigs. 99% of the time I’m running through a pa. I’ve used this amp on larger gigs and outdoor and it worked ok with help from monitors. It was cranked a few times.

so now looking to get something with a bit more than the 250 watts I’m currently using. Leaning towards a class D head with a 2x10 or 4x10 cab. Do I need 800 watts or will 500 be enough of a step up?
Click to expand...

Always go for headroom.
 
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#89
two fingers said:
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.
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No. I don't see it as you being that guy. What you say is correct. Comparing sound to light is about as Apples and Oranges as it gets.

The following is not a technical discussion. Anyone reading this should understand that these are editorial comments based only on my opinions. You may disagree with me as long as it is understood that you are also doing so based on your opinions. Thank you.

The wisdom I saw in the lightbulb comparison was that it made me stop and think about how much undo emphasis we put only on power, aka the almighty watt, when there is so much more to consider.

James Watt, the guy after whom the unit of measure was named, was a mechanical engineer. Much of his work involved steam engines. His death in 1819 was well before there was any practical application of the term Watt when referencing sound.

The Watt is a measure of work being done, and that applies to many applications, not just audio. We as a collective of musicians and music enthusiast have virtually adopted this one unit as the end all and be all measure of everything involving amps and speakers. And the amplifier industry has keyed in on that to the point of, in a few cases just outright lying to us about power ratings. And in some cases, taking advantage of our lack of understanding of the various versions of power measurement that are in use. We have allowed ourselves to be taken down the bumpy road called power measurement, and have even gone so far as to thank those intent on fooling us for getting us there in comfort.

This is why I liked the @Hectobar quote so much. Not that it shows us a good comparison, but that it makes us (me) stop just long enough to realize that we are allowing ourselves to be taken in by bad comparisons without so much as giving it a second thought.
 
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#90
800-ish watt head at 4ohms and a couple of 8 ohm cabinets are generally the way I like to roll. It gives me the ability to bring a single cabinet for quieter gigs and rehearsals and a pair when I need more gas.

I've been using an old Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 and a pair of AudioKinesis Hathor 1203 1x12 cabs, but I'm about to finally replace the Shuttle with a Genzler Magellan 800 head.

The Magellan can run at 2.67 ohms, so I could feasibly run a third 8 ohm cab if I wanted, although I have no plans to do so.

These days I think it's also important to be able to run off of your board with no rig at all - I'd suggest at least some sort of preamp with a DI. It's actually nice to run with no rig when the PA can handle it.
 
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#92
DennyOnBass said:
800-ish watt head at 4ohms and a couple of 8 ohm cabinets are generally the way I like to roll. It gives me the ability to bring a single cabinet for quieter gigs and rehearsals and a pair when I need more gas.

I've been using an old Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 and a pair of AudioKinesis Hathor 1203 1x12 cabs, but I'm about to finally replace the Shuttle with a Genzler Magellan 800 head.

The Magellan can run at 2.67 ohms, so I could feasibly run a third 8 ohm cab if I wanted, although I have no plans to do so.

These days I think it's also important to be able to run off of your board with no rig at all - I'd suggest at least some sort of preamp with a DI. It's actually nice to run with no rig when the PA can handle it.
Click to expand...

This is me primarily. Mesa TT800 and two Subway cabs (if needed).
 
#93
squeally dan said:
Currently using a TC Electronics BG250 combo. Playing mostly weddings and similar gigs. 99% of the time I’m running through a pa. I’ve used this amp on larger gigs and outdoor and it worked ok with help from monitors. It was cranked a few times.

so now looking to get something with a bit more than the 250 watts I’m currently using. Leaning towards a class D head with a 2x10 or 4x10 cab. Do I need 800 watts or will 500 be enough of a step up?
Click to expand...
I'm using a Trickfish Bullhead 1K head. It's a thousand watts. The most noticeable thing about more power is more headroom, where the notes just breathe a little (or a lot) more.

John
 
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#95
I'm in a working, 5 pcs., moderately loud stage, country/rock group.
Playing everything from large stage outdoor jobs to local bars and animal clubs.
I have FOH support 100% of the time.

Stage rig/chain:

Old, passive, 4 string Fender Jazz bass.

SansAmp BDDI V1.

Mesa Subway 800+, (800 watts.)

Direct send to FOH from the Mesa.

Bergantino CN212 cabinet.
 
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#96
Small venues like a party or bar, 100-200w for stage volume + FOH support.
Usually a Marshall DBS 7200 or Marshall JCM 800 super bass 100w.
20210818_084301.jpg


Bigger gigs or festivals I'd use a Sunn 300T (300w, 6 6550s) with 2x10 & 2 x12 cabs,
and FOH.
sunn 300t 001 resize.jpg
 
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#97
Given your described needs (weddings and such, most always pa support) you don't need much on-stage rig, and a smaller footprint is probably better. I'd suggest a 4 ohm cabinet to get the most from your head, for my $$ I'd choose RevSound, either a 210 or 212. Both less than 30 lbs, easy carry and small footprint. For the head, I'd choose something lightweight and not colored. My choices would be either a Mesa Subway D800+ 9the built-in variable hpf can be useful for boomy rooms) or a Genzler Magellan 800.
 
#99
squeally dan said:
Currently using a TC Electronics BG250 combo. Playing mostly weddings and similar gigs. 99% of the time I’m running through a pa. I’ve used this amp on larger gigs and outdoor and it worked ok with help from monitors. It was cranked a few times.

so now looking to get something with a bit more than the 250 watts I’m currently using. Leaning towards a class D head with a 2x10 or 4x10 cab. Do I need 800 watts or will 500 be enough of a step up?
Click to expand...

I play with an 11 member Motown review band. 3 horns 5 singers (one singer doubles on trumpet) Keys, guitar, drums and bass. We always have FOH support on gigs.

I have (2) 210 cabs but only use one for most gigs, unless it’s an outdoor gig, or a fairly large stage. I have an Eden Rack set up, Navigator Preamp with a 1,200 watt Eden power amp for outdoor concerts. Had an Eden WT-800, and a 300 watt all tube Eden head but sold those and bought a Mesa WD-800.

The 210 I use the most is a very efficient well tuned 8 ohm Eden D-210xst, rated at 500 watts. The WD-800 puts out 400 watt with an 8ohm load.

In application on our stage plat, the singers are in the front with their (4) 1,200 watt monitors pointed at their knees which (ahem) they never can hear them enough (but the focal point is right where the drummer and I are located) Needless to say, it’s really loud back there. That said, I never have a problem hearing myself in concert with what we have going on.

One last thing. IMO cabs sound better when they are not driven to their maximum rating. If I’m in a situation where I need a little more oomp, I’ll take a second cab.

I were playing with with a really loud drummer, and or a guitarist with 412 cab and a 100 watt amp, (1) 210 cab is not going to cut it. Or if your art requires a lot of Uber low end, I would have a second 210 cab.
 

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