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

[drpepper]

Ha! The first two responses covered the basses. More-speaker is a better way to get more-volume than more-watts.

Agree

Also, speaker sensitivity is very important.

Agree

A 103db speaker is ten times louder than a 93 db speaker. No joke.

Hmm, you might want to check on that math on loudness...it's accepted that a 10dB increase is heard as a doubling of loudness. A doubling of power represents a 3dB increase in loudness. This is not "twice as loud" because of the way sound power compounds as loudness. As a conceptual "for instance," although the sound of 2 voices is two times the power of 1 voice, it is not twice as loud...it's twice the power, which is as much louder as 2 voices is than 1 (defined as 3dB), not twice as loud. Each doubling of voices (to 2, 4, 8, 16 etc.) is +3dB. So, if 1 voice is 60dB, 2 would be 63dB, 4 would be 66dB, 8 would be 69dB...instead of going to 16 for 72dB, 2 more to gets you to 70dB on the scale. And the din of 10 voices would be twice as loud as 1 voice, not ten times as loud.

 

[Gizmot]

How many watts you have available do not determine how much acoustic output you'll get. Acoustic output is determined by the speaker's sensitivity plus the amount of power you have.

As others have pointed out, it takes a sizable setup in power to make a noticeable difference in acoustic output.

Besides power, I'd also focus on how good and solid your new amp is, how quick its transient response is and if it has all the features you need. You can hear differences between amps with similar output, so listen and compare before pulling the trigger.

To answer your question, I either use 600 watts or 2,600 watts - depending on the gig and what speakers I'm using

 

[GregT]

I gig with 140 or 240 when necessary. Rumble 100 and 200. If it's louder than that on stage, I don't need to be there.

 

[micguy]

How many watts you have available do not determine how much acoustic output you'll get. Acoustic output is determined by the speaker's sensitivity plus the amount of power you have.

As others have pointed out, it takes a sizable setup in power to make a noticeable difference in acoustic output.

Besides power, I'd also focus on how good and solid your new amp is, how quick its transient response is and if it has all the features you need. You can hear differences between amps with similar output, so listen and compare before pulling the trigger.

To answer your question, I either use 600 watts or 2,600 watts - depending on the gig and what speakers I'm using

2600 watts? How many amps are you running? Is one of them a Bugera?

 

[Gizmot]

2600 watts? How many amps are you running? Is one of them a Bugera?

No - - or better HELL NO!

I use a Powersoft K3DSP power amp. Here is the link to it: K3 - Powersoft

If I bridged it, this amp could deliver 5,200 watts (I never use more than 1 stereo channel). It sounds like a million bucks with rock solid deep bass and clean, fast transient response.

In the last several years, a number of leading tours have used Powersoft. They're made in Italy and are not low priced, but they're awfully good amps.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

What I would like to gig with is something like a Subway Walkabout combo built into a 1-12 cab with tiltback capability for monitoring and that I could simply add a matching 1-12 cab to give me "more" when needed. I can get close with separates but I'd like to have everything in one package. I've pulled heads off of cabs, I've forgotten cables, if I need anything bigger there will be backline and a rider.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

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?

800

 

[silky smoove]

If I bridged it, this amp could deliver 5,200 watts

Provided you connected it to an outlet (assuming 120V) on a ~45A circuit with nothing else on it

 

[Gizmot]

Provided you connected it to an outlet (assuming 120V) on a ~45A circuit with nothing else on it

No amplifier can make power without the juice necessary - that's simple physics. Any amp that can deliver as much output power as the Powersoft will need MORE AC input (in other words, it's electrically very efficient).

On the other hand, when I play, I don't need 2,600 watts continuous duty. When I use it, the first output LED indicator never comes on!

 

[Marko 1]

400 and 750 watt heads (@4Ohms), and a pre/power rig capable of 500 to 1,500 watts.

I have a 4-Ohm 2x12, a 4-Ohm 2x15, and two 8-Ohm 4x10s.

 

[ahc]

 

[Marko 1]

Y'all touting “speaker efficiency” ...

Most decent modern cabs are pretty efficient, and they don't vary all that much.

And efficiency doesn't translate to good tone, in fact many say efficiency comes at the expense of tone, but I can't personally attest to that.

So get sufficient watts so your not-the-most-efficient-speakers-in-the-cosmos have headroom and sound great!

 

[4StringDave]

I've gigged semi pro for the last 20 years with a nemesis nc115 which is a 250w 1x15 combo giving about 130w into the internal speaker. I bought an extension cab but never use it as the combo is loud enough to keep up with any drummer I'd be prepared to play with (ie no hammer throwers!)....

 

[4StringDave]

With all due respect, "semi pro" doesn't tell us much about what your rig need to accomplish.

Bars, Social clubs up to about 250 people. Mainly Country, blues and pop. No PA support. Festivals via XLR out into PA. Acoustic drums. Guitarists with Fender 1x12 combos normally - no half stacks.....

 

[Old Fart]

Hmm, you might want to check on that math on loudness...it's accepted that a 10dB increase is heard as a doubling of loudness. ....

I stand corrected. A 10 db increase is a ten-fold increase in sound intensity, but only a doubling of perceived volume.

 

[4StringDave]

I gig with 140 or 240 when necessary. Rumble 100 and 200. If it's louder than that on stage, I don't need to be there.

Amen

 

[Rick Brienzo]

I have never played a gig with anymore than 350 watts. It has worked for background dinner music gigs, to large outdoor festivals, and everything in between. 300 watts and above will have you set for life.

 

[donhank]

What I would like to gig with is something like a Subway Walkabout combo built into a 1-12 cab with tiltback capability for monitoring and that I could simply add a matching 1-12 cab to give me "more" when needed.

Not a tilt-back (although that would be way too cool !!) but here's my gig rig: WA Scout 1x12 (165 watts @ 8 ohms standalone) and when more is needed, my "rescue" Avatar 112 cube bumps it up to 300 watts. Plenty for everything that I do.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Not a tilt-back (although that would be way too cool !!) but here's my gig rig: WA Scout 1x12 (165 watts @ 8 ohms standalone) and when more is needed, my "rescue" Avatar 112 cube bumps it up to 300 watts. Plenty for everything that I do.

View attachment 4875016

Good combo. I had Walkabout and should have never sold it.

 

[retslock]

I’m using a Fender Rumble 500 into a 4 ohm 2 x 12”. So far it hasn’t been challenged. Our stage volume is what I would call too loud but then I’m old.