Peavey BAM 210 - loud enough?

They were selling it for $1050 at Washington Music Center

 

There are 2 key factors.
1. Are you running through the PA. If so then it is definently loud enough since you are the only one who has to here. If not, you need a PA.
2.How loud do your bands play, and do they use distortion. Whenever I play at practices it is plenty plenty loud. I Don't have to turn up past 3, BUT at practices we don't use a PA. When we use a PA I go through the PA and still don't have to turn up very loud. On non-distorted songs 2 is plenty loud.

Overall loudness.
I've never turned it up past 5, but I imagine if you cranked it you could move some serious air. When I use it with my 15, it is VERY loud, and can make your ears bleed, BUT the 15 takes away from the BAMs sound, and thusly I don't like doing that. Currently I am working on a project to build another cab using some BAM speakers, that way I will be both loud and sound good.
Compared to the Firebass it doesn't get quite as loud, BUT it sounds MUCH MUCH MUCH better at high volumes. Any other rig I've played through doesn't perform as well at extreme volumes. The BAM on the other hand sounds the same at full blast as at 1.

I think it would be loud enough, but I don't know how loud your band plays.

 

I can't really say. Based on what I heard in the store, what BassMasterG said sounds accurate.

 

Also if you do get to keep one cab, I would keep your 4x10. I made the mistake of trading my 4x10 and keeping my 15. I thought the 15 would give it some extra low end slam, but instead it is just really loud, and overpowers the BAM. I THINK (could be wrong) that a BW is like 107SPL or something crazy like that, and that the BAM is much lower. Then again if you like a mid heavey sound you might like the 15 b/c it has ALOT of mids, which is the exact reason I don't like it.

If you actually do the math though, don't you have to double the wattage to gain 3dB? If so since the BAM is 500 watts, and the Firebass is 700 I don't think you'd lose to much volume. I might not know what I'm talking about though.

Now that I re-read your description if all you want to know is if you can compete w/ unmic-ed drums, and the guitars that aren't blasting it would work great. My band practices very loud (I wear ear plugs sometimes) and I never have trouble cutting through.
If you want to compete against mic-ed drums, 100 watt marshall stacks, and vocals out a PA, then I'm pretty sure it won't work, but I don't think your current rig would work in the second situation either. Also if the drums are mic-ed that means theres a PA, which means you can use the PA too, and won't have a problem!

I think I'm rambling.

 

One last thing to think about is if your 16, you'll be going off to college soon. That is one of the reasons I bought the BAM. I didn't want to haul 300 pounds of equipment up and down a couple flights of stairs every weekend. Plus dorm rooms are SMALL, and there isn't enough space for a full stack, upright, and keyboard. Plus most importantly the BAM rocked my stacks world!

 

What is the BAM, 250W without extension cabinet? My 2x10" combo is 240W, and it does hold up quite well in a loud rock band. I never turn the volume knob past one o'clock and I am pretty comfortable even with a hard-hitting drummer.

But on the other hand, if I had the possibilty of adding an extension cab I would do it in an instant... just to feel even more comfortable.

 

I think the BAM would be loud enough on it's own. You won't blow anybody off the stage with it, but it will definitely hold it's own.

My rule of thumb is that you need at least 300 watts if your stage volume is average loud.
With a really loud stage volume, you probably need an extension cab or a more powerful amp (at least 600 watts).

 

Like I said if your just talking about jamming I'm sure its more than loud enough.

 

Flat speakers? In an instrument speaker enclosure? Not at that price... probably not at any price!

 

I tried one and I didn't like it...first thing, the amp was too noisy on it (did it have a barn fan in it?). Then I plugged a 5-string in (Peavey G-V) and put the effect on octaver, plucked the b string and watched the speakers...they shook more visibly than my fat white @$$ after getting buttonhooked! And the effects were kinda cheesy...

 

Well, what did you expect? Angel's choir?