Typical wattage used at small bar gigs

[will33]

In small bar gigs I assume you're talking about the PA being vocals only, maybe horns or a keyboard if you have them with your bass amp being what the audience hears of your instrument. I've used a bassman 135 or a Peavey T-max (200 watts @ 8ohms, 350 @ 4) with a 15 or a 212 and done just fine if you're playing some sort of cleaner music ala country, blues, old R&B, some top 40 stuff and even classic rock if your other band members are sane about their volume and leaving the other instruments a place in the mix. If you're playing more hard rock stuff or something with a lot of bass like reggae, hip-hop or somthing, then a more powerful amp and/or a higher sensitivity cab or a cab with with more drivers in it or two cabs could be in order. The T-max can get the job done just fine at these types of gigs, the bassman can't.

It's always better to have a little more than you need and turn down than bring less rig than the gig requires and not be able to turn up anymore. Outdoors is a different story, need more power and more drivers, sometimes just to hear yourself if the stage is spread out wide.

 

[James Hart]

indoor and out, I made a living for a bunch of years with a 250 watt @ 4 ohm head. Sometime with a pair of Bag end cubes (12 and 15) even just one for a lot of gigs.

 

[will33]

I use exactly the same rig for small places as I do for bigger ones: 2 x Acme B2 stacked vertically (same footprint as one) and a 1000W Carvin DCM1000 driven by my pre-amp of the moment. The system does have a volume control after all.

Paul

quote thunderlizard:
"My rule about bar gigs is to cover the stage and 10 feet in front of it (for anyone dancing). The people sitting in the back are there for a reason, let them talk or listen as they wish."




A couple of other good points.

 

[seanm]

I generally use my iAMP500C and, depending on the size, a second 1x12.

If I don't know the venue, I bring both. If it looks like I won't need both, I will set them both up and not plug in the second cab (i.e. just leave the speakon loose so I can connect it quickly). If it works well without the second cab, I won't bring it the next time.

But if I don't bring a second cab, I put the amp up on a chair or a table.

 

[allexcosta]

I just carry 1000W to any gig. There's a volume knob.

 

[savit260]

I've always managed just fine with either a 80-100 watt All Tube Sunn or a 275 watt s/s Ampeg.

Most of the time I'm using the Sunn and a 2x10 cab in a fairly loud rock band. It's got plenty of stones for a small bar type room with no p/a, and plenty of stage volume for big stages with p/a support. Honestly, I don't play too many rooms without decent P/A support, so it's almost never an issue. If I was a slapper, I guess I might need more clean power, but in my situation, 80-100 watts works just fine.

I'm kind of interested in hearing an LMII , not so much for the power, but the portability. If it can get close to the grind of a good tube amp, I might be interested.

 

[5andFretless]

Usually, same here. My main rig is a Demeter pre/QSC PLX1804/Schro21012/Schro1210. Sometimes, I'll leave the 1210 at home for small stuff. Although I have used an EA iAmp800 and Cxl-112 or two for small stuff as well.

I've sold my EA stuff, so my small gig rig now consists of an Acme B2 and MarkBass TA501. Although I have yet to play it out, it's pretty dang loud in my office!




dcr

+1

A 1X15 and a 4X10 pushed with 800 watts. The exception is when I am feeling lazy and I only bring one cab, but that is rare. Volume controls are really cool little gadgets

 

[acleex38]

I have been running my GK 400RB-III into an Eden 1x12 and an Ampeg 1x15 - that's a total of 240 watts at 4ohms. I never have the input or master volumes much past 9 o'clock. I could probably do just one cabinet at 150 watts and be just fine.

Tomorrow, I plan to sell my 1x12 cab and a Hartke kickback (and maybe the GK head, although I'd like to keep it as backup) to finance a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0+10T. We have another "small bar gig" on July 3rd, so hopefully I'll find out if 300 watts into a 1x10 and 1x15 works as well for me as 240 into 1x12 and 1x15.

I LOVE that this thread has so many people saying that between 100 and 300 watts is enough. I've run things so that "barely 1/4th of the way up" was drowning out the other 4 band members."

 

[will33]

I LOVE that this thread has so many people saying that between 100 and 300 watts is enough. I've run things so that "barely 1/4th of the way up" was drowning out the other 4 band members."

It all depends on the quality of your bandmembers, those who understand the whole of the sound instead of just making their instrument "badass". Kinda the difference between a musician and someone who plays an instrument. In most people's situation I'd say having an "adding a second cab" option is great. If you have an amp that's lowest rating is 4ohms, you should have two 8ohm cabs. You may not need the second one and that's ok but if you do it's there. This does a couple things, adds cone surface area and increases available power to drive them all (in the case of SS amps). It also gets one cab up closer to ear level instead of knee level which makes it sound louder to you as well as the audience.


In the case if the NYC scenario, I'd think it'd be a little smarter to have one good, 4ohm, easy to transport cab that could handle the biggest room you'd play without PA support and just turn the volume down for smaller gigs as opposed to transporting more mulitple boxes. Going by the one trip in/one trip out rule here. Amp dragging behind, bass in gig bag over shoulder. Maybe a small backpack with your mic, pedals, cables, extras etc. depending on how versatile your gig bag is. Ideal would be a gig bag that could hold it all with double backpack type over-the-shoulder straps and the rig rolling behind with retractable airplane luggage type handle. This would leave one hand free to open doors, shake hands, etc.

 

[acleex38]

It all depends on the quality of your bandmembers, those who understand the whole of the sound instead of just making their instrument "badass". Kinda the difference between a musician and someone who plays an instrument. In most people's situation I'd say having an "adding a second cab" option is great. If you have an amp that's lowest rating is 4ohms, you should have two 8ohm cabs. You may not need the second one and that's ok but if you do it's there. This does a couple things, adds cone surface area and increases available power to drive them all (in the case of SS amps). It also gets one cab up closer to ear level instead of knee level which makes it sound louder to you as well as the audience.


In the case if the NYC scenario, I'd think it'd be a little smarter to have one good, 4ohm, easy to transport cab that could handle the biggest room you'd play without PA support and just turn the volume down for smaller gigs as opposed to transporting more mulitple boxes. Going by the one trip in/one trip out rule here. Amp dragging behind, bass in gig bag over shoulder. Maybe a small backpack with your mic, pedals, cables, extras etc. depending on how versatile your gig bag is. Ideal would be a gig bag that could hold it all with double backpack type over-the-shoulder straps and the rig rolling behind with retractable airplane luggage type handle. This would leave one hand free to open doors, shake hands, etc.

Yeah - I have fun discussing gig prep with a friend who has gigged in NYC. I describe our "small bar" preparation/gear loading and she's like "WHY" - but then, she's used to "the drummer has to get his drums there in a cab."

 

[unclekebm]

It all depends on the quality of your bandmembers, those who understand the whole of the sound instead of just making their instrument "badass". Kinda the difference between a musician and someone who plays an instrument.

yep...

I always listen to everything except myself, then i can blend into the mix...

but i gotta say i WILL NOT get into a volume war with our guitar player
who for some reason, only wants to hear himself...

that said, it seems 350+ watts with an efficient 115 or 212 does the job.
personally, 500~600 watts w/4ohm 212 covers 95% of my gigs, w/plenty of headroom
that's mostly 200~1000 people indoors and outdoors w/PA support.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I just carry 1000W to any gig. There's a volume knob.

+1

Regarding wattage, the old cliché fits: better to have 'em and not need 'em than to need 'em and not have 'em.

 

[JimmyM]

+1

Regarding wattage, the old cliché fits: better to have 'em and not need 'em than to need 'em and not have 'em.

Ken, I will defend anyone's right to carry as powerful a rig as they want, but let's ditch all the horsepucky about needing 1000w of headroom because it makes it sound better when your volume knob is on 1, and let's get honest here...

1. How many of you with rigs 1000w and over regularly (or even semi-regularly) use all of your available RMS wattage?

2. If you do, what kind of music do you play and in what venues?

3. If you answered #2 with "doom metal in small bars," then will you promise never to invite me to your gigs?

4. Even if you have a legit reason for wanting 1000w or more, do you recommend it to a guy doing entry-level small bar gigs as a minimum?

5. If someone put a gun to your head and asked you to state the real reason you carry a monster rig like that, how many of you would answer, "I like to tell people I have a 1000w rig"?

 

[aurian4parker]

I have a 350W ampeg. and I usually have the volume up 1/5 as loud as it could get(meaning the little line thing is at around 8 oclock) and my gain is at 12 oclock. And that's without a p.a. backing me up. idk how

 

[Munjibunga]

750 minimum. You could get by on 600.

 

[leftymike]

Ken, I will defend anyone's right to carry as powerful a rig as they want, but let's ditch all the horsepucky about needing 1000w of headroom because it makes it sound better when your volume knob is on 1, and let's get honest here...

1. How many of you with rigs 1000w and over regularly (or even semi-regularly) use all of your available RMS wattage?

2. If you do, what kind of music do you play and in what venues?

3. If you answered #2 with "doom metal in small bars," then will you promise never to invite me to your gigs?

4. Even if you have a legit reason for wanting 1000w or more, do you recommend it to a guy doing entry-level small bar gigs as a minimum?

5. If someone put a gun to your head and asked you to state the real reason you carry a monster rig like that, how many of you would answer, "I like to tell people I have a 1000w rig"?

I agree with this as well. I think when people ask this question, as the OP did, they probably don't have the dough to buy a high wattage amp. So, say $250-$300 for a new 200-300 watt may be all they have to spare- MAXIMUM. I believe that's the true question"If I can only afford a Hartke 2500/Backline 600 etc, will this work for my needs?". (just putting names in there as effect not meaning those exact brands per se)

 

[Fuzzbass]

Ken, I will defend anyone's right to carry as powerful a rig as they want, but let's ditch all the horsepucky about needing 1000w of headroom because it makes it sound better when your volume knob is on 1, and let's get honest here...

1. How many of you with rigs 1000w and over regularly (or even semi-regularly) use all of your available RMS wattage?

2. If you do, what kind of music do you play and in what venues?

3. If you answered #2 with "doom metal in small bars," then will you promise never to invite me to your gigs?

4. Even if you have a legit reason for wanting 1000w or more, do you recommend it to a guy doing entry-level small bar gigs as a minimum?

5. If someone put a gun to your head and asked you to state the real reason you carry a monster rig like that, how many of you would answer, "I like to tell people I have a 1000w rig"?

Jimmy, I don't think I'm part of that debate. I'm not sure how much headroom I need, but I have run out of headroom using 650 watts into an inefficient 4x10 cabinet while playing with a loud modern rock band (radio rock) at a fairly large bar where I did not receive PA support. Then there are the occasional outdoor gigs where I don't get PA support. So, I will say that I sometimes do need 1000 watts. But that's me. I would not recommend a 1000 watt rig to someone who did not need that much power.


Keep in mind that a 1000W amp is not ten times as loud as a 100W amp, it is only twice as loud... assuming the speakers can handle it.


Speaking of speakers, my standard recommendation is to match the amp to the speakers (and vice versa). I wouldn't recommend 1000W to someone who had a speaker cab rated for only 200W.

 

[beta_442]

I just played a gig at a small bar. They had a PA, but only for vocals. I used a 300 watt Yorkville head with a 410 cab. I only had the volume at about 4 and it filled the mix very nicely with 2 other guitarists(4x12 half stack and 2x12 combo) and a drummer. The other 2 bands also had simular setups for bass rigs. I won't go any smaller for a gig. You can always adjust with volume knobs and playing style. I just wouldn't want to run short on power.

 

[allexcosta]

Ken, I will defend anyone's right to carry as powerful a rig as they want, but let's ditch all the horsepucky about needing 1000w of headroom because it makes it sound better when your volume knob is on 1, and let's get honest here...

1. How many of you with rigs 1000w and over regularly (or even semi-regularly) use all of your available RMS wattage?

2. If you do, what kind of music do you play and in what venues?

3. If you answered #2 with "doom metal in small bars," then will you promise never to invite me to your gigs?

4. Even if you have a legit reason for wanting 1000w or more, do you recommend it to a guy doing entry-level small bar gigs as a minimum?

5. If someone put a gun to your head and asked you to state the real reason you carry a monster rig like that, how many of you would answer, "I like to tell people I have a 1000w rig"?

I play with 3 percussionists, a very loud drummer and 3 horns. I need to hear myself. But it's cool just to say that you have 1000W.

 

[Medford Bassman]

It all depends on the quality of your bandmembers, those who understand the whole of the sound instead of just making their instrument "badass". Kinda the difference between a musician and someone who plays an instrument. In most people's situation I'd say having an "adding a second cab" option is great. If you have an amp that's lowest rating is 4ohms, you should have two 8ohm cabs. You may not need the second one and that's ok but if you do it's there. This does a couple things, adds cone surface area and increases available power to drive them all (in the case of SS amps). It also gets one cab up closer to ear level instead of knee level which makes it sound louder to you as well as the audience.


In the case if the NYC scenario, I'd think it'd be a little smarter to have one good, 4ohm, easy to transport cab that could handle the biggest room you'd play without PA support and just turn the volume down for smaller gigs as opposed to transporting more mulitple boxes. Going by the one trip in/one trip out rule here. Amp dragging behind, bass in gig bag over shoulder. Maybe a small backpack with your mic, pedals, cables, extras etc. depending on how versatile your gig bag is. Ideal would be a gig bag that could hold it all with double backpack type over-the-shoulder straps and the rig rolling behind with retractable airplane luggage type handle. This would leave one hand free to open doors, shake hands, etc.

This is a great idea. I use a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 with a Genz Benz NEOX 212T cabinet. It's 4 ohms and can handle the 600 watts of power. Now, in clubs, I never go above 10 o'clock on the volume. It's nice to have the power if I need it in a big room. Usually, I use the DI as well to the PA.

I really like the fact that it's a one trip thing for me. Amp- 3.5 lbs.Cab- 59 lbs. I play alot of gigs with my trio and we all have a decent grip on dynamics and mixing the music. I used to carry huge, heavy, owverpowered gear. For me, it was a waste of time.

I don't live in NYC, but I play enough gigs where the less I need for a show, the happier me and my back are!!