wattage and power issues

[Alexdeth89]

Recently we've been offered to play every thursday at a Bar and it's cool because there was an audition and we got the gig.

The bar has a drum kit and a huge bass cab, it's a nice 810 so I would only have to bring my head.
The thing is that my amp delivers 300w at 4 ohms and 180w at 8 and since the 810 is an 8 ohm cab, I will only get 180w and I think I might be lacking some wattage.

So what should I do, any suggestions?

 

[bongomania]

Buy or rent a better amp. Or bring a more suitable cab of your own.

 

[EastCoastThump]

For your first week's gig, borrow a bigger head just to use as back-up, but set up and sound check your own head. If yours is clearly under-performing with the club's 8x10, then swap in the more powerful back-up head for the evening, and prepare to go shopping before the following Thursday's gig. OTOH, if your head covers the gig with a little to spare then you are all set.

 

[BrBss]

IMO, 180w into a 8x10 should be enough.

 

[seamonkey]

180w verus 300w - hardly any difference in volume
Is there FOH or are you bringing it?

 

[Alexdeth89]

I've been told the PA is good, looks good at least

 

[Bassamatic]

Try it first - the difference in volume is not proportional to the wattage.

Just FYI - it takes 10 times the wattage to make it sound twice as loud. Double the power creates less than 1 dB increase in maximum level.

 

[walterw]

8Ω 8x10? that's kind of weird; what is it?

anyway yeah, with a big cab, a smaller amp might be fine, especially with an 8x10 that puts the top speakers up by your ears. i used to see punk bands with 100w GK heads into SVT cabs and it was plenty loud enough.

 

[Hactar]

Considering it's a bar gig, as long as the PA is ok, it seems like you may very well be fine.
180W into an 8x10 can get pretty loud.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Congrats on landing a steady gig.

HUGE +1 for any 810 being loud enough for monitoring purposes if You're in the FOH.
Could be quite enough even if You aren't.

You can't win the bass vs. guitars volume war with any bass rig in a regular persons budget anyway so better to use what you have ATM.
Volume wars that may well cost You the gig, no less.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING feels better with GAS than upgrading Your rig with GIG-MONEY, and since you have a "steady" income now, you have the chance to do so if the need arises.

Regards
Sam

 

[Zooberwerx]

Let's see how well your existing amp contends with the new gig / venue. If unable to keep up, you may also want to consider adding a modest power amp to your arsenal. Plus, it's always good to have a back-up irrespective of the circumstances; one that can be slaved to your preamp or any device capable of driving it. I frequently run across used stuff in the ~$150 range.

Riis

 

[kanonfodr]

The weekend before last I plugged my GK MB200 into the bottom half of a Peavey 8x10, so that had me putting out 140 watts from the head. It was still a bit too loud for monitoring, as I couldn't run as much pre-amp gain as I prefer (the power amp section of the MB200 is WOT). If I would have used the whole cabinet...man...that would have been awesome

You should be fine, unless your homies are playing WAY too loud.

Peace,
Greg

 

[two fingers]

For your first week's gig, borrow a bigger head just to use as back-up, but set up and sound check your own head. If yours is clearly under-performing with the club's 8x10, then swap in the more powerful back-up head for the evening, and prepare to go shopping before the following Thursday's gig. OTOH, if your head covers the gig with a little to spare then you are all set.

Bingo.