They don't, necessarily. I have a little (~40 lb) Traynor 300W combo with dual 8's that sounds great by itself at small gigs and even better with an external 15 at larger ones.
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Why do does small amps sound terrible at gigs?
- Thread starter Kylemcgregor96
- Start date
I built a 2x12 DIY wedge that I power with a LM II and use for stage monitor only. I put my VT Deluxe in front of it and I play a P with flats. I use the DI out on the LM and have always had good luck.
That said, this topic, like most here on TB, is really all about personal preference. I always find it funny when we ask each other the equivalent of, "Do these pants make my a$$ look big?"
Really, who cares, if you like the way your set up sounds, run with it. If you don't, then try some of the things your brothers in the low end suggest. I do enjoy the constant sharing of opinions though!
That said, this topic, like most here on TB, is really all about personal preference. I always find it funny when we ask each other the equivalent of, "Do these pants make my a$$ look big?"
Really, who cares, if you like the way your set up sounds, run with it. If you don't, then try some of the things your brothers in the low end suggest. I do enjoy the constant sharing of opinions though!
Smaller amps have come a long way. A lot depends on how loud everyone else is playing.
While it may be fun to feel a large amp thumping in your chest the damage to your hearing is permanent.
If there's a PA and a sound guy let them do what they're paid to do.
While it may be fun to feel a large amp thumping in your chest the damage to your hearing is permanent.
If there's a PA and a sound guy let them do what they're paid to do.
Depends on what you want to hear. Do you want to hear your pitches with clarity on stage? Small amps can do that. Do you want to feel chest thumping mid scooping bottom end on stage? Small amps can't do that.
And regardless, if your band has crazy loud stage volume, a drummer that plays louder than hell, guitar players with 100 W dual stacks on stage, a small amp can't put out enough clean volume to compete with that. Its going to sound like ass for a while before it blows.
Randy
And regardless, if your band has crazy loud stage volume, a drummer that plays louder than hell, guitar players with 100 W dual stacks on stage, a small amp can't put out enough clean volume to compete with that. Its going to sound like ass for a while before it blows.
Randy
... physics. The longer the wave the more energy it takes to make it. Also are you standing behind the PA? There are many reasons it may sound small or bad on stage. Acoustics can play a major role. if it is a good PA you should be getting good reinforcement, perhaps try a mic and a DI together.
Strange - I read the same thing in the Guitar players forum today. any the same thing in the keyboard players forum yesterday.
Meanwhile, in the ProSound forum we're discussing how to deal with a bands whose stage volume is too loud.
Hi.
How very true.
IMLE bands that really get it, are the ones that have a chance of making it. Or have made it already.
The bands that don't get it, the majority of them (un?)fortunately, will keep on playing for themselves, by themselves.
Just the way they seem to like it.
Regards
Sam
How very true.
IMLE bands that really get it, are the ones that have a chance of making it. Or have made it already.
The bands that don't get it, the majority of them (un?)fortunately, will keep on playing for themselves, by themselves.
Just the way they seem to like it.
Regards
Sam
Everyone on stage wants the same thing - to hear what everyone else is doing and themselves louder than the rest of it. It's pretty obvious where that takes you.
IME, no.
I've had the opposite experience. I played one gig where the other bass player had some crazy 4x12 cabinet and huge amp, and he sounded like garbage on the stage and out front. Meanwhile, my amp at the time (a Shuttle 6.0 through a 1x12) sounded great, and had the other bass player and other musicians there that evening coming up and wondering "how on earth do you get such a massive tone out of that little thing".
